Post by Falconer on Oct 12, 2020 15:43:29 GMT -5
With reference to my ongoing stardates project, I worked out how to convert FASA Reference Stardates to the system I am using.
For example, this week I am running The Outcasts. On p. 38, we find three dates:
1/9502.01
1/9903.21
2/1201.03
The Star Trek IV Sourcebook Update provides a date that The Outcasts adventure itself is presumed to take place:
2/2005
So in Google Sheets I wrote a formula for converting these to normal Earth dates. Then a formula for adding 52 years to all the dates (that’s a good rule of thumb for how many years FASA is behind my timeline). Then subtract 129,002 from that, as usual to get the Stardate.
Even this is really just an intermediate step, to get us into the right ballpark. Because the current stardate in my campaign is 7387; therefore, 396 must be added to all dates. Of course, that’s now easy-peasy.
I think it will be well worth it in this adventure for me to have a clear timeline I can so easily reference. Annoying that some dates fall before the beginning of the Stardate System. I will try to just give dates in terms of years ago, and when necessary, give “Old Earth Calendar” dates. I don’t think negative stardates are a thing.
Let me know if you want to see the actual formulae!
For example, this week I am running The Outcasts. On p. 38, we find three dates:
1/9502.01
1/9903.21
2/1201.03
The Star Trek IV Sourcebook Update provides a date that The Outcasts adventure itself is presumed to take place:
2/2005
So in Google Sheets I wrote a formula for converting these to normal Earth dates. Then a formula for adding 52 years to all the dates (that’s a good rule of thumb for how many years FASA is behind my timeline). Then subtract 129,002 from that, as usual to get the Stardate.
| FASA Reference Stardate | FASA Earth Date | Converted Stardate | Converted Earth Date |
| 1/9502.01 | 2/1/2195 | -2230 | 2/1/2247 |
| 1/9903.21 | 3/21/2199 | -721 | 3/21/2251 |
| 2/1201.03 | 1/3/2212 | 3950 | 1/3/2264 |
| 2/2005 | 5/1/2220 | 6991 | 5/1/2272 |
Even this is really just an intermediate step, to get us into the right ballpark. Because the current stardate in my campaign is 7387; therefore, 396 must be added to all dates. Of course, that’s now easy-peasy.
| Adjusted Stardate | Adjusted Earth Date |
| -1834 | 3/3/2248 |
| -325 | 4/20/2252 |
| 4346 | 2/2/2265 |
| 7387 | 6/1/2273 |
I think it will be well worth it in this adventure for me to have a clear timeline I can so easily reference. Annoying that some dates fall before the beginning of the Stardate System. I will try to just give dates in terms of years ago, and when necessary, give “Old Earth Calendar” dates. I don’t think negative stardates are a thing.
Let me know if you want to see the actual formulae!
