The year is 2373. You had no idea the universe would change so much during your recent years in Starfleet Academy. In the past four years the Federation has seen things both wondrous and terrible. In the latter years of this century, it seems things have taken a darker turn. The Borg and the Dominion are two perfect examples of how things are going for the Federation.
You joined for very personal reasons. They have as much value as the next cadet’s impetus. You’re in the last few weeks of your senior year. In a short while, you will hopefully be receiving the rank of Ensign.
Though experts have trained you, it is still a bit frightening to consider that you will soon be responsible for lives. Oh sure, you’re not responsible on the scale of a Commander or Captain, but you may be responsible for the non-commissioned crewmen under you. That is, if your executive officer deems you worthy of some kind of team command.
All your friends, also in their senior year, have yet to receive notification of assignment. You haven’t received your assignment either. You can’t help but succumb to the anxiety. There are too many things to hope for and against. Everyone is on edge. It won’t be until after the graduation ceremony that you will all find out what Starfleet Command has for your first assignment.
Outside your window you take a moment to watch the various people make their way through the clean, utopian grounds of Starfleet Academy. You smile a little at the memories of your first weeks here. It was an exhilarating time. Scratch that. It still is.
You’ve almost finished packing your small tote of personal things. It is time for you and your friends to write your final exams. Policy has changed recently. Everyone though the final exams would be at the Academy. This year you and your classmates have been selected for a trial program for the final exams. Your exam will be held on the USS Tranquility, an Olympic-class medical cruiser. A medical cruiser may not be as exciting as being posted to an explorer or escort vessel, but it is a Starfleet vessel. You all are going to go through the testing of the Tranquility’s senior staff and a small knot of Academy instructors. Your last few weeks as a cadet are going to be spent on in a series of final exams in the field.
You couldn’t be more excited. Judging by the excited noises of your classmates in the surrounding dorm rooms, they are too.
The dorm computer blips and announces, “Attention all cadets.” The dorm goes suddenly silent and still. “It is 1600hours. Personnel assigned to the USS Sentinel are to make their way to shuttle pad seven immediately for transport.”
A loud cheer and the swishing of multiple doorways opening reverberate through the dorm. The pounding of excited feet through the hall outside your room signal your time to join your friends.
*****
If you are interested in joining this PBEM, please submit a character. Only the first four completed characters will join the PBEM.
I have been playing RPGs since I was eight years old. I am now twenty-eight. Admittedly, my first RPG years were childish and undeveloped at best. However, it was when I turned thirteen that I started to come into my own as a game master. I’ve been mainly a GM ever since.
I’ve run the whole gambit of game systems and GMed for a whole variety of gaming groups. As a result, I have come to understand that character, plot, setting, and action are all important ingredients to a successful campaign. No one element is more important than the rest. They all must be present to achieve success. I also firmly believe that the Players are just as responsible to maintain these elements as the GM.
Star Trek is one of my favorite universes. I didn’t bat an eye at the cost of the STNG core book when I found it on the local gaming store shelf. The ST universe is so intriguing to me that price was not a consideration. I was so happy and proud when I showed it to my gaming friends. I haven’t looked back since.
There are some stipulations I must impose on character creation. I don’t think you will find them unreasonable. First off, all PCs are going to be Starfleet personnel.
The only species that are available are the character creatable ones in the STNG core book and Player’s Guide. Overlays will be earned at the end of the final exams on the Tranquility. Early and Academy Life Histories are from the STNG core book and Player’s Guide only, along with the Cadet Cruise. The PCs have not undergone any Tours of Duties yet so don’t select them. Do not take the Promotion advantage. Starfleet equipment will be assigned.
I will give you a hint of where the campaign is going by telling you that if your PC completes the final exams, they will be receiving their Overlay and the skills from their first Tour of Duty. I know that it makes more sense for a character to get the skills from their Tour of Duty after they have completed it, but sometimes things have to bend a little to make it more playable and enjoyable for the Players. The hint is that your first Tour of Duty will be one of the following three: Hostile Frontier Defense, Medical/Rescue, or Starbase. Though it may seem strange right now, the four PCs will be together regardless of what Tour of Duty you are on. All will be revealed in the actual game.
Every Thursday afternoon I will be sending out the general post about what is happening in the game. You have until the following Tuesday morning to respond on what your PC’s actions are. If you do not respond, your PC goes into “automatic, one-dimensional mode” and is temporarily taken over by me.
I want three-dimensional characters. As a GM, I like disadvantages that can be used in the story of the campaign as much as Players like advantages that boost their PC’s statistics. I want a brief back-story and an outline of the PC’s preconceptions, ethics, and goals. Make the PCs interesting but don’t make them too unique. Make them playable but help me make the tools to challenge the depth and breadth of the gaming experience. Experienced gamers will understand what I mean. When the first four characters have been completed and submitted (do not attach documents to your e-mails) to me, the following Thursday the game will begin.
E-mail your questions and completed characters to me at kim.quintin@producer.com
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