First off I'd like to start by saying it's been quite a long time since I've posted anything here and I'm aware there are concerns that would be valid to raise due to a number of past failed projects. As such I would like to start by saying that what makes this different then past projects is its code light nature making it fairly easy to develop for.
Let's answer some questions about this project:
Q: When is Star Trek: Dreadnought Atlas set?
A: Star Trek: Dreadnought Atlas is a code light mush set in The Original Series timeline.
Q: Is there going to be piles of paperwork?
A: No, we're going to be attempting to capture the Star Trek feel without all the piles of paperwork. That's actually part of the reason for TOS era as the setting. So things are going to be more loose and free in that regard.
Q: Will Discovery be cannon?
A: As the series is still ongoing, and tends to contradict established lore no. This is a firm decision on the part of myself and is not likely to change.
Q: What //IS// Atlas?
A:The USS Atlas is the ship the game will be taking place on. A prototype ship built with the most advanced and bleeding edge technology Star fleet has to offer. The tech is so cutting edge it is hard to work on, regularly breaking down and tends to have issues with being highly over-engineered.
Q: So it's a dreadnought, does that mean this'll mostly be a combat game?
A: The conflicts with the klingons are ending and a peace is being aligned. Despite the ship being entirely designed for war during the time the game is set there's no war to fight. Part of the games focus is trying to live on a ship designed for war in a time of peace.
Q: What's the mission of the Atlas?
A: The Atlas is going on a mission to put it through its paces. The ship was rushed into and through production in order to get ready for a war that didn't go the way the federation had prepped for. So it's been sent to explore and put the ship through its paces learn its faults and fix them in case war should break out fresh with the klingons. At the end of the day it's your good ol: To seek out new life, and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.
Q: Can I be the captain?
A: The role of captain is going to be an NPC position. The character will have a personality and history guide for how he should act in scenes. Though the Captain may change over time in order to keep everyone from fighting over the position of Captain the role will remain an NPC role. This game is a mush and so it shouldn't HAVE a 'main' character.
Q: Can I play a fighter pilot?
A: Of course. There are two shuttle wings with dedicated piloting staff whose job it is to protect the Atlas during combat situations. With the ship unstable as it is there may well be situations where the Atlas has no weapons and its only defense will be the shuttle pilots.
Q: Will there be a real time travel space system?
A: There is not planned to be any space system. This game is planned to be code light focusing on role-play over roll-play.
Q: So it's a sandbox game?
A: There will still be character sheets and stats to keep track of peoples abilities and focus. While it's RP first there need to be limits.
Q: Can I run events even if I'm not event staff?
A: Of course. There's no problem with people running as many events as they want, so long as you run them by staff to make sure they're reasonable. We don't need 5 different people running missions where the ship gets evacuated. Or a new one every day!
Q: Can I play Q, Borg, Undine ect ect?
A: The only playable races, at current are as follows: Aenar, Andorians, Axanari, Catullan, Deltans, Ithenite, Tellarites, Tiburonian, Vulcans, and Zambeans. Effectively any of the races who attended the Babel Conference.
Q: Can I make a custom race?
A: No.
Q: Will I get to play as factions other then the federation?
A: No. This is a mono faction game where everyone on game is a member of the federation. This is to keep a narrow focus.
Q: Will we be trapped on the ship all the time.
A: Not all the time, there will be missions down planet side, time spent at space stations, various events to avoid people getting too bored.
Q: Will it only be officers allowed on away Missions
A: Actually for the most part officers will not be going on away missions and instead will be doing their jobs of managing vital functions of the ship. The players at large will be the ones going out on missions for the most part. This is an ensemble mush not just a few command officers having all the fun.
Q: Will it be serious melodrama all the time?
A: Not all the time no, I really want to make this a nice wagon train through the stars. There will occasionally be rough issues tackled and difficult times to be had, but there's also going to be fun action and mysteries. There's certainly going to be serious moments and lighthearted camp as well but I hope not to overload on either.
Q: What system are you planning on running?
A: We are going to be using ARES, and FS3 as it's what I know and it seems fairly easy to configure properly. This should allow the server to get up and playable in no time at all so we can all start building those stories we want to tell together.
Q: Why are you posting this here?
A: Because I could use some help. This is a one man project at the moment and though I already have a few volunteers who want to help run events and the like I could always use some more people along for the ride! Event managers and heck if people want to join in who know how to code that's fine to, because I was planning on just using a nice pre-existing code layout to get things off the ground and get people roleplaying because there seems to be a serious interest. This also will be a good way to progress track on the way to a proper launch!
Q: Are you just going to abandon this project as well?
A: Not planning on it. Star Trek is a real passion of mine. The Original series to be precise is something I grew up on something I've had in my life the whole way through. This in a way is something that'll let me enjoy that world and bring other people into it with me.
Q: Why the Q and A format?
A: I enjoy the Q and A format, because it lets me scattershot some of my thoughts on the game without having to really order things myself. It lets me just get the info out there and get back to working on actually making sure this game can see a launch.
Q:What happens if no one plays it?
A: Well then I'll keep hosting the game anyway. Just run little things for whoever does want to play and have fun with little stories along the way. Really big or small it's all just about having fun.
