StarBase 118 Staff

We hope you’ll join us tomorrow, starting at 8:30 AM EST (1:30 PM GMT) for FallFest, a yearly simming event which UFOP: StarBase 118 is hosting! The event runs through 5:30 PM EST (10:30 PM GMT) – attend the whole thing, or just the sessions that interest you. Connecting is easy. Just head to our on-site chat panel, for which no extra software is required. Enter a user name and join the event in under a minute. Not only are we hosting our first ever live debate on the Federation Presidential race, but also more than a dozen sessions on simming and writing. There’s lots to learn and plenty of fun to be had by all. See you there! The post FallFest is tomorrow! appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

There’s nothing better than nominating a fellow member for an award and seeing them receive it a short while later, basking in the glow of the fleet’s admiration and appreciation for their hard work! And that’s exactly why you should make sure to submit a few award nominations before we close the form and start the process of selecting the winners. Click here to submit award nominations now. Nominating takes only a few minutes. Just choose the award you’re submitting a nomination for, add in the information about the person you’re nominating, and add some good information about why you’re nominating the person — that last part is to help the awards committee decide which nominee is the best among everyone nominated. General category awards are announced on each ship, and will begin being distributed by your Commanding Officer in the next few weeks. Our Special, Duty Post, and Staff Awards are announced at the end of the year in a ceremony presented to the whole fleet. Don’t delay — nominate your fellow crew and your ship’s staff for an award before the nomination period closes this Sunday night at 11:59pm Eastern time! The post Award nominations close this Sunday night appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

Space. The final frontier. We’re familiar with the voyages of the Starship Enterprise and its mission – to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before. During the years of Star Trek: The Original Series and subsequent spin-offs, mankind has used its imagination in an attempt to answer just what might be out there. Through the course of various incarnations, new planets and new civilizations were indeed discovered, but revelations in real life haven’t been quite so dramatic. Or have they? In comparison with television, one may not think that certain pieces of information gleaned by NASA would be significant, but perhaps if you take a closer look, you might discover exactly how marvelous what discoveries have been made truly are. Think about it, what do we know about this universe, or even our own solar system? In comparison with what we could know, it’s hardly anything. That hasn’t stopped man from attempting to find out. So what have we found out. Not as much as we would like, but maybe more than you might imagine. Back in 1977, two space probes were launched – Voyager 1 and Voyager 2. Originally, the mission was to fly by some of the outer planets to get more information. That mission became extended as both Voyagers continued to function. Eventually, these two spacecrafts went so far, scientists believe they have reached the edge of our solar system – and may be the first man made objects to ever escape. These two probes provided the world with far more information about the planets in our solar system than even NASA had thought possible. From the array of colours to the existence of active volcanoes (something scientists previously thought only existed on earth), the Voyager probes have increased knowledge of our planetary community in ways completely unexpected. Currently, those two probes are still traveling and seem to have reached the edge of the heliosphere, the area of space where the Sun has no influence – and they’re still transmitting information back home. Want to know more? Check out the following links to learn about this fascinating mission: Is There An Edge To The Heavens – 2012 Radio Lab podcast about the Voyagers. Voyager – Dedicated portion of National Geographic website to the history of the Voyager mission Voyager: The Interstellar Mission – NASA’s website provides you with the latest news from both Voyagers. The post Voyager: Boldly Going appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

Tinkerer, protector, outdoors man, all terms that could describe Lieutenant JG Rustyy Hael, and engineering officer aboard the USS Constitution. Born in Grayling Alaska, Hael was the first of seven children born to a charismatic bartender and a lighthearted waitress. Growing up, Hael was always getting into scrapes standing up for his siblings and tinkering with machines until the day his parents decided to have him join Starfleet in order to make something of himself. Since graduating from the Academy, Hael has seen a lot. From fighting to keep his ship in one piece during his first outing, to battling Borg nanites, to traveling back to 1914! What does the future have in store for Hael? Only time will tell! Congratulations to Rustyy Hael of the USS Constitution-B who has been selected as the Featured Bio for December 2015, and Sinda Essen also of the USS Constitution-B, this round’s featured nominee! As always, you can find out more about the Featured Bio Contest at its wiki page or in its forum. Head there now to learn more about the contest and nominate bios that deserve recognition! The post Featured Bio Winner, December: Rustyy Hael appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

The holidays are coming, and they are not waiting until missions are over. You won’t be able to lay down your tricorder, lower your weapon, stand up from the negotiation table and take a break to enjoy the holidays. How would you celebrate if you are in the middle of a mission and have none of the traditional options are available? “Mission Holiday – Possible” is our theme for the Winter Graphic Contest! Get your creative thinking hats on, and show us, how you or your character would celebrate! This can be in any way you can imagine, surprise us! Deadline is January 22, 2016 and we are looking forward to see what you’ve got. For more information check out the announcement forum, if you have any more questions check out the discussion thread. The post Graphic Contest: Holidays are coming appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

