USS Galileo :: Wiki - 06 - Character Management

6.1 Character Creation Guide

Characters constitute the heart and soul of our game. They are the singular element of our role-play upon which all of our gameplay is based. Characters on Galileo come in one of three variations: primary characters, secondary characters, and redshirt characters. Primary characters are the main characters aboard the ship. They're afforded the most screen time and role-play opportunities, and usually occupy the most important and interesting positions. Secondary characters are often referred to as PNPCs. They can be found serving below decks as supplementary crew, and even as assistant department heads in certain situations. These characters help fill out the crew manifest and bring it to life by offering additional gameplay opportunities for those who desire. Redshirt characters are disposable NPCs who can be used by any player to fill a needed role on the game. More often than not, they die during away missions as is Star Trek tradition.

Whether you're looking to create a primary, secondary or redshirt character, this guide will provide a framework to be used and referenced during the process. There are many ways to go about creating a new character and none of them are incorrect. The advice below is the culmination of decades of role-playing experience from players and game masters alike. Prospective players should read through the entirety of this page before submitting a character application.

BASIC INFO

The first step in character creation is to define your character as realistically as possible. To do this, you will need to choose their name, age, species, and gender. These are the basic foundations for any RPG character and will help to shape their creation. Many of these choices will directly impact the role of your character on the game. For example, your character's age will help determine their starting rank. An officer character who is only 22-25 years old will most likely be an ensign whereas an enlisted character the same age may hold an NCO rank of petty officer. No character except the commanding officer and first officer may start at a rank above lieutenant junior grade.

Your choice of character species is also very important, especially within the Star Trek universe. Different species have different physical and psychological strengths and weaknesses. For example, Klingons (for the most part) are a warrior race, large and strong in statue with redundant internal organs. They excel at combat, both ground and space, however they have volatile tempers and are generally considered arrogant and confrontational. Conversely, Vulcans are also physically strong yet are much more passive and rely on their mental discipline (logic) to guide them throughout their lives. All of the different alpha canon Federation member species are acceptable for selection.

CUSTOM SPECIES AND HYBRIDS

Official Star Trek lore is filled with a plethora of different playable species. Each one possesses distinct traits and offers a unique style of gameplay. However, we recognize that players will not always feel comfortable playing established species or may want to explore their creativity by creating a custom species. Galileo allows for the addition of custom species to our game world, within moderation. Custom species must be plausible, thoroughly researched, and contain detailed physiological, cultural and historical information. All custom species must be approved by the game masters and will undergo a formal review before being accepted to the game. It is usually much easier to play an established species than to create an entirely new one; we recommend only advanced role-players pursue this endeavor.

Hybrid characters are those which are a mix of two species. Examples include Spock, Deanna Troi and B'Elanna Torres. Medical science has made great strides in the 24th Century but such occurrences are often rare and problematic, especially where multiple hybridization is involved. Hybrid characters should be created sparingly and be of a reasonable and believable nature.

To preserve the integrity of the game's Star Trek theme, the following restrictions are in place:

Only one hybrid or custom species character per player.
Any hybrid or custom species character must be a primary character.

NON-PLAYABLE SPECIES

Some alien races are not suitable for full-time inclusion within our game. These races might have extraordinary abilities, be from a government hostile to the Federation, or come from outside of Star Trek lore. Plausibility is a key component of our gameplay therefore the following races and species categories are prohibited from play except in episodic-specific circumstances:

Non-humanoid species
Android species
Reman
Nausicaan
Gorn
Pakled
Borg
Breen
Xindi
Changelings
Dominion species
Delta Quadrant species
Genetically-enhanced species
Non-corporeal entities
Omnipotent species
Beta canon-exclusive species
Species from non-Star Trek fandoms

Please Note Japanese animation-style avatars, characters and storylines are prohibited. We wish to preserve the canon Star Trek theme of our role-play and do not believe the anime fandom is compatible with our own.

RANK: OFFICER, ENLISTED OR CIVILIAN?

Characters usually fall into one of two different rank categories depending on their background and education. Officers are the elite and fully trained members of Starfleet and only account for 10-20% of a ship's personnel. They are required to attend Starfleet Academy for four years, usually from age 18-22, during which they pass a series of thorough coursework and formal training. Though they specialize in one particular department of operation, they are knowledgeable in a wide variety of fields. Their greatest strength aboard a starship is not necessarily their technical expertise, but their leadership and administrative abilities.

