Fleet DGM's Corner.
Dec 17, 2019 17:48:11 GMT -5
DGM Soft Kitty, Lt Commander Marcus Aquila, and 3 more like this
Post by DGM Mirage on Dec 17, 2019 17:48:11 GMT -5
Hello!
As some may noticed in an earlier post by Soft Kitty, I have been appointed Fleet DGM.
While I could introduce myself at length, I think most of you know me already (At least a little bit.) So here is a very quick summary.
I been an assistant DGM of the fleet for about three years, and before that I been a player. Before coming to this wonderful fleet, I been participating in other forms of Roleplaying since I was 15, if not younger. I first DMed when I was 16. (Not saying that time makes me good at it!). Of all the various RP settings I RPed in I think Vampire the Masquerade has made its largest mark on me and how I play both as a player and a DM.
The first Star trek I viewed, and what hooked me on it was Deep Space Nine, and it remains my favourite by far. To me Star trek is Star-TREK (As in journey) not Star-TECH (As in focus on technology). What always stood out to me with Star trek is how that even with the fancy tech and science fiction, the message of an episode was often something that, strip away all the technology, you could apply to the word today, a thought to keep, a message or a morale. The technology was an awesome mean to tell a tale and it holds a huge role of it, but it was never the main point.
I am from Scandinavia and as such I am the only DGM who do not speak English natively. (and that at times can cause minor confusion, if you at any time are not certain of what I am saying, just ask me to clarify.)
Feel free to ask me things either on the forums, or in Discord. (Minor disclaimer, due to RL stuffs and other things, I been known to miss things here and there. if I have not shown sign of life after 24 hours, just poke again. I am not trying to ignore anyone, just having issues where things get hidden in the flow.) In the middle of an ongoing episode may not be the best time to get me (Unless, of course, it is regarding the ongoing episode, do not be afraid to poke me regarding that.)
I am Illuice on the fleet discord, @illuice is my in-game user handle.
So, what does the Fleet DGM do?
The more exact answer can be found in Kittys original post, but to try to summarize it in concept: It is my task to be the responsible DGM for all Player and former DGM assets (Characters, NPC items, ships, stories, etc) that are not serving onboard one of our five active PC ships. as well as main overseer for many of the fleet shared assets that does not fall directly under the Fleet admins.
With an awesome fleet with a vast lore and as old as this, that is quite a lot of things!
This fleet prides itself on building on our past, developing trough the adventures it has gone through, even as people move on in their lives, many of their stories lives on trough us and our ongoing tales. The impact that Project Salvation still have on us even if that arc is officially over (or is it… ) is just one example, but one I think even our newest players can relate to. The fleets store and lore as such is ‘larger’ than any one-person story (DGM or player alike). It is an ongoing work of art we write together.
With a Roleplaying community older than ten years it is to be expected people’s life changes, and so does their situation and ability to play. Their characters and stories moving on to new adventures where the RP silver screen does not show. And sometimes even if they are unable to attend as a regular cast on one of the five ships, they make cameos on characters of old. A throwback to the fleet’s long history. Or perhaps the player remains with us, but they have changed characters they focus on. Cameos and background cast roles remains the way we get to see how those characters stories continues to develop in the large work we create together.
Of course, the cameos must not intrude on the fleets present and future, the main focus of the fleet are our active ships and the amazing stories we tell trough them. The cameos and background characters should enhance the present and the future with the wonderful throwbacks of our past and the old familiar faces and stories we remember (Or at times, get to learn to know!)
This of course comes with quite the important balancing point. Many of our old characters achieved great deeds, position or ranks, something we of course wish to honour and pay tribute to. Yet many of those achievements are of such a weight that the only proper way they can be seen in a story risk being disruptive if not handled with care. It is not every day you meet a recipient of the Federation Medal of Honour. An admiral or Captain entering a scene is always something that changes the scene. (Or at least, it should). The heroes of the battle of Earth certainly carries a legend with them and so on.
These people coming in at the wrong time and they are not enhancing the ongoing story, they are infringing. To often and the focus may be felt shifted from the fleets focus points. Or even in the worst-case cause annoyance or confusion. Quite the opposite of what we wish to achieve with our cameos and background figures. Then we have topics such as only a DGM can be the responsible part for a ship, but what is a Captain without their ship? And the DGMs are the principal controls of NPCs… yet what is a ship without a crew? What is a crew without…? Well, you get the point!
Balance, Moderation, Consistency, Overview, Responsibility and many other things are needed to make this fun for all, and that is the end goal after all! Previously cameos have been in the individual DGMs decision for that episode, with not to high checks on the non-immediate topics. Kitty having tried to keep track of all the many details of coordinating it, this on top of her other roles in the fleet. And there has not been any written standard for this for the people playing cameo assets to look at, so often the same questions being asked again and again.
And this is where I come in!
In the coming weeks I will be putting up some framework guidelines and rules for all the many assets that falls under the quite broad responsibility of the Fleet DGM. The overall goal of course being what already was stated: Balance, Moderation, Consistency, Overview and Clear responsibilities to (hopefully) help make this a fun and awesome part of the fleets ongoing story for all to enjoy. And a single place for players with questions or ideas for assets in this category to turn to. (And to offload the overworked Kitty, But shh, do not tell her I said that 😉 )
So keep your eyes peeled for upcoming walls of text from me, Soon™
Wow, you really read all that. You are either awesome, bored or insane (perhaps all three? 😉 )
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to me!
