VOY: Unreleased Icon Material

[Don Mappin]

Over the past few months I’ve received a few e-mails asking about the status of the Voyager Sourcebook that I was working on based on the material I had done for Last Unicorn Games. I received a few more of these e-mails more recently, probably due to the ending of the Voyager series.

I had hoped to release the book by now, but that time instead was spent (valuably) in laying out Spacedock, the SRM Vol 1, and the Dominion War Sourcebook. Lost in all this is the transition of Star Trek from LUG to Decipher and the uncertainty of everything and a new system.

So, now that things have cleared up somewhat, I need to state that the Voyager Sourcebook will not be released as a free download.

Yes, I know this is contrary to what has been said in the past, but things change. However, I do have some good news to share.

First, Decipher is interested in having me undertake the Voyager project for their new RPG. Barring any great change of schedule or plans, the material that is written will receive a slight tweak and appear as a Decipher RPG book. (Yea!)

Second, I know many people (myself included) still play using the Icon system. While I won’t release the entire book, I will release the Icon-specific material that I have. This includes Species Templates, Overlays, Equipment, and most importantly Starships. Some of this was written by Steve Long (the Great), so I’ll need to check with him about releasing it, however I don’t see that as a problem. (Steve’s generosity, as we’re all aware, knows no bounds!)

Finally, to make up for all this, I’ve decided to also release the Icon-specific material that I wrote for “To Boldly Go: The Starfleet Exploration Handbook.” My chapters covered Alien Species creation, new rules, and the technology chapters. So, lots of cool Templates, Traits, rules, and equipment stats for probes and starships (the Dauntless unmasked!). This material, BTW, was approved by Paramount, just never printed. So, in the strictest sense of the word, it is LUG canon. (If you use it, however, as always remains your decision.)

I don’t have a specific timeframe, but the exploration material will be shortly, as I don’t have to do much to it. The Voyager material will take a bit longer, as I have to extract the Icon-specific stuff and make it look all pretty.

So, in some small way, I hope this makes up for everything.


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Don
trekrpg@trekrpg.net


[This message has been edited by Don (edited 05-27-2001).]

[Dan Gurden]

Thanks for being open and Honest Don.

Your input and work will be much appreciated around here, I just know it.

While the limited release may not be what we were hoping for, it is far more than we would have had if you had chosen not to share.

And I would like to thank you for that.

I am also glad to hear that your full work is going to get put to use, allowing us to see the full document (in finished form), and allowing you to get paid for it!

Great News Don.

Can I ask if these documents will be in PDF or HTML format?


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Dan.

"A couple of thoughts from a random mind!"
http://www.theventure.freeserve.co.uk

[Perrryyy]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">
So, now that things have cleared up somewhat, I need to state that the Voyager Sourcebook will not be released as a free download.
</font>

Ack! (But yes, I read on...)

[QUOTE
Yes, I know this is contrary to what has been said in the past, but things change. However, I do have some good news to share.

First, Decipher is interested in having me undertake the Voyager project for their new RPG. Barring any great change of schedule or plans, the material that is written will receive a slight tweak and appear as a Decipher RPG book. (Yea!)

Second, I know many people (myself included) still play using the Icon system. While I won’t release the entire book, I will release the Icon-specific material that I have. This includes Species Templates, Overlays, Equipment, and most importantly Starships. Some of this was written by Steve Long (the Great), so I’ll need to check with him about releasing it, however I don’t see that as a problem. (Steve’s generosity, as we’re all aware, knows no bounds!)
[/QUOTE]

WOOOHOOO!!!

This is really the stuff I've been hoping for all along!

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">
Finally, to make up for all this, I’ve decided to also release the Icon-specific material that I wrote for “To Boldly Go: The Starfleet Exploration Handbook.” My chapters covered Alien Species creation, new rules, and the technology chapters. So, lots of cool Templates, Traits, rules, and equipment stats for probes and starships (the Dauntless unmasked!). This material, BTW, was approved by Paramount, just never printed. So, in the strictest sense of the word, it is LUG canon. (If you use it, however, as always remains your decision.)
</font>

Considering the number of times I've pestered you about this exact subject in Mirc, you can be DARN sure I'm gonna check that out!

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">
I don’t have a specific timeframe, but the exploration material will be shortly, as I don’t have to do much to it. The Voyager material will take a bit longer, as I have to extract the Icon-specific stuff and make it look all pretty.

So, in some small way, I hope this makes up for everything.

</font>

Don, I know I've been a big pain in your side chat-wise lately, but let me just say...WOOOHOO!!

Thank you for releasing this material (regardless of its form), out of the goodness of your heart, which you certainly didn't have to do. I'll be looking forward to the Icon material, and the exploration book!