Don’t forget to set your calendars for next weekend: Fallfest 2015 is upon us! Bringing together members of the simming community, FallFest will be held on December 5th from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM EST (1:30 PM to 10:30 PM GMT). This is an opportunity for simmers to share their love for writing and for role playing. The event will be filled with action, adventure, and great topics and discussions. There is something here for everybody! For more information, check out our FallFest forum. The post FallFest is next weekend appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

We’re closing-in on the end of the end of Run-off Round 4, 2015! The sim that wins this poll goes on to the final vote of the year, in which members select the Top Sim of 2015! Polling closes at 11:59pm Eastern on Sunday, December 6. Go to the forums and vote now on your favorite sim of this set. Six sims are competing. Here’s the list: ​Round 21: Charlotte deBarres, “Bird Droppings“​Round 22: Didrik Stennes, “Contrition Vol. 1“​Round 23: Ceilidh Riverview, “The power of memory“​Round 24: Alora DeVeau & Saveron, “Where Vulcan Flowers Grow“​Round 25: Hannibal Parker, “Recognition, Resignation“​Round 26: Wyn Foster, “What Friends are For“Vote on your favorite before the polling closes next Sunday! The post Don’t forget to vote in the Top Sims Contest run-off poll appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

Today we’re talking with Jon, who you may know as Captain Nugra formerly of the USS Victory, now playing the character Tribune Shiarrael aboard the USS Columbia. With his new role on the Columbia, and his position as Captains Council Magistrate, we have lots to learn about his history in the group and what he looks forward to. Let’s get started! FIORR: You are a member since 2003 no doubt you have seen a lot happen over the years. Could you tell us about one of your greatest moments in the fleet so far? That is not an easy question to answer. I have seem a lot of great things in my time and I have enjoyed every moment of it. If I had to pick one, I would say the greatest moment in my time here in the fleet was when I was given the opportunity by the Executive Council to assume command of the USS Victory. The USS Victory was the first ship that I ever served on. I had taken a hiatus in simming between 2006 to 2012 because of real life and when I returned I found that she was still around. Since then, I worked towards becoming a Captain and the day that they gave me the keys to her was the most important moment in my career. FIORR: After 12 years of writing I can imagine at times you have to make a few moves to keep things fresh. How do you avoid simming something you already did a few years ago? In other words what keeps you inspired? It is more like six years of simming total due to the six year hiatus, but the way that I avoid simming something I already have is by sitting down and studying my character. To me, characters are much like us, we go through life experiencing things and though some might be things we have done before, it is never the same way. I try to show that same thing with Nugra. I always try to look at him and think, “What life experiences can he experience” or “what are the consequences of some of his life decisions?” FIORR: In the past year you made a new character. While we all do that from time to time you came up with something special. The Romulan Shiarrael Ei-Ihhliae she is quite different from Captain Nugra. Why did you make the change? I made the change because of where Nugra was in his life. His past has been haunting him and it was coming to the point that he was either going to collapse in on himself or snap. When my RL situation changed to the point I could no longer command the USS Victory, I took this opportunity to have Nugra step aside and recover from all the things he had been through. He needed the rest. Shiarrael is very different from Nugra as she has been his nemesis, my friends at the Duronis II Embassy who simmed with me when I was stationed there would remember her as T’Ana, the woman who defected from the Romulan Empire. She was such a strong and fascinating character, I could not resist playing her full time. FIORR: Besides your important role as a writer you are also the Magistrate of the Captains Council, can you tell those not in the Council what that role is all about? The best way that I can explain it is that I am the mediator for the captains on the Council. As you may know the Captain’s Council works and discusses things that affect our world in character, like new awards, special approvals, etc. As Magistrate, my job is to make sure that votes are counted properly, enough conversation on the subject has been made, and to make sure that things are on schedule. It is more of a guiding position where I make sure that we come to a resolution on a subject as the Captain’s Council discusses everything that comes to us in great detail. FIORR: As an experienced captain you no doubt know how much comes with the job. Could you give us a rough estimate about how much time you need to invest in leading a group? More than you would think. A ship goes through phases where it runs smoothly or it hits rough points. Dependent on what stage you are and how much your crew has integrated, will determine the amount of time it takes to run it. When I was in command of the USS Victory, on good weeks, I just needed three or four hours a day to keep up on the IC, OOC, and Captain’s Council items, on rough weeks (when we’re low on crewmembers or that something has happened in OOC), it could much more just to keep on top of it all. For anyone considering a role in command, I not only applaud you, but want to warn you that there is much more than just simming when it comes to managing a ship. It can be hard at times, but I would never trade that opportunity for anything! FIORR: It’s time for a final question. No doubt many of our writers dream of a career like yours. What you advise all the new people thinking about that kind of career? Love your character and love what you do. The only reason that Nugra has stayed around as long as he has and I have is that I love UFOP: StarBase 118 RPG and my character. I have experience many good crews, from the original Victory under Captain Jordan Hurne, to my new, great and fearless leader Commander Brek of the USS Columbia. You need to love what you do, treat your character with respect, and love what you write! FIORR: Thank you very much for sharing some of your time with us and best of luck in what we hope will be a long career at StarBase 118! The post An interview with the Captains Council Magistrate appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

