The Pioneer Six - Session 0 - Part II
Posted on Thu Jul 9th, 2026 @ 7:28am by Commodore Tyler Malbrooke & Lieutenant Junior Grade Rachel Sinclair & Ensign Connor Turner & Ensign Millicent Ambrose & Petty Officer 1st Class Kaylara Loran & Lieutenant Junior Grade Stefan Zamfir & Sergeant Tyrigus Fry
Edited on on Thu Jul 9th, 2026 @ 11:02am
2,842 words; about a 14 minute read
Mission:
Episode 18 - The Edge of Darkness
Location: The Quarters of Conor Turner - Deck 3 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD003 2030 hrs
Connor looked over at Rachel, who seemed as nervous as he was talking to her. He met her eyes only for an instant and then looked abruptly away. "But what would be fun for you, Rachel?" he encouraged.
Rachel gave Connor a nervous shrug, “I don’t know. Um…I guess adventure? Finding fun and strange creatures?”
After hearing everyone's story ideas, Connor said, "OK. After hearing everyone's ideas for a story, I have a good idea now of how I'm going to structure the game. Now, let's talk characters. I'm going to try and simply things for anyone who is new here. The basic races are humans, elves, half-elves, dwarves, and gnomes. The basic classes are fighter, paladin, wizard, sorcerer, rogue, cleric, and druid. I can explain any of these if you need assistance."
Kaylara looked at Stefan with a raised eyebrow. "Elf or half elf Ranger, then?" He already knew what he wanted to play, and based on the explanation he gave her earlier, thought that might be easiest for her to play.
"I think that I heard that Tyr wants to be a barbarian and Tyler a dwarven paladin and Stefan either a fighter or barbarian," Connor confirmed. "We're a bit fighter heavy," Connor mused. "I might suggest that some of you round out with some sort of casters."
“Um, is a Druid a caster?” Rachel asked, looking at the class on her PADD. “It looks kinda cool”
A spell flinger and they were short.
"You know on second thought, I can play, a magic user, And perhaps, Kaylara could play the rogue or, as she had stated, A ranger."
Kaylara nodded. "I can do both, right?"
Millie looked at Rachel. "I can help you with the magic system there. Okay?" It wasn't lost on her how nervous Rachel was.
"It is up to you," Connor answered, looking over Rachel's shoulder. "Druids are cool because they can wild shape and do some healing, but for magic users there are at least wizards, sorcerers, and warlocks. It would just depend on how you wanted to cast magic and how much variety you would like in choosing spells."
He quietly confided to her, "I myself, like to play wizards when I can. Nothing feels better than a lightning bolt or fireball torching your enemies." When he revealed that, he lightly blushed and looked firmly in his PADD, cleared his throat and asked, "So, Tyr, you wanted to be a barbarian, I assume a human one? And Kaylara, what sort of elf or half-elf?"
Rachel looked up at Connor then back down to her PADD, looking up the wizard class. It looked so complicated with the vast number of spells it could use, but the idea of throwing spells around did sound like fun.
"Connor, what do you think of Kaylara playing a combination of ranger/rogue? Would give her a variety of possibilities." Millie queried.
Connor shrugged. "That's fine but of course the multiclass can't start until she advances. It is all a matter of what Kaylara wants to do."
"Multiclass is usually hard to play for a first time player. It is better to play a standard class until you get the feel of things." Tyler spoke while still writing out his character. He used a pencil and character sheet. For him there was still something to be said about the old ways when it came to role playing.
Crunching through his first crust, Tyr snagged a PADD and another slice, to which he added even more hot sauce as he brought up a program that gave options for races. "I dunno. Human is kinda plain. What's a bugbear? They look kinda cool."
"Bugbears are monsters and I will not be permitting them to be used as player characters for this campaign," Connor replied definitively to Tyr. "As we will be carving an epic tale where you all are to become heroes, meeting by chance, it would be best to stick to the basics of humans, elves, dwarves, halfings, and half-elves. If you can justify something else, I'll listen." He took a beer, opened it, and took a large gulp.
"Why is it difficult to play a multi-class?" Kaylara asked. "It seems simple enough--after first level, that is. It's just a matter of keeping track of your skill sets and knowing when to do what, right?"
"True," Connor answered. "However, there are often restrictions, as well. For example, if you choose a spell caster type and a martial type, you cannot cast as many spells and you may have armor restrictions, as well." He shrugged apologetically. "I'll certainly give as much tutoring as I can so you can feel comfortable with whatever you characters can do, but often times it is best to learn by doing."
