You will need to set up the computer beforehand and check that everything is working OK. If you are having a sit down dinner party you will want to have the computer in a position that is easily accessible to all your guests. When we played the game we actually ran all the stuff on a laptop/notebook computer but also had a 14“ monitor at the head of the table so we could display stuff on a larger screen for better viewing if necessary. This worked well because we could easily detach the laptop from the monitor & pass it around to guests as they required it. They would then read certain documents to themselves and then attach it to the monitor when it came time to share them with the group. However, a more fixed setup would work well too.

You will probably want to have the Password Program running when your guests arrive. (See the instructions that accompany that program.) Once your guests have all entered their passwords (see below 3) you will need to run a web browser such as Netscape offline and load the central.htm document. This contains links to all the other documents that will be required during the game.

If some or all of your guests are unfamiliar with such browsers etc you may need to provide instructions and offer guidance. When we played I gave my guests instructions to ask Data to access the files for them as he knew what he was doing & it fitted with his character. You could always designate someone (or yourself) this role.

Starting the Game

OK, you've got everything ready - the food is in the oven, the place is looking great & you're ready to “rock & roll”.

You will need to entertain your guests with some chit chat (in or out of character) & perhaps some snacks & cocktails (see menu) until everyone has arrived. Hopefully all your guests will arrive pretty much on time as you can't start until everyone is there!

1) Captain R'ancoeur's Log

Once everyone has arrived you can begin the party with the reading of Captain R'ancoeur's Ship's Log. As I've said earlier, I made a tape of this with music etc but you can have your Cpt R'ancoeur read aloud the Log.

2) Hand out the Personal Dossiers

You may now distribute these with the strict instruction that guests are not to turn pages until told to do so. Instruct your guests to open their dossiers and read the rules. Ensure that all questions have been answered & everyone understands these before progressing to the next page which contains each player's public & private profile. Allow your guests time to read these.

3) Entering Passwords & Introducing Characters

It is now time to commence the game for real. When we played this game I asked my guests to move into the Conference Room for the commencement of Round One. As they entered the room they were required to stop at the computer and enter their password and await verification before taking their seat. If you have guests who are not very familiar with ST:TNG this is probably good time to have each character introduce themselves & perhaps summarise their character (using the info in the Public Personality section of their dossier). If all your guests are ST:TNG literate then this may be a waste of time.

The Sequence of Events

Round One

Once everyone is seated at the table and some wine (or whatever you're imbibing) has been poured you can instruct the crew to turn their dossiers to Round One and commence reading. Once everyone appears to have absorbed their information the round can be started by Cpt R'ancoeur. As host you should let her/him know you want to start the round. You should also inform the crew that a Glossary of new terms peculiar to this game is available on the computer & they may like to consult it if they come across a term that is unfamiliar.

Cpt R'ancoeur will request several reports from other players. Some of the information is contained within the players' dossiers, other reports can be accessed from the Central.htm page by the relevant players. In this round R'ancoeur begins by asking Mr Data to report on the location of Cpt Picard. This is the cue for Data to report the information relating to Picard's whereabouts contained in his dossier. R'ancoeur then requests a medical report from Dr Crusher. Dr Crusher needs to access this report on the computer. She should read the report aloud. R'ancoeur then requests a report on the locator system from La Forge. He also needs to access this report on the computer. Once these reports have been read R'ancoeur should ask the crew if they have anything else of relevance to add. This is the cue for your guests to start revealing the information they have been instructed to by their dossiers. This should be done in a conversational manner. Players can quiz each other about facts they reveal, their whereabouts at certain times etc. Let this proceed until it appears that everyone has revealed all they need to and are running out of steam. Make sure that no one has anything else that they must reveal but haven't had a chance to yet before ending the round.

Serve Entree (If running the game as a full dinner party)

While eating you may continue the discussion of the information revealed in Round One if you like. This can also allow time for others to check out the reports on the computer etc.

NOTE: Once a report/clue has been accessed as part of the game (ie. someone received an instruction to do so in their dossier) this material can be viewed by anyone at any time during the game. However, reports should not be viewed prior to this.

You & your guests may like to start proposing some theories aloud or wondering about certain items of information etc.

You may like to allow your guests to begin reading Round Two in their dossiers while you clear away the entree. But allow yourself enough time to read yours too!

Round Two

Once everyone has read their Round Two information you can signal the commencement of the Round Two. Dr Navarre should begin the round by accessing a report on the computer & revealing its contents. Will & Data will also need to access computer files this round. Continue as for Round One, closing the round after ensuring that all information that should be revealed has been.

Serve Main Course

Round Three

Once everyone has read their Round Three information signal the beginning of the Round. No one in particular needs to start this round so you can just throw it open right away. Only Troi needs to access a computer report this round. This round is slightly “light on” in terms of the amount to be revealed so this is a good point to encourage some wild speculation and attempts to incorporate information from previous rounds.

Serve Dessert

Round Four

Commence Round Four when everyone is ready. Like the previous round no one in particular need start. There are no further computer reports. At the end of this round and perhaps over coffee you should encourage discussion regarding information from all rounds. The game works best when everyone really tries to solve the mystery at this point by trying to tie all the info together. It's not nearly so much fun if you just hurry right on to reading the solution. Your guests may find it easier to drop character a little at this point. Encourage your guests to review all the information available, including the computer reports, maps etc.

Serve Coffee & Tea

Allow discussion to fully run its course. This actually lasted almost an hour when we played! When the moment seems right you need to ask each of your guests to announce their best guess at the solution to the mystery and the character or characters they believe are chiefly responsible. Remind them that they may, of course, accuse themselves! When all solutions are in you can instruct your guests to turn to the solution page of their dossiers and read them to themselves. Remind your guests that this information is still secret so they shouldn't call out & should maintain a poker face.

Solution

The solutions are all numbered. When everyone has absorbed the information the solutions should be read aloud in order. As Host you must ask for “whoever has the solution numbered 1” to begin. They MUST BE READ IN ORDER. This continues until the final solution has been read.

Once the mystery is solved it is fun to post mortem the game and find out just when certain characters found out certain facts and what information was secret for the whole game etc.

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The Cast (character descriptions & photos of my guests)

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OK, you know the drill! Star Trek: The Next Generation and most of the characters in this game are copyright to Paramount Pictures. No copyright infringement is intended!

Linda Jeffery /host3.htm / linda@psy.uwa.edu.au