Star Trek Constellation: Air and Darkness

Captain’s Log

Stardate: 47360.8 (May 12, 2370)

“Air and Darkness”

My attention is initially torn between the new orders we have received, and a brief and vague personal message sent by my husband, Ephraim. He wishes to speak with me regarding our son, Anden, though he did not give any more details. I suspect all is not well between them. I can’t speculate as to the cause of the strife, as I do not have a complete information profile collected on my son, I perhaps optimistically thought that I would not need to keep tabs on him in quite the same way I would a person of interest.

Regardless, there are other matters that need attending to. Our third mission involving the self proclaimed Preservers. One need not be Betazoid to sense the personal frustration that my crew is beginning to feel towards this particular species. I’ve made some small amount of progress on digging more data out of the recovered Preserver database, but nothing of note yet. This time, we are sent to Kappa Omicron C to observe and report on a possible Human civilization that was left behind in one of the Preservers signature actions of relocating peoples.

Upon arrival a strange ability has seemingly frozen the majority of my crew in a moment of time. Only Faren, Kehla, Storyteller and myself seemed to be free to move about as normal. This is seemingly due to the efforts of Ozwin, a human native of the planet, who considers us to be part of an otherworldly people. He wishes us to confront the person presumed responsible for the ships condition, the Witch Queen.

After setting automated instructions for the ship’s computer to follow, we begin the investigation on the surface. Though the more we uncover, the more I am suspicious of our benefactor, Ozwin.

On a personal note, I should have a discussion with my First Officer regarding the control of this mission. It was my initial intention to allow him to lead the team, until unforeseen circumstance has rather prompted my maintaining command.

Captain’s Log Supplemental

Stardate: 47360.8 (May 12, 2370)

I am Riale Chai, Lady of the Tenth House and Sion of Cyndriel. Imaging me saying this to a child of merely 18 years. Answering her challenge as if this was some kind of grand destiny. I certainly must be getting eccentric at my age. The incident of fantasy adventure concluded relatively without trouble. Storyteller, I found out later, was the cause of my not being blasted to a crisp by a lightning bolt called from previously mentioned teenagers ire.

Our initial directive was to observe the culture of this world, suspected of being established by the Preservers. We certainly managed to gather a number of first person accounts to tell. The references to ‘magic’ as an amplified psionic ability may peek the interests of some of Starfleet's scientists, but I stand by my official recommendation to quarantine this planet for at least 100 years. As it needs to reestablish itself without the use of these additional psionic partnerships with the local insectoid life. A shame truly, that I was not able to get documentation in more detail of the four-winged ‘dragon’ that I witness in the moonlight.

On a more personal nature, the opportunity to pass leadership to Commander Faren was denied to us both as the frozen in time effect got to him inconveniently. Furthermore, the combat action that Lt. Kehla engaged in on my order should be noted in her file, as I do recommend a special commendation for taking wounds in the line of duty.

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.

Love 365

The sound of rain, a few drops hit my face through the crack of window I left open last night. I glance to the soundless alarm clock by my bed: 8:13 AM. Much later than I should be up, but early enough that I don’t have to rush to get ready for a work shift that starts and runs late. I grab my phone and check to see if I have a good morning text from my girlfriend, but not this morning, so she’s probably sleeping in too. The next thing I do is log into the newest app on my phone: Love 365. (Found on Google Play and iTunes)

Love 365 is a Japanese-inspired romance game, one of the purchase-as-you-go types. It is absolute fluff, and I have to admit that I’m quickly becoming an addict.

The quality of this particular app is high. One of the better kinds of interactive stories I’ve tried. The choices actually seem to have a decent amount of impact on how the other main character reacts to you. My only qualms are that the roles of the protagonist and the types of characters you pick to romance are limited to only classic tropes. What I would really enjoy seeing in an app like this would be the ability to customize your protagonist a bit and a greater variety of choices in romantic partner. For now though, I have no complaints with this particular app. It knows its target audience and it does a great job of catering to them. The romances are enjoyable, if not exactly replayable.

How it works: first you create a profile, pretty basic information only, and then you pick the name that you would like to use as the female point of view character in the stories. This name does not change unless you go to your profile to update it. Luckily, in this app, the name can be updated if you make a typo or are unhappy with your name after trying it out. After that, you can explore the various stories and pick whichever appeals to you. The app offers a couple of free stories that change monthly; this is a great starting place that doesn’t require you to make any purchases to read through a complete chapter.

Otherwise, you can pick out a story that interests you, and then you pick the male love interest within that story. Usually there are a handful of options with classic personalities for people who are drawn to certain personality types. You can sample a few minutes of story with each choice. Here is where this app truly shines. Each pick will have a distinct storyline that you can only experience with that male protagonist. There is also a game aspect to this, as you have to learn and predict how each love interest will react to the limited choices you are given throughout the story. The goal, if you are a completionist person like myself, is to win them over to get the best ending each time. I wish that there could be more of these options integrated into the story, and that each choice has a more immediate feedback, as you don’t know if your relationship meter will rise or fall until you reach the end of the current story point.

I have always been a romance addict; this is just the newest incarnation of a lifelong fascination with fantasy. No surprise to anyone who knows me, is in one of my three ongoing Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, or has taken a look at my book collection. Dominated with fairy tales both light and dark. Novels that have unusual worlds where magic plays heavy influence, and a handful of other fiction wedged in between.

What might be a surprise is the opinion I have that too much fantasy can be dangerous; at least it was for me. Before I met the wonderful person who I am currently dating, I was a bit of a mess when it came to figuring out people’s feelings. There was a formula in my head, checkmarks that I thought were normal. But nobody could ever meet these expectations, and I wasn’t really able to accept them for who they were and not this imagined ideal. Every time I tried, I lost the romance game of life, and there was no option to replay.

Without going too much further on that, I’m sure that for most people this is a phase they are able to grow out of or grow up from in the natural course of life. Sometimes sooner, and sometimes, like me, much later. I am immensely glad that I finally did, and met a person who was able to get me to look past the fiction, and find a very real, very messy kind of love. Our romance meter has ups and downs, a lot more of the ups these days, and she is pretty good about giving me the feedback when I do something that reverses my progress.

Thank you, Kristine. The best thing you’ve done for me is actually breaking my romantic idealist mentality, and showing me that the real experience is the best experience of all.

These days I am able to read fiction, watch movies or TV, and even play a romance game without the investment that I put into the characters really having that much of an effect on me, other than entertainment. But as far as Love 365 goes, my current investment totals $1. I can quit at any time I want to... Maybe the sooner the better.

And I should first text my girlfriend a good morning before I open the app. Maybe.