"Sounds good," Kaylara replied. "If I remember what I read, rangers and rogues work well as a multi-class. But I have to start with one at first level. So, I'll wait to see what everyone else decides before picking one of the two to start with. But, since I'm half Romulan, I think I'll go with half elf."
Connor opened his mouth and then closed it, when he heard Kaylara's explanation for choosing half-elf. He could not really argue the logic. It made sense for someone to play something close to themselves but to consider a Romulan as a half-elf was not something that had ever crossed his mind.
Reading through the options on his PADD, Tyr finished chewing his latest mouthful. Swallowed. And asked, "Huh. Halfling headhunter barbarian?"
Connor's lips pressed together. A halfling was well within the rules he set, but he had to ask, "Headhunter?"
"Sure," Tyr said easily, looking up as his fingers moved on the PADD. "I mean, little guy would have to be kinda pure savage to survive. Be out to prove himself to his tribe and trophies prove just how epic he'd try to be."
"Um, not really. Halflings are generally seen as rather harmless creatures." Connor shook his head at Tyr. He was going to be a problem child, wasn't he? "You might want to read or watch holos on the Lord of the Rings. Halflings are called Hobbits there. It might give you an idea of how they're generally viewed."
He sighed lightly and continued, "That is not to say that your character can't be that, but you might want to consider how well that would work in building party chemistry, especially given that the Cap, er, Tyler, is playing a paladin."
Tyr felt his brain chilling toward Connor and if it wasn't for Millie, he'd probably beg off. He was tempted to ask the turd peddling dick weed what character Tyr should play. Chewing on the inside of his cheek lightly, the marine shrugged and said, "The drop downs for halfing barbarian-berserker looked workable, by the rules. Guess I'd better wait to see what everyone else comes up with and see if I get a better idea."
Connor replied pleasantly, "Right, then. No worries." What does Millie see in this git?
Milie looked at Connor. "Uh... I've not played passive halflings, I've played fighters, thieves. and even magic users. so... what's wrong with having a creative twist."
Connor thought to himself, She has it bad. Blindly just defending him? If that's how a relationship is supposed to work, then I'm glad I am not in one. I'll stick to the computers. He kept himself composed as he told Millie, "There is nothing wrong with having a creative twist. My concern is that if we are going to have an epic tale where we're going to save the world, that a headhunter may not fit well with other heroic characters. Mind you, I don't think you heard me say 'no,' to him. Just asked to consider his choice for party unity."
Millie had a slight frown, "No you didn't but..." she just shook her head. she was going to keep her cool right now.
Stefan noticed that Tyler was working on an actual character sheet gave a bit of a smile,
During the discussion of characters, Millie also noticed Tyler working on a character sheet, then her eyes were drawn towards his tankard, which she thought was wonderful.
"Tyler, I just noticed your tankard and I love it." Millie offering a friendly smile. "And an actual character sheet."
Millie thought to herself, she'll have to make sometime to go talk with the Commodore about his experience in D&D.
She looked over towards Connor, "I'd like to get some character sheets made up for the rest of the table. If you don't mind since its your quarters along with pencils."
Connor looked at Millie like she had two heads. "I don't mind but you don't want to create your character on a PADD? Have it computer handy?" Blinking several times and still stunned, he told Millie, "Um, I suppose if you want to be retro, then you can replicate some pencils and character sheets."
Kaylara didn't care if she used a pencil and paper or a PADD. Whatever would be easiest for her to work with.
"Um I do like what you call retro, just being able to have the pencil in hand and writing things out, it is pleasing to me. And there is a certain satisfaction of just doing the work instead of punching everything on a min computer. Well to me that is." Millie getting up and walking over to the replicator to get some pencils, and character sheets. Oh and can't forget the dice. Those even felt fun when she used to roll her own.
"Anybody want some dice as well?" Her dice were purple with gold sparkles in them.
Connor looked at the purple dice with the gold sparkles. Those dice had Millie's personality and color written all over them. He gave her a knowing smile. "Dice are traditional," Connor admitted. He liked the feel of dice and had his own sets. "However, you are all welcome to use a visible die generator, as well."
Looking up from his PADD, Tyr took another big bite of hot sauce covered pizza. Chewed then met Millie's eyes. "Dice? Do I need some or just share?"
Kaylara turned to Stefan. "Do I need dice?"
Tyler jumped in. "Often people want their own dice to reflect their personality or their character's personality. However, if you would like I have a large supply and can loan you some from my personal collection."