Starfleet’s greatest captain now has his very own autobiography: The Autobiography of James T. Kirkis now out and available in both hardcover and Kindle editions. The Autobiography of James T. Kirk chronicles the greatest Starfleet captain’s life (2233–2371), in his own words. From his boyhood on an Iowa farm, his youth spent on Tarsus IV, his time in the Starfleet Academy, his meteoric rise through the ranks of Starfleet, and his illustrious career at the helm of the Enterprise, this in-world memoir uncovers Captain Kirk in a way Star Trek fans have never seen. Kirk’s singular voice rings throughout the text, giving insight into his convictions, his bravery, and his commitment to the life—in all forms—throughout this galaxy and beyond. Packaged in a handsome hardcover format, with a center section of photographs, sketches, and original illustrations, this in-world biography will serve as a profile of courage and celebration of a beloved Star Trek hero. This book presents an engaging read and is styled as an actual autobiography, even featuring pictures of Kirk’s early years as well as editor’s notes that give a different perspective from Kirk’s own account. Full of warmth and humor it is a wonderful nostalgic trip through Star Trek lore as well as providing great stories and characterization of the legendary officer James Kirk. William Shatner even read excerpts of the book at the San Diego Comic-con. Whether you’re a fan of the original series or someone looking for a new perspective about Star Trek, this novel delivers a fan-pleasing narrative and a beautiful tribute to a character we love. Click here to purchase the hardcover, paperback, or Kindle version and help support UFOP: SB118. The post The autobiography of James T. Kirk, now on sale appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

This is Part 2 of an interview with Capt. Renos. Click here to read Part 1. Captain Renos of the USS Darwin has recently assumed the OOC position of Promotions Coordinator. We had a moment to sit down and ask him a few questions about his new position. Jansen Orrey: So what can you tell us about the position of the Promotions Coordinator? Renos: This position’s goal is ​to create a central resource officer for all promotions in the fleet, but primarily for staff promotions to commander, captain, and above. To that end the Promotion Coordinator works closely with​ players ranked Lieutenant Commander and above as well as their COs and mentors to help everyone ​move ​more smoothly and effectively through the promotion process. ​It’s important to us that we ensure the group is building up a strong bulwark of talented command candidates. Jansen Orrey: How does your position help to expedite the process through the promotion chain to command? Renos: By being an additional point of contact for aspiring candidates to go to if they have questions they can be assured that they will always have the right support to move forward. Since the promotions coordinator assesses command interest in potential candidates, keeps track of aspiring candidates and keeps an eye on the bigger picture it means those who are looking for opportunities get offered them as appropriate as they become available. Jansen Orrey: So you help members fulfill the requirements to take them as far along the command path as they want to go by steering them toward options that suit their interests? Renos: I can help candidates find suitable opportunities but it’ll be the candidate’s own hard work that sees them progress. Jansen Orrey: Who is eligible to speak with the promotion coordinator? Renos: I work primarily with candidates who have reached the rank of Lt. Commander but any player of any rank is welcome to get in touch with me. Jansen Orrey: When should potential commander candidates contact you? Renos: The first person they should contact is their commanding officer, to let them know they’re interested in the command track. Then any interested Lieutenants and Lieutenant Commanders can contact me any time they have questions. Jansen Orrey: What should folks interested in promotion to commander do? Renos: Aside from talking to their commanding officer about their interest in promotion to commander they should review the promotions guide on the wiki this details the skills we’re looking for in potential commanders as well as the responisbilities that go with the rank. Jansen Orrey: What are you goals for the position? Renos: The goals of the position are to keep track of all the candidates actively working towards promotion, monitor the progress of these candidates, check in with candidate’s mentors periodically to assess next steps, managing reference material and keeping it up-to-date, and coordinating with test facilitators. Jansen Orrey: What would you like to see happen with the commander pool for the group? Renos: I’d like to see the commander pool for the group grow and see many more officers achieving this rank. Jansen Orrey: Why did you agree to take the position on? Renos: It’s something I feel passionately about. Having a strong pool of Commanders is important for the group so it’s important to me. We have many talented people in the group, many who would love the chance to command their own ship one day and I want to be able to help them reach that goal. Jansen Orrey: Why is building a pool of commanders important? Renos: These are our leaders of tomorrow and if we have a strong group of commanders at all times then it’ll do wonders for the strength of our fleet. Having many capable commanders would provide great support for our ships and captains while at the same time giving us options when looking for the next commanding officers. Jansen Orrey: Is there anything else you would like to tell us about the position? Renos: No, however if I could give one bit of advice to people wanting to move forward it would be to be willing to learn, keep an open mind and have a proactive attitude – ask your Commanding Officer about ways you can help. We can teach players and help them refine skills but they have to bring the right attitude. The post An interview with our Promotions Coordinator: Renos appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

