[Silynn]

I considered that as well. Would it be "better" that these super-side characters not have personalities to take into consideration thought? I mean, should they only be available for "disposable" story needs?

I'd figure there's only a certain depth they need. Names, ranks and positions are probably enough to start. Just enough that your character isn't "shadow boxing" when they go about their daily routine. Less is more here, IMO, lest the whole thing gets bogged down in too much detail.i

Yep. I didn't intend to mean these bios were like 500-1000 word essays. Just basic stuff as you mentioned above, with a point of character color.

Here's an example:
Edward “Eddie” Nakamura
Rank: Chief Petty Officer
Position: Security Team Leader – Gamma Shift
Disposition: Friendly, Cheerful, Gregarious, Uses humor when nervous.
Notes: Dominion War veteran, Unknown to Jei - she saved his life on Chin'toka, he has not forgotten.

Victor Samson
Rank: Master Chief Petty Officer
Position: Damage Control and Maintenance Section 3 Leader – Gamma Shift
Disposition: Lifer in Starfleet. Crusty and Salty. High expectations from his crew, but very concerned for their well-being.
Notes: Huge into sports, particularly baseball and basketball. Collector and spectator.

Dawson (*No frist name as he is a lowly crewman)
Rank: Crewman 3rd Class
Position: Technician – Gamma Shift, DC and Maintenance Section 3
Disposition: Eager, Inquisitive, Cautious, Afraid to make a mistake
Notes: Fresh from basic training and basic technician school

For my writing and story arc, I put the "NPCs" that I have mentioned (by name) into a notepad, for easy reference for future writing. This way I don't make mistakes in details when I use them in future writings. The "notes" portion is to add various new details learned or added as the story goes.

I can't tell you have valuable just doing the above helps me keep facts regarding an NPC straight.

I imagine filling an entire roster of fighter squadron, this would help you keep who-is-who straight. Especially with quirks of personality.

[Generator]

I agree, hence my saying that it would probably be contingent on the ship's current Rules of Engagement.

[Scarlett]

For my writing and story arc, I put the "NPCs" that I have mentioned (by name) into a notepad, for easy reference for future writing. This way I don't make mistakes in details when I use them in future writings. The "notes" portion is to add various new details learned or added as the story goes.

I can't tell you have valuable just doing the above helps me keep facts regarding an NPC straight.

I agree, I do this for non-Ares work. I guess I am dreading doing so for this project lol

[Allan Hood]

I have a suggestion on how this goes down. The discussion with the captain has already happened & i'd like to think we're at Yellow Alert with our fighters ready to fly as soon as the Boss gives the word. We get pelted a bit, but fend them off. We could have a senior staff conference beforehand to discuss the situation. What do you guys think?

I'm all about it, let's do it.

Combat yes!

This is going to be fun hahaha!

Now I have a question, are we expecting to take fatalities during the engagement or just serious wounds?

Also, are we planning to have a boarding action take place on any of the ships?

This is all up to Eagles(I know I'm spelling it wrong), but I think there shouldn't be any boarding....or any Serious casualties. In my mind, The True Way ships can't stand up to a great old Sovereign that was ready built specifically for the Borg.
(How old is the sovereign design at this point on our timeline?)
They'll get in a few potshots & one lucky hit COULD take out our engines for a time to allow a larger battle group to swoop in and try to take the ship, but our lovely CE can get them up before they get to us.

IDEAS.....MY HEAD HURTS!!!!! LOL

It's not just up to Eagles; it's up to the crew. We're open to having our overall story go the way the majority wants. We're not being attacked by The True Way ships right now, but the Orions, though TTW will probably be in our future, probably more as planetside terrorists.

Keep in mind, our primary mission is to get into deep space, after helping the Cardassians, so this is just a test to see how we do under pressure.

I'm not expecting any deaths or boarding parties due to the nature of why we're having these ships attack. I have two coming at us to keep it interesting haha.

- - - Updated - - -

In the example Hood used, the scenario would involve other players and characters. So maybe the real question is, who is (or whom are) the "GM"?

Eagles, Nesta and I. Nesta and I handle the day-to-day while Eagles is for the heavy-lifting haha We're like the XOs, so to speak.

- - - Updated - - -

If that "pirate attack" scenario happens, and happens in a relatively quick time frame relative to our departure from DS9, it could be the reason for Lt. Cole's sudden promotion.

If any of you have something cooking "backstage", could you loop me in?

Nothing going on "backstage" haha it seems like it could be a mistake, if I'm understanding things correctly. Which rank would you like him to have?

- - - Updated - - -

@Joshua- I saw this a few weeks ago. Althoigh it's mostly historical, there is some current time mentions

https://youtu.be/lFCP9MJILtc

Is that all canon, mentioned in the episodes, or does it come from the novels? There are tons of videos! haha

- - - Updated - - -

So I was wondering, is there are rule on creating non essential NPC's? Cos I was thinking Logan, although being the chief fighter technician couldn't do all of it himself and would more than likely have a small team under him, can I make some up when needed?

No. Yes. haha make up your crew, I did that with my science team, too.

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Was waiting for more official feedback on this, yet my hope is that we could make subordinates characters whose express purpose is to fill in story, yet not be directly involved with other characters from the main cast list (unless it were absolutely necessary).

In other words, tertiary characters should be made to keep authors involved. In my humble opinion.

Make your team haha that's what I did; there are no rules against it for that reason.

[KaiserKirk]

In my opinion, I would say that a majority of the crew would treat Yellow Alert in this situation as a potential battle scenario. Most HoD's (Heads of Departments) would order their personnel to combat stations.

For the CMO and the Sickbay, this would mean all medical personnel would move to the Sickbay for orders and tactical specific medical instruments readied for use. In the case of Angus at this current moment in the story, he does not know why the ship is on yellow alert and thus can't order his personnel to prepare.

