Greetings new simmer! By now you have applied and were accepted to one of our FSF simulations. You should have already filled out a character bio explaining a bit of your character’s background (example: species, family ties, Starfleet schooling, previous posts, etc.). You have received your complimentary “Welcome fruit basket” in the form of an e-mail with all the necessary information and contacts that point you in the proper direction of where you are supposed to be and what time to be there. You should also already be aware of your complete Character’s name and rank. As the above title explains, this e-mail is for simmers that may need a bit more help with the “ins and outs” of the game; so sit right down in your comfortable chair order a drink from the replicator and relax while we fill you in:
Try to get to your assigned simulation room a bit ahead of starting time, you will find it’s a lot of fun to interact with your fellow crewmates before the sim starts. However, once the Commanding Officer calls the sim to ATTENTION, you immediately become your character and follow the proper protocol. Usually that means that you type ::AA:: meaning you are “AT ATTENTION” and that you understand the simulation is underway. It is up to your Host/Hosts to use his/her own way of starting the sim so this example may not be exactly the way it will happen. Just pay attention and follow along with what the other experienced simmers do.
Since the ages of simmers varies from 13 years old on, please refrain from using words that you would not hear in the Star Trek Movies or TV shows. In other words, keep it PG13. As in the Star Trek Universe, we also have characters that become quite fond of one another. If you find yourself in this kind of relationship, please keep the details of your intimacies within the realm of our rating. In some simulations characters marry and have children. We all know about the” birds and bees,” so let’s not get real graphic with mating rituals.
A REAL good idea is to follow the link in your Welcome e-mail and read the bios of everyone in your simulation, especially your Command Staff. It comes in real helpful if you know you are dealing with a Klingon or a Trill. While you are on your simulation’s site check out any other information offered there. It’s kind of nice to know what your ship looks like and how many decks you are dealing with. Since you are starting out, your rank will no doubt be somewhere in the Assistant field. This probably means that everyone in your department will outrank you. Know that there will be different species and unique personalities assigned to your department, and it is your character’s job to work with them, becoming a team. It’s not easy being the “new kid on the block,” but can be an enjoyable experience if you do your homework before your first sim.
| Captain (CO) | Highest in rank and is usually addressed as Captain. The person in Charge! |
| Executive Officer (XO) | Usually a Commander and usually addressed as XO. This person is next in rank only to the Captain. The XO’s duties can consist of almost anything the CO cannot directly oversee. Tries to keep the Captain safe and talks him out of going on Away Missions. |
| Tactical Officer (TAC) | This Officer is responsible for the Main Bridge defensive systems and starship internal security, sometimes oversees Security Department functions. |
| Operations Officer (OPS) | This officer schedules resources or hardware such as power or use of sensors and interacts with a number of departments. OPS can also be asked to use subspace communications and initiate view screens if no other Officer is assigned these particular tasks. |
| Flight Control (HELM/CONN) | Some of their duties include Navigational references/course plotting, supervision of flight operations, Bridge liaison to Engineering department. |
NOTE: Usually one of the above described Bridge crew will be the SECOND OFFICER (SO) and will be next in rank to the XO.
There can be many more stations and consoles on the Main Bridge area of your simulation; this is just a small overview. If your sim is full, you could also see Science Stations, Mission OPS Stations, or anything so desired by your Hosts. This is just a reference so you won’t have any major surprises if on your first sim you happen upon Command Personnel.
The following is a department list, and you will no doubt be assigned to one of these areas. AGAIN, these descriptions are just a guide, your simulation may or may not use all or any of these.
