Prime Directive (role-playing game)
Encyclopedia
Prime Directive is a role-playing game
set in the Star Trek
-derived Star Fleet Universe
. The game has gone through two different incarnations.
in 1993. Using an in-house design by Mark Costello and Timothy D. Olsen, it used a D6
-style system similar to Shadowrun
and Star Wars. PD’s most popular aspects were a multi-tiered task resolution system, where characters could achieve 'Complete', 'Moderate', 'Minimal', or 'Botch' levels of success with their actions, and the Character Reputation and Background system that allowed characters to “spontaneously” develop skills, abilities, and prior associations appropriate to the mission at hand. Both of these aspects provided a sense of Television Series verisimilitude that many found to be appropriate to the game’s Trek origins. The greatest complaint was that character selection was limited to members of a Prime Team or a similar group, not allowing players to be captains or other important positions, although later supplements did provide this ability. Also, since the rules were unique to this game, and only vaguely similar to other systems, many players were not willing to take the time and effort required to learn them, although the same could be said of many RPGs of that time.
The published books for the game included the core rulebook, a Federation sourcebook. and a few adventure books.
to utilize the Powered by GURPS format.
The new version dispensed with the restrictions on characters, opening the doors for players to play virtually any type character they wished. The move to GURPS also allowed some cross-genre
moves to be made, and to include some limited elements of the Traveller Universe
.
Originally GURPS Prime Directive, the GURPS Klingon
s imperial source book and GURPS Module Prime Alpha module were released under the third edition of GURPS. The new fourth edition of GURPS prompted a rework of the previous major books (GPD and GK) and a delay of the (then) upcoming Romulans sourcebook (which became one of the first 4th Edition GURPS supplements). Module Prime Alpha (and its intended sequel, Module Prime Beta) were dropped from the line, due to poor sales.
At this writing, the following GURPS 4th Edition books are available, the core rulebook, GURPS Klingons, GURPS Romulans and GURPS Federation have been released for this new system. Supplements for the Gorns, Tholians and other empires/races are in various writing stages.
Prime Directive and related sourcebooks will be released beginning in Spring 2012 in order to further expand the potential user base for the role-playing aspect of the Star Fleet Universe.
and movie
cliché
of having the Captain and primary bridge personnel always putting themselves in danger. Prime Teams were criticised by some as being essentially a Star Fleet version of the "adventuring party" found in numerous Dungeons & Dragons
-style fantasy games.
While "Prime Teams" themselves are a Federation designation, nearly every empire had their own equivalent.
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
set in the Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
-derived Star Fleet Universe
Star Fleet Universe
The Star Fleet Universe is the variant of the Star Trek fictional universe detailed in the series of Star Fleet Battles games from Amarillo Design Bureau Inc. and used as reference for the Starfleet Command series of computer games...
. The game has gone through two different incarnations.
Prime Directive RPG
The original release of Prime Directive was published by Task Force GamesTask Force Games
Task Force Games was a game company started in 1979 by Allen Eldridge and Stephen Cole. Mr. Cole left the company in the early 1980's, but continued to design the company's best selling Star Fleet Battles game. Mr. Eldridge sold the company to New World Computing in 1988...
in 1993. Using an in-house design by Mark Costello and Timothy D. Olsen, it used a D6
D6 System
The D6 System is a role-playing game system published by West End Games and licensees. While the system is primarily intended for pen-and-paper role-playing games, variations of the system have also been used in live action role-playing games and miniature battle games...
-style system similar to Shadowrun
Shadowrun
Shadowrun is a role-playing game set in a near-future fictional universe in which cybernetics, magic and fantasy creatures co-exist. It combines genres of cyberpunk, urban fantasy and crime, with occasional elements of conspiracy fiction, horror, and detective fiction.The original game has spawned...
and Star Wars. PD’s most popular aspects were a multi-tiered task resolution system, where characters could achieve 'Complete', 'Moderate', 'Minimal', or 'Botch' levels of success with their actions, and the Character Reputation and Background system that allowed characters to “spontaneously” develop skills, abilities, and prior associations appropriate to the mission at hand. Both of these aspects provided a sense of Television Series verisimilitude that many found to be appropriate to the game’s Trek origins. The greatest complaint was that character selection was limited to members of a Prime Team or a similar group, not allowing players to be captains or other important positions, although later supplements did provide this ability. Also, since the rules were unique to this game, and only vaguely similar to other systems, many players were not willing to take the time and effort required to learn them, although the same could be said of many RPGs of that time.