MENTHAR CORRIDOR — After a trip through a rare space-time anomaly, the USS Invicta found itself in an alternate reality where the Dominion War had ended in the Federation’s defeat. “It’s a pretty terrifying thought,” said Professor Marius Stana of the University of Alpha Centauri. “Every historian this side of the galaxy, not to mention a tactician or two I’m sure, can’t wait to pour over the data once it’s released to see why the outcome was so different in this other universe.” The Invicta had begun investigating the stellar anomaly, a quantum fissure, when the ship was suddenly pulled through it. The quantum fissure acted as a keyhole into another quantum reality, in this case, one in which the Dominion and her allies were victorious. With the core Federation worlds either decimated or firmly under Dominion rule and Starfleet destroyed, only a handful of ships remained in pockets of Federation resistance scattered across the galaxy. The Invicta soon encountered one of these resistance vessels, the Defiant class USS Ronin-A, a ship that had yet to exist back in the prime universe. The Ronin, commanded by an alternate version of the Invicta’s Doctor Saveron, was in the middle of a battle with the Jem’Hadar when the Invicta appeared. The two ships quickly teamed up to defeat the Jem’Hadar and then worked together to figure out what exactly had happened. The Ronin and Invicta returned to the Federation resistance’s base of operations, the Menthar Anchorage, which was also home to various refugees the resistance had managed to save. As Captain Kells and the Invicta crew tried to figure out how to get back, a question soon came up of whether or not the Ronin should be brought back with the Invicta. Though Captain Kells was reluctant to do so, Captain Saveron of the Ronin made the condition binding if the Invicta were to use the Ronin’s help in sealing the quantum fissure that threatened to collapse and destroy the entire region if not the galaxy and beyond once the barrier between quantum realities was broken. The Dominion and Cardassians in the alternate universe soon learned of the appearance of the Invicta and moved to intercept her and the Ronin. As the two Federation ships attempted to use their warp fields to seal the fissure, the Dominion attacked, but they were too late. Once the Invicta reappeared back in the prime reality, however, they discovered that the Ronin had not arrived back with them, seemingly having remained behind. “You don’t often get a chance to live through a ‘what if’ scenario of history,” said Crewman Second Class Priya Uddin, an engineer aboard the Invicta. “My father never really told me any of his old war stories from back when he was serving during those times, but seeing what could have happened if we’d lost makes me appreciate even more the fight he and the rest of his brothers and sisters in arms gave for our freedom.” The post Alternate universe discovered where the Dominion won the war appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

Have you come across a great character biography on the wiki? Been working on your own bio for a while now and want to show it off to the fleet? Then head on over to the Featured Bio Contest’s forum and submit a nomination! All that’s required is that the bio be of an active player character, such as Siris of the USS Avandar, who is this month’s Featured Bio Winner. You can see a list of previous winners and featured nominees at the contest’s wiki site as well as an overview of the judging criteria the Featured Bio Contest Team uses to vote for a winner. The nomination round closes Tuesday, December 1, so don’t delay! Submit your nomination today! The post Submit your nominations for this month’s Featured Bio Contest! appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

