martinet in command

[ghosty]

I'm thinking of changing the NPC CO before the next story arc kicks off (see Romulan Crisis thread). Up to now, the CO has been a bit of a Picard and some of the PCs actions have got a bit outrageous but it got the job done so I didn't have the heart to crack down.

The new CO I think is going to be different, I'm thinking of Humphrey Boggart's Captain Queeg. The only problem is that what I don't want is a Caine Mutiny...any ideas of how to head this off. The simplest solution is not to do it, but then I want the PCs to stop their outrageous solutions - I know its part of the job but it can get to be quite a hand full. I had to stop a game once for half an hour to think through their latest spanner in the works.

[starkllr]

Well, TNG did it with Captain Jellicoe; he was certainly a martinet, but on the other hand, he did get results.

You could have the new CO be very decorated and respected, so that the PCs would give him some leeway. You could also have the rest of the NPC crew react with devotion/respect/awe to the new CO, so that the PCs would have no choice but to go along.

You could also have the new CO transfer to the PCs ship along with several other officers, so that there would be several new people to react to.

Or you could even transfer the PCs to a different ship, so that they'd HAVE to be the ones to change their view and adapt to the new routine.

[darkwing duck1]

If you don't mind me asking...just what kind of spanners have they been tossing in your works?

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Deo Vindice!

[Commodore 2]

There's an old FASA Trek module that deals with a Izarian Captain that had such a proplem; I think its entitled "Decision at Midnight" or some such thing.
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Best speed to Gallifrey!
Commodore Horatio Richard Jaeger
CO,USS Audacity,NCC-85901

[Steele1701]

I remember that one. I use to have it a long time ago. The captain was an officer that had served with Garth of Izar. During a battle sometime before assuming command of the ship (The Arkadelphia, I believe)he had suffered a head injure.He began to have delusions of granduer and almost started a war with the Klingons. Of course the PCs were supposed to stop him and save the peace. He would be a heck of a captain to throw at your PCs, thats for sure. But someone of that class, a war hero, might just be what you need. He would definitly be someone the players would look up to.

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I am here to kick butt and chew bubble gum, and I am all out of bubble gum.

[ghosty]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by darkwing duck1:
If you don't mind me asking...just what kind of spanners have they been tossing in your works?
</font>

The pain, the pain...its hurts too much to think about it...

[Michael Brinkhues]

IIRC the captian in the "Cain" was not only a stickler to rules but also a coward and non too bright (I remember somethink like: "Checked only a certain route, so we only cleaned that route")

A stern but capable captain (Sisko, Riker but with a knack for the rules) should work nicely. Exspecially if he is willing to listen first and, in certain situations, go the way of the characters. Like when they tried "his" way and it didn't work.

At least it does for my group. They are quite "liberal" with the rules but when Commodore er Rear Admiral, Lower Half, Deering[1] orders them to stop it, they do.


Michael


[1] I "borrowed" Colonel Wilma Deering from "Buck Rogers in the 25th century". Right down her looking like Erin Grey.