Hello, everyone! I am a complete newbie to Star Trek RPGs, and I would like some advice on which version to buy. I wish to GM a Star Trek campaign. Here are some criteria which may make it easier to narrow down:
- Series/era: I’ve only ever really watched TOS, and that’s what I like. Just TOS, not even the movies, though TAS is okay too.
- Previous games I’ve GM’d: OD&D, AD&D 1e. I’ve played other RPGs, but my tastes lie somewhere between OD&D and AD&D. I like “rules-lite”, classes rather than skills, an emphasis on adventure not on character building, and general “old-school” feel. Familiar mechanics are a plus (ability scores of 3-18, for example) but not necessary.
- I envision a campaign very similar to the show. The PCs are Kirk, Spock, and the other bridge officers and medical staff of the Enterprise, or original characters in a similar situation.
- Adventures would emphasize landing parties exploring a “planet-of-the-week,” but not to the complete exclusion of on-board adventures or ship-to-ship space combat.
- Use of published modules/scenarios would be a major boon, as I don’t expect to have a lot of prep time. But ideally they would be modules with good/plentiful maps and not railroady story modules that tell you what will happen next.
These are the published Star Trek RPGs that I know of:
- Star Trek: Adventure Gaming in the Final Frontier
Heritage Models
1978
- Enterprise: Role Play Game in Star Trek
Tsukuda Hobby
1983
- Star Trek: The Role Playing Game
FASA
1982
- Prime Directive
Task Force Games
1993
- Star Trek Roleplaying Game (ICON)
Last Unicorn Games
1998
- Prime Directive (GURPS)
Amarillo Design Bureau
2002
- Star Trek Roleplaying Game (CODA)
Decipher
2002
- Prime Directive (d20)
Amarillo Design Bureau
2005
I have some ideas about which one(s) might be better for me, but I’m not ruling anything out. I want to hear what you have to say! Thanks.