[ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ]

 

This area  has been set up for members of the fleet to ask questions regarding the past, present and the future of the group.  All questions are directed to and answered by Captain Mulina.  The intention of this list is to establish a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that new members care be referred to upon joining.

If you would care to submit any questions to be answered by Captain Brandon Mulina (in character or not), please direct them to The FNS Editor.

Look for your answer posted to the FNS in this column!

 

Q - How did the Federation form?

Q - How do ranks work after the points for Captain are reached?
Q - What has been your biggest disappointment?
Q - Is the Federation what you expected?
Q - What is a PBeM RPG?
Q - How do I join/Can anyone join?
Q - I played in a different fleet. Why do I need training?
Q - How long does it take to actually get on a ship?
Q - Why doesn't the academy supply ships with crew?
Q - Can I transfer between ships?
Q - Can I bring my ship into Federation?
Q - I want to start a second character. Why do I need to start as Ensign again?
Q - Why do I need the rank of LtFC to have a second character?
Q - If I have to resign, who do I tell and how?

Q - Why did the posting requirements change a bit this year?
Q - Can my group be your ally?/Can my site be your partner?

 

Q - How did the Federation form?

A - That is actually a long story that begins around 4 years ago when I first became involved with Star Trek on the net. I had moved to a new town to start a job and was a little lonely. So I finally bit the bullet and bought a modem for my computer.

 

One day I was checking out news groups when I came across an add for a Star Trek game. I replied to it and soon found myself playing in a MIRC real time game. I didn't like it that much since it ran once a week and you had to be sure that you were home so it really limited my own time.

 

I then met someone from the MIRC game that was the CO of the USS Navigator who talked me into trying out a PBeM game (Play by e-mail). I started and was soon hooked. After about 3 months of playing our CO came to us and said that the command structure of the group we were in was falling apart and he was moving us to a new group (a so-called member run group). Going on his advice we all said whatever you think is best. We soon joined a new group/fleet.

Shortly after our Co transferred us he quit the game leaving us stranded in a new group with no leader. I had been toying with the idea for DS 13, and brought it forward to the leader of the new fleet we were in. Four of us started DS 13 under the Command of a new CO who also quit a few months later due to real life problems, forcing me to take command.

 

After a year of playing as ACO of DS 13 I felt the need for something else and formed the Gateway. Most of the DS 13 crew came with me to start this project and DS 13 was turned over to other people.

A few months later something happened on the CO list for this group. An argument of sorts when the leader of the group actually referred to the members as his property. This set off alarms in my head. I personally did not want to be referred to as someone property nor did I want my crew.

 

After discussing options with the Gateway crew we decided to leave this group and make the Gateway an independent ship.

The independent thing did not last long however. We were soon approached by the person who took over DS 13 after I had left it saying he was having trouble with the leader of the group we had left.

Moving quickly myself and the other founders established the ECB and welcome DS 13 into the Federation. We started with the Gateway, added DS 13 and grew from there.

Q - How do ranks work after the points for Captain are reached?

A - After the rank of Captain is reached we start using years of play.  To reach Commodore you have had to serve as a Captain for one year. To reach Admiral you had to serve as a Commodore for two years.

Q - What has been your biggest disappointment?

A - When a ship joins sticks around long enough to get a full crew and then leaves the fleet. This happened twice to us and will NOT happen again.

Q - Is the Federation what you expected?

A - I never knew what to expect. I never expected to be this successful not only with players but in the Trek Community as well. We have many established links and partnerships not only with other PBeM and RPG groups but also with other varied Trek sites including the EFA.

Q - What is a PBeM RPG?

A PBeM RPG is a 'Play By E-mail Role-playing Game'.  The Federation is a game based in the Star Trek universe in which our players take on the identity of original characters, usually Starfleet Officers. These players write posts to the other players via electronic mail, which build off previous posts to create mini- stories, or episodes, in the lives of the characters on each particular ship.

Q - How do I join/Can anyone join?

A- Yes, anyone who is interested and can read and write the English language can join. All new players are required to fill in the application process and begin the training process. The application can be found on the Federation website. http://thefederation.cjb.net

 

Q - I played in a different fleet. Why do I need training?

A - Not all groups play with the same format. We use first person for example. Others have different ways to use the characters. Some groups allow you to play for another player. In our group you leave tags for them to reply to <<Steele>>. There are other differences as well that people need to be aware of.

Q - How long does it take to actually get on a ship?

A - It depends on how quickly you complete the training process and my availability. Some people have been up and running within 2 hours before.

Q - Why doesn't the academy supply ships with crew?

A - we do supply ships with crew when they come to us and apply via the applications. CO's however are encouraged to recruit on their own in order to have people will out applications. We rely on our COs to recruit, not only for your own ships (as part of the rules, COs recruit their crews) but also for the fleet as a whole. With all of you recruiting, we'll bring in MANY more people.

Q - Can I transfer between ships?

A - Yes. But you need to notify me, your current CO and the Co of the ship you wish to transfer too to receive permission. For example once 2 players decided to marry their characters so one transferred tot he other ship for them to be together.

Q - Can I bring my ship into Federation?

A - Yes, the Federation will allow you to merge your ship with us. You must have a crew of six, active for 3 months, undergo a review by the ECB, and of course agree to follow ALL Federation rules, guidelines, and posting format.

Q - I want to start a second character. Why do I need to start as Ensign again?

A - No, that's not fair to other new characters. See, it's not you personally that earns the rank, it's your character. So when you quit one character for a new one or start a second one , the new character starts at Ensign just like any new character. The same is true if you have one character on one ship that happens to be a Lt. Cmdr. and you make a new character for another ship. The new character starts as an Ensign since it's new. Of course, your personal RPG experience helps and your CO may start you as a LtJG and in rare cases Lt, but don't expect or demand this.

Q - Why do I need the rank of LtFC to have a second character?

A - We want you to have the rank to show you have a level of commitment to the game. BY the time you are LtFC you have demonstrated that. I personally do not like second characters since normally one of the two of them usually gets lost in the game and it becomes more of a chore to post for that character.

Q - If I have to resign, who do I tell and how?

A - You tell your CO who then informs me and we open your position up to other players.

Q - Why did the posting requirements change a bit this year?

A - We were finding people were taking advantage of the three week rule. Many would go two weeks without posting and then post on the third week and then nothing for another two weeks. This is frustrating for the CO and player. The CO is basically stuck with a viable member since they post once every 3 weeks but is never doing anything and their posts are always weeks behind. The player is always getting a negative score and can never advance in rank.

Q - Can my group be your ally?/Can my site be your partner?

A - Well, that depends. We take allies (SisterFleets) and Partners very seriously. We like to get to know a potential ally and have common ground to work with. You can try and e-mail me and I will consider the offer for partnership.