This is part one of a two-part interview with Capt. Renos, the newest member of the Executive Council. In Part 2 of the interview, Jansen Orrey will talk with Renos more about the role of Promotions Coordinator. -Wolf WOLF: Tell us a little about your OOC-self. Where are you from and what kind of work do you do? RENOS: My name is James and I come from Scotland. I’ve been with UFOP: StarBase 118 over four years now and those who’ve been for a few years may know me as Amy/Aims or Aimsley, which is the name I used up until early last year. Confused? I’m transgender – I was born with a female anatomy but have always felt inherently this was wrong, a terrible mistake had been made and that I should have been born male. For the last few years I have been transitioning, which is a journey that allows me to be seen and accepted fully as a male. I work in my local supermarket and have done for over 10 years now in various departments. Currently I work on the fresh food counters, so delicatessen, hot deli but primarily the butcher and fish counters. When I first started with the counters some years ago I felt deeply uncomfortable about the idea of serving on the fish counter. I could hardly stand to look at the whole fish with their beady eyes staring back at me, never mind stomach the thought of preparing them. I started by getting used to handling the whole fish and later learned how to prepare them. It was uncomfortable at first but what I really like about it is that I was able to push through barriers I didn’t think I could to learn a new skill. I really think we are all capable of more than we think we are and I apply this mindset as much as possible, including here in the fleet. I’ve worked with some players who struggle with the English language for varied reasons and I admire the attitude and enthusiasm they bring to the group even though it’s hard for them. As long as someone is willing to learn I will happily be there to support them to the best of my ability. Now I really enjoy working on the fish counter and love getting the chance to set it up in the morning and put on a nice display. I’m also a health and safety rep and departmental forum rep. I represent my colleagues viewpoint and look for ways to solve problems, particularly where health and safety concerns are involved. When I’m not working, my seven year old daughter and her multitude of after school activities keep my busy. Simming with UFOP: Starbase 118 is my favourite hobby and I enjoy it more than watching t.v. Other activities I like to indulge in include running, reading and playing computer games (mainly MMORPGs). WOLF: What brought you to UFOP: SB118, and had you done any roleplaying before? RENOS: I was bored and remembered an old friend talking about a thing called simming a few years prior as I thought about an old Star Trek guild I’d been a member of. I’d had a look around at various groups previously but hadn’t taken the plunge. So when I looked it up again UFOP: Starbase 118 caught my eye. I read all the about pages and it really drew me in and made me want to give it a try – so I did! I remember feeling a heady mixture of excitement at trying something new and creative – something different from MMO gaming, and nervousness! I hadn’t done any writing since my school days, so that was getting on close to a decade. I was worried that my writing wouldn’t be good enough and that I’d be laughed out of town but nothing could be further from the truth. Training was so much fun, everyone was so welcoming and since then I’ve grown as a writer and now I’m in a position to welcome new faces into the group in a variety of capacities including my role as cadet steward. WOLF: Why did you choose Darwin as the vessel you wanted to command? RENOS: I’ve never been a massive ship buff – I didn’t want anything too large or too powerful. I wanted to add something unique and quirky to the fleet and there isn’t anything more unique than the Horizon Class. It’s a science oriented vessel with a containment sphere – something no other ship has and its roleplaying possibilities fascinated me. spatial anomalies, corrosive gases and other such discoveries can be examined safely. Volatile sections of salvaged debris can be transported without risk of harm. The scientific possibilities are endless and we’re a long way from being done exploring our options with it. WOLF: In addition to acting as the Promotions Coordinator, you’re also the Publicity Team facilitator – that’s generally been a difficult team to manage. What’s been the hardest part about helping that team be successful? RENOS: I’m passionate about the publicity team because without the work we do there we would not be able to maintain a stable membership, or expand the fleet and create new opportunities for up and coming players interested in command. There are a lot of different things we can do to get the word out there about our group but it’s impossible for me to be do it all myself. Here it really is a case of many hands make light work and the challenge has been in getting enough volunteers who can help up with the many and various tasks we can complete to get the word out there. WOLF: How can the general membership help with Publicity? RENOS: You don’t have to be a member of the publicity team to help with publicity, you don’t need any particular skill set or experience. Every month we highlight a particular project and give step by step guidance as to how the general membership can complete the project. We have the publicity forums where details of all the projects can be found – anyone is welcome to help with any of them at any time. I would be delighted and immensely grateful to see more people participating in the projects then checking in to let everyone know how they got on. WOLF: As one of two Cadet Stewards, you talk with a lot of our new and prospective members. Are there any questions you get repeatedly? RENOS: The one that sticks in my mind the most is questions surrounding when training will start, usually on a Monday from cadets who are highly eager and worried that they might have missed something. They email in to ask about when training will start and I reassure them that training will be starting at some point. The thing to remember is that we have an international membership with people all around the world. While it might be getting into the evening for a player waiting on training starting, it may be the morning or early afternoon for the people who will be starting the class. So fear not eager cadets, we always remember you and you’re training will begin on Monday – at some point. WOLF: Now that you’re a member of the Executive Council, is there anything that you didn’t know that surprised you? RENOS: Not really. I always thought that EC members deliberated most carefully on policy and important matters relating to the group. Being an EC member now myself I can see more than ever just how true this is. No decision is taken lightly and everyone is really committed to and passionate about doing the right thing for UFOP: StarBase 118. The post An interview with our newest Executive Council member: Renos appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