Connor agreed with a sage nod. "When I get the opportunities to play, each of my character's that I've played have had their own set of dice." Superstitiously and with a slightly spooky tone he continued, "And never mix the dice. Never use the dice for a different character. They won't work. They get angry."
Millie gave a bit of a smile to both Tyr and Kaylara. She answered Tyr, "We could share dice, Tyr, but, there is that feeling of owning your own set of dice, and I feel at times the dice can become attuned to the person. I know it may sound corny but its how I feel."
"Borrow for now, then I'll look at dice for next time," Tyr said, smiling at Millie. He looked around the group, then back at his PADD, sifting through information. "Halfling barbarian..." Then he grinned as he brought up a pair of entries. "Path of the totem warrior or Zealot look fun."
Rachel’s attention was fully focused on her PADD, reading through everything she could on the Wizard class. Trying to figure out what race would make for the best match. She didn’t want to create a character that would be a burden to the party and make the game less fun, and all the talk about dice and character sheets was starting to confuse her. It felt like studying for the entrance exam again.
A thoughtful expression appeared. "You know why not come over and choose the color of your dice. And can have it look like stone or crystal that sort of thing."
Stefan in turn looked at Kaylara, "I'd say, as what Millie had mentioned and the others." glancing over towards Connor and Tyler.
"Having your own set of dice for your first time of play, is very good. And I suggest also, go request the dice this way you can be the first one to touch them."
He thought of what he would be getting dice wise. He would be getting some dice, which would look like green gemstones with gold numbers. Stefan recalling his first time choosing dice.
Kaylara went over to Stefan and looked at the choices. "Crystal dice. Blood red with bioluminescent numbers." She raised an eyebrow. "Good enough?"
Connor looked over at Kaylara, gulped, and immediately looked down at his PADD. "Yep. Fine." Is she trying to be scary or is she just naturally so?
Tyler leaned back in his chair with a broad smile. "Vendesh Holderheck is done. He wields a Dwarven Urgosh. I am so looking forward to this."
Connor looked at the Commodore. He looked like the most eager teenager that ever existed. Who would have guessed that he was a closet geek? "Well, I'm glad to hear that. Maybe you can help out some of the other new folks? I'll check all the character sheets between this session and next and probably meet with some of you before the first session."
Character sheets. Kaylara looked at Stefan and raised an eyebrow. That was something else to work out. Here or after. "Do I need more than a race, name, and class now?"
Rachel was staring to feel overwhelmed, everyone seemed to know what they were doing, and here she was completely lost. She looked at Connor and Millie, hoping for help, but everyone seemed so busy already, so instead she sat there taking in deep breaths and continued her research.
Connor tried to look at Rachel to see how she was doing. He caught enough to see her looking panicked, but could not bear to look at her long and found her PADD more interesting. He told her reassuringly, "Just, get some ideas, Rachel, and we can work on it more later."
Responding to Kaylara and Rachel, Connor continued, "Tonight is about ideas. If something doesn't work, you can change it for next time. No worries, right?" He flashed what he hoped was a smile and looked over the group.
Nodding in agreement, Millie was planning on helping out Rachel to figure out a character, away from the table in a more quiet atmosphere.
Tyler looked at Connor. "I would be happy to. Who wants to make a sheet? Making characters is some of the most fun in playing." When no one seemed to be interested in taking him up on his offer, Tyler thought that joining in on the game may have been a bad idea. He simply wanted to be one of the gang as it were. He smiled. "Listen, I am just a player like all of you. Connor runs this bridge as it were. Just like on the bridge we are all in this together. So, Kaylara lets get to work." Tyler moved over toward where she sat and started the character creation process.
Kaylara was grateful for the help. Stefan still had to create his own character and the captain--Tyler for the game--was ahead of all of them. "Thanks. I want to be a half elf Ranger. But I'm not sure what to do after that. So, suggestions are welcome."
Connor blinked twice and looked in the Captain's direction with some sense of fear and awe. I'm the Captain? I never thought of it like that. Oh, God! Now I have to perform even better than before!
A Joint Post By
Ensign Millicent Ambrose
Engineering Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Stefan Zamfir
Assistant Chief Intelligence Officer, USS Pioneer
Commodore Tyler Malbrooke
Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer
Sergeant Tyrigus Fry
Rifleman, Team 1, The Cure
USS Pioneer
Ensign Connor Turner
Computer Systems Specialist, USS Pioneer
Petty Officer First Class Kaylara Loran
Data Systems Analyst, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Junior Grade Rachel Sinclair
Assistant Chief Security/Tactical Officer, USS Pioneer
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