From: dsturm@news.duc.auburn.edu
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.fandom,rec.arts.startrek.misc
Subject: ABOUT STARGAME Interactive E-mail RPG
Date: 16 Sep 92 02:20:01 GMT
Organization: Auburn University, AL

ALL ABOUT STARGAME MONTHLY--A STARGAME FAQL AND ETIQUETTE GUIDE
	SEPTEMBER 1992

Compiled by Dave Sturm <dsturm@ducvax.auburn.edu>/<dsturm@auducvax.bitnet>
Based on original work by Alexander Jackl <alexj@JULIET.LL.MIT.EDU>, Scott 
	Galliand <ycsw206@lsuvm.bitnet>{changes quarterly}, Brian Hartsfield
	<bh@eng.auburn.edu>/<kd4aej@aol.com> & Dave Sturm.

		********INTRODUCTION********

Hi!  We're all GM's &or players who're running a game here on the Star Trek Role
Playing Game List.  Let's see if we can explain the purposes of the list a lil
better than the listserv does.  The purpose of the list is 2 things:
	1) To discuss aspects of the Star Trek Role-Playing Game, which @ 1 time
	   was put out by FASA.
	2) To actually play the game, or a similar system.

This isn't a Star Trek discussion list per se, w/ the exception of discussing
things in relation to the game itself.  If you're interested in discussing the
series itself, try Strek-L or strfleet, which are 2 lists also operated by the
listserv@pccvm.bitnet.  There's also RASI-L and STREK-D, which provide longer
pieces of information, but have no discussions.

This is intended to be a useful guide to help games run more smoothly & to aid
in playing & is based entirely on the experience & opinions of list subscribers.
It isn't necessarily the right way to do it.  We've just found it works.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
0.	HOW TO ENROLL IN STARGAME
1.	GENERAL CAMPAIGN ETIQUETTE
2.	DETAILED CAMPAIGN DESCRIPTIONS & SIGNING ONTO A SHIP
3.	NEW PLAYERS' GUIDE
4.	NEW GM'S GUIDE
5.	HISTORY OF STARGAME

0.	HOW TO ENROLL IN STARGAME
Send a message containing "SUBSCRIBE STARGAME <your real name>" to 
<listserv@pccvm.bitnet>.  Then to get a general help file send "HELP" to the 
same address.

1.	GENERAL CAMPAIGN ETIQUETTE
Each campaign has a short 3-letter acronym, a game code that stands for the
campaign.  It's usually the name of the ship the players are on.

		TABLE 1-1.  LIST OF CODES CURRENTLY USED....
		******** TOS era (2260s) ********
VEN = Venture		E10 = Space Station E-10 (2255-2275)
REG = Regulus		ENT = Enterprise
		******** TFS era (2280s & 90s) ********
ORI = Orion		ADM = Adamant		EXC = Excelsior
AND = Andromeda		NOR = Northhampton	E-A = Enterprise A
EPS = Station Epsilon-10
		******** Mid Generation Era (2320-2360) ********
ROM = (Rom)Sharr'ael	E-C = Enterprise C
QUA = Quasar		510 = Starbase 510
		******** TNG and after TNG Era (2360-2400) ********
IKS = (Kli)L'Tarka	SAK = Sackeville	E-D = Enterprise D
NGF = Funakoshi		NGS = Spitfire		NGG = Gallagher
CHA = Challenger (TNG+5)			VAL = Valor (TNG+5)	
APA = Apache (TNG+15)
510 = Starbase 510
		******** Information not available ********
		all known campaigns now identified

Unusual codes to note:
NG_ = (*N*ext *G*eneration era)
IKS = (Imperial Klingon Ship) L'Tarka
ALL is reserved to refer to *all* campaigns
RPG is reserved to discuss Stargame, FASA's Star Trek RPG's, etc..
NEW is reserved to discuss *new* campaigns and ideas

Other Common Abbreviations...
NPC = Non-Player Character (& similar acronyms from our AD&D days :-)
GM  = Game Master (again, just like 20 years ago w/ D&D :-)
TOS = The Original Series ca 2260's-2270's
TFS = The Film Series ca 2275-2295
TNG = The Next Generation ca 2360's-2370's
DS9 = Deep Space Nine ca 2370's-2380's
OHD = O'Hare International Airport, Chicago :-)

A post MUST start w/ the game code.  This allows people to quickly & easily weed
thru Stargame mail & get to their campaigns.  This is VERY useful.  To encourage
this we even suggest that GMs & players not respond to posts ignoring the rule.
This may be the single most important rule of Stargame etiquette--right behind 
listening to the GM!