The published books for the game included the core rulebook, a Federation sourcebook. and a few adventure books.
GURPS Prime Directive
After the folding of Task Force Games and the cancellation of the original Prime Directive line, Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc., the new publishers of Star Fleet Universe games, were left with the question of what to do with PD. They were primarily a wargame company, and the poor sales of the supplements were cause for a reexamination. Eventually, they approached Steve Jackson GamesSteve Jackson Games
Steve Jackson Games is a game company, founded in 1980 by Steve Jackson, that creates and publishes role-playing, board, and card games, and the gaming magazine Pyramid.-History:...
to utilize the Powered by GURPS format.
The new version dispensed with the restrictions on characters, opening the doors for players to play virtually any type character they wished. The move to GURPS also allowed some cross-genre
Genre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
moves to be made, and to include some limited elements of the Traveller Universe
Traveller (role-playing game)
Traveller is a series of related science fiction role-playing games, the first published in 1977 by Game Designers' Workshop and subsequent editions by various companies remaining in print to this day. The game was inspired from such classic science fiction stories as the Dumarest saga series by...
.
Originally GURPS Prime Directive, the GURPS Klingon
Klingon
Klingons are a fictional warrior race in the Star Trek universe.Klingons are recurring villains in the 1960s television show Star Trek: The Original Series, and have appeared in all five spin-off series and eight feature films...
s imperial source book and GURPS Module Prime Alpha module were released under the third edition of GURPS. The new fourth edition of GURPS prompted a rework of the previous major books (GPD and GK) and a delay of the (then) upcoming Romulans sourcebook (which became one of the first 4th Edition GURPS supplements). Module Prime Alpha (and its intended sequel, Module Prime Beta) were dropped from the line, due to poor sales.
At this writing, the following GURPS 4th Edition books are available, the core rulebook, GURPS Klingons, GURPS Romulans and GURPS Federation have been released for this new system. Supplements for the Gorns, Tholians and other empires/races are in various writing stages.
D20 Prime Directive and D20M Prime Directive
At this writing, the core rulebook, D20 Klingons, D20 Romulans (no D20M as of Aug 2011), and D20 Federation are available for this system. Supplements for the Gorns, Tholians and other empires/races are in various writing stages.Other Prime Directive variants
It has been announced that TravellerTraveller (role-playing game)
Traveller is a series of related science fiction role-playing games, the first published in 1977 by Game Designers' Workshop and subsequent editions by various companies remaining in print to this day. The game was inspired from such classic science fiction stories as the Dumarest saga series by...
Prime Directive and related sourcebooks will be released beginning in Spring 2012 in order to further expand the potential user base for the role-playing aspect of the Star Fleet Universe.
Prime Teams
Prime Teams were a concept pioneered in the original Prime Directive game. The concept was a specialized 'Landing Party' that could do a wide variety of functions, including science, negotiations, and combat. The concept was developed by the designers who wished to avoid the televisionTelevision
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
and movie
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
cliché
Cliché
A cliché or cliche is an expression, idea, or element of an artistic work which has been overused to the point of losing its original meaning or effect, especially when at some earlier time it was considered meaningful or novel. In phraseology, the term has taken on a more technical meaning,...
of having the Captain and primary bridge personnel always putting themselves in danger. Prime Teams were criticised by some as being essentially a Star Fleet version of the "adventuring party" found in numerous Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
-style fantasy games.
While "Prime Teams" themselves are a Federation designation, nearly every empire had their own equivalent.