 January 13, 2017 - 8:46am | It popular in the new wave of police procedurals and crime Scene investigation to have agents that come from outside organizations for example NCIS has had female agents who were Secret Service, former Missed, and NSA. Bones is a pairing of an FBI agent with a scientist from the Smithsonian. When I'm working on SF adventures I sometimes think that this particular adventure would be good with one PC being Space Fleet, one being Star Law, one being an MSO scientist/researcher, one being militia etc. All detailed to a special investigative service possibly under the auspices of Star Law. All PC's are created according to the rules for a Star Law agent in Dragon mag. So what I'm considering is why not just invent such an organization. And write it up. Detail character creation. Suggest a plethora of backgrounds: MSO, UPF Secret Service, Militia, Port Loren Police, etc. Then this team can simply be reference when writing an adventure. It will need a good name possibly something cool. Looking for ideas. Guidelines for NPC creation such that NPCs are only half as capable as PCs. A director NPC and maybe an assistant to the director who is a researcher who briefs the team. Possibly a coroner and a "Q" guy none of these are field personnel. SOP is to fly to system X and use Star Law vehicle assets available there or rent necessary vehicles. Perform mission. Star Law agents have a special ability to commandeer star ships under certain circumstances, other PCs would have special abilities tailored to their background. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
January 13, 2017 - 8:57am | Re: Name Alpha Team is too close to A Team and A Team doesn't generate the right feel IMO Phoenix Foundation was Knight Rider I believe. Not sure something with the word Foundation generates the right feel for something that should have some governmental authority. Star Law, Zeta Section could work. It picks up the Greek alphabet feel laid down in Star Frontiers. And the ZS are in essence the mirror images of the other letter which gives the possibility of a "cool" logo. Still thinking on this. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
January 13, 2017 - 9:01am | Two possibilities for college professor PC: 1) is a professor now but was formerly in Space Fleet, militia, or etc and still has security clearances. 2) Or is a pure academic but was part of the Sathar Summit and thus has security clearance and a history of working closely with government organizations. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
January 13, 2017 - 9:46am | Special abilities: Star Law: commandeer star ships when pursuing interstellar criminals Land Fleet or Royal Guard: can obtain heavy weapons or ordinance when needed providing the team is still in the strategic environment not the tactical. They may have to pay for it or it could be the personal stash of a buddy etc. But this character can find heavy weapon or ordinance that would not normally be available. Will Lugging a hvy laser, machine gun or sonic devestator through the streets of Port Loren draw attention? You betcha but that's the PCs lookout. Scientist/Doctor/Coroner etc: can always gain access to a lab or lab equipment or cobble together a lab with 1d100 credits in purchases at a drug store or commandeering a veterinary clinic. Professor: non lab type science IE theoretical stuff, physics or assundry- academic consult- generate technical information about item or data 1 time per mission/ Adventure. Militia or space fleet: ? Should be different than star laws commandeer ability. Spook/spy: can obtain Intel during Adventure one time free clue during mission. Corporate trouble shooter:. ??? I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
 January 13, 2017 - 6:19pm | Phoenix Foundation was Knight Rider I believe. Not sure something with the word Foundation generates the right feel for something that should have some governmental authority. Knight Rider had the Foundation for Law and Government (FLAG). The Phoenix Foundation was MacGuiver's bosses. |
 January 13, 2017 - 10:15pm | The player character background report from SF0 Crash on Volturnus looks like an example of exactly what you're describing: Commander Jameson (heh) from Truane's Star Military Exploration Force (Military) Geeko-sur-Mang, professor of geology, Capital University (Scientist) Itklikdil, cartographer, on loan from Vrusk Atlas Manufacturing Corporation (Corporate Specialist) Grod, technician, Truane's Star Civil Service (Space Janitor?) This also reminds me of the "Five Man Band" trope which might help in laying out how to use this idea: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FiveManBand |
January 15, 2017 - 12:46pm | 5 being Star Frontiers band human, vrusk, dralasite, yazirian and the chick. Shades of A-Team I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
