I rewatched the new Star Trek the other night and thought about the old game campaign I’d run and the possibility of a new one.  What would I change?  Would I use the new movie background or no?

A new Star Trek campaign for me would have to combine the trappings of both, I think.  I much, much prefer the old movie Enterprise to the misshapen thing they stuck on screen in the new movie, but the Apple Store interior, with some work, would be alright.  The hyperkinetic warp drive with the Earth-Vulcan travel times of a few minutes seems a bit extreme to me, as does the aerobatic maneuverings of Big E…this is a monstrous large ship.  She’s not going to be competing in the Red Bull Space Races anytime soon…

I like the new movie’s offhanded comments that suggest the new universe is much more dangerous.  The main fleet is massed somewhere…why?  Are they at war?  The fleet is described as a peacekeeping and exploration fleet.  Peacekeeping was one of their missions, but rarely mentioned as their main (although that was obvious) mission.   They promote a cadet to captain!?!  How friggin’ high is attrition in this universe, when captains are just turning their craft over to junior officers whenever the going gets tough?  Note the ships are more heavily armed, bigger, and faster…

I’d keep the idea of the galaxy being a much, much more dangerous place…not just due to combat, but the critters and situations run across.  I’d keep the larger ships, I think.

What I would keep from the old shows:  I like the racist, hypocritcal Vulcans.  This was a trope from Enterprise I really liked.  The Andorians with moving antennae from the show… keepers!

What I think needs added:  what, exactly, is the Federation?  Is it a collection of worlds/nations that act in concert but have internal sovereignty — like the early United States or the European Union, or is it an alliance, like NATO or even the UN?  I would go with something akin to the early US, with states having a level of internal autonomy (to preserve their cultures, etc.), but subscribing to certain set laws and principles.

What kind of economy does it have?  Is it a socialist utopia like the Next Generation envisioned, or do people actually work for a living?  And why would they?  Is there a population problem?  With space open, why worry about breeding restraints?  Would “protest” societies be out there — fringe groups looking to preserve their Celtic/Native America/whathaveyou culture, or groups looking to avoid the Federation “monoculture?”  What is the status of Starfleet in the Federation — do they meet with suspicion (as in the initial episodes of the original series), or are they viewed with pride? (as in the later series.)

What needs to be tossed off (in my opinion):  the World War III thing.  It was the standard future event in Cold War science fiction…I think it’s a bit worn now.  The Eugenics War is intriguing, and could be rescued, complete with Khan’s Central Asia Empire — replacing WW3 as the main event.  Perhaps throw in some AI troubles to cause the Federation to avoid strong AI usage, and you placate the transhumanists in your group.

I think my best bet is an alternate universe, free of the “canon” nonsense that trekkies are so prone to, and not constrained by some of the Star Wars-ishness of Abrams’ vision, but using trappings from both.