Cultural Events

[Ensign Arrgh]

As Narrators, what kind of cultural manifestations do you use as background for some of your scenes, do you use some. Instead of a diplomatic conference, have you had your players meet important NPCs during a play or a concert. Have you ever tried to simulate alien works of art as background sound (like, what would a klingon opera sound like, and look for something you could tinker with). Or the multiple embassy balls of espionage movies...

Do you make events like the commission of a new starship, the election/nomination/crowning of a new government or head of state, the nomination of a new Commander-in-Chief of Starfleet, a Federation/national/planetary holiday and the like a grandiose event when they happen during your series, or just make them a footnote whether or not the characters are actually in the area where it happens.

[Ineti]

I like to sprinkle events like you've mentioned into my games. If a Federation member gets a new world leader, I give that info to one of the PCs so that they can incorporate that info into a scene with another PC. Sometimes the info is folded into a captain's log.

I've had scenes during concerts, plays, recitals, combat practice, the inevitable holodeck scenario, and on and on.

Whether the characters are in the area of the event or not, I like to sometimes step back and give them the big picture of other events.

[qerlin]

Our caracters have been to a bunch of diplomatic affairs, to religious ceremonies, and other cultural things. On shore leave episiodes, they have to go out and find stuff to do, but when they visit planets, there's usually something diplomatic going on (a new race or political power pulling up to your planet would most likely not get the 'hi, captain. why don't you come down for a little talk' thing. It's a photo-op...politicos love that.)

Any change of command on the ship is a function, we play out a lot of the promotion/award ceremonies that happen. When you get a flag rank officer on board, there's the usual scramble by the junior officers to make the place look nice (so the admiral can then poke his head into one room, say 'nice', then ignore the rest of the inspection...)

Was that the kind of stuff you were talking about?