 January 15, 2017 - 5:45pm | Repetitious post removed by author after posting and seeing the same thing mentioned earlier. ;) |
 January 16, 2017 - 10:54pm | I would refer you to the Dragon/Polyhedron (cant remember which mag.) Silver Twins. A bike w/two riders and a ground car with 4 riders and a support team. LOTS of gadgets. Star Law outfit if I remember corectly. NIFTY. FIAWOL
TANSTAAFL!! |
January 22, 2017 - 9:34am | Silver Twins was Star law and had a Knight Rider vibe with focus being on Thier ride. I'd like to make this so not every PC is Star Law. Needs a cool sounding name like Phoenix Foundation or something like SEAL (sea air land). Example: SIGMA Section- Special Investigation Galactic Marshal Agency (admittedly this example isn't all that good but you get the idea. I'll have to look at the silver twins article and check the gadgets. No reason gadgets shouldn't be available. Anyone hear Silver Twins and think Wonder Twins? I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
January 22, 2017 - 4:31pm | " Any body hear silver twins...." Not til you said it. Beowulf, not an anagram, just symbolic. When Hrothgar's (anyone)in trouble, who ya gonna call? FIAWOL
TANSTAAFL!! |
January 22, 2017 - 5:19pm | Coast Dusters? |
January 22, 2017 - 10:07pm | LIST of NAMES first group for fist name, second group for second, mix & match. Dadaelus Orephus Anubis Hachhman Shiva Set Rubicon Todos Faust Ares 2nd group Sector division Control Oberkomando. Hope it helps. FIAWOL
TANSTAAFL!! |
January 23, 2017 - 7:53am | I'm liking SIGMA Section Special InvestiGative Multidisciplinary A______ Agency is an obvious "A" but I think this group should fall under the auspices of Star Law. Perhaps Authority. symbol is the Star Law badge pictured in Zeb's artwork with the Greek letter Sigma superimposed. Or Star Law badge superimposed with the Greek Sigma and the Pan-Gal "S" for Sigma Section Possibily the whole construct has a circular border with a Latin motto. Latin motto would be something like to Seek the Trurh or some such veritas vos liberabit- the truth shall make you free fides et veritas- faith and truth Lux et veritas- Light and Truth Veritas Omnia Vincit- truth conquers all I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
January 23, 2017 - 8:49am | From "Freeze Star Law" Dragon #87 Under the Authority of the Securities Act The Star Law Captain-General has the authority to appoint special investigative commitees to investigate other security forces (militia, space fleet, etc) or governmental bodies (including the UPF). Star Law Internal Affairs has oversight of all STar Law marshal's and agents. Internal Affairs reports to the UPF Security Council. The Star Law Captain General, will have created Sigma Section to automatically handle special investigations rather than have to appoint an new commitee each time something comes up. These special committee's have in the past included loan agents from other agencies: the MSO, various militia, Space Fleet, Port Loren Police, etc. and this practice continues in Sigma Section. Anyone not a Star Law agent uses the star Law Rank modified as such: Deputy Officer- Deputy Special Investigator City Officer- Special Investigator Junior grade Planetary Officer- Special Investigator senior grade Deputy Agent- Special Agent Chief Agent- Special Chief Agent the section is typically overseen by a Ranger or Marshal and this position is always held by Star Law personnel. Teams are composed of mid to high level PCs more or less following the PC creation rules from "Careers In Star Law" Dragon 91 Players may choose a background that appeals to them for example a player wants to play a fighter jock type character then his PC would be a Space Fleet "loaner" to Sigma Section as Star Law is not going to be recruiting fighter jocks. Another PC is to be a scientist character his background could actually be Star Law, MSO, a coroner from the Port Loren Police Departments crime scene division (assuming he has med skill) The point of this team is that players are not boxed into traditional Star Law molds and have wider range of choice. A team with the fighter jock should almost certainly be provided with a smal runabout interstellar craft. If no player wants to be the astrogator then a low to mid level NPC astrogator can be assigned to the crew who will mostly confine himself to ship duties except in the most desperate of circumstances. Otherwise the team can travel via public and military vessels. Team is tasked for sensitive investigations or major crimes involving powerful mega corps, other militaries, government agencies etc. A university professor could be detailed to the team but it seems to me that prior military or law enforcement background that allows for his security clearences to be quickly renewed is in order for this character. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
