Editing Newsletter/Spring 2007 (section)

== Top 10 Questions of Things You Never Knew ==

''For any member to answer''


=== Q1 ===
'''''Of all the species on Star Trek Freedom which one is your favorite and why?'''''

I have many favourites but I must confess to a weak spot for the Borg, I dunno they just seem so cold & malevolent. I guess they remind me of being scared shitless by the Daleks & the Cybermen when I was a kid.  Ahhh, the good ol days. [[User:dolphin20pl1|Alan Reading]]

I always like the Xenolithe[[http://www.startrekfreedom.com/database/science/xenolithe.html]], the games own creation and quite detailed, I like them! [[User:sysop|Anthony Keen]]

My all time favorite canon species has always been (of course!) the [[The Horta Report|Horta]] and number two would be the [[Vulcan]]s. I get a huge kick out of looking at the universe and us humans through a more alien mindset. It gives a fresher perspective on what we percieve as life and ourselves, using differing philosophies. -[[herbalsheila]]

Trill. I didn't start watching DS9 till series 5, so I am still discovering more of the back story day by day [[User:Nymes|Nymes]]

Andorians! Is there anyone who doesn't love those cool antennae? ;) [[Vaela P'Tammah|Gajendra]]

OK, folks, call me boring, but here’s one for the Humans! Humans are the most varied, fascinating, and flexible race of all, even in the Star Trek context. After all, despite their failings, they did bring all the rest together, right? Klingons run a tight second, with Caitians right on their leathery heels. -[[GrannyGM]]

For me it's the Bajorans. An ancient, cultural and deeply spiritual people who broke out of their hidebound caste system and joined together to fight their invaders for 60-odd years and who eventually forced them (against all odds) to leave. To their determination and spiritualism you can add resourcefulness, courage and sheer bloody-minded refusal to admit defeat and knuckle under to their oppressors no matter what the cost or how long it took. - [[User:Rivers|Liz Geuken]]

=== Q2 ===
'''''What attracted you to the Star Trek genre in the first place?'''''

The sense of adventure, the feeling that there might be something better than all of this out there amongst the stars somewhere & that whilst we are still looking, we can live & dream it via shows such as Star trek. [[User:dolphin20pl1|Alan Reading]]

Definately the adventure and the almost endless chances for discovery. Being able to go someplace new and saying, hey I'm the first person to ever see this. The Trek genre offers something for everyone, archology, xenobiology, geology, astrophysics, diplomacy, warfare and on and on and on. The possibilities are endless and you are only limited by your imagination. -[[Federation Starships|Ken]]

I always thought it fascinating due to the fact that it almost could be like that. We, as humans, are presently on the cusp of space exploration. Its the idea that it could be me or my familial decendents out there living on a starship, exploring, serving in a diplomatic aspect, or just military patrolling to keep the peace. Plus I like all the cool aliens. LOL! -[[herbalsheila]]

The drama in the stories and characters of every Star Trek series is the reason I’ve always tuned in. Even when I think they’ve put together a horrible cast (Voyager), in the end they end up writing great episodes and tied everything together to create a great universe. -[[User:Jfrench|Jason French]]

The idea that, in the future, we can put aside all our petty differences and work together to achieve so much more than we can whilst we allow our world to remain divided. Plus the idea that we are *not* alone in the vastness of the universe :) Though to be truthful, that's what attracted me as an adult, to the Next Generation when that was first shown in the UK. What attracted me as a child when Star Trek was first shown here in the 60s was that it was so very different from everything I'd seen before. The whole idea of the ship in space, the characters, the technology... it was just amazing and exciting to me! I just loved it from the start. -[[User:Rivers|Liz Geuken]]

Spock. Leonard Nimoy in Spandex with a Beatle haircut. Hey, it was the 60’s, I was an All-American Teenybopper, we just got a brand new color TV… what do you expect? *Grin* -[[GrannyGM]]

=== Q3 ===
'''''Who is your favorite actor in all of the Star Trek movies and television series and why?'''''