One might even put locations of conversations in as well--often 2+ things are
happening @ the same time!  For instance say there's an away team, crew on the
bridge & folks in 10-Forward having conversations.  If on the Venture, the
subject headers would be:
	VEN [Away] Sensor scan on alien
	VEN [BRIDGE] Captain's reply
	VEN [10-Fwd] Re: Kirk's Tholian joke
This may seem awkward @ 1st--but it makes our lives much easier in terms of
following what's going on!

LISTEN to campaign GMs.  This is really important.  The GM provides a service
that's invaluable to the game.  They've basically agreed to create & maintain
cohesive storylines all of you create together.  It's a tough job & difficult.
There're several things that can be done to make it easier:

1) Follow the rules of etiquette.  My campaign or yours!  Find out from the GM
   what the GM wants done.
2) Don't make up major events unless you've cleared it w/ the GM--like your
   posting on a ship, explosions, enemy attacks & such.  You may not know what's
   going on in the story on all fronts & you could disrupt the story by making
   something happen that doesn't fit.  Since the GM's the person holding the
   story together--run it past the GM 1st!

For instance Alex was captain of the AND & ordered phasers to fire @ an enemy w/
no shields--yet he described explosions as the phasers hit.  It turns out the
ship had just maneuvered behind the planet so that bit didn't occur!  Then the
GM had to go back & rewrite that section & let everyone know it didn't happen.
Bad etiquette.  He should've just ordered the phasers to fire & let the GM say
what happened!

Nuff said on that!  Don't take these rules too seriously--there're always 
exceptions.  However, the rules are useful for keeping the game easy & fun!