What will end up happening when Angus finds out whats going on he will order medical instruments that treat plasma burns or other critical wounds usually sustained in combat put into operation and have nurses assigned to beds. He would then have two teams of medical staff geared with first-aid equipment. One group will be a mobile squad that will be sent to areas hit by incoming projectiles to treat and then transport the wounded to the Sickbay. The other will be a reserve squad used to treat the seriously wounded. This squad will be made up of the most experienced in the department.

The Sickbay will follow a roster of who to treat first:

Closest to death,

Critical,

Commanding officer,

Stable,

Lightly wounded.

Usually, in the military, the highest rank would be treated first but I doubt Starfleet would follow this rule.

[Scarlett]

In a possible conflict situation, I agree. Yet, I believe Yellow Alert can also be used when "combat" is not expected, but as a precaution to prevent harm or damage to the crew and ship.

Image a space-cloud floating in a system that is reflecting sensor readings and slowly drifting toward a ship. Sure, the ship could move out of the way, but once the cloud moves to match, then it's likely YA would be active. That doesn't mean the ship would fire weapons at or send smaller ships to investigate the cloud.

But I guess you never know

[Nesta]

To quote Memory Alpha:

"A yellow alert or condition yellow was the second highest alert signal status on Starfleet vessels and starbases, one stage below red alert. It designated a ship-wide state of increased preparedness for possible crisis situations."

Here's what would happen should a yellow alert be initiated (according to the TNG technical manual):

"All on-duty crew and attached personnel are informed of the potential crisis via panel display and are directed to prepare for possible emergency action. Second shift crew personnel are also alerted and those in key operational positions are directed to prepare for possible duty on five minutes' notice. Cross-trained second shift personnel are directed to prepare for possible duty in their secondary assignments. Specific systems preparations include:

• All on-duty crew and attached personnel are informed of the potential crisis via panel display and are directed to prepare for possible emergency action. Second shift crew personnel are also alerted and those in key operational positions are directed to prepare for possible duty on five minutes' notice. Cross-trained second shift personnel are directed to prepare for possible duty in their secondary assignments. Specific systems preparations include:
• Level 4 automated diagnostic series run on all ship's primary and tactical systems to determine ship's current readiness status.
• If presently off-line, warp power core brought to full operating condition and maintained at 20% power output. Level 4 diagnostics provide a status report on warp capability including maximum available engine output.
• Main impulse propulsion system brought to full operating condition. At least one backup reactor element is brought to hot standby. In Yellow Alert status triggered by potential hostile action, Saucer Module impulse propulsion system is brought to partial standby.
• All tactical and long-range sensor arrays are brought to full operational status. Secondary mission use of any sensor elements can be overridden if required by bridge.
• Deflector systems brought to full standby. Secondary deflector generators brought to partial standby. All operational backup generators are energized to partial readiness.
• Phaser banks are energized to partial standby. Power conduits are enabled, and targeting scanners are activated. Level 4 automated diagnostics verify operational status.
• Photon torpedo launchers are brought to partial stand-by. One torpedo device is energized to partial launch readiness and primed with a standard antimatter charge, unless specifically overridden by Ops or Tactical. Level 4 automated diagnostics confirm operational status.
• The Battle Bridge is brought to partial standby status and backup bridge crews are notified for possible duty in the event of possible Saucer sep maneuvers.
• Two of the three shuttlebays are brought to launch readiness. The number of shuttlecraft at launch readiness is maintained at one.
• Onboard sensors record the location of all personnel and alert Security of any anomalous activity. Location and activity information is recorded for postmission analysis.
• Level 5 automated diagnostics are performed to verify readiness of autonomous survival and recovery vehicle systems (lifeboats)."

[Scarlett]

See? That's what I said

[Allan Hood]

Send me your team rosters and I will make them 'official' haha on our crew manifest page under your names.

Check mine as an example...
https://ufplanets.com/showthread.php...Ares-NCC-79116

[Josh Broughm]

Send me your team rosters and I will make them 'official' haha on our crew manifest page, under your names.

Check mine as an example...
https://ufplanets.com/showthread.php...Ares-NCC-79116
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Your attachment broke.

[Silynn]

I'm not sure I like the NPCs/Side characters intermixed with the main (player) characters.

When looking at the whole thing, the focus (main characters) kind of get lost or loses their 'special status'.

I don't mind keeping it in the same thread, but perhaps a separate post/sub roster? Keeps them organized but doesn't water down the main characters. If I wasn't intimately aware of the various main characters, I would forgot who is whom.

[KaiserKirk]

I like the idea of having NPC's mixed with our characters. It, in my opinion, gets us ever closer to actually being on a starship cruising through space. That's why Ares is so great, we get to actually feel like we are a part of Star Trek.

[Allan Hood]

I'm not sure I like the NPCs/Side characters intermixed with the main (player) characters.

When looking at the whole thing, the focus (main characters) kind of get lost or loses their 'special status'.

I don't mind keeping it in the same thread, but perhaps a separate post/sub roster? Keeps them organized but doesn't water down the main characters. If I wasn't intimately aware of the various main characters, I would forgot who is whom.

I was thinking like that at first, too. Then I was like, nahhh haha unless the Captain changes it, I rather have everything at once place. Our main characters will always be our main characters, these other guys are just to keep our main dude functioning under certain conditions. This way, someone can look someone up and be like, oh ok, these other guys are there, too. Nice and simple.

[Josh Broughm]

This is a question I've had in my head for a bit:

Do I have a staff?

[Allan Hood]

This is a question I've had in my head for a bit:

Do I have a staff?

You have a staff if you want one, it's up to you. I have a whole science team, but mainly I'll interact with those two, if I need to do so.