Space Opera/Crew-based Adventure

5

5elementsage

Location
USA
I've been thinking for a while that a combination of FTL and Star Trek: Bridge Crew, would make for a great RP. I don't have a system in mind, so unless someone proposes a really good one, I'm prepared to run this by a more seat-of-pants Rules-lite method.

Ambition: We begin on a single science vessel, set to explore the cosmos, meet exciting new people, and pick up valuable resources. Each person who joins will take up a crew role aboard this starship, and will be expected to roleplay within that station. I will be NPCing roles as needed until players arrive to fill that slot. I will also be taking on the role of Ship's Computer, providing invaluable counsel and statistics to the Captain and whoever else has requests. In the future of this game, I would be interested in certain crewmembers becoming Captains of their own vessels, and maintaining Crews of their own, but we won't get there for a while. Ship-to-ship combat, and similar threats, will be largely abstracted, with a point system indicating how your ship's hull, weapons, shields, and engines are faring.

Catalog of Roles (Executive and Bridge):
Captain (supreme commander of the vessel, answering only to High Command; responsible for safe and efficient operations and compliance with Command policies, all crew and passengers are under the Captain's authority, and are the Captain's ultimate responsibility)
CO (Chief Command Officer; second to the Captain, assumes secondary leadership in all related duties, oversees all other department leads directly, and is head of the Bridge Department)
CE (Chief Engineer; Third Officer, similar to CO, primary focus is on Engineering Department)
XAA (Executive Admin Assistant; personal assistant to Captain, handles datawork for the Executive Committee and serves as liaison between Executive Office and other departments)
PIC (Pilot-In-Command; main controller of the helm, takes nav and thrust orders directly from the Executive Office, though usually passes long distance duties onto the autopilot functions of the Ship's Computer; an experienced pilot is crucial for combat sorties, entering and exiting Warp, and docking/takeoff procedures)
CP (Second/Combat Pilot, or Co-Pilot; assists the PIC during operation, primarily with weapon and shield systems; senior members of the Bridge crew may also step in as Relief Pilot where the PIC and CP require this)
CN (Chief Navigator; must remain aware of the ship's position relative to threats and nearby stars/planets at all times; plans the journey, advises the Executive Office on estimating timing and hazard-minimal routes; maintains star charts, planetary maps, and nav equipment)
Lookout Officer (Assistant Navigator; the CP equivalent for the CN; operates ship radar, reads heat signatures, identifies nearby ships, bases, and other objects/hazards via long range scans)
Communication Officer (operates the PA system and broadcasting system, and maintains contact with off-site crew on missions; it is key that they be able to interpret languages, in the event of Universal Translator shortfalls or failures)
BAA (Bridge Admin Assistant; serves as the XAA equivalent for the CO)

Catalog of Roles, Part 2 (Engineering):
LPE (Lead Propulsion Engineer; responsible for the ship's propulsion systems including impulse engines and warp drive)
LLSE (Lead Life Support Engineer; responsible for oxygen generation, air circulation, water circulation, heating, and waste control)
LEE (Lead Electrical Engineer; responsible for power network maintenance and distribution, including main and sub power generators, solar panels, backup power systems, and so on)
LITE (Lead IT Engineer; maintains all computer systems on board, including server mainframe, user hardware, software, and the systems of the Ship's Computer AI)
LCSE (Lead Combat Systems Engineer; responsible for the artillery batteries, laser cannons, gun turrets, missiles, shielding, and cloaking device)
LEVE (Lead Equipment and Vehicle Engineer; responsible for the guns, armor, land cruisers, fighter ships, and escape pods)
Engineering Crewman (if signing on as a Crewman, specify which Lead you would like to work directly under; in the event a department is heavily occupied, FCFS gets put in Admin Assistant position between that Lead and their subordinates)

Catalog of Roles, Part 3 (Intelligence):
CSO (Chief Security Officer; responsible for onboard and outboard surveillance systems and onboard police force)
Intelligence Secretariat (direct assistant to the Chief Security Officer)
Chief Analyst (responsible for interpretation of data feeds)
Chief Investigator (responsible for interrogation of data anomalies picked up on scans or onboard cameras, and the commissioning of security forces to engage a determined threat, or proceed with evacuations)
Chief Warden (responsible for brig maintenance and prisoner monitoring/filing, and seeing to the fulfillment of all criminal sentencing and parole)
Special Agent (direct subordinate to Chief Investigator)
Security Supervisor (direct subordinate to Chief Warden)
Cyber Security Supervisor (direct subordinate to Chief Analyst)
Security Agent (if signing on as an Agent, specify whether you wish to work under a Special Supervisory Agent, Security Supervisor, or Cyber Security Supervisor)

Catalog of Roles, Part 4 (R&D):
Chief Science Officer (responsible for heading up all research and expedition projects onboard, and overseeing maintenance of ship fabricators and Holodeck)
Head of Physic (Researcher in charge of all energetics and theoretical physics development onboard, and all outbound missions with related components)
Head of Chemistry (Researcher in charge of all chemical research and development projects onboard, and all outbound missions relating to the practice of chemistry)
Head of Biology (Researcher in charge of all projects analyzing effects on human anatomy, Terran bio samples subjected to xeno elements, and Xenobiology)
Head of Astronomy & Geoscience (Researcher in charge of all projects relating to the star charts and astronomical readings, and to the composition and behavior of planets)
Head of Neuroscience, Psychology, and Medicine (Doctor in charge of all medical facilities, medical intelligence programs, and subordinate nurses)
Head of Computing & Mathematics (Researcher in charge of all projects relating to onboard systems and analysis of systems discovered afield)
R&D Admin Assistant (direct assistant to the Chief Science Officer)
Researcher/Scientist (direct assistants to one of the other R&D heads; if you sign on as a Researcher or Scientist, please specify which subdivision you wish to work under)

