Old old school Trek

[c57d]

I am working on a FASA campaign set in the early stages of the United Earth v Romulans war. PCs ship will be a part of the millitary build up in response to increasing numbers of ships being lost in this sector. I am using the FASA timeline in which, for several years, very little was known about the missing ships, or their attackers.
PCs ship will be one of the first which survives encounters with the faceless enemy (hopefully) and begins to gather intelligence on them.
PCs will be more millitary orientated than usual for ST campaigns, but it will not just be a shoot em up.
I need to decide how I get round the line from "Balance of Terror" stating that the Roms were never seen face to face (and how I make the solution playable!), while also including boarding parties and some ground action.I am considering two options at the moment - either tele controlled robots or a few Romulan conquered slave races providing the "Grunts". At present I am unsure which.
Hand held and ship tech will be primitive and skills a lot more hands on than Kirk's era. Departments will be AstroNav, Tactical (Weapons and Countermeasures), ComInt (Communications, jamming enemy Coms and language/intelligence gathering),Engineering and Ships Troops.
I am planning to either use a Messier class ship (from the original Spaceflight Chronology) or go crazy and use the amazingly inspiring "Romulan War Destroyer" (just Google and you'll find it -sorry I'm bad at links) tin-can ship,created by a member of the Trek BBS.
I nearly have an introductory Word document completed (intended as a PC handout for the setting and character creation) and will post it asap. Then its an abstract space combat system - but that is miles off!
Anyway, all brainstorming thoughts appreciated.

[Falconer]

That’s tricky, man. I imagine the Romulan War as a wholly naval affair, basically like “Balance of Terror” but without viewscreens. For earth ship(s) I would use Cruiser C-57D Forbidden Planet, and in general take my tech inspiration from that film. No transporters. If you do end up in a shootout, FWIW, remember Romulans wear those round helmets which obscure their Vulcanoid ears; also, they commit suicide rather than be captured—possibly individual soldiers have a way of disintegrating themselves.

[c57d]

I very much agree with you Falconer.
No transporter, just a lifting body shuttle.
No phasers and photon torps, but nuclear missiles as the main offensive weapons (as per Spocks line in BoT) with lasers only able to damage electronics (at short range) or take out incoming missiles
No magic sensors that can sense lifeforms through a ships hull, but just advanced radar/ladar etc. Ditto no tricorders, but hands on testing and examination.
Anyway nearly finished the PC handout booklet to post soon.

[c57d]

And thank you for the idea of Romulans being in ear obscurring helmets and having personal disintegration units. I hadn't thought of that option and it definitely gives me a third possibility to add to the mix.
I do, however, agree that BoT seems to suggest purely ship combat, however I am going to "retcon" that for my campaign. I can't understand why there were no boarding party actions or ground assaults on colonies or bases. Surely even the Roms would first assualt a ground installation rather than just conducting orbital bombardment. Even if just to gain intelligence on their enemy? And I am certain that the Earthers would for sure.

[Falconer]

Another thought I had was that earth may have been fighting a war against the Kzinti, and only gradually became aware of the threat from the Romulans. Supposing the Romulans acted like pirates at first, struck isolated transports, and left no survivors. Even if it was suspected they were not uncoordinated pirate attacks, earth and Kzin could have suspected and blamed each other for any such attacks.

[c57d]

I don't know anything about the Kzinti. And need to do some research.
However, the FASA timeline has a several year period during which increasing number of ships just go missing with little evidence as to how and by who. "Space pirates" are blamed.
I was thinking of starting the campaign as the first evidence of the Romulans, and their aggression, is uncovered.

[Falconer]

One interesting thing I read in the SFU materials: “First Federation-Romulan War starts as the ex-Vulcans (now the Romulans) begin what they see as a historic march back to their original planet.”

[c57d]

I finally have the Players campaign setting and character creation handout ready, along with a highly customised FASA STTRPG character sheet. However I tried last night to post them on here, for anyone who was interested, but could not see a way to. Could someone please let me know how/if I can?