Brent Spiner  [[User:dolphin20pl1|Alan Reading]]

Leonard Nimoy and Tim Russ. I think that doing a believable vulcan would be extremely difficult and these two actors have definately set the standard. -[[Federation Starships|Ken]]

JG Hertzler has long been a favorite of mine. They tend to have him play Klingons, but with that deep voice and a magnetic stage presence that comes across on camera so well, that man just floors me! He can act so well no matter how many funky teeth they stick in his mouth. Kate Mulgrew also fights for number one right along with Patrick Stewart. These three have what I refer to as 'gravity'; they draw people's attention to them. -[[herbalsheila]]

I thought Scott Bakula did a great job as Captain Archer. He played the role well. It was a different time for Starfleet, the character wouldn’t be as reserved as captains we had seen in the past. He had to be more impulsive and willing to take risks and I thought that really came through in Scott’s performance. -[[User:Jfrench|Jason French]]

Favourite? Its Avery Brooks, in "Far beyond the Stars". The scene in which he declares "I am a human being" is pure brilliance, let down (only marginally) by the out of character action afterwards by the others on screen. [[User:Nymes|Nymes]]

I love the character of Kira Nerys but my favourite actor would be a joint award to Leonard Nimoy (partly because he's a good actor but also because he's a really nice guy) and Patrick Stewart, who is a truly great actor. -[[User:Rivers|Liz Geuken]]

Michael Dorn, and Scott Bakula. Can you imagine Worf played by anyone else but Dorn? He created Worf as surely, and as deftly, as William Shatner created Captain Kirk, but the Worf’s greater depth of character and his capacity for growth far outshines the original Space Cowboy Captain. And all that in a funny forehead, as well! Along with Dorn, I’m with Jason for Scott Bakula. Dittos to Jason… Scott made me believe in Archer! -[[GrannyGM]]

=== Q4 ===
'''''Which television ST series is the best and why?'''''

The Next Generation, I just think it has so many more avenues of adventure that perhaps a Starbase such as DS9 doesn't, Voyager was good for the same reason but my favourite is still TNG. If I had to choose that is...   [[User:dolphin20pl1|Alan Reading]]

I'm not sure I could pick a hands down favorite. DS9, TNG and Voyager all have interesting overall story arcs that are both compelling and interesting. To pick one...I can't do it. -[[Federation Starships|Ken]]

I have the same problem as Ken does. I love 'Voyager' since I adore Kate Mulgrew and had long since wanted to see a female captain in much the same way that I think we need to have a female US President (as long as it isn't Hilary Clinton!). But I also enjoyed TNG so much and I really liked 'Enterprise'. DS9 was a grittier series, but no less compelling than the others. I just can't pick! -[[herbalsheila]]

Although I have loved every series, I have to say Deep Space Nine was by far my favorite. At the time, it was like nothing else we had seen on Star Trek. Right from the beginning they had set Commander Sisko at odds with Picard, which was a bold move. I also thought the Cardassian occupation of Bajor was an interesting back story which led to many great episodes. -[[User:Jfrench|Jason French]]

DS9 is my favourite, partly for the characters, but most of all for the fantastic story arcs they had. TNG is a close second, mind you ;) -[[User:Rivers|Liz Geuken]]

I have two favorites for two different reasons. My ‘bread and butter’ favorite is TNG. It set forth the Star Trek scenario I enjoy playing in, but sometimes I find watching it a little dry… more like research than entertainment. For pure entertainment, my hands-down favorite is (*gasp*) Enterprise. Might not be particularly consistent as far a Star Trek ‘cannon’ goes, but the characters were believable, and it was consistently fun. I don’t really care about Star Trek Canon anyway… a story is a story, a writer’s game, and the writer makes, bends or breaks the rules. As long as I like the way they do it, I’m satisfied. I liked the Star Trek world the writers and the actors on Enterprise showed me, regardless of canon breaches and plot holes big enough to fly a flagship through at full impulse… because it was FUN! -[[GrannyGM]]

=== Q5 ===
'''''Which ST movie is the best and why?'''''

It would be a toss up between First Contact & Nemesis. As for why, I really dunno. [[User:dolphin20pl1|Alan Reading]]

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan has always been my favorite. Captain Kirk at his finest and it all came down to out witting you opponent. -[[User:Jfrench|Jason French]]

I loved the movie with the whales. It had such great memorable and quotable one liners. -[[herbalsheila]]

=== Q6 ===
'''''Do you think it is easier to play a tough bad ass character or a sensitive emotional character?'''''