2.	DETAILED CAMPAIGN DESCRIPTIONS & SIGNING ONTO A SHIP
	Currently, there are sixteen or so games on the list:
ADM -- USS ADAMANT, NCC-?, ST6+ era (after the movies).
		run by Brian Hartsfield <bh@eng.auburn.edu> -- A spinoff
		of the ORI game (see below).  The Adamant is a
		dreadnought being prepared for use against Federation
		enemies.  Currently in preparation.
AND -- USS ANDROMEDA, NCC-?, ST6+ era (after the movies).
		run by Ron Peterson <PA144188@utkvm1.bitnet> -- The
		Andromeda is an Excelsior-class cruiser on an
		exploratory mission for the Federation.  The Andromeda
		currently completed a run-in w/ the Romulans & is
		preparing to start a new mission in the final frontier.
APA -- USS APACHE, NCC-2000(?duplicates Excelsior?), TNG+15 era.
		run by Soong <3728P@navpgs.bitnet> 
		& Scott Galliand <ycsw206@lsuvm.bitnet> -- About 15 yr
		after the NexGen the Borg attacks on the Federation
		have increased & the Apache is 1 of the latest
		experiments created to deter that threat.  Currently
		completed an encounter w/ the malevolent Q.
CHA -- USS CHALLENGER, NCC-2023(?), TNG+5 era.
		run by Ranger <ip85409@portland.bitnet> -- About 5 yr
		after the NexGen the Challenger has been built to act
		as a rapid-action vessel in trouble spots in & out of
		the Federation & is currently commanded by the android
		Legacy, a son of Commander Data of the Enterprise.
		Currently involved in a run-in w/ Klingons
E10/510 -- STATION E-10/ STARBASE 510, All eras.
		run by Dave Sturm <dsturm@ducvax.auburn.edu>/
		<dsturm@auducvax.bitnet> -- A new Stargame innovation, this 
		quasi-game will attempt to link most of the games on the list.
		This'll allow PCs to play their characters from other games if
		a GM finds it necessary to put a game on hold for more than a 
		month. E10/510's a starbase begun during TOS days that has 
		lasted up to & beyond the NexGen.  E10 begins play in October 
		1992.  Active use of 510 should begin by November.
IKS -- IKV L'TARKA, KL-?, early TNG era.
		run by Ranger <ip85409@portland.bitnet> -- 1st of the
		other-race games on Stargame.  This game has the
		players as denizens of the Klingon Empire @ about the
		time of the early years of the NexGen.
NGF -- USS FUNAKOSHI, NCC-?, TNG era.
		run by Jim Cecil <FSVCECIL@EKU.bitnet> -- Set @ the
		same time as the NexGen, the Funakoshi is a Stargazer-
		class cruiser on a standard exploratory mission for the
		UFP.  The Funakoshi just finished a major encounter w/
		Q & the Borg & is preparing for the start of a new
		mission.
NGG -- USS GALLAGHER, NCC-?, TNG era.
		run by Jim Cecil <FSVCECIL@EKU.bitnet> -- A spinoff of
		the NGF/S games run by the same GM, the Gallagher is a
		Galaxy-class cruiser preparing to explore the final
		frontier.  Currently being prepared for play.
NGS -- USS SPITFIRE, NCC-?, TNG era.
		run by Jim Cecil <FSVCECIL@EKU.bitnet> -- A spinoff of
		the NGF game run by the same GM.  The Spitfire is an
		Excelsior-class cruiser just being brought online by
		Starfleet.  Currently involved in an encounter w/ Q
		& the Doomsday Device.
NOR -- USS NORTHAMPTON, NCC-12400, ST6+ era (after the movies).
		run by Scott Galliand <ycsw206@Lsuvm.bitnet) -- Set
		following Star Trek 6, the Northampton is a newly-
		commissioned frigate about to begin exploration of the
		Triangle region of space.  The Northampton's captain is
		none other than Adm Montgomery Scott.  Currently
		inactive (?) w/ Admiral Scott's strange disappearance :-)
ORI -- USS ORION, NCC-2000P, ST6+ era (after the movies).
		run by Brian Hartsfield <bh@eng.auburn.edu> -- This
		game's run by none other than the listowner himself.
		The Orion is a modification of Excelsior-class
		cruisers, whose purpose is to explore the final frontier
		in the time period following the last movie.
QUA -- USS QUASAR, NCC-?, between TOS and TNG era.
		run by Ranger <ip85409@portland.bitnet> -- Set after the
		loss of the Enterprise-C (remember the NexGen episode called
		Yesterday's Enterprise where 2 Enterprises meet?), the Quasar
		is setting out to explore new worlds @ this time.
		Currently resuming play.
REG -- USS REGULUS, NCC-1840, TOS era.
		run by Dave Sturm <see E10/510 for userID> -- The
		Regulus is an original Consititution class ship that
		patrols the "Plateau Sector" sitting hi above the
		galactic plane.  This campaign's linked to E10/510.
		It will be launched about December 1992.
ROM -- CH'R SHARR'AEL, between TOS and TNG era.
		run by Nik Whitehead <nwhitehe@MIC.dund.ac.uk>
		and William Knopes <wknopes@ST6000.sct.edu> -- The
		2d of the other races campaign on Stargame will center
		on the Romulans/Rihannsu & takes place between TNG &
		TOS.  Now being crewed.
RPG -- not a game per se but an agreed upon prefix for the
		discussion of roleplaying in the Star Trek universe.
		Normally centered on the FASA game but may soon include
		the new Task Force Games' Prime Directive RPG.
SAK -- USS SACKEVILLE, NCC-?, TNG era.
		run by Shawn MacKinnon <smackinnon@mta.ca> -- The
		Sackville is another Constellation-class cruiser on a
		mission of exploration.  This is currently the oldest
		game on the list.  Currently on hiatus for the summer.
VAL -- USS VALOR, NCC-?, TNG+5 era.
		run by Michael ? <DA94ML16@wooster.bitnet>
		and Heidi ? <S92043@sdnet.bitnet> -- This game'll take place 5
		yr after TNG, about the timeframe of the CHA game (see above, no
		relation).  The Valor is just starting to be crewed now.
VEN -- USS VENTURE, NCC-1863, TOS era.
		run by Juan Fernandez <fernande@iris.uncg.edu> -- This game 
		takes place during the time of the original series on board the
		Venture, a newly-commissioned Constitution-class starship.
If you're interested in joining in any of the games, you should E-mail the GM of
the game DIRECTLY for a list of open positions.  

		TABLE 2-2.  CURRENT STATUS
POSITIONS AVAILABLE:	ADM, APA, E10, 510, IKS, ORI, REG, ROM, VAL
NO POSITIONS AVAILABLE:	
SHIPS ON HIATUS:	NOR, SAK, EXC, All Enterprises
NO INFORMATION ON:	AND, CHA, NGF, NGG, NGS, QUA, VEN

The GM would tell you the positions that are open.  You'd then be expected to
send a personal history of your character before you enter the game.  The only
difference is there're no dice involved in the resolution of actions.  Just
relax & enjoy it.

