Strategic Operations Officer Overlay

[Erik Filean]

On DS9, Worf held the post of "strategic operations officer" for four years, with responsibility for coordinating Starfleet operations in Bajor Sector. Worf transferred into the post from a security assignment, but it seems reasonable that there would be a program for strategic operations personnel at Starfleet Academy. For anybody who might wish to create a PC or NPC for a career in strategic operations, I put together the overlay below. It differs from the standard command overlay in that it reflects skills needed for larger-scale strategic planning rather than "tactical" field command.

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS OFFICER (COMMAND BRANCH)
Strategic operations officers serve as planners and coordinators of Starfleet operations in the sectors where they are stationed. Most often, strategic operations personnel are assigned to starbases, from which they coordinate communication among base commanders, intelligence personnel, and starship captains in the field to ensure that overall strategic goals are covered. Strategic operations officers also sometimes act as field officers supporting strategic objectives from the "front lines" of Starfleet or allied deployment.

Administration (Logistics) 2 (3)
Command (choose Specialization) 1 (2)
Espionage (Traffic Analysis OR Signals Analysis) 1 (2)
Shipboard Systems (choose Specialization) 1 (2)
Starship Tactics (choose Specialization) 1 (2)
Strategic Operations (choose Specialization) 2 (3)

Athletics (choose Specialization) 1 (2)
Computer (choose Specialization) 1 (2)
Dodge 1
Energy Weapon (Phaser) 1 (2)
History (Federation) 1 (2)
Language
Federation Standard 1
Law (Starfleet Regulations) 1 (2)
Personal Equipment (choose Specialization) 1 (2)
Planetside Survival (choose Specialization) 1 (2)
Vehicle Operations (Shuttlecraft) 1 (2)

[qerlin]

I like it.

[JALU3]

not to be ignorant or anything . . . maybe I didn't read the core that well . . . but what does that mean . . . the bold v the unbold . . . what do the characters get in the beggining?

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"See Everything; overlook a great deal; correct a little." -Pope John XXIII

[Capt.Hunter]

The boldface skills are the "core" skills for that overlay (they're shaded in the LUG books). These are the ones referred to when a development package says "+1 increase to a Primary skill from your overlay" or when a high-ranking officer "should possess two skills from a branch other than his own".

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"The more top brass briefings I attend, the more I want to take a phaser to the whole lot of them..."

Captain Matt Hunter, USS Tempest, NCC-81205

[Dan Gurden]

Oddly, I did one of these a while back too, although mine was a member of the Tactical department... When I get home from Work I'll post it here for comparison...

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Dan.

"A couple of thoughts from a random mind!"

[This message has been edited by Dan Gurden (edited 03-27-2001).]

[Erik Filean]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Capt.Hunter:
The boldface skills are the "core" skills for that overlay (they're shaded in the LUG books). These are the ones referred to when a development package says "+1 increase to a Primary skill from your overlay" or when a high-ranking officer "should possess two skills from a branch other than his own".
</font>

Correct. Shading wasn't an option for posting the overlay here, but boldfacing seemed a perfectly sound alternative.

[Erik Filean]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Dan Gurden:
Oddly, I did one of these a while back too, although mine was a member of the Tactical department... When I get home from Work I'll post it here for comparison...
</font>

I put strategic operations under command because for Worf, the position entailed a branch change (and not just a uniform color change, but a change of service branch that was remarked upon in dialogue several times during early season 4). It seems reasonable, then, that strategic operations is normally a command-branch position. I feel that the role of the s.o. officer versus security/tactical personnel (who almost always operate as clearly tactical, not strategic, assets on the air)also supports this.

I would like to see how skill breakdowns compare between our versions of the overlay.

[JALU3]

<Raises hand>

So does that mean in using the overlay that starting characters only get the nonbold skills? Or some of the Bold Skills depending on what rank they start with?

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"See Everything; overlook a great deal; correct a little." -Pope John XXIII

[Dan Gurden]

JALU3 you have the wrong end of the stick. Thats an entire package. The skills in Bold are the key job skills.

But the character takes all the skills in the package.

I think you may have missed a line in the Rulebook.

Anyway, back to my promise. Heres my version of the Strategic Ops officer;

Command (Starship or Starbase Command) 2 (3)
Planetary Tactics (Choose Specialisation) 2 (3)
Espionage (Traffic Analysis) 2 (3)
Strategic Operations (Choose Specialisation) 2 (3)
Ships Systems (Tactical and Sensors) 1 (2) (2)

Athletics (Choose Specialisation) 1 (2)
Computer (Choose Specialisation) 1 (2)
Dodge 1
Energy Weapon (Phaser) 1 (2)
Language; Federation Standard 1
Law (Starfleet Regulations) 1 (2)
Personal Equipment (Choose Specialisation) 1 (2)
Planetside Survival (Choose Specialisation) 1 (2)
Unarmed Combat (Choose Specialisation) 1 (2)



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Dan.

