Star Trek Constellation: Depth

Captain’s Log

Stardate: 47321.5

“Depth”

New orders have arrived, directing us to the Helaspont Nebula for a preliminary survey. Previous attempts have been unable to penetrate the unusually dense spatial anomaly.  The advanced sensor array of the USS Jemison is the current favorite for odds on gleaning any information from the Depths of this nebula.

Upon arrival at the Nebula, we picked up a distress beacon that led us further into the center of the beautiful, but engine challenging space. An unknown alien vessel had been partially destroyed, the hull of the ship resistant to our sensors, we will investigate with an Away Team. To be composed of myself, lieutenant Kehla, Ensign Ekot, and Cadet Emony. While the rest of the Engineering crew works on recovering our Engine power.

No survivors found on the wreckage. However there were signs of deliberate aggression and one dead body located by Kehla, our Klingon exchange officer and CMO, in the equivalent of a sickbay. The body was of a species previously seen on the so-called “Preservers” ship that we encountered in the Alkade system. Recovery of the destroyed ship’s log was attained just as local vessels began to traktor beam the debris, while I called for a jump into space that would allow the Team to be beamed aboard the Shuttlecraft, the Tigress. Afterward the aliens, who call themselves the Quelka, contacted us through the use of our holodeck and demanded the evacuation and surrender of the Jemison. They resemble in form, the bird species that was spotted on the Preservers ship, however they wear suits for environmental stability as standard, from what we are able to observe.

Captain’s Log Supplemental

Stardate: 47321.5

And they lived happily ever after… Fairy tales are a common part of Betazoid culture, as well as Human culture, from what I understand. So too the Quelka seem to have a set of stories of their own. A point that will become relevant momentarily.

The Jemison’s crew handled a multitude of tasks in the resolution of our latest adventure. My first officer who also holds the chief Engineer position, Commander Faren, found methods to defend the ship from, and even alter unfamiliar technology. Researching anomalous discordance in space and healing the injured (Kehla again). Even Storyteller, our ships civilian holographics expert, assisted with securing key information that allowed possible negotiations with the Quelka.

We learned that this race has suffered a great deal, from having been broken to near collapse by the kidnapping of vital members of it’s population (“Preservers”) to routine destruction of ships by a creature from beyond a spatial rip, known simply as The Beast. An entity that broadcasted a powerful telepathic aura that I had the fortune to become somewhat in tune with. Unfortunately my decision to aid in the extermination of this creature has perhaps dimmed the view that my crew may take of me.

Star Trek Constellation: One Giant Leap

Captain’s Log

Stardate, 47283.6

It would be an insult to call any Tellarite a ‘gracious host’. Therefore I did not extend this traditional courtesy to Admiral Garve as I departed the USS Takal on Star Base 621. Though his vessel was certainly one of the most peaceful and comfortable trips that I have experienced in my day. I found that the mindsets of a neat and orderly Admiral’s crew are a little to tame for my tastes.  So it is with an optimistic expectation that I take Command of the USS Jemison and her collection of cadets and crew. 

….Our first mission became something of a puzzle. During a routine survey of the Alkaid system, we discovered unusual material signatures coming from the one class M planet. Upon further investigation by myself and my first officer, Commander Faren, parts from the missing USS Darnel were found in a secured location by the local populace. We did not make contact with any individuals on the planet, however we secured photographic evidence just as the crew remaining on the Jemison reported contact with an unfamiliar alien vessel in orbit. 

They claim to be the people we have labeled as ‘The Preservers’ and have invited myself and my CMO over to discuss the matters of the planet below. 

Captain’s Log: Supplemental 
Stardate 47283.6

I hesitate to call the mission on Alkaid IV a complete success. Though I will note that Commander Faren performed his duties admirably, and accomplished the most necessary part of the task. 

Having confronted Captain Barix, the representative of the so called Preservers, he admitted that their interest in the planet’s inhabitants was related to the inducement of advanced technology. This quandary worthy discussion in an academic setting, was rendered rather more tangible when one considers our obligation to the Prime Directive. It is still not clear whether the non-Starfleet crew members understood the importance of actions. Or what they make of my leadership style. I do know that it was a near thing that I was beamed from the surface back to the ship before we left. 

With some lingering reservations about the cohesion of my new crew, we report the events of this mission and look forward to the next adventure.  

Remote Play

A not so subtle brag but, when you have more friends than you have space at the gaming table, you know you are a lucky Game Master. I am fortunate to be able to count myself in this category. One of the biggest reasons that I run games is because I can’t stop myself from wanting to invite everyone to play. For me, the experience is much less about telling a story than it is spending time with people both familiar and new.

My current Dungeons & Dragons Curse of Strahd adventure has grown from a regular group of 5, up to an occasional 7 player event. We finished a set piece session where the full party was present. Including the most recent attendee, who lives a few time zones away. Playing by camera, we don’t get to see his face every game, but when we do it’s always a welcome sight.

This was an impulse addition to the campaign when one of our sessions was short by a few players. We rigged up our first attempts without knowing what would work or having any experience beyond the everyday kind of remote play, where all participants are online. Soon it was clear that we needed something a bit more customized for remoting in just one player while the rest of the group was at the physical table. We have hooked up a speaker that was part of the living room entertainment center, we have used a conference room with a mounted wall TV.

