Thinking about new series

[BraidsMamma]

Ok..... as I'm preparing for my NX-era series finale next saturday I have begun thinking about my next Trek series.

My plan is a series that must be one of the most classis Star Trek: RPG concepts of all time...

Star Trek: Daedalus

I intend to let my playes Crew the first Daedalus-class starship meaning that I plan a series in the 2160's.
My basic idea is to have the first season taking place in 2161 (ending with the founding of the federation).

My problem is that I really like series with long-going stories with lots of political intrigue and not that much alien/anomaly/strange planet of the week episodes.

The 2150's are a great era for such stories with the pre-federation intrigue between Earth. Vulcan and Andor, the relation to Tellar, Alpha Centauri and Denobula and of course the foreshadowing of the Earth-Romulan war...
(I just wathed Kir'Shara and i LOVED the final scene!)

But in the 60's Erath, Vulcan and Andor are allies in the federation, Denobulans are extinct and the Romulans have returned to the shadows....

I really need help from you guys (and girls)...
What can I do to get the feel I want in the 60's?

[Eric R.]

Denobulans are extinct and the Romulans have returned to the shadows....

I don't know were you got that idea, unless your basing it on the fact we never saw a Denobulan after the Ent. era. But that is not totally conclusive they could have shrunk into Isolation for all we know.

As to the Romulans I don't think there above the usual intrigue in times of peace and there resemblance to Vulcans backs the probablity that sleeper agents had infiltrated the Federation long before being outed in "Balance of Terror"

As to other hooks there is always the Orions who could've been more center stage in this period LUG had a significant battle between them and the Federation in 2167 if I remember right.

In addition just because we form a Federation does not mean we are one big happy family over night fringe groups could muck things up for awhile and each planet/race might still be pursuing there own agendas while still being apart of the Federation, American History would be a good place to look for Idea's especially the 1783-1815 period remember we were the United States (plural) and not the United State's (Singular) in those days.

[BraidsMamma]

I don't know were you got that idea, unless your basing it on the fact we never saw a Denobulan after the Ent. era. But that is not totally conclusive they could have shrunk into Isolation for all we know.

A year before the outbreak of the Romulan war my players triggered a civil war on Denobula and since then everybody's been to busy to pay Denobula a visit.

I plan on having the series premire where the crew are sent to investigate the Denobulan silence just to find out that Denobulans are almost extinct (explaining the absence in later Trek).

About the Romulans it's hard to let the sleeper agent play any major role since I can't allow my players to realise the connection between Vulcans and Romulans.

I have planned one or two Orion Syndicate episodes but I think it's hard to write stories about them..... I wolud be really happy if someone could link me to any more information/adventure seeds concerning the Orion Syndicate.

Thanks for the help...

[LUGTrekGM]

If you want politics, and less exploration, simply set it near Earth.

Have the ship carry / escort an ambassador, or have the captain act as one.

[BraidsMamma]

I want the crew to be a part of large scale political irtrigue...
Much like Trip and Soval are in The Vulcan Triology....

[Eric R.]

You could always have the Orions acting as a go between the Sleeper agent and the Romulans.

[tonyg]

Here are some ideas for stuff to do:

-If you let your player bring in thier characters from your NX campaign they can bring along some sort of previously established relationships that you canuse for story ideas.

-Keep in mind that while the Federation is founded in 2161, that doesn't mean that everyone suddenly likes each other. The players could be very busy playing peacekeepers. Two of the member woulds could easily get into some sort of conflict that could threaten to break up the Federation or even war. That is, unless somone can prvent it. There should be lots of opportunities for diplomacy, skullugury and such.


-What happens when a ship from a plantary fleet gets into a jurisdictional or territorial dispute with a Starfleet vessel? Probably hasn't been worked out yet.


-What if a member planet gets caught doing something "wrong" to another member or even a non-member planet (or group)? Which side to the players support? Thier Allies, the strangers, or who is the most right?

-The ship could visit some of the worlds that have already been discovered (or ven discover some new worlds) to try and get other to join the Federation.

-The ship could visit some systems and make first contact with planet that may someday join the Fderation. After all, someone had to convince the Coridans, Betazoids, and Trill to join.

