How to prepare

To join this game, players will need the following: 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: • A computer running Win 10 or 11, macOS Big Sur (or newer), or Linux (Ubuntu 22+, Debian 11+, Redhat 9+, Arch) • A webcam, • Microphone, and headphones (or a headset with a built-in microphone) 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘀: • Players will need to create an account on The Forge (https://forge-vtt.com/) to access the game platform. • A discord account • An email address so I can share a dropbox link 𝗦𝗼𝗳𝘁𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲: • A browser - ideally Chrome, Firefox, Opera, or Edge (Safari is not supported) There is no need to read any rules ahead of time, as I’ll provide all necessary materials and guidance during the game. For those who would like to prepare by immersing themselves in the Star Trek universe, I recommend the following episodes and movies, which reflect the tone and themes of this campaign. 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲: It is not necessary to watch any of these - you could quite happily walk into the campaign having seen none of them: 𝗧𝗢𝗦 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲𝘀 • Balance of Terror (S01E08) – The introduction of the Romulans. • Errand of Mercy (S01E26) – The first major interaction with the Klingons. • Journey to Babel (S02E10) – Intrigue and sabotage during a vital diplomatic mission, showcasing Orion interference. • The Trouble with Tribbles (S02E15) – A classic comedic episode showcasing Klingon-Federation tensions. • A Private Little War (S02E19) – Examining the moral consequences of interference (and more Klingons). • The Enterprise Incident (S03E02) – Escalation of Romulan tensions. • Day of the Dove (S03E17) – Shows the origins of the Organian Peace Treaty between the Federation and the Klingons. 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘀 • Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan – Iconic ship-to-ship combat and the introduction of the 𝗠𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 class in the form of the 𝗨.𝗦.𝗦. 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘁. • Star Trek III: The Search for Spock – Exploring loss, loyalty, and hope. It also highlights how Klingon relations have changed since the series. • Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country – Diplomacy and the Cold War themes central to this campaign. 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲: The game is set 7 years BEFORE this film, so although this movie gives a really good view on Federation/Klingon relations at the time, remember the events in the film haven't occurred (yet).

What I provide

𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 This game will be run on Foundry VTT. I would like to use FoundryVTT audio (Livekit, not the terrible default Peer to Peer thing) although if we have issues with this we may choose to use Discord. • 𝗧𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗽𝘀: I will supply tokens for ships and NPCs. 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 (guidance will be shared in Session Zero). Space combat and some ground combat will use battlemaps, while other encounters will be handled in theatre of the mind, depending on the scene. • 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀: I'll share handouts covering the rules necessary to play. However, as I do not have the rights to share the full Star Trek Adventures 2e rulebook, players may wish to acquire their own copies for detailed reference. • 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: We’ll use the excellent STAR TREK Adventures Character Creator (https://sta.bcholmes.org/), and I’ll import characters into Foundry VTT for ease of use. • 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻: I use ambient environmental sounds (e.g., starship bridge hums, engineering bay sounds) and occasional sound effects to enhance immersion. I avoid ambient music as I find it distracts from the game. 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 I welcome players of all experience levels, from newcomers to seasoned veterans. If you’re new to Star Trek Adventures or roleplaying in general, I’ll guide you through the rules and setting. I’m available via Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp throughout the week to answer questions, assist with character development, or discuss ideas. If you have unusual or creative ideas for your character or the game, I’m always happy to listen and will do my best to incorporate them provided they don’t unbalance the game or detract from other players’ experiences. 𝗚𝗠 𝗦𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲 I’ve been GMing and running Star Trek games since the 1980s (with FASA Star Trek). While I’m relatively new to Star Trek Adventures 2e, I bring decades of experience crafting engaging, character-driven stories. The STA 2e rules don't provide a lot of scope for mechanical character growth, so this campaign will focus on character growth through relationships, experiences, and learning from the moral dilemmas the crew faces. Inspired by Star Trek (TOS and the original cast movies), M.A.S.H., and Chicago Hope, the game blends optimism, diplomacy, exploration, and the feel of a medical drama. There’s even a touch of John le Carré spy intrigue, reflecting the Cold War-like tensions of the setting. While dark themes such as war, oppression, and prejudice will appear, the core theme is hope—the crew’s ability to make a difference, even in challenging times. 𝗥𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 The Star Trek Adventures 2e rules are light, and I’ll follow them as written, but I embrace the Rule of Cool when it serves the story or enhances player creativity. This is especially true for moments of heroism, diplomacy, or innovative uses of technology.

Gameplay details

During session zero, Ill cover the safety tools, and we'll have an open and honest discussion around the expectations of both player and GM behaviour, with a strong emphasis on Wheaton’s Law: “Don’t be a dick.”

Content warnings

Safety tools used

How will character creation work

We will go over character creation together during Session 0. After Session Zero, each player will be responsible for completing their characters using the STAR TREK Adventures Character Creator (https://sta.bcholmes.org/) and sending me the character’s JSON file via email prior to the first session. I’ll import the completed characters into Foundry VTT for gameplay. I'll ask each player to create two characters: • A character who plays a key role in starship combat. • A character who is either part of the medical staff, offers a key skill for away missions (e.g., shuttle pilot, security officer, geologist) or who fills an important non-command role on the ship (e.g., cook, quartermaster, chaplain). And then pick one of the two as their main character. Usually you'll get to play your main character because whichever you choose as your main, However I also want to ensure that during ship to ship combat everyone should have something to do. It also reduces downtime in the event of character death.

Combat / Tactics

Medium

Roleplay

High

Puzzles

Medium

Experience level

Open to all