You’ve decided that you’d like to create and contribute a new alien species to our suite of both canon and novel species available for play in StarBase 118 sims. What is the process for submitting this species for approval and how do you go about it? Initial Considerations The first step is to consider what you want achieve with this new species that cannot be achieved with any canon species. What new opportunities will they present and how will they enrich our storylines as a whole? Look through the Intelligent Lifeform Index at all the available species and check that there isn’t already a species available that will allow you to fulfill your goals. There are a large number of underdeveloped species which would benefit from player input! Once you’ve decided that no species currently exists that will fulfill your goals, your next step is to put together a species proposal. Species Proposal This is submitted to your Commanding Officer. It is your case for introducing a new species, and should contain the following information: A summary of your new species suitable for the Wiki. (For examples see the Intelligent Lifeform Index). This should include any special abilities beyond the (Human) norm and any unusual physical and cultural traits.A Character Bio for your proposed PCAn explanation of what subjects, areas or issues you are hoping to explore, with reference to the following:Are there any similar species already in the ILI?What is it about this new species that you particularly want to play and explore?Can you play and/or explore those themes with an existing species?.Your Commanding Officer will then consider your proposal. 90-Day Trail and Final Assessment If the New Species Proposal is approved, you will be able to create your new species character and then begin a 90 day trial during which your species concept is road-tested through your simming of that character. This is your opportunity to make the character and species shine and demonstrate how they provide an angle of play that is not otherwise available. Your Commanding Officer will observe closely as your new species is played, and at the end of the 90 day trial period they will submit a report to the Captain’s Council, who will then discuss the new species concept and decide whether it will be approved for play and, if so, what classification it will be. The post Introducing a New Species: A How-to Guide appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

L’HEIA SECTOR – Investigating an explosion in deep space, the USS Avandar discovered something of troubling evidence. Resuming routine duties after the events at Telden, the USS Avandar, in conjunction with the USS Halo, detected a large explosion in deep space. Moving to investigate, the Avandar was informed by the Halo that there had been a message transmitted to the Galaxy-class ship at the same time as the blast – a message that, whilst fragmented, suggested the involvement of Starfleet personnel. Scans of the area revealed that the explosion had not been natural in origin. In fact, the battered wreckage of a civilian freighter was discovered, along with evidence of the use of tricobalt explosives in the area and warp trails leading toward a nearby system. Long range scans of that system showed the presence of a settlement on a supposedly uninhabitable planet, though no explanation as to why it was there. Of more immediate concern to the Avandar‘s crew were the survivors still aboard the stricken freighter – survivors that turned out to be slaves, though no sign of their captors could be found in the limited time available before, despite the best efforts of the team sent over to investigate, the ship’s warp core went critical and exploded. According to Captain Della Vetri, the USS Avandar‘s Commanding Officer, “Someone who’ll use weapons like that against runaway slaves is someone that bears watching – so we’re going to have to find out just who they are before they decide to use them against someone else.” A task that the data apparently recovered from the freighter before its destruction, plus the testimony of the rescued survivors themselves, will hopefully make a good deal easier to accomplish. The post USS Avandar responds to deep space disaster appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

Many thanks to Baylen Anders of SB118 Ops, who just made another donation to help us keep our community online and ad-free. We’re so appreciative for our dedicated members whose generosity sustains this community. Can you join Renos by donating $5, $15, $50 or more to our community? Click here to get started – it only takes a few minutes. The post Donation thanks: Baylen Anders! appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

If we want to launch new ships, we have to grow our fleet with new members. That’s why it’s so important that our community members participate in our publicity efforts. Getting involved is easy only takes a few moments. The Publicity Team has a number of small tasks that, each month, can help grow our influence, spread the word about our group, and pique the interest of Star Trek writers around the net. From posting on Star Trek forums to gathering social media content, most of our tasks don’t require any particular expertise, and can be completed by anyone in 15-30 minutes. But if we don’t have enough people to help each month, our goals fall short and it’s hard to sustain recruiting levels to the point of replacing the folks who go on leave or retire from the group. Click here to learn more about the Publicity Team and sign up to help. The post Join the Publicity Team to help us spread the good word appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

The Captains Council is proud to introduce a whole new reward system for our community: Badges! Badges are similar to our Community Awards in that they are awarded for out-of-character (OOC) participation and achievement. However, while Community Awards are bestowed on a yearly basis in December to recognize long-term achievement and outstanding performance among a peer-group, badges are reserved for incremental achievements or singular contest wins. Players can receive more than one badge at a time, and can also receive a badge multiple times through enhancements – a marker on the wiki that denotes repeated achievement. Similar to the star system used on the service ribbons, a gold tip represents each repeated citation, and a silver tip represents five additional citations (and therefore five gold tips). We’ve launched with 18 badges, however more will be announced over the coming weeks. Check out the new badges page on the wiki for more information about how to receive badges, how to display them on your wiki bio, and the list of all the available badges. Have questions about badges? Check out this thread on the forums. The post Introducing badges! appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