Looking forward to continuing playing with you all, and I wish you all a happy holiday season!
~Mirage
As some may noticed in an earlier post by Soft Kitty, I have been appointed Fleet DGM.
While I could introduce myself at length, I think most of you know me already (At least a little bit.) So here is a very quick summary.
I been an assistant DGM of the fleet for about three years, and before that I been a player. Before coming to this wonderful fleet, I been participating in other forms of Roleplaying since I was 15, if not younger. I first DMed when I was 16. (Not saying that time makes me good at it!). Of all the various RP settings I RPed in I think Vampire the Masquerade has made its largest mark on me and how I play both as a player and a DM.
The first Star trek I viewed, and what hooked me on it was Deep Space Nine, and it remains my favourite by far. To me Star trek is Star-TREK (As in journey) not Star-TECH (As in focus on technology). What always stood out to me with Star trek is how that even with the fancy tech and science fiction, the message of an episode was often something that, strip away all the technology, you could apply to the word today, a thought to keep, a message or a morale. The technology was an awesome mean to tell a tale and it holds a huge role of it, but it was never the main point.
I am from Scandinavia and as such I am the only DGM who do not speak English natively. (and that at times can cause minor confusion, if you at any time are not certain of what I am saying, just ask me to clarify.)
Feel free to ask me things either on the forums, or in Discord. (Minor disclaimer, due to RL stuffs and other things, I been known to miss things here and there. if I have not shown sign of life after 24 hours, just poke again. I am not trying to ignore anyone, just having issues where things get hidden in the flow.) In the middle of an ongoing episode may not be the best time to get me (Unless, of course, it is regarding the ongoing episode, do not be afraid to poke me regarding that.)
I am Illuice on the fleet discord, @illuice is my in-game user handle.
So, what does the Fleet DGM do?
The more exact answer can be found in Kittys original post, but to try to summarize it in concept: It is my task to be the responsible DGM for all Player and former DGM assets (Characters, NPC items, ships, stories, etc) that are not serving onboard one of our five active PC ships. as well as main overseer for many of the fleet shared assets that does not fall directly under the Fleet admins.
With an awesome fleet with a vast lore and as old as this, that is quite a lot of things!
This fleet prides itself on building on our past, developing trough the adventures it has gone through, even as people move on in their lives, many of their stories lives on trough us and our ongoing tales. The impact that Project Salvation still have on us even if that arc is officially over (or is it… ) is just one example, but one I think even our newest players can relate to. The fleets store and lore as such is ‘larger’ than any one-person story (DGM or player alike). It is an ongoing work of art we write together.
With a Roleplaying community older than ten years it is to be expected people’s life changes, and so does their situation and ability to play. Their characters and stories moving on to new adventures where the RP silver screen does not show. And sometimes even if they are unable to attend as a regular cast on one of the five ships, they make cameos on characters of old. A throwback to the fleet’s long history. Or perhaps the player remains with us, but they have changed characters they focus on. Cameos and background cast roles remains the way we get to see how those characters stories continues to develop in the large work we create together.
Of course, the cameos must not intrude on the fleets present and future, the main focus of the fleet are our active ships and the amazing stories we tell trough them. The cameos and background characters should enhance the present and the future with the wonderful throwbacks of our past and the old familiar faces and stories we remember (Or at times, get to learn to know!)
This of course comes with quite the important balancing point. Many of our old characters achieved great deeds, position or ranks, something we of course wish to honour and pay tribute to. Yet many of those achievements are of such a weight that the only proper way they can be seen in a story risk being disruptive if not handled with care. It is not every day you meet a recipient of the Federation Medal of Honour. An admiral or Captain entering a scene is always something that changes the scene. (Or at least, it should). The heroes of the battle of Earth certainly carries a legend with them and so on.
These people coming in at the wrong time and they are not enhancing the ongoing story, they are infringing. To often and the focus may be felt shifted from the fleets focus points. Or even in the worst-case cause annoyance or confusion. Quite the opposite of what we wish to achieve with our cameos and background figures. Then we have topics such as only a DGM can be the responsible part for a ship, but what is a Captain without their ship? And the DGMs are the principal controls of NPCs… yet what is a ship without a crew? What is a crew without…? Well, you get the point!
Balance, Moderation, Consistency, Overview, Responsibility and many other things are needed to make this fun for all, and that is the end goal after all! Previously cameos have been in the individual DGMs decision for that episode, with not to high checks on the non-immediate topics. Kitty having tried to keep track of all the many details of coordinating it, this on top of her other roles in the fleet. And there has not been any written standard for this for the people playing cameo assets to look at, so often the same questions being asked again and again.
And this is where I come in!
In the coming weeks I will be putting up some framework guidelines and rules for all the many assets that falls under the quite broad responsibility of the Fleet DGM. The overall goal of course being what already was stated: Balance, Moderation, Consistency, Overview and Clear responsibilities to (hopefully) help make this a fun and awesome part of the fleets ongoing story for all to enjoy. And a single place for players with questions or ideas for assets in this category to turn to. (And to offload the overworked Kitty, But shh, do not tell her I said that 😉 )
So keep your eyes peeled for upcoming walls of text from me, Soon™
Wow, you really read all that. You are either awesome, bored or insane (perhaps all three? 😉 )
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to me!
Looking forward to continuing playing with you all, and I wish you all a happy holiday season!
~Mirage