ST Series -> RPG problem

[Profit]

How do you (if you do) solve the problem with information transfer between the narrator and the players when it comes to sensor readings and so on? what I'm trying to avoid is the strange echo that occurs:

Narrator (to the sensors operator): "The sensors show increased levfels of tachyon particles"
Sensor operator (to the rest of the crew): "The sensors show increased levels of tachyon particles" (which they (the players) already know since they heard the narrator...)

I'm sure that you understand what I mean.

Do you keep sensor operators, engineers etc. as NPC's? Do you pass notes? Or do you just ignore it?

//KJB

[KillerWhale]

I ignore it. The players act together, and all assume this kind of general information is repeated (sometimes they indeed repeat, but not often). Sometimes they also interrupt and say they don't warn the others yet, and they act as if they didn't know.

When I sense the information is sensitive (background-related eg) I pass a note.

Works smoothly

[Profit]

Ah, so there is sort of an "assumed" echo? Clever indeed.

And this is ok with the player that is "ad-libbed"? Doesn't it deduct from the ST "feel" of the scene?

//KJB

[Ineti]

I usually have note cards prepared ahead of time so that they players can relay the info in their character's voice.

Sometimes, I'll pull a player aside and tell him what he's discovered. He'll then relay that info to the group.

[KillerWhale]

And this is ok with the player that is "ad-libbed"? Doesn't it deduct from the ST "feel" of the scene?

No problem at all. That flows easily in the heat of the game, when the players are all on a theory and are eager for the answer.

In fact, most of the time our dialogs look like that:

Me to science officer player - You find a lot of tachyon particles.
Science officer player (to other players) - You're right guys, that's consistent with the transwarp theory.

Or even:

(In sickbay, with all players)
Me (to the doctor player) - Seems like the DNA has been altered.
CO (to doctor) - Hm, doctor, can you trace the original species?
Doctor (to me) - Is it possible?
Me - Yeah, roll under Medecine, Genetics.
(Rolls)
Doctor - 22.
Me - This is Romulan DNA.
All players - ROMULAN??
Tactical officer - Red alert!

On the contrary, when players want to withdraw information, that works alos. For instance, we had in our last episode:

Conn - Computer?
Me - Bleep bleep
Conn - What's the expected outfit for a vulcan ceremony?
Me (in my best Majel Barret's voice) - The best outfit are Vulcan robes as displayed on LCARS data stream monitor 028. Dress uniform is also perfectly accepted.
Conn - Okay, hang on - I'm keeping this for myself. I want to do a little joke: I'm going to Kera (Note: our female betazoid science officer) and say, "Hmm, seems like the outfit for this Vulcan ceremony is rather suggestive".
Kera (who knows the trick, but plays her character) - Oh really sir? I'm surprised.
Me - OK, you roll under Persuade, and you under Savvy... Let's see if you buy it.
(Kera fails dramatically - when I mean dramatically, it's by 15 points).
Me - Well Kera, seems like you're completely convinced.
Kera - D*mn it!!!!!. Okay sir, I'll prepare.

etc...

I also do the same as Ineti: sometimes I take a player in a private chat for very personal scenes.

[Lt.Khrys Antos]

My players don't mind the echo when information is being passed. Most of my players tune out when it is only for the characters I am talking to. Usually they act as if they didn't hear what I just said, so it isn't a problem. Most of the time, the players ask as a group, though the CO asks the important questions most of the time.

[Silverthorne]

There are people in my group that do not want to know the difference between player knowledge and character knowledge.. I just call the player on it, and move on..

[Kaiddin]

I also use note cards; generic and scenario specific. I never throw anything out that has been used in a scenario.