Is the Captains Yeoman still valid in TNG?

[Dan Gurden]

(Perrryyy, you should feel welcome to add anything to this thread, as it directly involves you, but is open to all)

Last night I was presented with the beginnings of a new Character for the Venture, A Captains Yeoman, now initially I was thinking how to replace the current NPC from that role for the player controlled version. However in the hours since then it has begun to worry me that the role of Captains Yeoman may even be redundant during the TNG era.

Lets look at the facts. We can only judge by Janice Rand, now all we ever really saw was that she handed over the 'Captains Log' and fulfilled a non-descript administrative function aboard the ship. That was during the 2260's when the XO also traditoinally served the ship in another capacity too. However since that time, the Captains Log is no longer a physical device, and the XO is exclusive to the role in order to beter share command duties with the captain (Including. presumably, Administration)...

This doesn't leave anyone in the position of Captains Yeoman much to do, bar fetching the captain a cup of coffee.

My narrating style is such, that if the player wants to play the positoin, then I'll clear the path for said roleplaying experience... But my concern is whether the character would be worth playing when the character gets there.

Looking back at the example of Janice Rand, we can see that sometime in the 2370's she has trained as a Transporter Operator, and been upgraded from an Enlisted Yeoman to the ranks of the Officers. She then works at Starfleet HQ, in the CinC room, apparently as Communications specialist (from the doo-hickey in her ear), finally we see that she is a senior officer (possibly even XO?) and Communications Officer aboard Sulu's Excelsior.

So it appears th path of advancement is way open for a young enlisted Yeoman.

But the question remains. What can I get the character to be doing in the meantime?

[AslanC]

For my games I use the Yoeman as a Command Cadet position, IE and Ensign on the fast track would start as a Yoeman. They become the shadow of the Captain. Learning everything they can. Maybe even going on not too dangerous away missions from time to time.

They also help the Captain in the department of organizational skills.

Learning how to help a Captain juggle a day may also help them learn to juggle the responsibilites someday on their own.

Just my two cents

[C5]

So, Yeoman in TNG would be a minor post in the Command branch, meaning having administrative duty.

Well... for one thing, a Captain's Yeoman could have the role of a today's CEO assistant, like managing the Captain's agenda or providing him minor informations. I know we always saw Picard, Sisko or Janeway manage that themselves, but, hey, they had no yeomen that we know of.

For instance, the Yeoman could gather reports from various departments on the ship, and make some summary of them to the Captain. That could give some interesting "lower decks" interaction to the player, who would then have to filter relevant informations to the Captain (for instance, whether a department head is liked by people under his command) and maybe investigate on his own to check a particular rumor.
Managing the Captain agenda would not be very interesting, but could always leave way for some fun player-to-player interaction ("I have to see the Captain" "Sorry, his agenda is full today. Come tomorrow - and think twice before cheating in dom-jot with me next time" ).
Another interesting option would be to have the Yeoman handle the transfers requests. I imagine that, if the Captain choses his senior officers himself, he doesn't have time to scroll through the service records of every enlisted officer. The Yeoman could be on the hunt for new low-level personel, or filtering through requests for transfer.

I'm aware that none of this seems really necessary to have a post for, or even that it could be always interesting, but IMHO it leaves room for many things to do, like joining a landing party to evaluate some members of the crew at the Captain's request, working with the ship's Councellor to solve a relationship problem in a department, meeting with young, eager crewmembers who want to be assigned on the ship...

My two eurocents anyway

[Imagus]

It does look like the yeoman is really the secretary or pa for the Captain doesn't it? Definitely seems to be a Command Branch position - and for junior officers too (rather than enlisted). I like Aslan's contention that they are cadets (or newly-graduated ensigns) on the fast track to commands of their own. They'd probably fall directly under the XO for management purposes, since the Captain usually does not deal with personnel issues.

Maybe there are yeomen for the XO and other department heads as well?

[toadkiller]

As some may know I'm in the US Navy.

Yeoman is an enlisted rate (as mentioned) but plays a much larger role than is implied above. Admin - where Yeoman work- is a very large role for any large group of people, and one that can't easily be done without. Now, granted in ST there is a great deal of AI that can make a degree of the work be automatic. But a very powerful, very busy person like a ST Captain is certainly going to need someone to help them process the information that comes in and out of the ship.

Basically that's the role I see for a YN in Trek - information management. Schedules, data, reports, briefs, etc. are all going to have to be handled by someone who can sort the information in such a way that the senior leadership can make the decisions, and ST seems to want us to think that they have not got to the point where the computer does all the sorting.

We've not had a PC Yeoman (yet) but have had a variety of NPC's play that role. For an average ship (in my game) it is a fairly young enlisted person who ends up holding a large amount of virtual power. That is, they don't really have much power in the command structure but they have a lot of "borrowed" power by proximity to the senior staff.

The rule in my command is "never anger the CO's secretary" (as we have, in essence, a civilian YN filling that role) as that is the person that controls your and your information's access to "the old man".

In short - think RADAR from MASH, a potentially very interesting character. But won't likely go on away teams.

[Ronin84]

My thought's were that this was an enlisted position that fell under operations not really command. Not really a glamorous position but they would have the ear of the "old man" pretty easily.

Ronin84

[Dan Gurden]

OK... So it seems that there will be a requirement for a Yeoman. But the B-side of this thread is;

How can a Yeoman make an interesting PC? As a narrator I am not sure I could actually fit it in and keep the pace exciting...

Does anyone have any thoughts or advice on how to make a character that is suited for Admin fit into a wide-ranging game (covers both above and below decks, with 20-odd players), and still keep a good exciting pace outside of making reoprts and keeping schedules that the captain never follows?