Enlisted personnel make up the majority of a ship's crew. These are personnel who have attended the two-year Starfleet Enlisted Academy in their specialized field yet do not possess the advanced training and knowledge of officers. Junior enlisted personnel who perform well may be promoted to NCOs -- also known as petty officers. Petty officers are the middle management of Starfleet and are responsible for overseeing all junior enlisted personnel within their departments. NCOs serve as a bridge between officers and the rest of the enlisted crew.

Chief warrant officers are typically former NCOs who have received a commission based on skill and performance. In other words, merit. Chief warrant officers are officers who are subject matter experts (SMEs). They can train and coach officers and enlisted, and on occasion, command units and serve as department heads.

Civilians are the most versatile category of the crew and come from all types of backgrounds. Usually, civilians who serve aboard Galileo possess advanced degrees in the science, math, chemistry, and/or engineering field. Civilians range in age from young to old and help to assist the rest of the crew with important projects, experiments and research.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

We've all seen it before. A character who is 6'11", 300 lbs (Shaq) and is a tactical master. Realistic? Not really. Probability? Ultra rare. An individual who is that size is in the top 0.0002 growth percentile for the entire Human population. Yes, it is possible for your character to be that large, but highly unlikely. Different species have different physical statues but please try and remain within the realm of realism.

Characters should also be height-weight proportionate. This is dependent on the species, but it definitely means a 6' Human woman won't be weighing 90 lbs. If that were really the case, she would look emaciated and probably suffer from severe nutritional deficiency. Characters serving aboard Galileo should be physically fit. Their lives and those of their crew may very well depend on their ability to perform rigorous physical feats under duress at a critical situation. To help calculate a realistic weight for your character proportionate to their height, click here.

Your character's appearance also says a lot about them. Do they have tattoos or piercings? Moles or birthmarks? Scars or artificial limbs? These traits are excellent ways to personalize your character and also give your fellow writers a good mental image of them.

PERSONALITY PROFILE

Defining your character's personality is one of the most fun aspects of role-playing. Unlike physical or species restrictions, your character's personality is completely up to you. You may choose to stay true to their species and have your Klingon warrior fit the stereotype, or may wish to make them more intriguing and go against the grain.

There are many aspects of your character's personality, of which their strengths and weaknesses are the most important. These will define your character and how they work and operate on board the ship, as well as interact with other crew. It is very important to create a balanced character and understand the term 'Strengths AND Weaknesses'. No character is perfect and everyone has flaws, regardless of species or gender. Characters should have several personality and technical strengths accompanied by several personality and technical weaknesses. Balancing your character is essential to the game because if we all had perfect characters, our missions would be over in a matter of days with no hiccups and plot twists.

CHARACTER HISTORY

Your character's history is the final creation step. Here, you will go into detail about the life of your new crew member and bring all the other aspects of your character to fruition. A general rule of thumb to consider is 'the more, the better'. The more detail you put into your character's background will reflect positively on you as a writer and allow other players' characters to interact with you on a more personal level. Since one of our game's focuses is character development, be sure to take your time and create the most interesting and realistic background possible.

Lastly, be sure your character's background is relevant to the position you intend them to hold. For example, it wouldn't make much sense for a character with a flight control background to be the chief science officer or someone with an intelligence background to be the chief medical officer. There are obviously exceptions to this because sometimes characters switch fields during their careers, but be sure to explain any such changes in your character's history to ensure other players on the game aren't scratching their heads as they read through your character's biography.

6.2 PNPC Creation Guide

Protected Non-Player Characters, or PNPCs, are an important and vital aspect of our game. PNPCs are secondary characters you can create and control in addition to your primary character. These characters allow us to populate our manifest and provide additional writing opportunities and emergent gameplay. This section will briefly outline the rules and regulations for creating and playing PNPCs, as well as give suggestions for creating interesting and unique characters.

RULES

Players are free to create and play up to five (5) PNPCs. If anyone would like to create a PNPC within another department, please obtain approval from that particular department head's player.
When creating a PNPC, players must notify the game masters as well as the PNPC's department head. The GMs must be notified to add the character to the manifest and the DH must be notified to remain informed of new additions to their department.
All PNPCs must follow the same guidelines laid forth in the Character Creation Guide.
All PNPCs must contain a character image, full physical stats, and description. The personality profile and character history may be left blank. However if the PNPC is frequently used, it would be best to flesh out character.
PNPCs must belong to a specific player. All secondary characters must be linked to a player's user account. Joint ownership of a PNPC is only permitted with game master approval.