3.	BEGINNING A CAMPAIGN AS A PLAYER:
Before you play watch some of the campaigns for @ LEAST a few days so you get
the hang of how it's done.  Always ask the GM before intruding on a game.
Probably you should start out w/ 1 character in 1 campaign until you're used to
it.  If you're playing a character w/ the same name in 2 campaigns be SURE to
put the RIGHT 3-letter code in front of your posts or it'll be frustrating &
confusing to your GM & fellow players.

Figure out what race, sex, personality & goals your character has.  Make up some
interesting quirks.  Find out from the GM what information's needed on your
character & then create that.

Let the GM know what you the PLAYER want out of the game.  Romance, hair-raising
excitement, horror, mystery &c.  This'll allow the GM to tailor the story as
well as is possible to fit your needs.

Be creative.  Develop your characters & write about their conversations.  Treat
it as if you were writing a story!  That makes it much more interesting.  We
like to have people describe their characters so we can get a feel for them.
Play with it!  Have fun!  Don't be afraid to play the character full out!

4.	BEGINNING A CAMPAIGN AS A GM:
The best way to do this is to make a post to Stargame announcing that you're
going to start a new campaign.  Check w/ your postmaster (unless it's you!) if
you think there may be a problem with lots of mail!;-)

A) This information should be in that post:

0) Subject Line:  NEW Campaign Starting: ___ (<--insert 3-letter code there)
1) Your real name & net address(es), both bitnet and internet if possible.
2) The name of the ship (or the campaign name if it isn't ship based!)
3) The setting:  i.e.:
	a) on a ship or not; what type of ship
	b) where in the Star Trek timeline.  This is especially important
	for people designing characters.  We don't want a Klingon SF officer
	in TOS.  The technology's different as well--i.e. there's no
	intraship beaming in TOS; you have to open the communicator
	@ your belt to talk &c.  Also Data-like androids didn't 
	exist in Kirk's time...(Mudd and Korby androids don't cut it!)
4) What positions are open
5) Any restrictions on race, type of character or history.
6) What rules system you are going to use if any.  Most don't use a rule system
	that's visible to the players.  Most GMs run this as an interactive
	piece of fiction in which they generate the main plot events & the
	players act in character to respond & resolve it.  Some people use FASA
	&or the old Star Trek RPG to define characters & resolve ship combats.

B) Information:  Keep good notes.  Things get very confusing.  Have a plot
outline that you keep updated.  Know what's going on & keep track of what
players do & say.   Read each post w/ following mindset:

1) What's the player asking?  Is there any information that I should provide?
2) What's the character doing?  Has s/he changed the plot?  Must I note this?

The Star Trek universe is very information heavy.  We suggest having players
ask the computer by sending to you personally & having the subject be:
	[3-letter campaign code] COMP request
Then you'll know.  Or for the science officer maybe:
	[3-letter] SENSOR request
That way it's clear that it's a request for information.

C) If a player sends personal mail (not via Stargame) send back personal mail.
That way they can announce the discovery/information.  It's more fun that way
for the players & keeps the amount of noise on Stargame to a minimum...

D) Know how much time has passed & what time things are going to happen. (if you
know)  This notetaking can be time-consuming but it makes for a much better game
&'ll save you grief later.  (as former GMs can attest!)

E) Also--be considerate of the players:

1) If they come up with a good idea, but it isn't what you expected, let 'em go
w/ it.  Have it work if it's smart.  It isn't you against them--it's all of you
playing together to have a good time--& sometimes the players'll come up w/
novel & interesting solutions.

2) Have your characters not be omnipotent and omniscient (unless of course they
are, or are Q!)  If anything downplay characters that aren't players, because
this kind of game has so many players in it.

3) Find out what they want out of the game & give it to 'em.  Not like solving
things for 'em but if they want adventure--give 'em an adventure story.  If
they want heroic rescues--give 'em that.  If you don't know--ask!

And have fun.  Remember you're a player too.  You & the players are a team, a
crew if you will, working together to create a great story!

Make it so!

5.	HISTORY OF STARGAME
Not written yet, but Brian could tell you most of it.  Any takers to write one?

If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail us directly.
Good luck, and welcome (again)!!!!

Alex, Scott, Dave & Brian...

Send corrections and clarifications to <dsturm@ducvax.auburn.edu>
Revised and edited, Dave Sturm 9/11/92