I know that this is a dying hobby, but are there any other ST pen and paper RPG GM's still out there? I am getting back into writing a TOS campaign for the FASA game (after a twenty year hiatus) and would love to brainstorm ideas with other like minded referees. System is immaterial but good ideas essential. Is there anyone left or am I the only one?
Long time RPG GM here (I mean LONG time. Since '77) Always happy to trade ideas with other gamers, especially since I rarely get to game much anymore myself. I was always a fan of the FASA game, which is probably still my favorite iteration of Trek in tabletop. In short..."You are not alone." Though, "That Which Survives" isn't quite Lee Meriwether caliber...
I too am a long time GM, probably starting just a few years after you. I wrote and ran campaigns for the FASA game for about ten years - Starfleet, Klingon and SF Intelligence. Due to family commitments I too don't get to play much, but am starting to write campaigns again. Hopefully a time will come when I can play again so I'll be ready with ideas. A few thoughts at present are:- 1. SF crew around the Cage era. Lower tech both shipboard and landing party. Ship is one of the first tranch of Starship/Connie class - "Queens of Starfleet". Cold war clashing with Klingon forces across a wide section of space between the two rivals. A regular Klingon ship and captain (maybe changing if the Klingons get beaten too many times). Federation is very "Conscience of the King" background - small isolated colonies on the frontier. Maybe not all colony administrators are totally honest and need to be reigned in by the crew. "Harry Mudd" like independent traders and scouts also cause issues. 2. Klingon crew in a D7 carefully (for Klingons) probing the Kinshaya border some 15 years after the war. Uncovering derelicts and secrets left over from the "Demon War". House conflict (assisted by IS and II) going on in what they thought was going to remain a closed frontier - but is now slowly opening up. And discovering what (and who?) was driving the "Demons" so determinedly. Anyway just a few thoughts.
Plenty of us out there, maybe just not here. The current Star Trek RPG by Modiphius, Star Trek Adventures, has forums on their official site, and there's a Reddit, Google+ group, and a couple Facebook groups. RPG.net as well has some STA discussions going. It's older, but forum.trek-rpg.net is still kicking around as well.
Many thanks for all the steers. I had forgotten about rpg.net forums (I haven't been on, or posted in ages) so thank you for that reminder in particular.
I'm keen to RPG but I'm seriously rubbish at it. I'm looking for something I can play solo. Can anyone help?
Apologies I dont know of any solo ST RPG's. But I just wondered exactly what about RPG-ing you are "rubbish " at?
I have a friend who's a very keen tabletop and rpg gamer which is where all my experience of gaming comes from but I'm just not very good at it. For a start I'm extremely uncompetitive, winning anything just never enters my mind, so I lack a single minded purpose to succeed. I don't have a strategic brain at all, I try but it's just not in me. If there's a wrong move or decision to make then be assured I'll make it. And I can't roll a dice for toffee.
I am not too sure how to reply to you. Flippantly, I would wonder why you want to play a hobby that you seemed convinced you are "rubbish" at and that you say you have no natural inclination for? A far better response, though, might be........ 1) RPG's are not competitive. They are group storytelling, presented, focused and enabled by the GM. If your past/current experience with your tabletop gaming friend is competitive then you are probably wargaming not playing an RPG. 2) A strategic brain certainly comes in useful, but just knowing something of the mileu you are playing in ( Trek, Star Wars, DnD etc) and carefully listening to what the GM is saying (whether as an NPC, or in describing a setting) will help you to understand your options and hopefully pick a productive path. Having said that though, success isn't constant nor even always preferable. ("Failure" can sometimes be more fun as you struggle to get outta the mess and back on track). Remember this is a story not a competition. 3) Die rolling is not controlled by you - it is pure luck. ( assuming you just roll and don't try to manipulate the dice!!). I had one long term player who, for four games out of five, rolled brilliant dice, but on the fifth game his rolls were atrocious. And other players who had both good and bad in each game. It is just luck. My advice is try to find a GM and players who are willing to help a novice, and just go have fun
And there you have uncovered the irreconcilable tension at the heart of my problem. I want to enjoy playing an RPG so much but when I actually do it's a disaster. I have little confidence when starting out and wht I have quickly diminishes leading to nothing but disappointment. And yet, when I'm not playing I really want to. It's a horrible contradiction that I am yet to solve. IAM uncomfortable playing with others, it makes me nervous and anxious and I performed on worse. I can't see me ever achieving what I want to with RPG and it's a source of unhappiness to me.
As someone who as a teen was very shy and nervous (caused by a mentally and physically abusive stepdad), RPG-ing has been for me one of the things that helped me overcome my problems and move on with life. I guess it all depends on how accomodating the other players are though. I cant imagine RPGs being themselves a cause for nerves and uncertainty. I am afraid all the advice I can give is as per my previous post, providing you can find a patient group who will encourage a novice. Good luck!