-The ship could help found a new colony. This could lead to more diplomatic problems (like can the colonial administer order the ship? Can the ship order the colonists? Are the colonists even under Federation control, as thier world isn't a member world yet? What if the Andorian colonists and the Telleraites argue over a section of land or supplies? And a nice fat transport ship is great pickings for ( forOrions, Naussicans, Klingons).


-Trade: Hey all thse new ships are going to need supplies like lithium/dilithium.

-With a handful of starship and lots of space to cover the Deadlaus will probalby get pulled in several directions at once. What if the ship is on a mission to get perishable vaccinces for a small colony, when the suddenly get a distress call. Do they answer the call (and risk the colony) or ignore the ship?

-What if someone outside of the Federation actually comes looking for the Deadalus for a reason. Maybe someone needs some protection.

-When the Orions and Klingons find out about this Federation f Planets headquarted at Earth, they will probably think that it is bing done an an alliance against them. Someone will have to convince them otherwise. Plus, SOMEONE has to offer the Klingons the chance to join the Federation.

[BraidsMamma]

-If you let your player bring in thier characters from your NX campaign they can bring along some sort of previously established relationships that you canuse for story ideas.

That's my idea.... one of my players got deeply involved in the founding of Section 31 (I havn't seen Affliction so please don't spoil anything) and I plan to put her as the XO on the Daedalus and have at least one plot that focuses on Section 31.
I also plan an episode with flashbacks from my NX campaign (thorugh a Vulcan mind meld).

-Keep in mind that while the Federation is founded in 2161, that doesn't mean that everyone suddenly likes each other. The players could be very busy playing peacekeepers. Two of the member woulds could easily get into some sort of conflict that could threaten to break up the Federation or even war. That is, unless somone can prvent it. There should be lots of opportunities for diplomacy, skullugury and such.

-What happens when a ship from a plantary fleet gets into a jurisdictional or territorial dispute with a Starfleet vessel? Probably hasn't been worked out yet.


-What if a member planet gets caught doing something "wrong" to another member or even a non-member planet (or group)? Which side to the players support? Thier Allies, the strangers, or who is the most right?

-The ship could visit some of the worlds that have already been discovered (or ven discover some new worlds) to try and get other to join the Federation.

-The ship could visit some systems and make first contact with planet that may someday join the Fderation. After all, someone had to convince the Coridans, Betazoids, and Trill to join.

I see your point here and I think there are some posibility for this kind of plots.. but I think it's hard to do lots of good RPG episodes around this kind of stories.... or at least I suck at it

-When the Orions and Klingons find out about this Federation f Planets headquarted at Earth, they will probably think that it is bing done an an alliance against them. Someone will have to convince them otherwise. Plus, SOMEONE has to offer the Klingons the chance to join the Federation.

I'm still not sure if I'm going to introduce klingons yet..... but I like the idea of starting of the second season with a "find the Orions"-arc.... much like the first episodes of the Xindi arc...

Thakns for the ideas...

[Eric R.]

I see your point here and I think there are some posibility for this kind of plots.. but I think it's hard to do lots of good RPG episodes around this kind of stories.... or at least I suck at it ...

And thats why we are all here, so our crazy, slow, backwords, or lame ideas can get get alittle better This is a huge brain trust use it . . . we can get you along fairly well with just a basic idea of what you want. Look at whats been generated with just your first basic post.

[LUGTrekGM]

Yeah, all you need to do first contact scenarios is to have a culture, strange, designed with like three specific things different from what we as humans would think as normal.

[tonyg]

Braidsmama,

One way to get the iplomatic stuff going is to write up 3 or more factions. Then work up a list of things that each side wants/agress with from the other and things that they don't want/disagree with.

Then create something new to toss into the fray and think how each side would react to it, and how they would react to the other side.

Introduce the new thing in the middle of another story and let the players and thier story affect/interact with the new thing.

Assume that nothing that happens is random, just one side's plot.

Then just let thing domino onto each other.


Here is an example based upon my last campaign. That campaign was set on an remote station near the Breen & Romulan borders (DS9 era). THe conteding powers in that campaign were:

The Federation: Mostly the Starfleet personal based on the station. For the most part thier goals are to protect the Federation. Pretty much typical Starfleet characters.


