Star Trek Adventures: Continuing Conversations

Anna Margaret on Star Trek, Magic, and the Importance of Failure

This week on Continuing Conversations, Michael Dismuke and Jim Johnson beam up the wildly brilliant Anna Margaret—educator, science communicator, cosplayer, and the self-proclaimed “nerdy lifestyle content creator” who turns fandom into fuel for learning. Anna brings infectious energy to every topic she touches.

Join us as we dive into her creative process, the art of blending education with entertainment, and how she blends gaming, storytelling, and cosplay to make irresistible fun. Whether you’re a Trekkie, a teacher, or just a curious nerd at heart, this episode will have you laughing and learning.

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One Off Characters

The wonderfully creative Aki returns to help Jim and Michael tackle the subject: Bringing back one-and-done characters from Trek into your RPG game! Share link: https://edenhousing-org.zoom.us/rec/share/soJ5JD9qDxoCBsV9iYF9NQ9BBekdB68HxBhNUjQk_0JKmqUerCTQBi5q93ZajS-f.uIHDVF6OUfdjvAqj

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Building a 5-Year Star Trek Adventures Campaign: Lessons from USS Pioneer

The U.S.S. Pioneer completed its five-year mission in uproarious fashion. Now meet the GM and players who pushed the limits of Star Trek Adventures storytelling to create a life-changing epic to span the ages. Get good advice on forming great bonds with your players, utilizing Discord to make for a top-notch gaming experience, and learn how a good gaming group can launch your writing career! Guest stars: Aaron Pollyea, Al Spader, Josh Allen, and Troy Mepyans.

From Coworkers to Family: How the USS Pioneer Crew Created an Epic Star Trek Adventures Campaign

The Star Trek Adventures RPG is celebrating its fifth year, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of Star Trek. To commemorate this milestone, a recent podcast brought together the cast of the USS Pioneer, a group that just wrapped up a five-plus year campaign. This blog post delves into the secrets of their success and offers insights for other groups looking to embark on long-term Star Trek Adventures.

Meet the Crew

The podcast featured a stellar lineup of talent, all deeply involved in the Star Trek Adventures universe and beyond:

• Michael Dismuke: Freelance writer for Star Trek Adventures RPG, lead writer on Captain's Log RPG, and Star Trek fiction writer.
• Jim Johnson: Project manager and line editor for Star Trek Adventures RPG and Fallout RPG, and a fiction writer.
• Al Spader: Freelance writer for Star Trek Adventures and writer/designer for other RPGs, including Sentience RPG Once Upon.
• Josh Allen: Contributing writer to Star Trek the Captain's Log and a player in the Pioneer campaign.
• Troy Methens: Freelance writer for Star Trek Adventures and RPG creator for Astron 2D20 and The Good, the Bad and the Savage for Savage Worlds.
• Aaron Pallier: Longtime freelance writer for Star Trek Adventures, specializing in starship science/technology, and creator of Saucer Squadron.

Setting the Stage: The USS Pioneer's Mission

The USS Pioneer's campaign was based out of the Shackleton Expanse, venturing 13.7 million light years away to the Centaurus galaxy. Their adventures have been chronicled on Continuing Missions, with many stories adapted into novellas.

Defining Moments: From Crew to Family

When asked about a defining moment, the crew unanimously agreed it was their transformation from coworkers to a close-knit family. This bond transcended the game, with members supporting each other's careers, personal lives, and families. This real-life connection was then woven back into the story, enriching the narrative.

Aha Moments: Character Growth and Unexpected Twists

 

The players shared several "aha" moments that shaped their characters and the campaign:

• Season Three Finale: Surviving a major arc and reuniting on the bridge.
• Character Evolution: One character's journey took an unexpected turn after getting lost in time, leading to unique roleplaying opportunities.
• Trask's Return: A poignant moment for Nalinda, the ship's counselor, who grappled with loss and the surprise reappearance of a friend.
• "Elevated Edict" Module: This module, written by Michael, sparked philosophical questions and internal conflict, leading to meaningful character development.

The Power of Play-by-Post on Discord

The USS Pioneer campaign was run online via Discord, which presented both challenges and unique advantages:

• Writing Format: The asynchronous nature of play-by-post allowed for thoughtful phrasing and detailed descriptions.
• Flexibility: Players could have others control their characters when unavailable, ensuring the story kept moving.
• Established Writing Guidance: The group adopted guidelines like short sentences, past-tense narration, and out-of-character discussions to maintain narrative flow and clarity.
• Inner Dialogue: The written format allowed players to express their characters' inner thoughts, adding depth and complexity often missed in face-to-face games.

Lessons in Storytelling and Collaboration

The Pioneer campaign provided valuable lessons in storytelling, collaborative writing, and improvisation:

• The Power of the Cutscene: Recognizing and utilizing cutscenes to create suspense and reveal off-screen events.
• The Importance of B Plots: Developing unconnected A and B plots to add depth and complexity to the narrative.
• Character Flexibility: Allowing events to shape characters organically, rather than forcing them down a predetermined path.
• The Value of Asides and Logs: Using logs to explain character actions and thoughts, adding layers to their personalities.
• The Importance of Supporting Fellow Writers: The crew emphasized the importance of supporting and uplifting other writers in the community.