"A couple of thoughts from a random mind!"

[Dan Gurden]

To which I say "Fine"

You dont have to use the templates. Really, Im not going to force you...

I tend to offer my version in my games to players who wanted to put a face to the canon fact that the final couple of years of Academy are focused on a specialised area, allowing a Cadet who has picked their preffered branch of service to enter a job with the correct skills.

That said any Strategic Operations officer could easily hold the position with a Security, Operations or Command template.

Its all a matter of perspective and preference.

As another example I have introduced a Conn officer template, to account for the red shirted conn officers as opposed to the Operations dept. But again, the position can equally be filled by an Operations or Command officer.

But just as you are both right to disagree, so are we to diversify. Its all a matter of preference...

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Dan.

"A couple of thoughts from a random mind!"

[Erik Filean]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by calguard66:
I have to disagree with this package. Not every job in Starfleet has it's own package. Strat Ops Officer is a position, a job, not a unique branch... as shown by the fact that Worf took it.
</font>

By all means, then, ignore it. However, in light of the fact that published LUGTrek material includes a number of equally 'trivial' overlays (e.g., The Price of Freedom with just as unnecessary overlays for JAG specialists, starship assembly specialists, and rapid-response security personnel), I don't think that either Dan's nor my strategic operations overlays are incompatible with LUGTrek design. YMMV. That's your game and your decision, not my problem.

[calguard66]

Incidentally, this fuels my argument against what I believe is the largest misconception by TNG fans... Operations Manager isn't a separate branch either. It's a job. I would imagine that anyone with tactical, astrogation (flight ops), or engineering background would be eligible. Again evidenced by the fact that Sito Jaxa (a security ensign), and that male command ensign were both up for the job.

Sigh... another thread...

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"I'd rather die standing than live on my knees..."
Shania Twain

[Erik Filean]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Dan Gurden:
JALU3 you have the wrong end of the stick. Thats an entire package. The skills in Bold are the key job skills.

But the character takes all the skills in the package.

I think you may have missed a line in the Rulebook.

Anyway, back to my promise. Heres my version of the Strategic Ops officer;

Command (Starship or Starbase Command) 2 (3)
Planetary Tactics (Choose Specialisation) 2 (3)
Espionage (Traffic Analysis) 2 (3)
Strategic Operations (Choose Specialisation) 2 (3)
Ships Systems (Tactical and Sensors) 1 (2) (2)

Athletics (Choose Specialisation) 1 (2)
Computer (Choose Specialisation) 1 (2)
Dodge 1
Energy Weapon (Phaser) 1 (2)
Language; Federation Standard 1
Law (Starfleet Regulations) 1 (2)
Personal Equipment (Choose Specialisation) 1 (2)
Planetside Survival (Choose Specialisation) 1 (2)
Unarmed Combat (Choose Specialisation) 1 (2)


</font>

I think our versions of the overlay are compatible in a lot of ways. It looks to me as if yours places more emphasis on a package of skills that will enable an S.O. officer to operate as a kind of interface between strategic planning and tactial operations in the field, where I was working from a perspective in which strategic operations is a more strictly "rear echelon" job. But we both seem to see the position as closely tied to the synthesis of tactical and intelligence information.

[calguard66]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Erik Filean:
By all means, then, ignore it. However, in light of the fact that published LUGTrek material includes a number of equally 'trivial' overlays (e.g., The Price of Freedom with just as unnecessary overlays for JAG specialists, starship assembly specialists, and rapid-response security personnel), I don't think that either Dan's nor my strategic operations overlays are incompatible with LUGTrek design. YMMV. That's your game and your decision, not my problem.</font>

I agree... that's why I posted my opinion.

However, of the 3 you mention from PoF, I would say that only the starship assembly specialist is really redundant. JAG officers are lawyers... certainly different than any other SF training. RRT members are far better trained in certain security things, and less so in in others. Either a seperate overlay is required, or additional training in the form of additional skill points. I think the overlay is the most game balanced way to go... certain areas of the officer's training were slighted to the benefit of other areas.

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"I'd rather die standing than live on my knees..."
Shania Twain

[Thierry]

I like the overlay personally, in todays Navy line officers are sent to a variety of schools to specialize in certain areas such as Navigator, Weapons, Comabat Systems and Operations. If you read The Valiant about Captian Picard he was the Second Officer and the ships Navigator.

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You don't have to like you just have to do it .
Richard Marcinko