Players Guide
Welcome to the USS Odyssey, a part of Obsidian Fleet. This guide is designed to give prospective and new players the opportunity to learn about our game system, what exactly it is and the way we play our games. While an effort has been made to include just about every possible detail in this guide, if you have further questions, feel free to ask the GM of the ship to which you apply..
The USS Odyssey is a role-playing game. Using the magic of Internet e-mail and our combined imaginations we unite fellow lovers of Star Trek, bringing our game world alive.
Here's how...
Players, such as yourself, create fictional characters and describe their actions by way of e-mail. Just like on a 'real' Starfleet vessel, there is a Captain, a First Officer, Department Heads, chain of command and the like. All new players start out as Ensigns, and as they prove themselves, they will be promoted to higher rank and be given more authority.
Unlike other Role-Playing Games of this kind, This game has slightly more structure. In addition to character development, This game will also focus on problem solving and resolution. The GM presents a problem or situation, better known as a plot, and your characters actions are based on that situation. Unlike the approach sometimes called 'Simming' the GM on the USS Odyssey game will be actively involved, he\she will provide the results of your actions as well as control most of the Non-Player Characters you interact with. You are not allowed to 'control' other player characters in your post, without the specific consent of that player. (you should ask for a 'response' instead, allowing that player to interact with you.)
While the GM does have a plot in mind for the game, the outcome truly is up to you, the player! The way you choose to overcome an attack by the Borg, a hostile Cardassian Nano-Virus or any other situation is up to the crew of the ship, not the GM. While the GM is always around to gently guide the crew, he never dictates actions, his job is to determine the results of your actions. Something to remember! because you can choose to do just about anything with your character, any result is also possible, including the death of your character, while character death is something that will never be done lightly or on a whim, it is imperative that the possibility exsist.
Each character on the USS Odyssey will be assigned to a 'Department', It defines the training and basic skills of your character as well as what overall 'job' they do aboard. Following is a description of each department:
Command
Command includes the Captain, First Officer and Second Officer (often, the Chief of Operations). Other notable jobs within the Command branch are JAG Officers, Starfleet Academy Instructors, and Diplomatic Corps Personnel. The officers are responsible for maintaining order and discipline, as well as making all of the hard choice decisions aboard the ship. Officers are nominally selected out of the Line Officer departments (Operations, Engineering and Security) and must pass Command School and the Bridge Command Qualification exams to be considered for this program. Officers in the command program can be distinguished with a red turtleneck.
Counseling
Keeping highly intelligent personnel motivated and performing at high levels over time requires an emphasis on mental fitness. This becomes vitally important when you have many officers directing others and in some cases these orders could mean the difference in lives, and peace vs. war. Counselors are officers trained to help the crew overcome their anxieties and mental problems so they can perform their duties with a clear mind. Additionally Councilors are responsible for the morale of the crew and for overseeing the welfare of the families of the crew. Counselors in uniform wear a blue turtleneck, however they are usually granted permission to wear suitable civilian attire, in order to establish an open relationship without 'rank' being an issue.
Engineering
The Engineering staff is responsible for the 'Health' of the Starship, making sure that the warp core is operational, power is regulated efficiently throughout the ship, and necessary repairs and maintence are performed only scratches the surface of their duties. They know their starship inside and out. Most are ready for any problems that can possibly arise, and are justifiably proud of the 'reputation that a Starfleet engineer can build a replicator out of a rock and crewing gum. Engineers know by heart the physics introduced by famous physicists; Sir Isaac Newton and Zephram Cochrane just to name a few. Each is well versed in warp theory. The head of the department is known as the Chief Engineering Officer. Engineers are found wearing gold turtlenecks.
Medical
The physical health of the crew is vital for a starship to function. The medical staff, whether doctors, nurses, or enlisted medics; are ready to handle any crisis that may head into Sickbay. Our Medical Department is responsible for diagnosing diseases, common illnesses, performing necessary surgery, and repairing cuts, scrapes, and bruises. This is another demanding job, only for the dedicated, as lives may be at stake. The senior doctor on board is the Chief Medical Officer. The medical staff is adorned with a blue turtleneck.
Operations
The (Starship) Operations department is responsible for a number of functions on board the ship, these officers have the highest degree of cross training aboard. Operations makes up 65% of all line officer positions in Starfleet, and most starting characters will begin in this department. Operations duties include but are not limited to administration, supply, transporter operations, shuttle operations, computer operations, and stellar cartography. The head of the department is the Chief of Operations. Operations personnel can also be further sub-departments of Flight Control Operations (CONN) and Life Sciences. Each has a department head nominally responsible to the Chief of Operations. Ops personnel can be seen normally wearing a yellow turtleneck but they can also wear red or blue turtlenecks depending on their job description and Commanding Officer's preference, usually red for CONN and blue for life sciences.
