The Articles of Organization

a proposed constitution for STF.

Article I, Role-Playing.

Section A, Rules for Role-Playing.
STF is centered around role-playing, and as such the rules that follow -- guidelines for conduct in RPG situations -- might be the most important in this document.

p1. What's Written Is True.: Most STF RPGs are led and guided by a Game Master (GM), who sets the stage, announces new events, and provides plot twists. During RPGs STF members are expected to take what the GM says as true, as "what really happened." Additionally, the members of the crew are sometimes (or, in Self-RPGs, always) required to state what they are seeing, doing, hearing, or thinking. Accept all of this as true as well.
p2. Character is Important.: STF RPGers should stay in character at all times. This means that crewmen must remain true to the age, race, and gender that they have selected, among other things.
p3. Natural Laws Apply.: Because STF deals in science-fiction, not fantasy, the laws of physics (and, to a lesser extent, the laws of probability) apply.
p4. Obey Authority.: All members are expected to act in manners befitting "real" Starfleet officers, especially in their conduct towards superior officers and civilians. Disobediance of Authority is grounds for demotion or dismissal from the club.
p5. Post Often.: STF asks its members to contribute to the RPG by posting often. Officers who sign up for a job but then slip into inactivity without resigning are labeled "AWOL" (for Absent WithOut Leave) and taken off the ship's roster so a new officer can be assigned. Each individual fleet sets its own standard for activity.
p6. Have Fun.: Don't take every comment seriously, even if it appears so. Don't take offense easily. STF hopes to provide a very laid-back atmosphere, so try to keep a carefree attitude during your tenure with us.

Section B, Characters.
This section describes how to create a character, and other characters you may encounter.

p1. Character Limitations.: All STF members are required to use an RPG character. Since most of the membership are not members of Starfleet in real life, the RPG character cannot be the same person as the real member. However, there is a great deal of lenience in options relating to character creation. Each character's species must, however, be plausible -- no supermen or Qs. Your character must also be believable for a Starfleet officer. The Commanding Officer and the GameMaster are the final arbiters of the acceptability of a character.
p2. Your Character's BIO.: It is suggested that a BIO (Biographical Information Overview) be prepared for each of your RPG characters. Often COs and GMs request a BIO when a character first joins (even though it's not constitutionally required). It's good to have this information handy when roleplaying; A BIO consists of the character's name, rank, position, species, gender, and anything else the member finds relevant, such as service records or back stories.
p3. Multiple Characters.: Each STF Roleplaying character can only be in one place at a time. The same requirement does not extend to members, however; the number of roleplaying jobs that a member can hold is limited only by that member's ability to perform adequately in each. If a member holds more than one RPG post, however, it is required that he create for each job a new character with a different name.
p4. Non-Player Characters.: Menial jobs such as Flight Control, Security Ensign, and Transporter Operator are not staffed full-time by STF members, but during certain times in certain RPGs it becomes necessary to have some STF member "act" as one of these people. The term Non-Player Character (NPC) describes these officers, often called "Nameless Ensigns." Any member may "control" any number (any plausible number) of NPCs. It is suggested that a Department Head with no "dash-one" should have an NPC as his assistant.
p5. GameMasters and Self-RPGs.: There are two varieties of RPG: RPGs, and Self-RPGs. GameMasters are a phenomenon specific to normal RPGs. In a normal RPG, the GameMaster describes the situation and sets the stage. If an officer looks in a cave, the GameMaster tells that officer what he sees. The GameMaster also throws in plot twists, like alien attacks. In a self-RPG, all the characters act as GameMasters, describing what they see and occasionally throwing in plot twists of their own. Self-RPGs are recommended for experienced crews only.
p6. Where Do I Use My RPG Character?: The RPG Character is used in RPGs only. In matters relating to club government, real names are used (although the rank of that member's highest-ranked RPG Character is generally added to the real name). In OOC areas, it is generally the member's choice whether to use real or RPG names.

Section C, RPG vs. OOC Areas.
Because STF is a club of friendmaking as well as a club of Roleplaying, certain areas of the club are designated as "non-RPG" areas. This section serves as an introduction to the "physical layout" of the club.

p1. Government Areas.: STF Government areas are non-RPG areas. Ranks don't carry any weight -- members may sign off with their ranks, but no orders are given on the basis of rank. No ranks are associated with any Club Government positions, with the exception of Fleet Admiral and Vice-Fleet Admiral for the Prez and Veep. Even those two ranks, however, are only used within an RPG context. Anyone is free to visit the Government areas (they are open to the public) but members are asked to keep their comments on-topic and not create unnecessary subjects or post unnecessary notes.
p2. O.T. or OOC Areas.: STF "Off-Topic" or "Out-of-Character" areas are also non-RPG. Here members may "own" a "bar" or any other gathering spot. Contrary to the Government area, useless subject creation is actually encouraged in the O.T., although not-so-useless discussion areas ranging from politics to Deep Space Nine and beyond are encouraged also.
p3. Fleet Command Areas.: The Command subjects in the fleets are where the Fleet Commander's office and other "local" offices are. These offices are generally located on the flagship or primary starbase of the fleet, which may or may not also be an active ship itself. In these subjects, rank does not matter except when orders are being given to a ship's crew in an RPG context.
p4. Ship RPG Areas.: Subjects such as the Bridge, Brig, Main Engineering, Landing Party areas, and Sickbay are all official RPG areas where Starfleet behavior is expected. A few jokes are also expected -- this is a club of friends, after all -- but overkill is bad taste.
p5. Ship O.T. Areas.: Subjects with odd names -- "XO's Hot Tub" and others in that pattern -- are most likely Off-Topic; Some ships differentiate between the OT and RPG areas through use of hyphens or extra spaces. In these areas, just be yourself. Jokes are expected in excess here.
p6. Ship O.T. & RPG Areas.: Some subjects seem to be both OT and RPG at the same time: Ten-Forward, Crew Quarters, Rec Room, and others. Use the behavior of others as a barometer, on a thread-by-thread basis. One note may be a serious chat between the CO and an alien delegation in Ten-Forward; the next may be a Jello (Jell-O) fight.