[c57d]

Falconer, thanks again for the brainstorm thoughts. Always good to know what motivates your foes. At the minute I am brainstorming a few motive options, and still need to decide on which of the three "Grunts" options I am going to choose and why. Isn't campaign creation fun?!!

[Falconer]

I think so.

[c57d]

Please see my players file and character sheet for the UE/Rom war campaign.
I have not yet given much thought to specific scenarios, but the following are some seeds I have been toying with. Given their small size, I generally see Victorious class ships operating in wolfpacks most of the time. Maybe 4 or 5 entering a system and seperating to patrol/scout individually. But some missions carried out as individuals from the start.
So, seeds:-
1) Investigate Earth asteroid mining colony gone quiet on subspace radio. Ambush - Rom ships hiding in asteroid belt.
2) Earth cargo ship master refuses to accept convoy protection. Actually quite disparaging about "tin pots". Captain tries to persuade, then coerce but to no avail. Ship goes off on own and gets into trouble -naturally!
3) Come across derelict Earth ship - board to investigate but stumble across Rom landing party trying to obtain intelligence.
4) Come across derelict ancient alien ship and discover signs this species fought the Roms in this space too, long ago.
Anyway I hope you find it useful. I'm sure there is stuff I've forgotten, but I'll post later if anything more comes to me.

Attachments:

UESPA Rom War campaign.docx (201.87 KB)

UESPA Rom War Char sheet.xlsx (59.74 KB)

[c57d]

As promised, further various thoughts.
1)As mentioned in the thread,I want to include boarding and ground action without breaking the canon line from BoT about no face to face contact. I am still unsure which of the three discussed options I am going to use for Rom troops, but either way want the them to be remotely micro managed by an officer safely on board the Rom ship. This is both to show the level of control over the ordinary man, and encourage a ComInt character to both gain intelligence and hack into the control system and disrupt it.
2) I am planning on this being more of a semi-sandbox campaign. Not so much about individual scenario structure and goals as about the players scouting, patrolling, assessing star systems for the best places from which to fight the enemy, gathering intelligence on the Roms technology / language/ tactics etc, persuading / ordering / defending Earth colonies and civilian ships etc. Finally reaching a point where the enemy is no longer faceless, but understood and defeatable.
3) I have been gathering thoughts for a abstract, skill based, starship combat system. I will post that once I have it pulled together. But it will be a while, so don't hold your breath!
Anyway I think that is all for now.

[c57d]

One last thought.
Because the Victorious class really are prefab, "tin pot" destroyers, crews work, eat, sleep in vacc suits, with only helmet and heavy gloves off (but always close to hand) at all times. And airtanks and thruster packs for EVA only.
Just to add a bit of atmosphere.

[ufc465537]

I looked over those files- real nice! I liked the abridged character sheet- a lot less clunky than the standard ones. I like the premise you offer. Its like a cross between star trek and Babylon 5. I like that ship- isnt it from EC Henrys Pacific 201? Anyhoos, I did a starship combat alternate for fasa that might give you a headstart on yours. Its on my site under the files section.

Looks like you got a good start! Keep posting updates!

Joe

[c57d]

Hi Joe. I looked up Pacific 201 and yes it is the same ship. I wasn't aware of that - I just "borrowed" the design and class name from the artist who had posted it on the Trek BBS forum. I presume that will be okay since I am just borrowing for my personal use - so no IP violation.
Anyway, glad you enjoyed the files - I wanted to simplify some of the skills on the charecter sheet (merging Env suit with Zero G, rationalising the Engineering skills etc) and needed to make changes that fit the setting (remove both Transporter skills, add Cryptography & Countermeasures etc).
I love your Starship Combat rules - they are very similar to the skill based / abstract rules I am looking for here. If anything,with missiles being the only real offensive weapons & masers being mostly defensive and no shields and all combat being slow sublight, my rules will be far simpler than yours. But it is great to see another GM has succesfully built a good, usable ruleset. Thank you for sharing your great example.
I am working on space combat now and also near making a decision about the problem of troops. After all that I plan to write a scenario in my setting to see if/that my setting makes for a viable game. I will continue to post as the setting comes together.