I can do both, but I must confess it's fun to play a real nasty baddass sometimes as it's so unlike the real me. [[User:dolphin20pl1|Alan Reading]]

I think the hardest characters to play are those who have emotional or psychological issues that they are trying to overcome. I find that sensitive and emotional characters can sometimes be irritating and the desire to slap them a scream, "Get over it," often takes away from a storyline. I think some of the best characters are the ones that you just love to hate! -[[Federation Starships|Ken]]

I think that sensitive or emotional characters are more fun to play since they often end up being surprisingly resilient and stronger than expected. When the time comes to fight, since they have already been working through thier own issues, then coping with a combat gets just that much more interesting. -[[herbalsheila]]

I think in general it's easier to play a tough bad ass character, and they are a lot of fun to play. The danger with them is that they can often seem one-dimensional. That is a problem even if the character is only there as a villain for one mission, and even more so if it's a PC. It's a lot harder to play a sensitive emotional character well, ie in a way that people will be sympathetic with; all too often they end up coming across as whinging and self-absorbed. So kudos to anyone who can play such a character without making the rest of the crew want to shove him or her out of the nearest airlock! That said, I think the best characters are probably somewhere in between the two extremes, but then again that wasn't the question ;) -[[User:Rivers|Liz Geuken]]

I think the only characters worth playing are those with a decent emotional IQ. That doesn’t mean they can’t be badass at need, it just means they aren’t apes. The “tough badasses” are notoriously one-dimensional, and often appear to be trying to cover up some kind of insecurity. The sensitive types are capable of real strength, and of knowing how to correctly apply it. If we routinely mistake brittleness, brutality, and/or big-mouthed bluff for strength, we might end up with pretty boring characters in the long run. I admire anyone who can play an arrogant “badass” for any length of time without the other characters seeing through their façade and pushing them out an airlock. -[[GrannyGM]]

=== Q7 ===
'''''Who do you think is the most dangerous/lethal character currently in play, opposition included?'''''

If you mean in the ST universe, I guess it would be the Borg. If you mean in game, hmmm, that's a tough one, I need to think on that one... [[User:dolphin20pl1|Alan Reading]]

The Myenru, in our current [[USS Hades]] mission are pretty brutal, cruel, cold and ruthless. Put that together with thier propensity for racial genocide on thier self proclaimed jihad through space. They are pretty nasty. -[[herbalsheila]]

I dislike all telepathic characters, just for the propensity to be too... Metagamery - I don't like other characters closing doors on my posts before i have had a chance to address it [[User:Nymes|Nymes]]

=== Q8 ===
'''''Is it possible that the membership of Star Trek Freedom could eventually be too large and cumbersome?'''''

I don't think so, the more the merrier but I guess Anthony may have other ideas as more players may mean more work. [[User:dolphin20pl1|Alan Reading]]

Conditionally no. What we would have to do though after we hit a certain level would be to start being selective in who can join. We would need to tighten requirements and insist on a certain level writing competance as well as performance. -[[Federation Starships|Ken]]

As the site grows, we will have a need for more ships to accomodate more players. Good captains are hard to find. They tend to be very special people, with the talent requirements of addressing disputes agreeably, imaginative storylines, and flexibility. I thank God we have such good captains. But only time will tell. -[[herbalsheila]]

I agree. A new ship brings with it the chance to expand the game. [[User:Nymes|Nymes]]

Here at Freedom there is a nice, friendly, family feeling. A lot of bigger games just don't have that. On the other hand if we can keep that feeling going even if the game expands and we add more ships - and of course Tony and the Council don't mind the extra work that will entail!! - then expansion would work out OK. But yes, I do think in general it is possible for games to become too large and too cumbersome. -[[User:Rivers|Liz Geuken]]

I have considerable experience with family-oriented organizations that grew from “small and cozy” to “huge and mighty” within a few years due to their own success. A few are ripped apart by that, but the good ones are not. Those tend to simply and naturally divide into smaller subgroups, delineated mostly by the preference of the members. These subgroups need not become cliques if the larger group has a solid base of respect and friendliness in the first place, and breaches of the code of acceptable behavior are not allowed to stand unaddressed. In the end, if well-managed, the larger the main group, the more smaller, family-like subgroups appear from which to choose. Thus, everyone can hope for a better fit. 

In a group that is too small and claustrophobic, the chances of its operation being seriously hindered by one or two difficult individuals is much greater than in a larger group. The larger group with different subgroups allows personalities that mesh well to gravitate together, and those that clash the space they need to drift apart, so that all can continue to participate without constantly tripping over one another.