Gratitude and Lasting Bonds

The podcast concluded with expressions of gratitude and reflections on the enduring friendships forged through the USS Pioneer campaign. The players appreciated the opportunity to grow as role-players and as people, and the shared experience created a bond that continues to this day.

The Legacy of the USS Pioneer

The USS Pioneer campaign stands as a testament to the power of collaborative storytelling, character-driven narratives, and the enduring appeal of Star Trek. Its legacy continues to inspire new players and writers in the Star Trek Adventures community. As Al Spader so eloquently put it, "Captain, Pioneer is all around you."

The Magic of Star Trek RPGs: Intentionality and Positive Impact

Kelli Fitpatrick, Jim Johnson and Michael Dismuke ask "Does writing hopeful science fiction and fantasy even matter with everything that's going on in the world right now?" Join the deep dicussion and let us know what you think in the comments section.

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00:00:22 - Introductions: Dismuke, Johnson, and Fitzpatrick
00:01:40 - Employee morale and hopeful sci-fi
00:03:32 - Optimistic fiction explores humanity's future
00:07:31 - Optimism and escapism importance in fiction
10:44 - Game design for positive dopamine hits
11:11 - Session zero: Setting game tone upfront
12:55 - Gaming's positive impact on real world
14:44 - Star Trek RPGs and leadership skills
00:18:57 - Nuance: Ethical scenarios and RPG complexities
00:27:23 - Writing matters, especially in difficult times

Beyond Sci-Fi: Genre-Bending in Star Trek RPGs

Kelli Fitzpatrick joins this week show to discuss the question "Is there a genre that Star Trek has NOT touched?" Enjoy the discussion and insights about how to bring different genres into your Star Trek Adventures game.

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00:00:20 - Introductions and writing discussion
00:04:12 - Q's powers: Science or magic?
00:07:49 - Star Trek: Technology, magic, spirituality
00:14:13 - Star Trek's classic Hollywood themes
00:20:27 - Egyptian magic as advanced technology
00:23:21 - Earth post World War III setting
00:26:27 - Kelly's website and diverse work

From TOS to Strange New Worlds: The 23rd Century in Star Trek Adventure

Continuing Conversations: Starfleet in the 23rd Century! Announcing the newest supplement to the Star Trek Adventures 2e universe! Join writers  Aaron Pollyea, Al Spader, Sarah Kennedy, Chris McCarver, Bill Barbato, Michael Dismuke, and Jim Johnson as we get hype over all the goodness that came from the TOS, TAS, DIS, SNW, and Movie-era of Trek!

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00:00:20 - Introductions of Michael, Jim, and Aaron
00:06:13 - Reimagining the Gorn in Star Trek
00:12:51 - Revisiting the original Star Trek series
00:15:56 - Speaker loves Discovery and Klingon redesigns
00:18:47 - Condensing Star Trek lore challenges
00:25:06 - Genesis project's political powder keg
00:30:45 - Distilling Star Trek's Century for RPGs
00:37:58 - Klingon and Romulan psychology across time
00:43:57 - Book focuses on entire century of Trek
00:49:40 - Gratitude to Peter David, Star Trek writer

Kira Nerys: Modeling a Complex Character in Star Trek Adventures RPG

AJ Fox joins Jim and Michael as we break down the character of Kira Nerys: her relevance, her strengths, her dynamics. Then we talk about how to create a similar-type character for your STA campaign: the dangers, the perks!

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00:00:20 - Introductions: Michael, Jim, and guest AJ
00:01:46 - Kira character analysis and RPG modeling
00:06:53 - Deep Space Nine's political commentary
00:10:29 - Kira, Opaka, and Bajoran perspectives
00:16:44 - Kira's character arc and relationships
00:23:23 - Bajor, Federation, and wormhole control
00:26:29 - RPG session zero: Kira and safety tools
00:33:10 - Building contrasting characters for role-playing
00:39:43 - Discovery rewatch reveals nuances
00:42:38 - AJ's projects: TTRPG talk show, editing

5, 4, 3, 2, 1: A Quick & Easy Character Development Guide for RPGs & Writing

Yep, back to weekly) AJ FOX is back to talk about the stupendously amazing 5-4-3-2-1 system for character development! Listen in and prepare to flesh out your PCs in new and imaginative ways.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jNyH7-7gpK61q1z0FiDoBONjhDfulP_C/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=107248546059831663146&rtpof=true&sd=true

https://linktr.ee/studiotembo

Chapters
00:00:16 - Introductions of Michael, Jim, and AJ Fox
00:03:11 - Developmental, integral concepts for characters
00:05:57 - Character development as a writing tool
00:08:40 - Player versus character goals in RPGs
00:11:29 - Failing forward and character development
00:13:18 - Important NPCs: friends and foes
00:14:24 - Players creating character backstories
00:17:07 - Character secrets and Rutherford's implant
00:19:56 - Kirk's son reveal and motivations
00:22:43 - Motivations beyond Starfleet Academy graduation