Getting set up with a remote player presents a new set of challenges, especially if you are not a technically minded person in the audio and visual sense. One of my roommates, also a player in the Strahd game, took over the set up responsibilities and I couldn’t be more thankful for that. He instituted the idea of a battle camera as well, so that we can show the remote player how the tabletop grid looks, to help assist with the verbal descriptions. We’ve had hit and miss success with the battle cam; when the connection is strong and the lens is clear, it’s a brilliant addition. On the other hand, when the video quality is down, or the audio feedback unexpectedly turns on, it can be a painful experience.

Noise level was, and continues to be, the most problematic factor in the experience. It takes a very accommodating collection of personalities to be able to resist the background conversations that generate from scene to scene. My players are great at giving each a turn in the spotlight, but we also enjoy the little character building moments, which make it difficult for the player in the remote seat to track. Overall, the experiment of bringing in a long distance player was more successful than I would have guessed. It comes with some setbacks, and it’s not a model for gaming that I am eager to make a permanent fixture, but it’s good to have that knowledge on hand. We will always welcome additional players to our table, friends that can play in person and the friends that are well out of reach.

Evil Captain Chai Part II

The conclusion…

Following a classic trope of the original series of Star Trek, my character, Captain Riale Chai of the USS Jemison has been separated into two personality types. The bolder, aggressive, and decisive Captain took a bad turn when her crew began to question her motivations and took measures to suppress their actions against her. More on that later.

In this session, we also saw what happened to the calmer, more steady version of Captain Chai, who’d been transported secretly to a holodeck simulation and left there to stew until one of the crew unlocked the security on that program and found her. Things did not go well for the mild mannered Captain afterwards. Being mistaken for her unruly counterpart, she was stunned by the understandably upset first officer, who had been previously shot in the back with a phaser and hidden in some futuristic utility closet by the other Chai.

Behind the scenes, while playing the two separate personalities of my character, I had to grab onto something recognizable from her previous sessions, that would be the icon of how I saw each side of her. Her confidence seemed tied into her cool and collected behavior, while her ability to read a situation and react quickly went to the side that had a high survival instinct. I can say this all out now, with a lot more clarity of mind than when I was in the moment playing each side. My fellow players, in the end, all seemed to enjoy the experience of the session. We wrapped up the plot by having the two sides of Chai confront each other. The spotlight on me felt amplified as I tried to reconcile each side.

This was a different feeling than when I’ve been in the game master’s seat. Although I would not consider my games particularly hard, they do not shirk dangerous or deadly challenges, as some of my recent players can attest to. The difference, I think, is the team dynamic that I strive to when I get to be on the player side. Dividing myself from the rest of the players, and especially not taking it personally when they were determined to go after my character, that was harder than I figured it would be.

Opting not to draw the matter out too much, the game had gone late into the night as it was, the Captains Chai were able to reach an understanding and the rest of the crew corrected the situation with the classic transporter use to reverse the problem it had created. In the aftermath of this very in depth character adventure, I have a few things to revise on my character sheet. So much was learned, as a player and I think this has greatly affected how my character perceives her crew, which will be interesting to explore.

This kind of play, the darker side of being evil and against your own party, is not something that I will be in a hurry to repeat. It was tense, and challenging, and the payoff for the experience was worthwhile. The biggest thing I learned though, was that as a player, I get the most enjoyment from supporting and having the support of my teammates.

Budgeting Creative Energy

Whether by instinct, or by a cultivated necessity,

pacing yourself is an important skill to develop in this culture of gaming.

I speak mainly for myself, but I am sure that out there are a lot of people who have the same problem.

The having so much fun you venture into too much fun territory.

It’s easy to get addicted to that feeling of excitement and satisfaction that comes with

a game well played or a craft completed. 

Recently, I wrote of running three separate Dungeons & Dragons campaigns,
extended adventures that are focused on the characters of my players. However,
this has changed. I had to cancel one of these campaigns. It was a painfully embarrassing
failure to admit that I had over extended myself and I could not keep up with the commitments.
Self doubt and shame magnified by a former history of dropping the ball. My players were gracious
and kind, understanding when I explained the situation. It was still difficult,
because they had all been enjoying their experience so much. 

I’d been the one responsible for the promise of fun, and then the one that took that potential away.
Even so, I do not regret the decision. Nearly immediately after pulling the plug on the newest
and shortest game group, my planning for the other games kicked in hard on the heels of
the abandoned project. It was as if my mind could only handle so much processing,
and lightening the load made all the difference. 

As I face more creative projects and expand my hobby interests, I hope that the lesson will sink in
and stick with me. Time and energy all have limits, it may be a different amount for each person,
but better to learn where the limits are for yourself. Perhaps equally important is the effort of
pushing just a little past these boundaries from time to time. After all, I wouldn’t be writing a blog
about my hobbies if I just stuck to the bare minimum. At 34 years old, I am doing more,
learning more, and socializing more than I ever have. It’s time to temper the excitement of the new,
with the patience of experience. Time to settle in and really give my current interest a chance
to flourish and grow before my attention gets caught by the next curiosity. 

Wish me luck.