The next entry in my character creation series is the Star Trek Roleplaying Game from the sadly defunct Last Unicorn Games. The Icon System at the core of Star Trek is a point-buy system disguised under a pseudo-race/class model. At each step, the book suggests you choose one of several pre-built packages, but it also gives you the option of buying traits of your choice with a certain amount of points. For the most part, I'm going to be using the package system, but if it creates too many problems, I reserve the point-buy option.
The first step is to choose a Template. This first package represents your species, and the options are Andorians, Axanari, Centaurans, Humans, Tellarites, Tiburonians, and Vulcans. (The Axanari were created by LUG, the rest appear in canon, although I believe you have to look to the movies for the Tiburonians, and the Centaurans are visually identical to humans.)
I'm interested in building a young, action-oriented, almost Kirkian officer, so I'll go with the standard Human template. I have to choose a specialization for the Athletics skill (I'll take Running). I also get to choose a Science skill and a specialization; for a nod to that other great captain, Jean-Luc Picard, I'll take Social Sciences with a specialization in Archaeology.
Step 2 is picking an Overlay. In the race/class model, this is your class package, and it's better to just pick one. Obviously, I'm going to pick the Command overlay for my dashing young officer. I have a few choices here: Planetary or Starship Tactics and a relevant specialization (I'll take Starship Tactics and Planetary Support Tactics); and specializations for Shipboard Systems (Helm), Athletics (Climbing), Computer (Research), Personal Equipment (Communicator), and Planetside Survival (Mountain).
Step 3 is the best part of the process, in my opinion: Background. Through a series of package picks, you can easily build a background for your character. You start with Early Life, and there are a few options that jump out at me (Military Family, Normal Upbringing, and "Starfleet Brat"). But I spot Orphaned, and I can't help but think of the character potential there, so I take the Orphaned package. I get to choose Charm or Intimidation, and I take Charm.
Next is Academy Life, describing your time at Starfleet Academy. Advanced Tactical School might be obvious, or perhaps Exploration Training, but I think Intelligence Training looks fun. I get to choose either Klingon or Romulan for my language training. I'll go with Klingon, if only because they show up more in the original series. I'm going to take a Disadvantage at this point, Impulsive, giving me 1 point back. I'll hold onto that until later.
Next up is the Cadet Cruise, worth exactly 1 point, and I get to put it anywhere I want. But that's not nearly enough. I think I'll take the Code of Honor disadvantage for the Starfleet Code at -3 points. This gives me 4 total points to buy things. I'm goint to put 2 points into Famous Incident (giving me 2 extra Renown Points), 1 point into Commendation (the Starfleet Citation for Conspicuous Gallantry for the Famous Incident) and my last point into Promotion (to Lieutenant, Junior Grade, for the Famous Incident).
Finally, you get at least one Tour of Duty, and I'm drawn immediately to the Frontier Patrol package. No choices here, but I do get another shiny Promotion (to full Lieutenant). At the GM's discretion, characters can get additional Tours, but I'm going to take the default of a single Tour.
I think I'll take three disadvantages at this point, linked together. At some point in my tour on the Klingon border, I was present when the Klingon ship I.K.S. DoQ'Toghar massacred a village on a primitive world, raping and killing the woman I loved. Enraged, I killed their commander before my men managed to pull me away. Since that day, I have sworn to take my revenge on every Klingon that served on the DoQ'Toghar, and they have returned my vengeance in kind. Finally, I have grown Intolerant of all Klingons. This gives me a total of 5 points back, combined with the 1 point I had from my Academy Life, for a total of 6 points. With these points, I buy a level in the Command skill and put 3 points into the Department Head advantage.
So, there we have him. Pick a name: Lucas Montaine. A Starfleet Lieutenant assigned to the U.S.S. Lincoln, head of the Signal Analysis department. I'd need to work with a GM to come up with a Famous Incident, but other than that he's good to go.
Lt. Lucas Montaine
Attributes
Fitness 2
Coordination 2
Intellect 2
Presence 2
Empathy +1Psi 0
Willpower +1
Skills
Administration (Starship Administration) 2 (3)
Athletics (Climbing) 2 (3) and (Running) (3)
Behavior Modification (Resistance) 1 (2)
Charm 1
Command (Starship Command) 3 (4)
Computer (Research) 1 (2)
Culture (Human) (3)
Dodge 1
Energy Weapon (Phaser) 1 (3)
Espionage (Traffic Analysis) 1 (2)
Federation Standard 3
History (Human) 1 (2) and (Federation) (2)
Klingon 1
Law (Starfleet Regulations) 2 (3)
Personal Equipment (Communicator) 1 (2)
Planetside Survival (Mountain) 1 (2)
Security (Law Enforcement) 1 (2)
Social Sciences (Archaeology) 1 (2)
Starship Tactics (Planetary Support Tactics) 2 (3) and (Starfleet) (3)
Streetwise 1
Vehicle Operations (Shuttlecraft) 1 (2)
World Knowledge (Earth) 1 (2)
Traits
Commendation (Starfleet Citation for Conspicuous Gallantry) +1, Department Head +3, Famous Incident +2, Hides Emotions -2, Impulsive -1, Intolerant (Klingons) -2, Obligation (Starfleet Intelligence) -1, Promotion (Lt.) +2, Sworn Enemy (the crew of the I.K.S. DoQ'Toghar) -2, Vengeful (the crew of the I.K.S. DoQ'Toghar) -1
Courage: 3
Renown: 3
Initiative 2, Aggression 1