POUIYEOG REGION, DELTA QUADRANT — The USS Triumphant teamed up with the USS Darwin to chase a master criminal into the Delta Quadrant to recover stolen, advanced technology. The USS Darwin (NCC-99312-A) once again under the command of Captain Renos is dispatched from DS6 to recover a Quantum Slipstream Drive. Stolen by none other than the mysterious vessel faced at Zakdorn and commanded by the criminal Tor’kath, known to the Darwin by the alias “Raikenoff”. Given its advanced weapons and capabilities the Darwin is assigned an escort, the defiant class USS Triumphant (NCC-75692) under the command of Captain Frazier. Shortly after the two vessels departed they detected the signal of the stolen QSD and pursue. After a week of chasing, the trail ran cold forcing them to drop out of slipstream to investigate. By now they’ve crossed into the Delta Quadrant in front of a nebula 10 AU in size. Lieutenant Lyldra attempted to get a feel of the area but picked up nothing on typical diplomatic or general subspace channels prompting her to suggest launching a subspace buoy to extend their range. From this she was able to pick up communications from two vessels talking about a nearby Talaxian base. Feeling ill, Counselor Didrik Stennes reported to sickbay where Doctor Cook diagnosed him with slipstream sickness. Once treated, the two discussed who the Counselor may need to take time to see, and Cook recommended several people including the ships Ash’lie guest Lyna Namid, which he then dropped in to visit. Cook soon joined them, leading to an argument about the best course of treatment for Lyna, right in front of her! They might have resolved their differences somewhat afterwards and away from their guest but it left the Ash’lie feeling angry and distrustful of them both. Unsure if their quarry was inside the nebula, Lieutenant Valdivia launched probes to probe to study the nebula, confirming Raikenoff’s presence there. They also showed pockets of gas within the nebula that are being ignited with increasing frequency, leading them to believe there must be someone else inside the nebula. The two Federation starships had been in the Delta quadrant for only a few hours when without warning the Triumphant’s intended XO fell ill entering a coma-like state. This caused a shake up in the crew’s rosters and Commander Thomas was selected by Renos to fill the vacant position, leaving Lieutenant Commander Treanor to fill the first officer position aboard the Darwin. The probes in the nebula soon revealed that there was a swarm of Numiri vessels inside the nebula, responsible for igniting its gas pockets. In a surprise move, Raikenoff and his ship emerged directly in front of the Darwin. Renos hailed him and ordered the criminal to surrender, showing great fortitude and self control in once again facing the man who had kidnapped and tortured nem. Raikenoff ignored Renos’s command to surrender as an armada of thirty small Numiri vessels emerged from the nebula and surrounded the three vessels. Fearing Raikenoff will reactivate his QSD as soon as he was able, Valdivia headed to engineering. With the help of Lieutenant JG Inikno Mpeba and Lieutenant Brell they worked out a plan to disable it remotely, using the Darwin’s own QSD. On the Triumphant, Captain Frazier succumbed to to the same illness that struck his first officer. Falling into a comatose state he left Thomas in command with the task of attempting to persuade the Numiri not to attack, while Raikenoff also attempted to sway the Numiri’s favor. Forced to defend itself and Darwin, the Triumphant returned fire on the Numiri. Giving Raikenoff the chance he had been waiting for to flee towards his secret objective. The post USS Darwin hunts hated enemy in Delta Quadrant appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

The Bynars come from the planet Bynaus in the Beta Magellan star system. Beta Magellan itself began its time with at least two stars, though one went supernova in 2364. This star was distant enough that its shockwave did not significantly damage the Bynar homeworld. One of the most unique species known to the Federation, the Bynars are an almost completely binary species, always operating in pairs. Experts at computer systems, the Bynars are highly desired and proficient in high technology scientific fields. For all of recorded Federation history, Bynars have integrated themselves with their planetary computer systems, through the replacement of the parietal lobe in a child’s brain, in an operation performed at birth. This operation allows extremely fast data transfer and access, and bears a resemblance to a non aggressive version of the Borg collective. When communicating with each other, the Bynars use a high pitched and rapid language that is generally too quick for other races to process. When speaking to non-Bynars, they are capable of speaking English as well as other common Federation tongues, though they often speak it haltingly, and it is common for Bynar individuals to finish each others’ sentences. While their proficiency with computers has been enhanced by their parietal lobe operations and the tie in they share with their home planet’s master computer, the link comes with drawbacks, some undeniable, and some philosophical. The Bynars have been proven to be vulnerable when there have been problems with their planetary computer, not just as individuals, but as a species, as this highly sophisticated computer system plays a part in regulating their biology. And since the Federation encountered the Borg, some have questioned the dangers inherent in the sort of completely interconnected culture that the Bynars have developed. Bynars often serve as temporary consultants aboard Starbases and Starships, particularly when it comes to computer systems. Read more about this species on the Wiki or on Memory Alpha! The post Species Spotlight: Bynars appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

Thanks to everyone who participated in our 2016 FWPA Proposal Contest! The Captains Council has carefully reviewed each of the proposals that were submitted. After a discussion it was suggested that the two Orion Syndicate proposals be considered together. Upon voting, it was decided that the combined proposal won the day. Congratulations to Commander Sal Taybrim and Lt. Commander Sinda Essen, whose proposals – Syndicate in the Shadows and Serpent War – will now be mended together to form the Fleetwide Plot Arc for next year! Taybrim and Essen each also earned the Plotmaster Badge. Be sure to offer your congratulations to these fine writers for putting together such a great proposal. More information will be released in the coming months about how members of the fleet can participate in building next year’s plot. The post Fleetwide Plot Arc chosen for 2016, Plotmaster awarded! appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

