*Channel open* A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away... ...actually, the sixties, USA. A man named Gene Roddenberry had a vision. Of a story. A story of the future. A future of relationships, honesty and great story telling. He called this vision Star Trek. *Wagontrain to the Stars*. Set in the future, this vision depicted a world that was necessarily made up of hi-tech gadgets, space travel...all the trappings of a futuristic society. But, at it's heart, it was a vision about *people*, people who had learned to overcome such things as prejudices, racism, greed and hatred. It was about relationships, emotions and personal growth. I believe it was this aspect which captured the minds and hearts of the series' countless fans. It was certainly what captured mine, and, I suspect, most of yours. What I'm trying to say is, with all the cool gadgets and devices, what made Star Trek work was the *story*. The story came first, and last. The technology was there simply to enhance the story-telling experience. Warp Travel was *created* as a plot tool that allowed Kirk and Crew to encounter new alien species every episode. Transporter Technology (one of my favorites) made it possible for Kirk and Crew to travel to strange, exotic planets without having to show a shuttlecraft heading down to the planet every single time. And to save Kirk and Crew from having to wear space suits every time they met with said aliens Roddenberry and Co. came up with the idea of a whole group of planets that shared similar atmospheric conditions: the Class M planets. Replicator Technology was another such *plot-device*. See what I'm getting at? The major so-called *Trek* technologies were only devised as a means of enhancing or aiding the story telling. This is the principle that made Star Trek the enduring commentary on human social evolution it is. And it's a principle I fully intend to uphold. No matter how cool, inventive or otherwise mind-blowing a ship design or proposed new technology may be, unless it: 1/ Enhances and encourages imaginative, creative writing 2/ Can be easily understood and implemented by everyone from the die-hard trekkie to those who only catch the occasional episode then it would probably end up confusing people, or worse yet, be something they would just ignore. And that would just get in the way of *great* storytelling, which is the reason why we're all here in the first place, right? Star Trek is about a group of people struggling to overcome difficulties by using their inventiveness, imagination and creativity. When I think of Star Trek, what comes to mind are those scenes, when faced with a seemingly unwinnable situation, the crew came up with ingenious ways of using the technology they had to survive. Anyone who has watched an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation will be able to recall at least one scene where Data and Geordi or one of the others thought up some outrageous way of *remodulating the shields* or *emitting so-and-so from the main deflector dish* or *venting so-and-so from the ship* or *sending out a modulated so-and-so beam*...the list is endless. And it was ingenious and creative. *That* is what makes Star Trek. And that is something I would like to encourage in our writing, and the writing is what's important after all, not the technology. And I for one would hate to see that die by introducing some super-duper- advanced-multi-capable-hyper-something-or-other that ends up making life *too* easy for the crew, taking away from the need for the writers to be *ingenious*. So, no super hyper-fast drives: if the crew really needs to get somewhere that quickly, then the writers are just gonna have to figure out a way to do it. No mega-advanced shielding/cloaking/ weapons systems to even up the odds. The odds are meant to be stacked up against us. Figure out another way of getting through that impossible situation. That's what makes life so interesting. Get the picture? :-) Now, I'm not saying there's no room for new ships designs or new technologies. The FRPG Universe is one that is continuously evolving, so it only makes sense for the elements that make up that universe (ships, technologies etc) to evolve with it. But not to the stage where it becomes unfamiliar. We all joined up because, in some small way, we all love Star Trek. And I for one intend to keep the FRPG just the way it is, a Star Trek Universe. So if you intend to introduce something new, or that advances the current standards significantly, be prepared to have to justify it to me in terms of what I've said. Don't be put off by these words; I encourage you all to come up with new ships designs. Come up with new *inventive* technologies. Just be creative. And remember what it was that first got you hooked on Star Trek. I eagerly await the fruits of your minds. *Channel closed* |