The Romulans: Under the command of a prominent Senator named Marcus. He was instrumental in turning back the Breen attack during the Dominion war, and ommands several powerful task forces. He spent time working alongside the Federation during the Dominion war and has a great respect for Starfleet. He is helpfue and even friendly towards the crew of the station, believe that the time has come for closer ties between the two powers. He is also an excelllent commander and is highly respected by the officers and soldiers under his command. All in all, Romulans don't get any better--at least from the Federation's point of view. But, his power, ambition, growing poularity and ability to work with Starfleet makes him a big threat to the Romulan Senate.

The Elin: This species was the major power in the sector a couple centuries ago, with an Empire that streached across over a dozen systems. Over the last century, the empire has declined through conflicts-some internal. They have a very rigid culture and wish to reain thier glorious empire. Unfortuately, they have poor supplies of dilithium and thier warp drives aren't as fast as those of the Federation or the Romulans.


The Baran: This species were once part of the great Elin empire, and have no wish to relieve the experience. Thier homeworld is rich in dilithium, making thier world highly desirable to the Elin-and others. They are a bit xenophobic and mistrust even the Federation-especially since the Federation is trying to maintain good relations with the Elin, and won't sell the Barans ships or weapons to defend themselves. The Barans also lack a strong central government, with many indendent factions.

Now here is an example of some of the things that occuried and how it wound up effecting the status quo.



1) A Frengi DaiMon (who the crew had good reason to mistrust, as hed had previously bugged thier communication relay and kdnapped the players went they we sent to do maintenace on it and discovered his bug), showed up at the player station and tried to unload a bunch of outdated disrupters (eqvialent to Type IV) t the starfleet crew. The crew didn't need the weapons (they had better), didn't like the Fergeni's price, and really didn't like the Daimon, so they turned him down.
The Ferengi would up selling the weapons to the Barans, who used thm to arm some of thier merchant crat and used them to raid ships heaing towards Elin. Including Federation ships.


2) A planet killer (like the one in the classic Trek series) comes into the sector and is heading staright towards Elin. The Elin lack strength to stop it, but will smile favorible on those who do stop it (be they Federation or Romulan, or anyone else). Both powers have to deal with the matter in order to keep on the Elin's good side.

3) The Romulan government, in an effort to secure trading rights, and over the objection of Senator Marcus, turn over an old D-7 crusier (with an old cloaking device)to the Barans. False evience is manufactured that will point the finger at the Klingons. They also have an undercover agent on board the starfleet base who is gathering information and working to sabotage the Federation's relations with the Elin and Barans.

4) The Romulan Senator, discredited by enemies, is accused of treason and ordered to return to Romulus for what would be a show trial and execution. Instead, he rebelled, and most of his fleet (including several warbirds) follows him. As the Seantor controlled most of the Romulan ships in the sector, it will take some time for the Empire to build up enough forces to hunt him down.

5) The Senator stopped at the Starfleet base seeking allies agianst the Romulan fleet that will eventually be sent after him. Natually the Federation won't get involved in an "internal Romulan" matter, and so the Senator takes his forces to Elin.


This was a very tenous sitation for the Starfleet characters. On the one hand the Senator was probably thier best ally. Still, if he allied with the (ambious) Elin, gave them a few warbirds,cloaking device technology and a warp drive that wasn't based on dlithium, the Elin could become a major player again.


Well, that's some examples of how just a few simple ideas and goals can turn a situation upside down. Just start small and let things grow.

[tonyg]

Yeah, all you need to do first contact scenarios is to have a culture, strange, designed with like three specific things different from what we as humans would think as normal.

That will work. Now put two or three such cultures together and suddenly, you need diplomacy.

[The Tatterdemalion King]

The, uh, Elin and a Barak sound kind of familiar... ¬____¬

[tonyg]

The, uh, Elin and a Barak sound kind of familiar... ¬____¬

Maybe. Senator Marcus was based on a composite of Julius Ceasar and Marcus Antonius. The ruling Queen of the Elin (anagram for Nile) was Queen Klea.

Surpisinly enough, only one pf my players caught on that I was running Anotny and Cleopatra. When Nemisis came out it really fit in well too.

[LUGTrekGM]

Brilliantly disguised. I never would have caught on to the Elin. All of those notes are fascinating, and a great source to model on.