Franz Joseph ?

[redwood973]

Untill joining TrekRPG all I had known was LUG. So upon hearing about FASA I did some research to find out more about it, how it is diffrent, ect. Durring that I have heard of other things I am not familiar with. Once again I turn to you for aid (THANK-YOU ALL! FOR EVERYTHING. . .PAST AND YET TO COME! ).

#1 Who is Franz Joseph? Is it a person or a Core Book? I have heard refrences that make it sound like one then the other!?

#2 What is Starfleet Dynamics?

#3 What is the Starfleet Officers Manual?

[Captain Zymmer]

Well Franz Joseph was a designer who made the Star Fleet Technical Manual. A good TOS read, but pretty much out of synch now with the TNG+ Era.

As for Starfleet Dynamics and the Uiform Guide...I don't know, but as soon as my copies get here I will give you a review (Starfleet Dynamics anyway, lost the auction for the Uniforms and Officers Guide)

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Captain Zymmer
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[StyroFoam Man]

This message has been removed on request by the
poster

[spyone]

Confusing things a little, Franz Joseph's books became the foundation for Star Fleet Battles. So, to keep the alternate universe's clear, his work is often referred to by his name.

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You're a Starfleet Officer. "Weird" is part of the job.

[redwood973]

Thanks for the info guys! So this F/J is a TOS Tech Manual. . .like the one made for the Enterprise-D? Hum. . .might have to check that out. I take it is not part of any Trek RPG then?

Any other ideas/comments about #2 & 3?

[Cmdr Powers]

Well... Franz Joseph's Tech Manual might be considered a guide for Prime Directive (soon to be released in GURPS format). Prime Directive being the RPG tied to Star Fleet Battles.

Franz Joseph also executed the beautiful original Enterprise blueprints- a prized part of any Trekker's collection.


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"The best diplomat I know is a fully charged phaser bank" -Montgomery Scott

[SIR SIG]

Plus the StarFleet TechManual (TOS)

and the TOS StarTrek Maps

Of which I have both

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SIR SIG

More then meets the eye,
His a MapMaker in disguise.

[REG]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Thanks for the info guys! So this F/J is a TOS Tech Manual. . .like the one made for the Enterprise-D? Hum. . .might have to check that out. I take it is not part of any Trek RPG then?

Any other ideas/comments about #2 & 3?</font>

Well, it is considered non-canon by Paramount, but the book is a very useful as reference source. I personally would not discount it in terms of information about the 23rd Century and a bit earlier.

As for #2 and #3, I have not yet come across those two books. I assume they are non-canon fan books.

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Anyhoo, just some random thoughts...

[This message has been edited by REG (edited 08-30-2001).]

[Eric R.]

The Medical Guide, published in 1979 by Ballintine, is a book along the same lines as the tech manual but with some more detail including a Medcial Timeline, How to treat a Magoto Bite, Andorian dislocation of the Antena, drawings of various medical equipment and much more. The illustration were done by Geoffry Mandel, the same guy who is doing the new maps (Charts) and was a Illustrator for TNG as while as Doug Drexler who also went on to work on the NG.

[tonyg]

The History of the Franz Joseph stuff is sort of convoluted. Basically, he got the writes to produce a Techincal Manual and Deckplans for the Enterprise back when TOS was the only Star Trek. When the series attracked a large following in the 70s his stuff sold very well.

What makes Franz Joseph works so significant to gamers isn't actually its quality or authenticiy, but it's liscening contract. At the time Paramount and Gene Roddenberry considered Star Trek to be a dead product, and so were far less protective of the rights to it. As a result Joseph would up with a contract that gave him leeway to authorize other prodcts based on his works.

This loopshole was used to produce several unoffical Star Trek produtcs incluing the STAR FLEET BATTLE MANUAL (A game few people are ware of), and the more well know STAR FLEET BATTLES. The writers of SFB used thier agreement with Franz Joseph to eseential produce and market several Star Trek products without the approval of Paramount.

Paramount really didn't pursue legal action on this until after STAR WARS, when Star Trek was a cult classic on TV and a potial money market for Paramount. Once Trek was valuable again the Franz Joseph liscening agreement caused quite a stir.

[redwood973]

Wow! It sounds like some of the "back stage" stuff would have been just as interesting to watch as the shows!

It sounds like I should try to get my hands on some F/J stuff! Thanks guys!

If anyone gets any info on the other two please post! It would be appreciated!

[tonyg]

redwood,
The Franz Joseph material really isn't that critical. It is only good for the TOS era, and much of its contents were later contradcited by "cannon". For instance FJ postulates the concept of Dreadnought to augment the Hevy Cruiser of TOS. Instead, Paramount went for the Upgraded Heavyt Crusiers. This caught the folks who piut out Star Fleet Battle off guard, and resulted in thier devoping rules for "X ships" to account for this.

If you want a copy of the FJ technicaml manual just go to your local bookstore. The book has been reprinted, although I believe under somethwat differernt terms. I beleive even SFB now has some offical liscense.

The blueprints are much harder to dig up. They have been in print for over 25 years. If you can get the FASA blueprints, they are probably just as good. I'd suggest checing out hobby and comic shops. I think one of my local gaming stores had a copy floating around a few months back, but don't know if they still have it, or at what price.

[This message has been edited by tonyg (edited 08-31-2001).]

[DaveTalley]

hmm
I have first edition of both :-)
if there is enough interest I can ebay them
Dave

[tonyg]

With the plastic/notebook covers? Cool!

[DaveTalley]

yep
plastic slipcover, removable printed cover,
still even have the letter in there

ship plans , same thing the old plastic pocket of ship plans
Dave