I apologize for the million questions I've posted thus far. Though the RPG may be old hat to many of you, it's still new and exciting for myself, and I do like to make sure I have everything in order before I even decide what I'm going to do when running a new campaign (in any game).
Today's question involves the article in BTFF #4, by Gandalf of Borg, "Running an Academy Based Series." This is an idea I really like, though I'm unclear about some of the tables presented there.
Table 1 is relatively confusing for me, as I'm not really sure what to make of it. Let's use an example:
Command Helm
Computer Use (Retrieve) +2 Computer Use (Retrieve) +2
Enterprise (Administration) +2
Engineering: Systems (Flight Control) +2
etc.
Now, while I'm aware these are the requirements to graduate from the Academy, what I don't understand is...
Is the set of skills on the left intended for Command and the one on the right intended for Helm - such as Computer Use (Retrieve) being listed twice? Clearly this isn't meant for the character to have Computer Use (Retrieve) +4 when she graduates, thus adding everything in the track together.
Or is the player supposed to actually pay more attention to which path they choose in the Professional Development stage and choose from Table 1 accordingly?
Then, we get to Table 2...
Altogether, without the electives, I count 20 skill picks, not 15.
I'm obviously missing something here, and would *really* like a guideline as to how this is actually supposed to work in game play.
Can one of you guys help me out here?
Thanks a lot!
P.S. - Other than "because that's just silly" (which, I agree, it is)... If a ship's (not all ships, but some) missile weapons have greater penetration than the phasers, why would the ship EVER use the phasers and not just use the missile weapons all the time (except at point blank range)?
Command
-------------
Computer Use (Retrieve) +2
Enterprise: Administration +2
Any one Knowledge +2
Negotiate +1
Ranged Combat: Energy Wpns +3
Repair +1
System Operation (Command) +2
Tactics (Space) +2
Any one Unarmed Combat +2
Helm
------
Computer Use (Retrieve) +2
Engineering: Systems (Flight Control) +2
Enterprise: Administration +1
Ranged Combat: Energy Wpns +2
Repair +2
Science: Space (Astrogation) +3
System Operation (Flight Control) +3
Any one Unarmed Combat +1
Engineering
---------------
Computer Use (Retrieve) +2
Construct +2
Engineering: Propulsion +3
Engineering: Structural +3
Engineering: Systems +3
Ranged Combat: Energy Wpns +1
Repair +2
System Operation (choose) +2
Operations/Security
-------------------------
Athletics +1
Computer Use (Retrieve, choose) +2
First Aid +1
Inquire +2
Investigate +3
Repair +2
Ranged Combat: Energy Wpns +2
System Operation (choose 2) +2
Any one Unarmed Combat +1
Medical
---------
Computer Use (Retrieve) +1
First Aid +3
Medicine (choose) +3
Ranged Combat: Energy Wpns +1
Repair +2
Science: Life (choose) +3
System Operation (Medical) +3
Science
---------
Computer Use (Retrieve) +2
Ranged Combat: Energy Wpns +1
Repair +2
Any one Science +3
Any one other Science +3
Any one other Science +3
Any one other Science +2
System Operation (Sensors) +2
As for Table 2, if you look at Table 1, the total picks at graduation are 20. Table 2 is just a break down of how the "syllabus" for all the disciplines is broken down per year.
Each class mission is supposed to focus on some area for each cadet while providing them with experience in different types of missions that can occur while on duty. The Narrator can either decide or collaborate with the players on which skills to focus for specific cadets for each mission.
- There are specific maneuvers that missile weapons cannot perform
- In the course of the episode, missile weapons may not be functional/have no effect/etc.
- Starship phasers can perform "surgical" operations (pardon the pun as they were used to do a C-section on an interstellar lifeform)
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