The Runabout Chronicles an STA Gameplay Concept
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The Runabout Chronicles An STA Gameplay Concept C Jinkins The Runabout Chronicles The Runabout Chronicles (amongst all of you if you intend to have a rotating Storyteller) for them all to make a character for Introduction that role, the positions are: o What are the Runabout Chronicles? Captain o Simply put it is a concept "idea" that is Executive Officer o designed to be done with only three Chief Engineering Officer o players, a Storyteller and two Player Security/Tactical Officer o Characters, because it isn't always Flight Control Officer o Chief Medical Officer possible to get a big enough group o Chief Science Officer together, or maybe people dropped out last minute. Whatever the reason, this You don't have to make concept is to allow smaller groups to all the positions yet if you still play Star Trek Adventures in some don't want to, and form, playing on the (oddly) common instead make them occurrence where two Senior Crew when/if a mission members go off on their own. I have requires them, but also designed several Mission Briefs to names at least are useful work with this format. to "flesh out" the crew So, as I said the idea of these is to and ship. This effectively creates you a “pool” of invoke the feeling that the main ship the crew come from is elsewhere, and characters to use, with these officers are on their own, in a each player having the small craft. choice of a couple that they can use for the This concept can be a good chance to mission. have a rotating Storyteller, allowing everyone a chance to run games and 2 Pick a ship, the main ship isn't also to take part. hugely important to these missions, but it is nice to have Creating the Crew and Ship one for times it will be referenced, the only perquisite is If you do not have a crew and ship set that it the ship is capable of up already, then there are a few steps maintaining a Runabout. you can take to prepare the group for 3 Name your Runabout, doing one (or more) of these missions: Runabouts tend to be named after rivers, but in the end, you 1 Create a crew, divide up the can name it whatever you want positions below amongst the as it will be your ship for most of players as evenly as possible these missions. 1 1 The Runabout Chronicles 4 You are then ready to begin your passengers, or up to 40 in an Runabout Chronicle! emergency (maximum 2 hours). • Cargo Transport - The Milestones runabout’s aft module has been configured to carry cargo. Milestones work in the same way as • Long Duration Mission - The they do normally, the only difference is runabout’s aft module has been that any spends to improve the ship, configured to serve as a rest instead apply to your shuttlecraft. area and sleeping quarters for up to four personnel. Supporting Crew • Attack - The runabout’s aft module has been converted to Shuttlecraft don't generally have a provide additional, and higher- compliment of "Supporting Crew" powered, weaponry. Add +2Λ to however there will be instances when damage of the runabout’s you may have/need some additional weapons. personnel with you, or the story may split up the main characters. As such Other than the Attack module, none of create supporting crew as the mission the modules actually say they do requires it, using the Main Ship to something in a rules sense (though, determine the limit on how many naturally, their description gives you Supporting Crew are available. enough to work on). So the first thing I would suggest is to treat practically all Optional Change - Danube Class Modules effectively as “Traits” for the Runabout Modules Danube (Attack being the exception), Even though the core rulebook does this makes it so that everyone can cover a couple of Module/Pod options identify quickly what they might or for the Danube class runabout, I felt might not be able to do, for example: that the options were quite lacking, that Starfleet would go further, given that The USS Ganges has been equipped with these interchangeable modules are a the Passenger Transport module, so the key feature of the ship. Firstly, these are traits for the USS Ganges are the options currently available as per “Federation Starship, Small Craft, the Core Rulebook: Passenger Transport.” • Passenger Transport - The Now with a quick glance we get enough runabout’s aft module has been of an idea of what this ship can do, and configured for carrying large the Trait can impose numbers of passengers. The Advantages/Complications/etc as any runabout may carry up to 10 other trait in the game. 2 2 The Runabout Chronicles New Modules o While obviously only a small set up, it is shown As I said at the start, I felt that the in Trek that not modules available for the Danube were everything can be quite limited, why design a ship to be brought aboard a highly modular and then have such a starship easily, so a limited selection? So, I have come up module like this would with a few additional modules I think allow scientists to gather would work well with this craft and give samples and conduct it some more versatility. I’ll try and analysis “in the field”. explain my reasoning behind each • Hospital – Several medical beds module. and various medical equipment are fitted in the rear of the craft, Each of the new modules, as I propose allowing it to act as either a field above, is to be considered as a possible hospital, or a medical transport Trait for the Danube, as such they won’t for those with injuries too add any additional rules, Talents, or serious to allow transporters. bonuses to the vessel. o Similar to the laboratories set up, I see • Sensor/Reconnaissance – this as a good use for the Additional sensors are added to vessel alongside a larger the craft along with the medical ship, able to generators to power them, ferry critical patients to giving the craft enhanced sensor the main ship and still range and detail for a vessel of able to provide them with its size. emergency treatment. It o This seemed like an could also be used as a obvious use for the craft, field hospital in wartime, both from a military able to simply land and standpoint and be fully ready to go. potentially an exploration one. Those were the main ones I thought of, • Laboratories – The back section below are a couple of, possibilities that I of the vessel is fitted with a wasn’t 100% sure about, but decided to small laboratory and a range of include anyway. equipment to assist research. While not on par with those • Environmental Transport – The aboard larger starships, it rear of the runabout is turned provides adequate facilities for into a self-contained area that scientists to get by. can simulate the environment to suit a species needs, such as 3 3 The Runabout Chronicles aquatic dwelling species or those • Diplomatic – Some small from low/high gravity worlds. office/quarters and a large o It is often hinted upon, meeting room allow diplomats but rarely shown, that to receive dignitaries within the there are species out vessel and undertake minor there, even among negotiations etc when a larger Starfleet, that require vessel is unavailable. different environments to o This seemed like another survive, but it seems that, good possible use for the beyond the ships they vessel, good for minor must have, there isn’t negotiations etc and also much to facilitate possibly able to provide a transporting them! So, good neutral ground the rear compartment when facilitating talks and cockpit area are between two or more separated to allow the parties hostile with each environment in the back other. to be modified to Missions facilitate a different environment. Included in the rest of this document • Duckblind – Holoprojectors, are several Mission Briefs that are quarters and sensors are fitted written with this concept in mind, each to the vessel allowing it to will Spotlight a certain role which will be disguise itself and observe an required to play the mission, the other area, designed primarily as a player can be whatever role they wish, “Starting point” for a Duckblind some will be more useful on the mission operation, while any main than others but still the choice is theirs. facility is being constructed. o Given the Danube’s ability to be effectively self-sufficient for periods of time, this seemed like an interesting possible use for newly discovered species; allowing starships to leave an observation team behind while a more dedicated team are sent by Starfleet. 4 4 The Runabout Chronicles The Cure Minor Beats The Salren weren’t always afflicted with the Ket, Spotlight Role – Chief Medical Officer historical records show a time when they lived normal lives, the origins of the condition itself Synopsis are unknown. Some of the population are angry With the ship docked and the crew given some with Starfleet, and want to drive them off the time for R&R, an old colleague, Dr Leni Thro has planet, while the facility itself hasn’t been contacted the CMO to request help to save a attacked, it could just be a matter of time. The race that’s dying due to an accelerating genetic facility is a Starfleet prefabricated base, built condition. The Salren of the planet Ren will quickly to start work as fast as possible, reach the point of no return in a matter of unfortunately, with Starfleet leaving the planet weeks.