Security
Safety and order is an essential to any starship. Security Officers are responsible for keeping diplomats safe, ridding the ship of threats, enforcing Federation Law and the repair and operation of Weapon Systems. Security officers must be tough as their job is one of the most demanding. Security also performs the function of old Terran Marine Corps, providing ground support and tactical knowledge in combat situations. Security Officers are rotated on a regular basis between Starbase Assignments, Starship duty, Groundside Assignments, and RRT duty...(Rapid Response Team ..a cross form of Search and rescue and US Army rangers) with Training courses constantly thrown in. The head of the Department is the Chief of Security. Security personnel wear a gold turtleneck.
Civilian
Civilian personnel on board a Starfleet vessel or station are very limited in authority, they have no place in the normal chain-of-command, nor can they be awarded promotion or position. Civilian characters include but are not limited to scientific experts, 10 Forward personnel (Bartenders, Servers), Reporters, and the spouses of officers assigned aboard. Because of the unique nature and often limited role of these characters, all civilian player characters must be specifically approved by the individual ship gamemaster.
Rules, Policies, and Guidelines
We try to have as few actual 'rules' as possible in the game. We have found, however, that game stability depends highly on players knowing what is not accepted by the GM. Please make an effort to follow the above guidelines when playing the game.
No player may kill the character of another player, that said, it is possible for the GM to kill a player character in the rare event that bad luck or poor judgment has landed the character in a lethal situation. While the gamemaster is committed to avoiding killing a Player, we have found that 'fear of possible death' allows the game to sustain superior level of believability.
No player may maintain more than one character unless approved by the GM.
It is the PLAYER'S responsibility to take part in the storyline, and to post AT LEAST every TWO days. This rule is just a minimum only. If you are able to post more you are encouraged to do so. Due to bandwidth concerns and the general welfare of the game, inactive players who do not request leave may be removed from the game without notice.
New players enter the game at the rank of Ensign unless approved my the GM.
The GM has the final say in all game related manners. While player input, in private, is encouraged, flaming, abusive language, et cetera will not be tolerated.
Keep your posts to a PG-13 level. Tone down the amount of foul language, sexual activity, etc., to a PG-13 level. When in doubt, ask yourself if you would have seen or heard this comment or situation on the show, if not, don't do it.
Taking Leave:
If at any time you plan to be away from the game for longer than three days, you are required to request leave. Simply write the GM and let him know when you will be starting leave and when you will return. Requests for leave WILL NEVER BE DENIED. Include your desires regarding the receipt of email while gone: It is the player's option whether they would like to be removed from the list or not, but be advised that if your mailbox fills up and you begin 'bouncing' email, you will be removed from the list until you return.
How To Play
It is important to form your game posts in an easy to read manner. Do not write your character's actions in a novel like fashion. Instead, please use the below guides:
Subject line: Try to avoid changing this significantly, as it helps the other players keep track of the various threads of the game. Please do put the names of characters that specifically need to respond to your post in the subject line.
[Jones] <--- Use brackets to tell who's speaking!
"Always quote the speaker!"
::Double colons should enclose actions.::
~If your character is thinking something.. Use the tilde.~
!"if your character is shouting, use exclamations"!
("Use parenthesis to indicate something said in a whisper")
+COM: This should precede any spoken text to indicate that you are using a communicator to talk to someone who is not within speaking range.
<< RESULTS >> <--- Use this to let the GM know you need results!
< Respond-Whoever > <-- Use this to let other players know you need a response from them!
OOC: To add an out of character note, precede text with OOC (Out Of Character)
Here's a short posting example:
Subject: Stranger in the Jeffries Tubes < r-GM, Jamison, Security >
[Tabor]
"I saw something move ahead."
[Jamison]
+COM "(Jamison to Security, intruder alert, deck 7, in the Jeffries tubes)"
<< response-Security >>
[Tabor]
::moves forward slowly, his phaser drawn, setting level 4, in this other hand scans with his tricorder to determine the nature of the threat::
<< results >>
[Tabor]
"It's probably nothing, but better same than sorry."
<< response-Jamison >>
Ensign Alex Tabor
Operations
USS Kobiyashi Maru
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
While this scene has no set-up, and thus is an unrealistic scene, you get the idea of what your posts should look like.
Importantly, at the end of your posts, you should always sign it correctly, so everyone knows who you are. While custom game signatures are okay, your character's name, rank and position should be clearly indicated.
CALCULATING STARDATES -> 375MM.DD
The 375 is the year we are in (2375). The first two M's reflect the current "real life" month and the D's reflects the current "real life" day. So lets say today is December 25, the stardate would be 37512.25 Now when the new year arrives, the year will be 37601, which mean the stardate for December 25 of the next year would be 37612.25.
Storylines
The GM will almost always be responsible for the plot. Players are not required, nor encouraged to abruptly change the plot on their own without first consulting with the GM as this can split the game and cause additional difficulties that the gamemaster is not prepared to handle. If you'd like to create a subplot involving your own character, simply inform the GM of your plans and more than likely they will be approved, unless they interfere with the plot.
Whenever your character performs an action, such as searching for something, scanning something, or basically any situation where the outcomes is not certain, you are required to put << RESULTS >> after that action. Do not assume anything; the GM will give the results to your actions.
You are now ready to begin play. Good luck, and have fun!
These rules and guidelines were set forth by Jerry Wicker of Starfleet Directives.
