Hi.
The United Federation of Planets, as represented in the Star Fleet Universe, is distinct from that seen in the Franchise. It draws from many elements in the on-screen source material covered under ADB's licence with Paramount, along with others derived from the Star Fleet Technical Manual; but over three decades' worth of new stories, empires, and technoligies have seen this version of the UFP go its own way.
Recently, ADB put together a Federation sourcebook for its RPG series, Prime Directive; the D20M version was released in print form last year, while the e23 (online PDF) version of the GURPS edition went up yesterday. The D20M version will presumably end up on DriveThruRPG sooner or later (ADB upload their D20M books there, but send their GURPS stuff to e23 instead) while the print edition of GURPS Federation should be released later this year.
I got the e23 version of GURPS Federation (I like collecting the GURPS material over the D20M stuff, personally) and if you have an interest in the SFU take on trek, I would definitely recommend it.
It's got a series of planetary surveys for various major and minor member worlds (Earth, Mars, Vulcan, Andor etc; some of which are different than they are in the Franchise, though some of them have a couple of interesting nods here and there). It also looks at some of the ship classes used by Star Fleet (i.e. in games like Star Fleet Battles and Federation Commander) and details other branches of the Federation government. One of the most useful sections (from an RP perspective) are the deck plans it includes for the Burke-class frigate; one of the many ship designs indigenous to the SFU.
What you won't find are any direct references to a cerain on-screen ship or crew; the terms of the licence require those events to be seen from a half-step away, at best. Still, there are plenty of other ships in the fleet to endeavour with, as well as no end of civilian hulls to take out for a spin.
Oh, and for gaming purposes, it's not a stand-alone book; it works with the GURPS Prime Directive 4th Edition Core Book. (The D20M Federation book requires PD20M, which itself needs the D20M core rules to play. For GURPS users, GPD4e comes with a version of the basic GURPS rules included, so you don't need a third book.)
It might be a little different than what many at home with the Franchise might be familiar with; but if you want to see how things go along that other fork on the road from TOS, it's as good a way in to the setting as any... from a Federation perspective, at least.
The United Federation of Planets, as represented in the Star Fleet Universe, is distinct from that seen in the Franchise. It draws from many elements in the on-screen source material covered under ADB's licence with Paramount, along with others derived from the Star Fleet Technical Manual; but over three decades' worth of new stories, empires, and technoligies have seen this version of the UFP go its own way.
Recently, ADB put together a Federation sourcebook for its RPG series, Prime Directive; the D20M version was released in print form last year, while the e23 (online PDF) version of the GURPS edition went up yesterday. The D20M version will presumably end up on DriveThruRPG sooner or later (ADB upload their D20M books there, but send their GURPS stuff to e23 instead) while the print edition of GURPS Federation should be released later this year.
I got the e23 version of GURPS Federation (I like collecting the GURPS material over the D20M stuff, personally) and if you have an interest in the SFU take on trek, I would definitely recommend it.
It's got a series of planetary surveys for various major and minor member worlds (Earth, Mars, Vulcan, Andor etc; some of which are different than they are in the Franchise, though some of them have a couple of interesting nods here and there). It also looks at some of the ship classes used by Star Fleet (i.e. in games like Star Fleet Battles and Federation Commander) and details other branches of the Federation government. One of the most useful sections (from an RP perspective) are the deck plans it includes for the Burke-class frigate; one of the many ship designs indigenous to the SFU.
What you won't find are any direct references to a cerain on-screen ship or crew; the terms of the licence require those events to be seen from a half-step away, at best. Still, there are plenty of other ships in the fleet to endeavour with, as well as no end of civilian hulls to take out for a spin.
Oh, and for gaming purposes, it's not a stand-alone book; it works with the GURPS Prime Directive 4th Edition Core Book. (The D20M Federation book requires PD20M, which itself needs the D20M core rules to play. For GURPS users, GPD4e comes with a version of the basic GURPS rules included, so you don't need a third book.)
It might be a little different than what many at home with the Franchise might be familiar with; but if you want to see how things go along that other fork on the road from TOS, it's as good a way in to the setting as any... from a Federation perspective, at least.