So, my best solution would be similar to the one that has worked for my fast-growing but close church family. The door is open to all, but the emphasis is on the subgroups, and on keeping the infrastructure shored up to match the growth. (In this case, that means we have lots of new study classes, deacons, elders, etc, springing up like Missouri morrel mushrooms on a treestump by the crick.). The goal: No one gets left behind or lost in the shuffle, even in a congregation that has gone from about 300 to way over 700 in less than a decade. And we don’t even take applications or have an academy! If FBBC, St. Joe Mo, can do it, so can ST:F. 

This expansion could take place in the form of adding more ships. But as Sheila has wisely stated, good Captains can be hard to find. So, perhaps new sections of infrastructure could be set in place. Could the council members use assistants, with specifically designated duties, as delegated by the individual council member? Perhaps the Academy could benefit from some assistants who just screen applications, and then report back to the Academy CO, or something like that? We have the talent available… why not use all of it, and let our site grow, as her success deserves? -[[GrannyGM]]

=== Q9 ===
'''''How can the Star Trek Freedom site be improved?'''''

I think it's pretty good as it stands, although perhaps more incentives for players to post more would be good.  An overall, all ship poster of the month perhaps with an honorary mention on the site, plus the post itself for all to read. The only problem is, who would judge?  [[User:dolphin20pl1|Alan Reading]]

Good idea Alan. How about all the ship captains voting with a majority on who would win? Then the question becomes who would nominate the posts? -[[herbalsheila]]

Excellent idea, Alan :) And a good idea for the judging, Sheila. As to nominations, how about each command team selects one post to represent their ship? Players on the ships could nominate posts (not their own!! lol) to their CO for consideration as well -[[User:Rivers|Liz Geuken]]

=== Q10 ===
'''''What was the best conceived, well written post that you have ever done to date as a player?'''''

You would have to ask somebody else that question as I don't really like to blow my own trumpet much. [[User:dolphin20pl1|Alan Reading]]

I would have to say that the battle between the IKS Hegh'delar and the USS Vindicator, written by myself and David Cherrington would have to be ranked as some of the best work I've done here thus far. -[[Federation Starships|Ken]]

I have a few favorites but I have to admit, I got a real kick out of writing a JP with Daniel Greene as the Maraht and Baylon Trinin Safari into Hydroponics after the [[USS Hades]] got hit with the Genesis Wave and turned it into a major jungle, turning some of the crew into carnivorous primates. We put in a giant flesh eating plant and some weird spitting avians. We had a blast! It was very fun since we could just make up all sorts of stuff! -[[herbalsheila]]

I liked the JP that myself and Jono wrote during the Dennison's Porthells mission, a survival horroresque thing that was built on in the holodeck mission following that. More recently, the JP with Connie, introducing her SPC to the ship [[User:Nymes|Nymes]]

I agree with Alan, in my case you'd have to ask other people that. Now if you'd asked which post I'd enjoyed writing the most, that I could have answered ;) -[[User:Rivers|Liz Geuken]]

I’m proudest of a post I did as a JP with Jono on the Champlain. The conception and the writing were good, but it was the overall result that made it so satisfying.

We had just ended a mission that had proved stressful for both the characters and for some of the players. Things did not turn out quite as expected, and there could have been some hard feelings, especially between me and Jono, both in character and out. But instead, we marched our characters to the holodeck for a sparring match, and in a classic good-old-boy (even though Bree is hardly a boy), fight-it-out fashion. Our characters worked out their differences, shook hands and emerged as friends. And Jono and I had such fun writing it that we didn’t have time to be annoyed with each other!  

I love it when doing a joint post both enriches the story and helps keep a valued friendship intact… what more could one ask? –[[GrannyGM]]

I think my best ever was when my PC told his back story to a friend in sickbay .[[User:ashdivay|Ash]]

Well it seems that two JP's I have done with other characters have come out top with them, So I thank you both. Greg and Connie, it was a pleasure doing those series of JP's with you both. I thoroughly enjoyed myself on both occasions. I would have to say on my own behalf that although both of them come close to my top spot, I believe that some of my more recent posts have been at a higher standard than those JP's. Purely because of the fact my writing style as ever, has changed, I think for the better. - [[Jono Bradley]]