Tactical/Security | |
| Some responsibilities of this department are to go on Away Missions, perform shipboard security functions, and maintain armory control. | |
| Chief of Security (CSEC): | Boss of all Security systems and may report to TAC as needed. |
| Assistant Security Officer (ASEC): | Follows directions of the Chief. And always remember---SAFETY! SAFETY! SAFETY! No trigger happy Security guards here…phaser hits do leave marks! |
Engineering | |
| Maintains the warp propulsion system, impulse propulsion system, and related subsystems, keeps shields working at max, overestimates repair times, and performs all the maintenance of everything the command staff breaks, blows up, and or destroys. | |
| Chief Engineer (CENG) | Head honcho barking commands to the other Engineers |
| Assistant Engineers (AENG) | Follow orders of the CENG |
Medical | |
| Onboard health care to ship’s company, goes on Away Missions quite frequently, has a fully equipped lab with advanced life-form analysis hardware, and is responsible for triage and care of injured personnel in emergency situations. | |
| Chief Medical Officer (CMO) | Always a Doctor, always is right, is the only person that can relieve the CO of his duty, knows a lot of techno-babble medical terms and surgical procedures and his/her/its medical orders are to be followed by all crew) (Do not make the CMO mad, they have a tendency to schedule you a surprise complete (and I mean complete) physical! |
| Assistant Medical Officers (AMO) | Obey the orders of the CMO. May be asked to go on an away mission. Can can be a Doctor, Nurse, or just a Medic depending upon expertise and rank. |
Science | |
| Department responsible for the ship's exploratory activities and analysis of encountered phenomena. | |
| Chief Science Officer (CSCI) | Scientist who oversees all exploratory investigations and determines which data should receive closer scrutiny and experimentation. |
| Assistant Science Officers (ASCI) | Obeys orders from the CSCI; often goes on exploratory away missions. |
Now, hopefully we have covered the basic departments, if you would like more information on protocol and FSF rules go to The Guides Page on the FSF home page there is a multitude of really good information there.
Play your Character in the department where you are assigned. If during the sim you have a question or need to know something IN CHARACTER (IC) please go to your department head and ask. The usual way of achieving this task is done in two different manners. If your department head is standing near you just turn to him/her/it and ask the question first noting who you are indeed talking to. If your department head is not within talking distance use ++ to denote that you are calling over the comm-line to another part of the ship to ask your question.
If you get lost in the sim, which does happen, use your private IM feature on AIM to send a message to your department head and they will try to catch you up on what is going on. Really try not to IM the CO or XO during the sim unless really, really, necessary, they are the HOSTS and are trying to run the sim as well as keep inside storyline perimeters and call ACTIONS.
Almost all sims require you to do a duty log of your actions taken during the sim. Writing your first log can be really daunting, so here are a few hints.
Always make sure you place your name and rank and department at the beginning or end of the log. Recap what you did during the sim. Do not get lost in all the other departments hubbub, just keep it simple and report what you were told to do, what you accomplished and how you went about doing so. A few paragraphs is all you need to get your point across. Of course, promotions and awards are given to good log writers. Your Hosts usually want a log for each sim from each simmer, but ask them if that is their requirement. You are almost always asked to post your logs on the FSF MESSAGE Board corresponding to your simulation.
NOTE: Anything you say in a duty log can be used against you, so do not let your personal feelings get you tossed in the brig!
Your Hosts may also like a personal log from you. This is usually optional, but again, promos and awards are likely to follow someone that writes both logs. Sometimes you will not even have a duty shift during a sim (Example: Shore-leave! Yeah! Risa!) so a personal log would be your best bet here and a good way to suck up to your Hosts. :::wink::: Personal logs can say anything you wish, as long as you keep in mind they will be posted to the group/seen on the website, and other characters do have feelings. Do not use your personal log to recap what you have just said in your duty log. Use this kind of log to advance your Character development or deepest thoughts, or “Dear Diary" type entries.
NOTE: The things in your personal logs are, well, personal and even though others read these logs, they cannot be used against you in a court of law
OK, that is about it and you should be ready to sim like the pros! Keep in mind -- this is for fun. Enjoy your time spent with us here in the FSF. In no time you will be counting the days until your sim night comes around again.