Disad: Sense of Duty Question - Overlapping multiple 'senses of duty'?

Qoltar · 10-23-2012, 11:55 PM

I am updating characters sheets for my GURPS STAR TREK Campaign (yes, its still going on)

Then I got to a 'Sense of Duty' issue.

There almost needs to be a 'half-step' between the 5 point and 10 point versions of "Sense of Duty" - it goes from small group to whole nation with nothing in between.

In a setting STAR TREK its reasonable to say that some characters would have a 'Sense of Duty' to the Federation that is seperate possibly than their sense of duty to their ship or shipmates (on average between 150 and 500 individuals)

Also SOME crewmembers might not have a 'sense of duty' to the ship they are posted on because they regard their ship assignment as temporary or secretly might not have respect for the captain/command crew.

In a STAR TREK campaign would it be plausible for a character to have this:

DISADVANTAGES

Code of Honor (STARFLEET) [-10]
Duty (STARFLEET) (15 or less (alomost always)) [-15]
Sense of Duty (FEDERATION/Starfleet) (Large Group) [-10]
Sense of Duty (USS COCHISE, crew of the Cochise) [-10]

What do you guys think?

- Ed C.

Blood Legend · 10-24-2012, 01:12 AM

That last one shouldn't be more than 5 points should it?

Doop, nevermind, that's what I get for not reading the whole thread.

I'd still keep it at 5 though.

whswhs · 10-24-2012, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qoltar

Sense of Duty (FEDERATION/Starfleet) (Large Group) [-10]
Sense of Duty (USS COCHISE, crew of the Cochise) [-10]

No. That's just way too much. You're giving them as many points as for SoD to the entire cosmos and every living being in it—for the Federation and one starship crew who are, in any case, part of the Federation already.

Though I'd also note that a starship crew are a small group. You could quite plausibly know every one of them on sight.

GURPS Social Engineering has some guidelines for when you take multiple SoD, on p. 43. You might find them worth a look.

Bill Stoddard

Blood Legend · 10-24-2012, 01:41 AM

I didn't consider that myself..

Come to think of it, wouldn't the first encompass the second?

Qoltar · 10-24-2012, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blood Legend

I didn't consider that myself..

Come to think of it, wouldn't the first encompass the second?

Not all the time, No.

On "VOYAGER" it could be said that many of the maquis crewmembers were loyal to the Voyager crew, but had NO 'Sense of Duty' to the Federation - at least not until certain political atitudes are changed.

When the ENTERPRISE 1701-D was under the command of Captain Jellico - Riker had a 'sense of Duty' to the Federation/Starfleet but likely felt NO 'Sense of Duty' towards Captain Jellico.

- Ed C.

gilbertocarlos · 10-24-2012, 07:38 AM

Take the most expensive.

Sense of duty to all is -20, the sum can't be more than that.

ericthered · 10-24-2012, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gilbertocarlos

Take the most expensive.

Sense of duty to all is -20, the sum can't be more than that.

At the same time, sense of duty(all life) is distinctly different from sense of duty (nazi party). Different levels have the ability to contradict each other.

As a GM, I'd review each case seperately, based on two criteria: do the duties frequently contradict, and is it dramatic when they do so. If the answer to both of these is no, then I won't allow it, and if the answer to both is yes, I'd definately allow it. Inbetween I'd have to think some more. yeah, its "meta-gaming", but I think this is the kind of thing the GM is around for.

Gold & Appel Inc · 10-24-2012, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qoltar

When the ENTERPRISE 1701-D was under the command of Captain Jellico - Riker had a 'sense of Duty' to the Federation/Starfleet but likely felt NO 'Sense of Duty' towards Captain Jellico.

My take on Riker is more CoH: Federation + SoD: Enterprise Crew. If he felt SoD-worthy obligation to the Fed as a whole, he would've just taken the damn promotion for the greater good a long time ago instead of sticking by his friends like glue (unless he secretly feels that he's not worthy, and I don't think anybody's ever accused that guy of low self esteem). He might go to great lengths to protect Jellico, but he'd give Picard the shirt off his back and be the godfather of his kids.