RANK CONSIDERATIONS

No PNPC may hold an officer or chief warrant officer rank without permission from the game masters. They must be enlisted personnel or civilians.
Only one chief petty officer (CPO) per department. Master chief petty officer (MCPO) is reserved for the chief of the boat.

SUGGESTIONS

PNPCs should be a variety of different species. Starfleet vessels are typically composed of at least 1/3 non-Humans so do your best to include all of the various Federation races.
PNPCs should be an equal mix of male and female. A 50/50 split would be ideal, with 60/40 being the extreme.

6.3 Departmental Duties List

All characters aboard Galileo are members of one of six (6) primary departments and are responsible for performing their respective duties therein. Galileo's department organization may differ from other role-play games due to the Nova-class' distinctive size and mission profile. However, many positions will be familiar to those with knowledge of the fandom.

The list below contains the role-play elements for each department. This should help make each character's duties clear, limit in-character contradictions and prevent us from 'stealing' role-play opportunities from others. Galileo's characters do not occupy multiple positions for the same reason, allowing for a fair share of 'screentime' for all writers.

COMMAND DEPARTMENT DUTIES

Starship command. At least one senior Command officer must be on-duty at all times to supervise the starship's operation. The second officer assumes the duties of a senior Command officer when required.
Away team command. A senior member of the department must be present to oversee and direct the actions of any expeditionary elements.
Ship-wide administrative duties. The CO, XO, COB (the Triad) and yeoman are responsible for processing all daily admin and status reports from department heads, officers, NCOs, junior enlisted and civilians.
Duty watch management. Typically the first officer is responsible for ensuring the appropriate dispersion of the crew's complement across the three standard watches.
Starfleet Command liaising. Important communications and mission tasking with Starfleet Command are overseen by the Triad.
Human resources management. Senior command personnel process performance reviews and promotions as well as any concerns of crew behavior brought to them, then adjudicate accordingly.
Strategic operations. Sector and theater-scale operations and intelligence are processed and interpreted accordingly by the Triad.
Foreign affairs/diplomacy. All diplomatic efforts involving the starship are overseen by the Command department, including unique cases of first contact.
Guidance and navigation. Command personnel are trained helmsmen and navigators, specifically including the vessel's conn officers.
Support craft operations. Conn officers are responsible for maintaining all of Galileo's resident shuttlecraft, and when available, serve as pilots-in-command when they are deployed.

SECURITY/TACTICAL DEPARTMENT DUTIES

Away team safety assessment. A member of the Security/Tactical department must be present on every away team expedition to assess potential threats and respond accordingly.
Personnel/VIP security. Members of the crew, foreign delegates and any high-value individuals aboard the vessel must have their safety ensured at all times.
Law enforcement. Security/Tactical officers serve as the starship's LEO complement. They ensure the Starfleet Code of Justice is enforced and detain any persons on board who violate Starfleet regulations.
Internal investigation. The department oversees the detailed examination of any operational security threats to Galileo or its crew, specifically from within.
Brig and detainee management. The ship's brig - and its occasional occupants - are managed by Security/Tactical officers, including routine maintenance.
Hand-to-hand combat. The department's personnel are well-trained in unarmed combat and capable of demonstrating restraint when needed as well as force when necessary.
Small arms combat. Proficient use of hand-held weaponry is occasionally required to provide security for fellow crew members and VIPs against hostile individuals.
Tactical weapons systems control. Security/Tactical officers are responsible for the successful deployment of any of the starship's phaser weaponry and torpedo ordinance when required.
Tactical defensive systems control. The department employs any and all starship-based defensive systems when necessary, to include deflector shields and their corresponding modulations.
Operational security assessments. Caution-based reasoning and careful evaluation of potential hazards should be relayed to all relevant crew members when planning and executing mission objectives.

OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT DUTIES

Communications. Ops maintains all intraship comm systems (between personnel and their associated devices) as well as processes all ship-to-ground and ship-to-ship transmissions and receptions.
Power distribution. Primary, auxiliary and emergency power systems are overseen and adjusted as required to meet the needs of the mission.
Utility network management. Data transmission, gravity systems, water processing, atmospheric systems, waste disposal, replicators, holodecks, turbolift networks, SIF and IDF systems, and umbilical connect hardpoints are all serviced on a routine basis.
Computer systems network. The department maintains Galileo's two primary computer processing cores and their associated network system of isolinear optical chips and bio-neural gel packs.
Transporter systems. Operations officers are responsible for the operation, maintenance and overseeing of all personnel and cargo transporter evolutions taking place within the vessel.
Logistics. The acquisition, movement and distribution of the ship's equipment and supplies is tended to at all times, as well as all crew housing needs and requests.
Damage control. Damage control teams are assembled by the Operations department then dispatched to respond to every variety of ship-based emergency.
Mission operations. Additional Operations officers are sometimes required to manage complex logistical challenges present across a variety of mission types.

ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT DUTIES

Warp propulsion systems (WPS). The department supervises and maintains the M/AM reaction assembly, warp nacelles, antimatter storage and transfer systems, and Bussard Collector fuel replenishment evolutions.
Impulse propulsion systems (IPS). Galileo's single fusion drive and its deuterium storage and transfer systems are maintained at routine intervals, and the IPS' operation is carefully monitored.
Emergency shutdown procedures. Specialized and intricate evolutions must be performed to successfully bring both the WPS and IPS to standby in the event of operational hazard.
Catastrophic emergency procedures. Ejection of the warp core propulsion system or the impulse reactor is performed by the Engineering department in the event of critical life-threatening failure.
Repairs. Any external and internal hull damage, or damage to any internal primary, utility and auxiliary systems, is assessed then completed by members of the Engineering department.
Operational safety assessments. The department routinely ensures the safe conduct of all personnel within the vicinity of the WPS or IPS, and communicates to other personnel when certain operational parameters will jeopardize the health and safety of those systems.
Damage control. Damage control teams are assembled by the Engineering department then dispatched to respond to critical WPS and IPS emergencies.
Maintenance and inspections. Standard routine maintenance and inspection of all propulsion systems must be carried out thoroughly and frequently to ensure Galileo's maximum operational efficiency.

SCIENCE DEPARTMENT DUTIES

Scientific investigation. The Science department oversees the exploration and examination of both ship- and ground-based biological, cosmic and physical entities. Socipolitical, historical and temporal investigations also fall under this domain.
Research and development. Using Galileo's robust laboratory facilities, all authorized scientific research and experimentation is conducted and supervised by Science officers and the department's civilian specialists.
Remote sensing configuration/interpretation. Long-range sensors, navigational sensors, lateral sensors, and the science sensor suites are operated and maintained to maximize the starship's operational capability.
ECM/ECCM management. Galileo's electronic countermeasure (ECM) and electronic counter-countermeasure (ECCM) suites are operated by the Science department when required during tactical ship-to-ship combat scenarios.
Probe deployment. All probe configurations, employment and subsequent data reception are processed then interpreted to support the mission's needs and further discovery and exploration.
Ongoing studies and publishing. Members of the Science department are subject-matter experts and are required to keep current with advances in their field(s) of specialization. Academic reading, writing and publishing is a necessity at least once every few years.
Away team safety assessment. Exploratory expeditions must include at least one member of the Science department who is responsible for interpreting then evaluating possible biological, cultural and physical challenges.

MEDICAL/COUNSELING DEPARTMENT DUTIES

Primary care physician (PCP). Doctors serve as every crew member's primary point of contact for any undiagnosed medical ailments as well as for continuing care of any medical condition.
Crew physical evaluations. Medical officers are responsible for conducting mandatory routine medical evaluations of all crew members at standard intervals to ensure their fitness for duty and identify any potential new ailments.
Clinical psychiatry. Counselors conduct psychological testing and assessments, and provide diagnoses for any psychological ailments, substance abuse and mental health distress.
Crew psychological evaluations. Counselors must perform standard mental and cognitive evaluations of every crew member at standard intervals to ensure their decision-making and behavior conforms to Starfleet standards.
Diplomatic consultation. Counselors assist diplomatic efforts by assessing the psychological tendencies of all parties involved and ensuring the Command staff are fully briefed. They may also be asked to provide psychological evaluations to aid in negotiations.
Spiritual care. In secular organizations such as Starfleet, chaplains provide faith-based servcies and spiritual consultation across a variety of belief structures.
Trauma management. Both Counseling and Medical officers are responsible for treating traumas to the best of their ability in both the physical and mental realms, and are tasked with overseeing any crew recovery periods.
Triage. Mass-casualty events must include prioritization of the most critically-injured to save as many lives as possible using all of Galileo's available resources.
Medical research. Research and analysis involving biological lifeforms is typically overseen by the Medical department using its specialized medical laboratory facility.
Ongoing studies and publishing. Medical doctors are subject-matter experts and are required to keep current with advances in their field(s) of specialization. Academic reading, writing and publishing is a necessity at least once every few years.
Away team safety assessment. Exploratory expeditions must include at least one member of the Medical department who is responsible for interpreting then evaluating possible crew health and safety challenges which may be encountered.

