- What is a Play By Email Game?
- What is a Role Playing Game?
- Where can I see past posts?
- Where is the game set?
- How is the game played?
- Who can play?
- Who doesn't play?
- Why do you ask for personal information on the application form?
- What are the limits for playing characters?
- What is the rating of the game?
- Sounds interesting, but I'm not sure...
- How do I join?
- What is the USS Scorpion game like?
- What do I do once I have joined the game?
What is a Play By Email Game?
A Play By Email Game, also referred to as PBeM, is exactly that. It is a game that is played using email. It is done by writing a few paragraphs about the experiences of your character. This is known as a post. You then email your post to a mailing list for distribution to all players.
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What is a Role Playing Game?
A Role Playing Game, also referred to as an RPG, is a game where you assume the identity of a fictional character and write from that character's point of view. Your character then interacts with the characters on the ship in a way that is consistent with the Star Trek universe.
The list
server we use is at:
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/uss_scorpion/
The USS Scorpion is part of
Star
Trek: Rebellion,
and it is 2382. Three years ago the Romulans became allied to the
Federation after the actions of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, as he prevented
Shinzon, his clone, from attacking earth and causing a new war between the
Federation and the Romulans.
It is relatively peaceful at the moment.
The Dominion hasn't been heard of since they lost the war, although there
are many continued peacekeeping missions into the Gamma Quadrant by the
Federation to help ensure that the Dominion stays dormant.
The Borg haven't been heard of for some time, but the Scorpion has been
posted to the Typhon Sector, part of the new Scorpion Fleet that has been
created. Starbase Praetor and the Scorpion Fleet is the forward
defences that are to help ensure the Borg don't attack the Federation again.
Along the way, the Scorpion will seek out new life and new civilisations,
and go where no one has gone before!
How is the game played?
Like soap operas, the story unfolds before your eyes each time someone writes a post. Each player is asked to write a minimum of a weekly post (you are always welcome and encouraged to do more) and emails their post to the list. This is known as posting. Each post builds on the ones before, enhancing ongoing stories and exploring new ones. Players are responsible for running their own character, and for establishing the nature of that character in post for other players to interact with.
An example might be: Captain Aldous is posted as having a discussion with his XO, Commander Harris. He asks Harris to review the security team to see if they are ready for an away mission. He then goes to the mess for some lunch. The next person posting can pick up the story, posting their character interacting with Aldous in the mess, or perhaps meeting Harris during his security team review. Or, they can post an unrelated thread, like having their character go to sickbay for a talk with the doctor, or perhaps a trip to the holodeck. One by one, each player contributes to the fabric of the story, weaving threads of different plots and subplots - some mystery, some comedy, some romance - into the final tapestry.
Who can play?
You do not need previous RPG or PBeM experience to play.
The USS Scorpion welcomes anyone who loves to write, loves to role-play, loves science fiction, and feels they would enjoy our style of writing. Our game is played in English, but our writers come from all over the globe, and for some English is a second language. The players enjoy writing character development as their characters "grow" and "learn" over time. The people who have the most fun on the ship interact regularly with other players behind the scenes to co-write joint posts, or plot a story thread, or just socialize and get to know each other. You will also find that new players are readily welcomed into the game, and anyone brave enough to "jump right in" will find a lot of fun interacting with other players, and other characters.
Who doesn't play?
The players who have dropped out of the game have usually had a challenge in one or more of the following areas:
- They haven't had the time to keep up with the posts or write posts on a regular basis.
- Some times the players isolate themselves and write their characters in such a way that no one else can interact with them, making their participation more of a "monologue in the corner" rather than interactive play.
- Maybe they have been usually rigid and inflexible in their style of play, demanding unrealistic adherence to canon, or flouting what realism and structure the genre provides.
- A few players want a more violent action-style game, and soon find this ship isn't a good fit for them.
- Some players want to run a character that is a "super-hero" or is more suited for another genre of play.
Any player who flames someone else publicly on the list will immediately be dropped from the game.
Why do you ask for personal information on your submission form?
We require a few details about you in order to establish you as a member of the USS Scorpion. We ask for your first name to differentiate you, the player, from your character. If you choose to be known by a pseudonym or a nickname instead, that's ok, and is your choice. Your last name is not required. Your email address is required in order to subscribe you to the list. Your country helps us to know if English is a second language for you. If you feel at any time that the questions you have been asked make you uncomfortable or violate your right to privacy, then answer them by putting "N/A", or Not Applicable.
What are the limits for playing characters?
Characters in this game are restricted to races that are from Star Trek. They can be any race that is not an enemy of the Federation. IF there is enough detail and history in a character's bio for the creation of a new race, it may be allowed at the Captain's discretion. No races from other genres (Star Wars, Babylon 5, etc) are allowed. This IS, after all, Star Trek.
What is the rating of the game?
The USS Scorpion is rated as a PG-17 game. This means that it may contain language and violence of an explicit nature. Children under 17 are not allowed, and if it is thought that a player has lied about their age in their application, then they will instantly be removed from the game.
Sounds interesting, but I'm not sure...
If this form of play is new to you, you might want to consider a few things before applying to join the ship. We encourage all players to commit to the time it takes to read all posts on a daily basis, and to make every effort to post at least once a week. We also encourage players to interact with each other, and if someone "tosses you a thread" - or writes an opening for your character - that you attempt to pick it up and respond in post. If you would like to be a "lurker" on the list, we would be happy to add you to the list so you can read the posts and get a sense of how the game is played. After you've had a chance to spend a couple of weeks on the list as a lurker, you can then decide if you want to jump in and join the game.
How do I join?
Joining is easy. Click here to go to the Application page. Fill out the form, press Submit, and the Captain will receive your application. As soon as he is able to, he will add you to the mailing list and introduce you to the rest of the crew. Why 'as soon as he is able to'? Because the USS Scorpion may be out on a mission, and will therefore be unable to have new crew join the ship until it returns to a Federation or Starfleet outpost, station or ship, allowing the new crew to transfer onboard.
What is the USS Scorpion game like?
The USS Scorpion is currently the flagship of Star Trek: Rebellion, but with the most activity (we currently average about 20 active players and about 120 posts a month). This can be a bit daunting to new players who are shy or uncertain about playing. While our friendly crew will welcome all new players with open arms, you will find the players who are the best "fit" with our ship like to interact with others, and enjoy picking up the ball and running with it. We don't demand perfection, but we do ask that all players pay attention to the technical aspects of their writing, and use a spell checker if necessary.
What do I do once I have joined the game?
Once you have been accepted
into the game you are required to read the previous posts on the Yahoo
Groups mailing list website, of at least the current mission and the
previous mission (and further back if you have the time). The purpose
of this is to get you familiar with some of the events leading up to the
present, and also to see how posts are written.
Posts are written as a solo effort by yourself, or as a joint post (jp)
with someone else. JP's can be done with the other player/s in any
chat program (MSN, ICQ, Yahoo IM, IRC, etc) and usually allow real-time
actions and conversations to be created between the characters that are
involved. JP's can also be done by email if players are unable to do
it via chat programs, even though it can be quite a bit slower. (In
Cadet Information, please take special note of Rule #7).
You are also required to read everything that is in the Academy section to
the left. That has all the information you need about character
creation, races, and posting format.
If you have any questions, feel free to Contact the CO or XO.
Above all, you are required to have fun! If you feel that you're not
having fun, discuss it with the CO and he'll see if something can be done to
allow you to have fun, as that's what this is all about.