Catalog of Roles, Part 5 (Medical):
Chief Medical Officer (direct subordinate to the Head of Neuroscience, Psychology, and Medicine; see above)
Chief Doctor (direct subordinate to CMO; directly oversees all procedures undertaken on crew, passengers, and guests)
Lead Surgeon (finest surgical specialist this ship has on staff, and tasked with monitoring the work of other surgeons onboard)
Lead Physician (assistant to the Chief Doctor, performs most routine checkups and non-invasive procedures on crew members)
Lead Dentist (assistant to the Chief Doctor, exclusive practitioner of dental science and medicine unless subordinate dentists join the crew)
Lead Medic (assistant to the Lead Physician, often sent off on missions with non-Medical crewmembers)
MAA (Medical Admin Assistant; fills in on bureaucratic purposes where the other department leads cannot)
Medical Crewman (if signing on as a Crewman, specify if you are joining as a nurse, doctor, field medic, or dentist)

Catalog of Roles, Part 6 (Finance & Operation Support):
Chief of Staff, Quartermaster, Treasurer, General Accountant, Finance Auditor, Payroll Manager, HR Manager, Purchasing Manager, FOS Admin Assistant, Clerk
Catalog of Roles, Part 7 (Stewarding):
Chief Steward, Duty Manager, Agriculture Manager, Store Keeper, Executive Chief, Sous Chef, Executive Housekeeper, Assistant Housekeeper, Uniform & Laundry Manager, Hygiene & Food Safety Manager, Recreation Manager, Stewarding Admin Assistant, Stewarding Crewman (may include Janitor, Housekeeper, Cook, Server, Barber, etc.)

Primary Roles Filled:
Ship's Computer - GM (5elementsage)
Head of Chemistry - -name TBD- (Xalgeon)
Head of Xenobiology - -name TBD- (Leon12431)
Executive Admin Assistant - -name TBD- (Donald Darf)
Chief Investigator - -name TBD- (Sol d'Trauer)
Chief Engineer - -name TBD- (LawsofRobotics)
Lead Life Support Engineer - -name TBD- (The Well Wisher)

Interim Positions Requested:
(you are volunteering to fill these positions if a player bails, or goes without posting for 3 weeks)
-none so far-
 
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Give me some more information on the Head of Chemistry position.
 
Honestly, I think you've got too many roles, and too many of them are going to be difficult to find relevant or interesting niches for within a narrative. Unless your idea is to do a slice of life game where their roles are secondary to their personalities. Which would be a choice.
 
Xalgeon said:
Give me some more information on the Head of Chemistry position.
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Basically, your job is to coordinate with lower ranking Chemists on the spaceship, and head up projects involving corrosives, incendiaries, toxins, and other chemical agents that either away missions find and bring back, or that are developed on board.
 
Kensai said:
Honestly, I think you've got too many roles, and too many of them are going to be difficult to find relevant or interesting niches for within a narrative. Unless your idea is to do a slice of life game where their roles are secondary to their personalities. Which would be a choice.
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Well, y'know, if you don't want to play then that's fine. This isn't an intimate little 4-player D&D joint. It's a simulation. One where the higher ranking roles are going to be making most of the big, overarching decisions, and the lower ranking roles are going to get the most action. Ideally, the whole list isn't going to get filled, at least not for a long time. My plan is for players to hop in and take roles that sound the most fun to them, and I will simulate the rest until people come to fill those spots.
 
5elementsage said:
Basically, your job is to coordinate with lower ranking Chemists on the spaceship, and head up projects involving corrosives, incendiaries, toxins, and other chemical agents that either away missions find and bring back, or that are developed on board.
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Well, put me down as head of chemistry.
 
@5elementsage Will you be providing further setting details with regards to species (assuming this isn't a Human-only/-dominant vessel), or can we expect a situation like The Orville's embarkation where the species are introduced (nee determined) at first roll call?
 
Xalgeon said:
Well, put me down as head of chemistry.
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Will do! If you get tired of leadership and we have other chemist players, I will float the idea of switching out. For now, since you're the only one in your department, aside from faceless NPCs, there's not gonna be a whole lot of leader stuff for you.

Sol d'Trauer said:
@5elementsage Will you be providing further setting details with regards to species (assuming this isn't a Human-only/-dominant vessel), or can we expect a situation like The Orville's embarkation where the species are introduced (nee determined) at first roll call?
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Given the large list of possible roles, I didn't want to add more detail out the gate, because it could be very overwhelming. Let's do this: anyone familiar enough with Star Trek, Galaxy Quest, The Orville, etc. can just improvise a species name and description, and we'll "Yes, And" it. Anyone less familiar but still interested in playing can either go human, or request suggestions from me and the other players.

Also, let's go ahead and say right now that this isn't strictly a Star Trek adventure, so no Vulcans, no Romulans, etc. If you wanna be a knockoff like a Valkan or a Remian or a Klungan, totally fine.
 
I would like the Head of Biology (Researcher in charge of all projects analyzing effects on human anatomy, Terran bio samples subjected to xeno elements, and Xenobiology)
 
Surprised to not see the bridge bunny roles taken up out the gate.

@5elementsage
Put me down for Chief Investigator, please.

Also, what will be the aesthetic of the ship?
 
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