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No problem with the monkey thing.

By Andy Palmer (Andypalmer) on Friday, June 03, 2005 - 09:52 am: Edit

Wouldn't the Federation have internal challenges to using these near sentients in a role akin to "2nd class citizens" / slaves?

[note - I am part playing Devil's advocate here to ensure that aspect has been considered]

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Friday, June 03, 2005 - 01:47 pm: Edit

As long as they're not much higher on the scale than Chimps I don't have a problem. We have a pet servant relationship with Border Collies already.

By Gary Plana (Garyplana) on Friday, June 03, 2005 - 03:40 pm: Edit

While it is not an unalterable rule, a racial IQ of six or higher is generally the break-point between animals and people -- see GPD4 page 32.

Note I said "racial IQ"; that means the IQ defined in the critter's racial template. A critter with a racial IQ of 5 is an animal; an individual critter with a racial IQ of 5 but with better-than-average IQ (for example a 6) is just a really smart critter. Example: some of the chimps and apes that have been taught sign language.

So in order to avoid trouble, the Brecon Ape would have to have an IQ 5 or less to fit this rule.

By Donovan A Willett (Ravenhull) on Friday, June 03, 2005 - 05:33 pm: Edit

That's the plan. IQ 5 with some very, very basic language abilities (hungy... like.. friend... that kind of stuff). A typical non-pet situation involves a small family housed on a farm or such that go out and do basic pest control and such in exchange for confortable housing and care.

By Donovan A Willett (Ravenhull) on Friday, June 03, 2005 - 05:45 pm: Edit

One more thing, if we have any SVC approved artists reading this, I could realy use a illustration of the 'Brecon Chimp.' Contact me for my physical description. Thanks.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Friday, June 03, 2005 - 06:12 pm: Edit

Include description in the file and I'll get somebody to do it.

By michael john campbell (Michaelcampbell) on Saturday, June 04, 2005 - 01:35 am: Edit

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No problem with the monkey thing.

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We have a pet servant relationship with Border Collies already.

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By Gary Plana (Garyplana) on Saturday, June 04, 2005 - 04:25 am: Edit

They love them ... with BBQ sauce on the side, of course.

By Charles Gray (Cgray45) on Monday, August 22, 2005 - 02:11 pm: Edit

A question from the fiction board-- what is the federation law enforcement/prison system like? When they grab Captain Arrrrrr Matey of the Orion Merchant association, what do they do?
It's been mentioned in several places that the feds don't have a death penalty, so do thye put him in a dark hole, or is the system of imprisonment more focused on restitution than punishement. (Of course, It may be the same difference: "Mr. Pirate, You'll be released just as soon as you have, at 5 credits a day pay, paid off the cost of the NCL your ship wrecked...").
OTH, advanced in tracking systems even today allow many prisoners to effectively be monitored outside of jail, so would the federation use jails, or just monitoring systems that do nasty things if the individual leaves, or is removed from his "allowed area".

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 - 01:27 pm: Edit

The federation focuses on both restitution and rehabilitation. There are prisons for felony offenders and dangerous people. Prisoners have jobs and work at them dilligently.

By Michael Powers (Mtpowers) on Wednesday, August 24, 2005 - 08:32 am: Edit

After all, where do you think those "CORRIDOR NUMBER FOUR" and "DANGER: COOLANT" sign-plates come from? The replicator?

By Steve Cain (Stevecain) on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 02:00 am: Edit

Don't forget... there was the experiment with having prison workers build shuttles. Unfortunately, they had to retool for trucks when a group of less happy 'guests' tried to shorten their reservations. The captain of the system's security skiff was persuasive when he put the time honored 'shot across the bow' of the shuttle. The occupants were willing to heave to, and return to the planet.

By Charles Gray (Cgray45) on Monday, August 29, 2005 - 07:36 pm: Edit

Another question-- How are Orion pirites treated when they are captured serving as mercenaries? I.E., if you capture an LR serving as part of a Klingon squadron, does the fed commander treat them as POW's or bandits taken in time of war?

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, August 29, 2005 - 09:02 pm: Edit

POWs. But check for wants and warrants and if there are any, treat them as a criminal.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 01:34 pm: Edit

Would the Federation cross reference the police files of allies?

Would they honor the warrants of the Kzinti HEgemony? would the Gorns send a prison ship to the Federation to pick up the consignment of POW's/criminals?

Does the Federation have extradition treaties with other races?

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 02:30 pm: Edit

Charles,

I agree with SVC's ruling they'd be treated as POWs, but I think there's more to it than just that.

If the scenario is as you suggested, ie the Orion serving as part of a Klingon squadron, then they would most likely be POWs.

However, depending on what else they were doing, they could be Spies, Illegal Combatants and/or War Criminals.

Also, in your scenario, it's the Feds doing the capturing .... they Klingons might not be so generous. And if it's the Lyran or Kzinti doing the capturing, the Orions might be lunch.


Garth L. Getgen

By Loren Knight (Loren) on Thursday, September 22, 2005 - 04:39 pm: Edit

SVC: Where is G Fed standing at this point?