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Impossibilities are merely things which we have not yet learned. — Charles W. Chesnutt

[Perrryyy]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Dan Gurden:
Thanks for being open and Honest Don.

Your input and work will be much appreciated around here, I just know it.

While the limited release may not be what we were hoping for, it is far more than we would have had if you had chosen not to share.

And I would like to thank you for that.

I am also glad to hear that your full work is going to get put to use, allowing us to see the full document (in finished form), and allowing you to get paid for it!

Great News Don.

</font>

Hear, hear!! I second that, Dan!

Thanks again Don! (Sorry for the double post, just giving ya your due!)



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Impossibilities are merely things which we have not yet learned. — Charles W. Chesnutt

[Caretaker]

Don, I appreciate you telling us this. I can't wait to see what you develop in terms of Decipher's take at Trek RPG! And I look forward to whatever you release anyway, of course.

[mactavish]

Yeah, Don... I can't wait to see what's been cooked up for Decipher's take on Voyager and other stuff.

mactavish out.

[kalamaro]

Ok, i understand Don and the others, they need to live too.

Isn't the most popular solution but the more logical.

personnaly i can waiting this supplement one or two year more.

And the last word, i want to belive the quality of this team was same or, is it possible, better

[REG]

Congratulations, Don. I hope this is official as it gets, that Decipher have already hired you for the VOY project. Personally, Decipher would be foolish not to hire you with most of the works you've done already. Now I'll have to start taking back all the bad things I have said about Decipher in the past. I am finally impressed with some of the current business decision they made so far in establishing their own RPG division.

I am looking forward to the Exploration Handbook and free VOY material for LUGTrek.

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Anyhoo, just some random thoughts...

[AslanC]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by kalamaro:
Ok, i understand Don and the others, they need to live too.

Isn't the most popular solution but the more logical.

personnaly i can waiting this supplement one or two year more.

And the last word, i want to belive the quality of this team was same or, is it possible, better</font>

Sorry, this is off topic, but I would like to say to kalamaro that your English has really improved in the time that you have been posting here Good on ya mate!

Sorry to break topic, just wanted to give thwe man some props.

Oh and Don, can't wait for the TBG stuff...Nova stats...hhhmmmmmmmmmm....

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Aslan Collas
=-=-=-=-=-=-=
RPG_Trek; http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rpg-trek
=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Ferengi Rule Of Acquisition #76: Every once in a while, declare peace. It confuses the hell out of your enemies.

[Paul]

Thanks for the Heads Up, Don.

Nice to know that guys like you, Steve, etc... are still out there, bustin' your buns to get what you can to us fans.

It is greatly appreciated by all.

I'll be waiting for the Voyager material to hit the site...

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"...and more controversial than Oolon Colluphid's trilogy of philosophical blockbusters Where God went Wrong, Some More of God's Greatest Mistakes, and Who is this God Person Anyway?"
- The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams (dec.)

[Kaiddin]

After all the freebies, I guess its time to start paying for some of this stuff. I can'
t say I know many people as generous as Steve and Don. In the game Pendragon terms they would have a Generous - 40.

[Karg]

Thats fine by me Don, any thing you release here is welcomed. And as far as releasing Voyager with decipher, Hey you guys gotta eat too.

If decipher is compatable with ICON like you gave us a hint about last month, I have no qualms about buying a new book.

Congrats,
Karg

[Cochrane]

Hey, I actually prefer buying a normal book over printing up an entire book. Sorry Steve, but the stuff Don works on is more my kind of thing than SD, SRM, and DWS. May I ask, will other portions of TBG, or equivalents, see the light of day in Decipher products? I want the sector/ system/ planet generation. Anyway, I am greatful for the Voy and TBG stuff that will see the light of day.

[Legate Legion]

Don,

Its all cool. We know you got to make a living, so no worries. Do what you gotta do to survive. Its a good. A guy has gotta eat right?

The cool thing is that you are going to give us your stuff anyway.

And, if people want to know about Voy, then can do so, elsewhere.

~LL

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"Resistance is futile...say baby that is a nice tight skirt you have on." --President Clinton of Borg.

[Dr. Jonas Bashir]

Okay, Mappin, I'm angry. I'm completely pissed off!

..nah, you're a good guy, I forgive you.

Seriously, thank you very much for your efforts. I understand (and I'm sure that we all understand) that we'll see an official Decipher Voyager book sooner or later, so the info you said you'll be giving is more than enough of what I need. Thanks again!

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Chakotay: You didn't poison my coffee, did you?
Janeway: Not any more than I usually do.
"The Voyager Conspiracy", Voyager