Living Starbase - a RPGA living campaign

[LivingStarbase]

Disclaimer: Should “The Powers That Be” on this forum decide this is unauthorized, go to livingstarbase@yahoogroup.com for discussion. I hope that they will allow this to continue on, as many of the Trek players are already here.

First of all, here is the text posted by Don Mappin regarding “Living Trek”.

“I was approached by someone at Gen Con about putting together a Living Star Trek campaign through the RPGA. I'll forward this stuff through Decipher, but ultimately the decision rests with them.”

Here's a Link to the tread: http://forum.trek-rpg.net/showthread...threadid=5161.

Why wait for Decipher to give approval? They are publishers of a game system and don’t control the players. Though Don did not say who, apparently someone went to TrekRPG, not to Decipher. (Imagine that, since they got the rights to Star Trek after Paramount/Viacom snatched it from LUG, who was purchased by WotC.) Therefore, someone must feel there is a sufficient want for a Star Trek living campaign.

I propose the subscribers of TrekRPG start formulating a plan for a Living Starbase RPGA living campaign.

Here’s the link to the web page that describes the requirements for designing a LC. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x...erruncampaign.

You will see that the rules are several months old, as Robert Wiese is no longer affiliated with WotC and Guild-level membership has been dropped from the RPGA structure.

[LivingStarbase]

1) I propose the following structure for the design team, to be called Station Department Chiefs:
a) Station Administrator
b) Chief of Operations
c) Chief of Personnel
d) Shipyard Director
e) Judge Advocate General

2) Station Department Chiefs:
a) Station Administrator will serve as campaign organizer and oversee all Living Starbase (LSB) campaign departments. Station Administrator will have final say on “direction” of the campaign.
b) Chief of Operations will oversee development of scenarios to include developing guidelines for scenario authors, soliciting scenarios from authors, and preparing scenarios for release to con organizers and Game Day organizers.
c) Chief of Personnel will oversee determine how best to implement the Decipher rules, i.e., which rules to use, which to deny. Rules Department also covers LSB character generation.
d) Shipyard Director will work with Scenario Department in establishing the names of all starships used in LSB scenarios.
e) Judge Advocate General will help develop program for teaching judges how to run a LSB Decipher-Trek scenario.

3) Each Department Chief will be able to bring in as many or as few as deemed to do the job, as long as the job gets done.

4) Station Department Chiefs will decide on station particulars;
a) Station name (working title – Valley Forge)
b) Station number
c) Class/design of station
d) Sector of Federation space
e) Stardate/Era of game play

5) Station Department Chiefs will approve the direction of the scenarios to be solicited for from the players/authors.

[LivingStarbase]

I had started a plan to create a living campaign for Star Trek RPG long way back, but stopped when LUG was bought out by WotC. it is now created.

If the forum leaders of this place decide to stop my work herein, please let me know and I will submit all of this through the YahooGroup of the same name.

Randy Bisig
a.k.a. Sawyer II

[LivingStarbase]

A basic problem was how to deal with characters of different level/rank and dept sitting at a table? Most all "kitchen table" games have an establish command order - CO, XO, Chief Engineer, Chief Science Officer, etc.

The best plan I could come up with (which is NOT the only plan) was to have each character be assigned to the station and be given assignments from the station's "Chief of Operations". They would be given access to a runabout or shuttle or given passage on a Galaxy or Nebula class vessel, one that would have no part in the scenario beyond the ride there, the ride back, rescue if needed and perhaps serve as a communication relay to the Fleet.

All other ideas are welcome.

~~~randy~~>

[calguard66]

I think this is a great idea... I'm the guy who posted the original thread here.

I'd like to add my effort to the cause.

However, we won't be able to publish and distribute anything with CODA TREK mechanics of other copyrighted materials without Decipher's approval.

Also, the rules on the link you posted relate mostly to D20 products. We could still do LSB under RPGA, and think it would be a good idea to do so, but Decipher will need some level of approval and involvement as well.

[calguard66]

I agree with the station idea... but would leave the actual method of travel, and any starship's role, up to the mod writer. Perhaps one time SF will purchase them passage on a freighter... another time insertion by a cloaked Klingon POB, etc.

Also, you have to make allowances for certed modes of transportation... starships, etc.

Originally posted by LivingStarbase
A basic problem was how to deal with characters of different level/rank and dept sitting at a table? Most all "kitchen table" games have an establish command order - CO, XO, Chief Engineer, Chief Science Officer, etc.

The best plan I could come up with (which is NOT the only plan) was to have each character be assigned to the station and be given assignments from the station's "Chief of Operations". They would be given access to a runabout or shuttle or given passage on a Galaxy or Nebula class vessel, one that would have no part in the scenario beyond the ride there, the ride back, rescue if needed and perhaps serve as a communication relay to the Fleet.

All other ideas are welcome.

~~~randy~~>

[LivingStarbase]

bump

[LivingStarbase]

This is why I think RPGA and Star Trek are not made for each other.

No Star Trek wants to play Star Trek in the RPGA.
Or no one wants to help build the darn thing.
Or would rather let Decipher do it.
Or just don't want to participate in any I come up with.

Darn.

Taking my starbase and going home...

[RaconteurX]

Don't be over-hasty... a week is hardly enough time for people to mull over their involvement. This represents a big time commitment, if the lives of other Living Campaign staffers are any indication. I'm willing to help develop the campaign background but, beyong that, I've no idea whether I can commit to such a project on a long-term basis. I'm not an RPGA member, also, nor do I really intend to become one (unless they offer me a complementary membership, for the extent of my tenure with the project).

One problem I can see, off the top of my head, is that there are already so many established "living campaigns" out there (the various sim groups, for example). We'd have to make the premise very fresh in order to attract seasoned fans, which may mean departing from a strict Starfleet orientation. Do you have any ideas thus far?

[RaconteurX]

Originally posted by LivingStarbase
Here’s the link to the web page that describes the requirements for designing a LC. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x...erruncampaign.

This link no longer appears to be valid.

[Dan Gurden]

I mihgt have been interested...

But yoiu seem to have forgotten the part about telling people what the hell participating in a 'living starbase' means...

And how this is different from a tabletop or PBEM game...

Just a minor point that might have gotten you more reponses!

[AslanC]

I too may have been interested, but wasn't exactly sure what it was you were planing or what level of comitment was involved.