DURONIS II — The Laudean Naturalists uprising has ended thanks to the efforts of the Federation Embassy crew. With the permission of Laudean Prime Minister Vail Daysa, Rear Admiral Toni Turner, her crew and Marines left the Embassy to capture Boliva Gaev a known criminal, and Ahishma Chandra, the head of the Naturalist Party for their attacks on the Embassy. Little did they know that Gaev had sent for a fleet of small vessels with the intent to destroy the Embassy. With Captain Samal Frazier being recalled by Starfleet, and with a massive enemy fleet closing in, Major Hannibal Parker assumed command of the USS Bronwyn, and went out to meet the threat. Meeting up with the mysterious Starfleet Intelligence Director Chang of Project Looking Glass, the two starships prepared to meet the oncoming threat. After being hailed by the Naturalist Party commander to surrender, Major Parker made a counteroffer: for the invaders to surrender. With neither side giving ground, the Bronwyn and Changs’ ship opened fire, beginning a fierce and pitched battle. In the middle of the fray, the Bronwyn lost both shields and weapons, not due to battle damage, but to sabotage at the hands of Laudean shipyard workers who were sympathetic to the Naturalists’ cause. The sabotage was not thorough enough to completely disable the starship, and she gave chase to the four invading vessels who had managed to escape. Using her tractor beams, the Bronwyn managed to stop two more, and after getting her weapons online just in the nick of time, the final two ships were beginning their dive on the Embassy when the Bronwyn destroyed them. The Bronwyn, however, was still not out of danger. Sabotage to her impulse engines had the Bronwyn‘s engines ready to explode, but thanks to Major Parker recalling a crude, but effective, method of stopping the runaway engines, the Bronwyn was saved. Bronwyn, sans engine power, was safe in orbit, until enough repairs were made to ease the ship into Spacedock. Once arriving there, Major Parker assigned Lieutenant T’Mihn and Lt. Commander tr’Khellian to determine the extent of the sabotage to the starship. Meanwhile Turner’s group converged on Chandra’s Tree house stronghold to capture their quarry, hoping to take them alive. Unfortunately, Gaev and Chandra made it impossible to take them alive. Returning to the Embassy to tend the wounded, Parker gave his report, and began working on a better defense plan for the Embassy and grounds. The post Embassy II survives uprising appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

Many thanks to Renos, who just made a donation to help us keep our community online and ad-free. We’re so appreciative for our dedicated members whose generosity sustains this community. Can you join Renos by donating $5, $15, $50 or more to our community? Click here to get started – it only takes a few minutes. The post Donation thanks: Renos! appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

Every year, we take time to celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of our members. This is a core tradition that was started in 1996, just two years after our group was founded, and has continued every year since then. The awards process begins with the nomination period, which is open starting today until Sunday, December 8th at midnight Pacific time. Click here to go directly to the Award Nomination Panel, where there’s more information about how to nominate another member for an award. Over the weeks to come, the nomination that you submit will be split into groups and reviewed. General category awards are reviewed and approved by your captain, while Special and Duty Post award winners are selected from the pool of nominations by a committee of staff members. Staff category award nominations are reviewed by the Executive Council. General award winners will be announced to each ship, by the ship’s captain, in late December. Usually, our group OOC ceremony which lists all Special, Duty Post, Staff, and Length of Service awards, is posted to the fleet around the beginning of the year. (In this case, probably the first week of 2016.) This is your opportunity to recognize your fellow players and the staff that help make this group an amazing community. Awards are only given if a nomination is received and selected, so don’t hesitate to start nominating those you think deserve an award! When a ship has few award recipients it is a direct result of few nominations from that specific crew. Keep these things in mind as you begin submitting fellow officers for nominations: * Duty Post, Special, and Staff awards are given to only one officer per year in the entire fleet. * Only one person per crew can receive each of the General awards in each ceremony. * You can find a list of past recipients on the wiki. Remember that some awards were created just last year, so there may be no previous recipients for those awards. In closing, remember that you Commanding Officer also does a lot of hard work behind the scenes to keep the fleet and the community running. Our staff are not paid for their work, and it is their endless hours of devotion that keep things going smoothing. Keep this in mind as you are submitting your nominations and consider nominating your Commanding Officer for an award as well! If you have any questions, feel free to talk to your Commanding Officer or First Officer, or post in the thread on our forums. Click here to start your award nominations! The post Award nominations open for 2015 ceremony appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

Please welcome our newest Academy graduates to the UFOP: StarBase 118 fleet: Lev Al-Kalev, Nira, and Mitchell Shapiro! The post New Academy Graduates appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article