6.4 Character Progression System

The character progression system (CPS) is a visual attribute-based RPG mechanism designed to show a character's specific strengths in various skills and departments. It is complimentary to the traditional written strengths/weaknesses section found in most games' character profiles. Developed and beta tested in July 2013, it is now a fully-implemented optional role-play system for all Galileo players to use in addition to their standard character profiles. It can be found in each character's biography by clicking on the ‘CPS' tab.

Please Note The CPS is both complimentary (adds to) and supplementary (fills a gap) to Galileo's traditional role-play system. It does not replace or override anything regarding our current gameplay.

DOWNLOAD

To view the CPS and learn more about this system, please click the PDF icon below.

6.5 Promotion Guide

Promotions are an important and special time in all of our characters' lives. They signify the culmination of hard work and participation both in-character and out-of-character, and are one of the most joyous events in character development. Here on Galileo, promotions do not come often. But when they do, they are always well-deserved. There are two types of promotions within our game which will be explained below. This guide should be used as a reference for any players who wish to see their character(s) advance on the simulation.

POSITION PROMOTIONS

The most common type of promotion on Galileo is a position promotion. Position promotions occur when a character is assigned to a different position which entails more responsibility. Examples of this include a junior officer/enlisted character being promoted to assistant department head, or an assistant department head being promoted to department head. These promotions are dependent upon a variety of factors and circumstances, including available manifest positions, ship/game needs, and individual player requests. Position promotions rarely involve a change in rank but are nonetheless very prestigious and open new opportunities for a player and their character.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

Service - A minimum of six (6) months aboard the game since joining.
Activity - Player must have abided by the activity guidelines set forth in our game rules.
Participation - Player must have demonstrated a willingness and capacity to write with other players.
Behavior - Player must not have any active warnings on their record, nor have any history of conflict with other players.

RANK PROMOTIONS

Occurring only once per calendar year, rank promotions are the most coveted and impactful type of promotion. Players whose characters are given rank promotions have put in their time aboard the game and have demonstrated strong activity and participation with all other members of Galileo. This type of promotion is a serious career advancement for any character and is a highlight in their service record which recognizes a job well done. Because of the magnitude of rank promotions as well as their implications, they only occur once per two to three missions for any given player. Rank promotions do not come after every mission and should not be expected to.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

Service - A minimum of one year from the date of the character's last promotion or the player's date of joining.
Activity - Player must have abided by the activity guidelines set forth in our game rules. Sporadic activity, untimely tags, and late personal logs are all detrimental to a player's character advancement.
Participation - Player must have demonstrated a willingness and capacity to write with other players.
Behavior - Player must not have any active warnings on their record, nor have any history of conflict with other players.

PNPC PROMOTIONS

Primary character (PC) promotions are often the most common, however we also promote secondary characters (PNPCs). PNPCs may receive both position and rank promotions the same as PCs, however they generally occur less frequently. PNPC promotions are available at the request of the player and are usually granted as long as the following basic criteria are met.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

Service - A minimum of six (6) months since the date of the character's last promotion or their date of creation.
Activity - A minimum of ten (10) posts -- either JPs, solo posts, and/or personal logs.
Participation - PNPC must have interacted with all crew members in their department.
Behavior - PNPC must have good standing on the ship. Any in-character disciplinary actions against the PNPC may disqualify them for a promotion, both in rank and position.

FINAL THOUGHTS

All promotions are subject to the approval of the game masters. There is no set-in-stone criteria for character advancement aboard our game but the GMs keep a close eye on everyone's activity and participation in order to make the most informed decisions. Promotions affect all members of our game therefore we review each promotion on a case by case basis. While position promotions are somewhat common, it is important to remember that rank promotions are earned, not given. Players who commit to our game and are active will see their characters rising through the ranks faster than those who do not.

06 - Character Management

Table of Contents:

6.1 Character Creation Guide

6.2 PNPC Creation Guide

6.3 Departmental Duties List

6.4 Character Progression System

6.5 Promotion Guide