[C5]

Well, as I suggested, the Yeoman could be sent on the field for some reports on how well a crewmember or a team behave/work together/etc. Hence, the possibility to be sent on away teams, or to spend some time in various departments (wich can be very interesting should a crisis occur, of course, since the Yeoman may be asked to perform the duty of a regular member of the department).
Also, if the Yeoman has to be the Captain's shadow, he could be asked to accompany him on missions, be present during diplomatic meetings, and so on. If a bit passive, this role may still allow him to be always present on the most important occasions.
Finally, as the Captain's ear, the Yeoman may be accessed by various individuals to gain some info or consideration (be it from fellow crewmembers who want to have a word put for them to the Captain, aliens ambassadors who want to learn about the Captain before a negociation he'll preside, or even spies who'd like to know the Captain's weaknesses).

Two other eurocents of mine anyway.

[Perrryyy]

Dan:

Last night I was presented with the beginnings of a new Character for the Venture, A Captains Yeoman, now initially I was thinking how to replace the current NPC from that role for the player controlled version. However in the hours since then it has begun to worry me that the role of Captains Yeoman may even be redundant during the TNG era

True enough. If so, my nitpick would be that the option is still open in the TNG PG. IIRC, Picard had a yeoman or AA (and I treat them as one and the same) in Insurrection.

C5

Well... for one thing, a Captain's Yeoman could have the role of a today's CEO assistant, like managing the Captain's agenda or providing him minor informations. I know we always saw Picard, Sisko or Janeway manage that themselves, but, hey, they had no yeomen that we know of. [For instance, the Yeoman could gather reports from various departments on the ship, and make some summary of them to the Captain. That could give some interesting "lower decks" interaction to the player, who would then have to filter relevant informations to the Captain (for instance, whether a department head is liked by people under his command) and maybe investigate on his own to check a particular rumor.
Managing the Captain agenda would not be very interesting, but could always leave way for some fun player-to-player interaction ("I have to see the Captain" "Sorry, his agenda is full today. Come tomorrow - and think twice before cheating in dom-jot with me next time" ).
Another interesting option would be to have the Yeoman handle the transfers requests. I imagine that, if the Captain choses his senior officers himself, he doesn't have time to scroll through the service records of every enlisted officer. The Yeoman could be on the hunt for new low-level personel, or filtering through requests for transfer

This is pretty much spot with where I was going when I had the idea. Researching the minutae of missions, where to pick up supplies, information gathering in the region of space. Who's who & where's where - more like Neelix's duties than the typical AA.

The paper-pushing was also pretty much what I envisioned, perhaps working a not-so-fast track to command (ala early Wesley).

However...

Dan:

As a narrator I am not sure I could actually fit it in and keep the pace exciting...

Point taken. Paper-pushing like Radar from M*A*S*H (my thoughts behind this character) woldn't be all that exciting or involved, unless you take the advice given by C5 & occasionally send him out on scouting expiditions for materials, food supplies, etc.. (ok Neelix again)

Maybe I need to rethink this. I was really trying to think of a "lower-decks" character to play. I'd suggest a guide like Neelix, but I doubt if we'll need one where we're heading (maybe we will?)

[LizardQueen]

Originally posted by Perrryyy
...Paper-pushing like Radar from M*A*S*H (my thoughts behind this character) woldn't be all that exciting or involved...

True, but Radar did a lot more than paper-pushing. He was the guy everyone went to when they couldnt' get things through normal channels as well. (of course, not being able to get things through normal channels doesn't seem to be as much of a problem in Starfleet as it was in the 4077th.) Like trading pizza ovens for incubators. (or was that Klinger?)

[Sea Tyger]

Another idea is that perhaps the yeoman could also be trained security...the last line of defense on away missions if things go badly.

That would allow the PC to keep an eye out for danger, work with the other PCs to investigate something suspicious. If you're going to make a PC yeoman, it's always worth broadening his/her responsibilities to allow for the player to have things to do.

Remember, this is akin to a TV series. If one of the show's regulars was the yeoman, he or she'd do a lot more than shove a data PADD into the captain's hands.

Yeoman Colt, IIRC, was going to be one of the regulars on Pike's Enterprise (at least it seemed that way in the pilot...it's quite possible that the character would have been relegated to a lesser status once the series began), so there is (kinda) precedent.

I figured I'd toss a couple of pennies into the mix...

[Perrryyy]

Another idea is that perhaps the yeoman could also be trained security...the last line of defense on away missions if things go badly.

*snap*

I had the same thought at the same time. If you take the admin/info gathering duties of yeomen, they'd make excellent assistant investigators to security personnel (wish I'd come up with that *before* I left for vacation 3 weeks ago).

Basically, I see a yeoman as someone doing a lot of information gathering, computer research on enemies, areas of space, personnel, & minor investigative work.

Edit: How about information gathering for a espionage/intell plot, since the Venture is in (or headed to) Rommie territory?

[Ronin84]

I remember watching Under Siege I believe it was and it was mentioned that Steven Segal's character was transfered aboard and could only fill one of two positions. A cook and something else...at the Captains discretion.


What if your PC is transfered on board but because of discipline problems or whatever they can onlly fill the position of Yeoman. Now this Yeoman is also highly trained in other areas and is a real asset to the ship but the Captain has to get real inventive on how to include his "yeoman" on the missions.

If the Yeoman is enlisted they could be asked to "train" the younger members of the crew in a variety of fields that are the real specialty of the PC.

Just a thought

Ronin84

[Captain Leana Craig]

Chief Rybeck from Under Seige job choices were indeed Yeoman or cook.

[Silverthorne]

((radar traded the barbeque grill for the incubator.. the useless facts that stick with us...))