Game Rules

USS Valkyrie Group Expectations

This document aims to establish a code of conduct for RPG members in and out of character regarding Bravo Fleet and game regulation.

Bravo Fleet RPG Statement & Policy Notification

This is a Bravo Fleet Star Trek Role Playing Game.  The rules, policies, procedures, and guidelines govern us.  Those are listed below for your review.

Applications and Onboarding Process

  • You can apply via the Valkyrie main page. Applications should include a writing sample, a full character biography with existing service record, and character image.
  • AI written content is not acceptable – descriptions don’t need to be perfect, and we will be working on them together!
  • Applicants will participate in an Onboarding Workshop that polishes the character bio and gets them included into the mission

Activity Plan

  1. Members are required, at minimum, to post at least twice a month. This can be joint posts or solo posts. TAGs are to be responded to within 72 hours.
    1. Solo posts should be at least 250 words long.
    2. Joint posts should’ve at least 250x P where P is the number of players involved.
  2. Valkyrie operates with a rotation of shore leave and missions. With this activity in mind, Valkyrie will have around five completed missions a year and a collective of 4 to 14 stories posted a month (~168 annually).
  3. Leave of Absences should be given to the GM in advance through Discord with an approximate return date.
  4. Write with purpose.
    • What this means is what your character does, says, and is should move the development of your character forward as well as the ongoing mission.
    • Be thoughtful in your writing.
    • Your character’s voice, actions, and thoughts are important and impact the world around them.

Missions vs. Shore Leave

  1. Having ample opportunity to write individual content during shore leave, players are expected to participate in and focus on the ongoing mission.
    1. Solo posts are encouraged, but JPs need to be prioritised over individual writing – if people are waiting on tags for you, don’t leave them hanging!
    2. Solo posts should be focussed on the content of the mission.
    3. Posting non-mission related JPs/ Solo-posts should be discussed with GM/AGM

IC ranks and Expectations

While we make sure to include everyone – regardless of rank or experience – into the mission and allow meaningful contributions, our characters still follow a chain of command. If you play a character in a leadership role, you are expected to take charge of the group. This is one of the reasons we are easing people into these positions, and start them off at a lower rank to learn and grow. 
 If your character is IC unable to do so despite their rank – write about it. Maybe they are going through some stuff. That’s cool. 
 If you are OOC unsure how to continue – ask. We are here to help!

Player Posting Policies

  • Players will write in the POV of a third-person limited past.
    • This means they will narrate their parts in joint posts and solo posts only from their character’s perspective.
  • During missions, posts must have a definite date in the Date field. During shore leave segments, this can be more flexible
    • The date range will be set by the GM.
    • For example, the mission may take place over the month of April 2400.
    • Players would need to identify the date of their post.
    • Posting format –
      • Location – Location where the post takes place
      • This will be located in the location and date fields in BFMS.
      • It is important for this ship to track where characters and actions occur.
      • Use the ship interior section on the Bravofleet site and the list located in Discord to help describe the onboard spaces.  If you have questions about a space not described, ASK!

Player Population Policy:

  • The number of players is from 4 to 12.
  • When players apply, their species of alien and application will be reviewed with the GM in a private discord room in an evaluation and workshop kind of setting – ensuring the character created is a good fit for the RPG and has a strong biography built.
  • Players can play up to 3 characters on the ship.  The additional two characters are counted as SPCs’ versus PCs (Primary Characters)
  • For the second and third character, they will need to discuss with the GM about their writing ability with time and quality to ensure the RPG isn’t impacted by additional writing needs besides the primary PC.  A second character can fill a Chief position or an Assistant Chief Position, but preference for those postings is given to primary characters.
  • The privilege of a secondary character can be revoked if writing of the primary character suffers.
  • The GM will act more as a moderator and writing coach to help keep the mission on track.
  • The GM will write joint posts to bring in the command team on mission starts, and then the players will continue with solo posts and JPs using NPCs on the ship or their own characters.
  • Players are encouraged to JP with each other in order to move the plot and their character development forward.
  • A list of NPCs on board will be kept to ensure we have names and ranks correct. These characters are background characters and can be used by other players.
  • Missions will be planned by the Mission Planning Team, and discussed by the group with the GM guiding discussions and addressing any concerns with the plot, direction, or ideas through positive feedback and seeking ways to adapt ideas that may need strengthening.
  • There will be a general idea and scaffolding for missions.  There is not a set ending to missions but an expectation that all players will participate in engaging with the plot and plan to help move, enrich, and expand the story onboard.

General

  1. We will not always agree on everything, but when we do disagree, it’s important to handle those disagreements respectfully.
  2. Bravo Fleet’s policies apply to any interaction you have as a member of this group, whether it occurs directly on Valkyrie’s server or not.
  3. Membership on the game’s Discord server is required to participate in discussions. You must also be a member of Bravo Fleet to join.
  4. The game manager reserves the right, as specified under the fleet’s RPG policy, to remove any player at any time.

Content Guide

The Valkyrie is rated 222 on the RPG Rating Scale, which is intended for members as young as 16. This means that references to violence, cursing, and sex can be no more graphic than those in Star Trek: Discovery but more graphic than those in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

 

Story Creation Guide

As the GM, I’m tasked with developing the overarching story.  I am a collaborative GM and am open to ideas from members – with the right of refusal within my power.  I will have the big ideas that will not change, and there will be several smaller ideas or plot points that we can work together on charting a direction.  Any major story changes must be discussed with the GM first – I’m open to ideas and brainstorming.

Tagging & TAGs

Tags are pretty standard.  Once you are ready for the other members to engage, you can simply write tag and then the character name(s)