RyanW · 10-24-2012, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gold & Appel Inc

My take on Riker is more CoH: Federation + SoD: Enterprise Crew. If he felt SoD-worthy obligation to the Fed as a whole, he would've just taken the damn promotion for the greater good a long time ago instead of sticking by his friends like glue (unless he secretly feels that he's not worthy, and I don't think anybody's ever accused that guy of low self esteem). He might go to great lengths to protect Jellico, but he'd give Picard the shirt off his back and be the godfather of his kids.

Agreed. CoH (Officer) is adequate for Riker's commitment to service. SoD (Shipmates) is the only SoD he should really have.

Riker obeyed Jellicoe's orders without (public) question, because that's what a good officer does.

David Johnston2 · 10-24-2012, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gold & Appel Inc

My take on Riker is more CoH: Federation + SoD: Enterprise Crew. If he felt SoD-worthy obligation to the Fed as a whole, he would've just taken the damn promotion for the greater good a long time ago instead of sticking by his friends like glue (unless he secretly feels that he's not worthy, and I don't think anybody's ever accused that guy of low self esteem). He might go to great lengths to protect Jellico, \.

Although in fact he won't. Yes, Riker has SoD toward a close group, period and Jellico isn't part of that group and hence got no loyalty at all. Which helps explain why Riker's doppleganger found another group to be loyal to and had no loyalty to the Federation as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyanW

Agreed. CoH (Officer) is adequate for Riker's commitment to service. SoD (Shipmates) is the only SoD he should really have.

Riker obeyed Jellicoe's orders without (public) question, because that's what a good officer does.

HAH!

10-23-2012, 11:55 PM	#1
Qoltar Pike's Pique Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio U.S.A.	Disad: Sense of Duty Question - Overlapping multiple 'senses of duty'? I am updating characters sheets for my GURPS STAR TREK Campaign (yes, its still going on) Then I got to a 'Sense of Duty' issue. There almost needs to be a 'half-step' between the 5 point and 10 point versions of "Sense of Duty" - it goes from small group to whole nation with nothing in between. In a setting STAR TREK its reasonable to say that some characters would have a 'Sense of Duty' to the Federation that is seperate possibly than their sense of duty to their ship or shipmates (on average between 150 and 500 individuals) Also SOME crewmembers might not have a 'sense of duty' to the ship they are posted on because they regard their ship assignment as temporary or secretly might not have respect for the captain/command crew. In a STAR TREK campaign would it be plausible for a character to have this: DISADVANTAGES Code of Honor (STARFLEET) [-10] Duty (STARFLEET) (15 or less (alomost always)) [-15] Sense of Duty (FEDERATION/Starfleet) (Large Group) [-10] Sense of Duty (USS COCHISE, crew of the Cochise) [-10] What do you guys think? - Ed C. __________________ Take me out to the black Tell them I ain't comin' back Burn the land and boil the sea You can't take the sky from me.... A vote for charity: http://s3.silent-tower.org/TheKlingonVotes/index.html

10-24-2012, 01:12 AM	#2
Blood Legend Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: The Fine Line Between Black and White	Re: Disad: Sense of Duty Question - Overlapping multiple 'senses of duty'? That last one shouldn't be more than 5 points should it? Doop, nevermind, that's what I get for not reading the whole thread. I'd still keep it at 5 though. __________________ . ( )( ) -This is The Overlord Bunny o(O.o)o -Master of Bunnies O('')('') -And Destroyer of the Hasenpfeffer "This is the sort of relatively small error that destroys planetary probes." ~Bruno

10-24-2012, 01:41 AM	#4
Blood Legend Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: The Fine Line Between Black and White	Re: Disad: Sense of Duty Question - Overlapping multiple 'senses of duty'? I didn't consider that myself.. Come to think of it, wouldn't the first encompass the second? __________________ . ( )( ) -This is The Overlord Bunny o(O.o)o -Master of Bunnies O('')('') -And Destroyer of the Hasenpfeffer "This is the sort of relatively small error that destroys planetary probes." ~Bruno

10-24-2012, 07:38 AM	#6
gilbertocarlos Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Caxias do Sul, Brazil	Re: Disad: Sense of Duty Question - Overlapping multiple 'senses of duty'? Take the most expensive. Sense of duty to all is -20, the sum can't be more than that.