Building a 5-Year Star Trek Adventures Campaign: Lessons from USS Pioneer
The U.S.S. Pioneer completed its five-year mission in uproarious fashion. Now meet the GM and players who pushed the limits of Star Trek Adventures storytelling to create a life-changing epic to span the ages. Get good advice on forming great bonds with your players, utilizing Discord to make for a top-notch gaming experience, and learn how a good gaming group can launch your writing career! Guest stars: Aaron Pollyea, Al Spader, Josh Allen, and Troy Mepyans.
From Coworkers to Family: How the USS Pioneer Crew Created an Epic Star Trek Adventures Campaign
The Star Trek Adventures RPG is celebrating its fifth year, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of Star Trek. To commemorate this milestone, a recent podcast brought together the cast of the USS Pioneer, a group that just wrapped up a five-plus year campaign. This blog post delves into the secrets of their success and offers insights for other groups looking to embark on long-term Star Trek Adventures.
Meet the Crew
The podcast featured a stellar lineup of talent, all deeply involved in the Star Trek Adventures universe and beyond:
Michael Dismuke: Freelance writer for Star Trek Adventures RPG, lead writer on Captain's Log RPG, and Star Trek fiction writer.
Jim Johnson: Project manager and line editor for Star Trek Adventures RPG and Fallout RPG, and a fiction writer.
Al Spader: Freelance writer for Star Trek Adventures and writer/designer for other RPGs, including Sentience RPG Once Upon.
Josh Allen: Contributing writer to Star Trek the Captain's Log and a player in the Pioneer campaign.
Troy Methens: Freelance writer for Star Trek Adventures and RPG creator for Astron 2D20 and The Good, the Bad and the Savage for Savage Worlds.
Aaron Pallier: Longtime freelance writer for Star Trek Adventures, specializing in starship science/technology, and creator of Saucer Squadron.
Setting the Stage: The USS Pioneer's Mission
The USS Pioneer's campaign was based out of the Shackleton Expanse, venturing 13.7 million light years away to the Centaurus galaxy. Their adventures have been chronicled on Continuing Missions, with many stories adapted into novellas.
Defining Moments: From Crew to Family
When asked about a defining moment, the crew unanimously agreed it was their transformation from coworkers to a close-knit family. This bond transcended the game, with members supporting each other's careers, personal lives, and families. This real-life connection was then woven back into the story, enriching the narrative.
Aha Moments: Character Growth and Unexpected Twists
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The players shared several "aha" moments that shaped their characters and the campaign:
Season Three Finale: Surviving a major arc and reuniting on the bridge.
Character Evolution: One character's journey took an unexpected turn after getting lost in time, leading to unique roleplaying opportunities.
Trask's Return: A poignant moment for Nalinda, the ship's counselor, who grappled with loss and the surprise reappearance of a friend.
"Elevated Edict" Module: This module, written by Michael, sparked philosophical questions and internal conflict, leading to meaningful character development.
The Power of Play-by-Post on Discord
The USS Pioneer campaign was run online via Discord, which presented both challenges and unique advantages:
Writing Format: The asynchronous nature of play-by-post allowed for thoughtful phrasing and detailed descriptions.
Flexibility: Players could have others control their characters when unavailable, ensuring the story kept moving.
Established Writing Guidance: The group adopted guidelines like short sentences, past-tense narration, and out-of-character discussions to maintain narrative flow and clarity.
Inner Dialogue: The written format allowed players to express their characters' inner thoughts, adding depth and complexity often missed in face-to-face games.
Lessons in Storytelling and Collaboration
The Pioneer campaign provided valuable lessons in storytelling, collaborative writing, and improvisation:
The Power of the Cutscene: Recognizing and utilizing cutscenes to create suspense and reveal off-screen events.
The Importance of B Plots: Developing unconnected A and B plots to add depth and complexity to the narrative.
Character Flexibility: Allowing events to shape characters organically, rather than forcing them down a predetermined path.
The Value of Asides and Logs: Using logs to explain character actions and thoughts, adding layers to their personalities.
The Importance of Supporting Fellow Writers: The crew emphasized the importance of supporting and uplifting other writers in the community.
Gratitude and Lasting Bonds
The podcast concluded with expressions of gratitude and reflections on the enduring friendships forged through the USS Pioneer campaign. The players appreciated the opportunity to grow as role-players and as people, and the shared experience created a bond that continues to this day.
The Legacy of the USS Pioneer
The USS Pioneer campaign stands as a testament to the power of collaborative storytelling, character-driven narratives, and the enduring appeal of Star Trek. Its legacy continues to inspire new players and writers in the Star Trek Adventures community. As Al Spader so eloquently put it, "Captain, Pioneer is all around you."
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