The reason I ask is I had an idea for a short article (very short). Sometimes Federation Starships have to evacuate people from doomed planets or colonies and player might want to know what happens on a starship that takes on extra passengers. A few extra people is no problem but at what point does it become a problem? What is the maximum occupancy of a starship? That is, how many people can you fit in an emergency for a short term mission (from doomed planet to a Starbase) crowding them into the halls, shuttle bays, labs etc.

I've come up with a formula for some guidelines that could be applied to any ship for different levels of over occupancy.

I think the article could be about 1/2 page. It would also translate to an SFB rule fairly well. Although I seem to remember there might be a rule about how many evacuees a ship can hold. (anyone recall such a rule, a special scenario rule I think?)

Ya, nay?

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Thursday, September 22, 2005 - 06:09 pm: Edit

In my list of things to do after Fed Commander.

Go ahead and send the thing.

By David Kass (Dkass) on Thursday, September 22, 2005 - 08:25 pm: Edit

Loren, there is an SFB rule for shuttles, is that what you're thinking of (I can't recall a starship specific one off the top of my head, but if it were in a scenario, that wouldn't surprise me).

By Loren Knight (Loren) on Thursday, September 22, 2005 - 08:49 pm: Edit

I recall a scenario where you gain VP for crew units worth of people you beam off a planet. Heh, actually it might be the Planet Crusher scenario or another monster scenario. I'll have to look later.

I do want to find a way to use SFB boxes and the PD Ship Specs to arive at the same figure. The reason is because I'd like it to work for SFB too.

What I want to avoid is having to make a list of figures. That won't do. It needs to be a formula that players can figure themselves as a guideline when they need it. Shorter the better.

By Richard Wells (Rwwells) on Friday, September 23, 2005 - 04:38 am: Edit

Loren: There are several scenarios for rescuing people. The heftiest rescue would be (SG54) where a D5 or NCL must rescue the crew of three friendly cruisers and possibly an Orion CA. The combined reduced crews of the friendly Graveyard ships only slightly exceed the starting crew of the NCL or D5. (None of the other scenarios involving rescue I found had more crew needing rescue than on the rescue ship.)

But a formula might not work. The D7 boom is probably the defined leader in carrying capacity relative to hull boxes. If a Fed FF could match the D-boom for density of passenger stacking, the Fed FF would need to able to stash 400+ passengers in addition to its crew without significant compromises in operation.

I would suggest a simpler baseline like carrying double or triple the original crew will not overload systems. Beyond that, players creativity must take hold and I would abstract the problems. If the PCs go crazy and cut holes through the hull to attach external vacuum proof "tents," the ship will have to remain stationary. And so on, for every possible wacky plan.

By Ken Humpherys (Pmthecat) on Friday, September 23, 2005 - 06:39 am: Edit

Note: the SFB rules allow any ship to carry up to 10 extra crew units as part of commanders options.
I think this points to the maximum capacity of the life support system for long term use without breakdown.
This means that you should expect ships to have a life support system that can handle the crew plus another 80-120 people with little difficulties.
Ships with less than 50 BPV are the only ships that are limited to fewer extras. Note: even small freighters easily can handle 20-30 extra people (5 boarding parties) without straining the lifesupport systems.

By Loren Knight (Loren) on Friday, September 23, 2005 - 12:15 pm: Edit

I have to use the ship stats in GURPS rather than SFB SSD's. Crazy things like external tents will have to be left up to individual gamers to decide for their own universes. I've got it worked out OK I think. Just so double checking to do.

There would be some adjustments to make. FOr instance a D7 actually has more crew than a Fed CA. The answer is to reduce the fomulas final figure for Klingon ships. It's a short list of adjustments.

And the article will be a general guide. In all cases players should be able to think creatively and gain approval from the GM to add a few more or less.

By Andy Palmer (Andypalmer) on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 08:18 pm: Edit

FEDERATION MEMBER RACES NAMING CONVENTIONS (proposal).

Alpha-Centauran. With an agragrian, female dominated culture, the Alpha-Centauran language is soft and flowing, most closely related in sound to Romance languages of Earth. Harsh consonants are rare and most names are 3 or more syllables. Family names run through the matriarchal line but are only used in formal circumstances. When multiple Alpha-Centaurans are in a group with the same name, abbreviated versions of one or the others' name will be used, though this situation is rare as given name duplication is far more rare than on Earth. In general RPG terms, they have Elven-sounding names

Andorian. In a society in which wasted time and effort is a primary foundation, Andorian names are almost universally 2-syllables and many contain harsh consonants (which at least give the perception of being said faster). They have no family names per se, but will use the name of their cooperative in formal situations and, as needed, will append their place of birth (city or province of Andor, etc.), "of Riluth" or "ta Riluth" for example.

Rigellian. The family bond is an integral part of Rigellian society and one's name is representative of this bond. Names are normally 2-3 syllables and usually with strong consonants. First names are often repeated within families, though duplication across families is rare. In formal circumstances, a Rigellian name is [GIVEN] [FAMILY] son of [FATHER'S GIVEN] and may, in the case of more important families, may include "descendant of XXXXX" in their formal name. Rigellians are also, albeit rarely, given personal honorifics by their families, usually denoting some great deed that defended the family honor or helped Rigellian society as a whole. This honorific would be placed in order after the family name in their name. In general RPG terms, Rigellian names most closely resemble Dwarven names