Starfleet Masters Degree Programs

[Dumbass 0]

It's great to see that the training sims have taken off, but I do have a concern that those who have already graduated are hogging the rooms and using their skills to outshine the Cadets - possibly even delaying their graduation because it's harder to get noticed.

 

I'm guilty of this as well.  I've been CO for a couple Academy sims including one where I became CO after relieving Atragon of duty.  (Gosh that was fun!)  It is a good way to improve command abilities, and it makes sense for the CO to be an advanced simmer so the sim is productive, but other high-profile roles should go to the Cadets so they can get noticed.  Right now those roles are going to Ensigns and LtJGs who don't really need them.  (We're not pulling rank, it just seems to be luck of the draw.)  There needs to be an outlet for Academy graduates to build their skills (other than on their permenant ships) without disrupting the training of the Cadets the Academy sims are designed for.  

 

With the new rooms on the way are there any plans for a sort of Bridge Officer's Test or Advanced Tactical Training or Engineering Extention courses that have been referred to in different episodes?  We could even take our "diplomas" to our COs and say "Look, I have this training, maybe we should consider a transfer or a promotion" or something.

[ens_loami 0]

This is a pretty good idea... I have noticed that a lot of academy sims have had the chief positions taken up by ensigns/lt's ... of course, there is an advantage to that... it's a lot easier for a first time simmer to have some small part as an AENG or ASCI then be thrust into a command position (possibly with a much more experienced simmer as a subordinate!) having to keep track of what everyone else is doing... but, after 1-2 sims, all cadets do deserve to "shine" in chief positions, and of course, get corrected by the AENG who's the chief engineer on you-name-the-starship.  :)

of course, then, there were the academy sims when there were 8 ensigns and 2 cadets, but that's a different story...

 

Which brings us back to the idea of "extention courses"... There would have to be something differentiating them from academies... or from free sims that happen to have ... we've already ranked and it's up to our advanced-sim CO's whether they want to promote us or not... so they can't dangle a promotion at us.  And I don't know how CO-GM's would like an official method for reminding them of all the letters after your name.  

 

I can envision something like a engineering extention where the GM/temporary commander is the CENG, and everyone else is an AENG -- it would help us all have fun and improve our technobabble, if nothing else... or a security extention with a similar type of limited chain of command where the simmers are all security officers ... and so on for any department

[Cmdr Laura Issia 0]

Personally, I like have the graduates in my Academies, because it gives the brand-new players a role model.  I mean, it's all very well and good to tell Cdt. Fresh-off-the-farm that s/he needs to keep busy when the department isn't involved in the thick of things; it's another to have him/her see all of the ways an advanced player uses to keep busy, other than the endless ::runs diagnostics:: routine.   As for advanced simmers getting the "glory" roles... except for the MCO/MXO roles, which for obvious reasons should have some practice behind them, I tend to give preference to cadets for the dept. head roles.

 

One thing I would like to see is cadets making it a habit to attend the same academy each week.  If it's the first time I've seen you, then trust me, the only way you're getting promoted is if I've been hearing rave reviews about you from everyone I know, or if you're so good I completely forget it's the first time I've seen you.  In... ::pauses, counts on fingers:: Ulp. ...nearly a decade of simming, some as a player, some as a host, guess how many times I've seen someone that good?   On the other hand, the second, third, or fourth time I see you...  That's my personal take on it.  I've seen people I really disliked simming with in various groups I've played with, have really on days where they just rocked... but the next time the sim met, it was back to the less-than-mediocre routine.  So I'm leery of 'fluke' nights.  

 

All this is not to say you can't/shouldn't go to multiple academies, just that attending one every night of the week usually isn't as good as attending the same one every week for a month.  And it seems to me that lately I've been seeing a string of one-shot cadets coming through the academy.   And yes, they do tend to get a bit lost amongst the shuffle of names we know, be they graduate or returning cadet.  That's what chat logs are for, though.  :)

 

Bah, that was longer than I meant it to be.  And I removed a paragraph, at that.     ::o:  

 

So I'll shut up, but first I have one question... what sort of format would such an advanced training course take? If it's just another sim, then how is it differnent from the advanced ships? And what's wrong with practicing on the advanced ships? ::spares you the "in my day" lecture::

 

-Laura,

She-Who-Is-Long-Winded

[Atragon9 0]

Yes, as Laura mentioned, it's good to have a few new Ensigns, etc. in the room but not have them choking up the Dept head slots.  In my experience with the newly graduated of STSF, that's never been a problem.  Many will PM me with "put me wherever you need me, I'm just here to have fun," and that's a great attitude!!  I will always give preference to a cadet who is showing genuine interest in a particualr post.

 

As for "Advanced Academies" or whatever you would call them, I think this is a great idea... but not now.  STSF currently has four training academies and we are working on bringing in some new GMs (everyone notice stsf_dacotah, going through GM training?) and setting up some more academies.  That has to be our first priority for now.  

 

I'm sure the Advanced sim COs and XOs are aware of a player's skills, eagerness to excell and commitment to the sim.  It is ultimately up to them to decide when someone on their crew gets a promotion, whether they go to a Graduate Academy or not.  Therefore, this kind of extra training may help the player get promoted or it may just help them play better, but there is no way to know for sure.

 

My 2¢

 

Atragon-9

STSF Forum Leader

CO (the one with the hair) - USS Manticore

[STSF Precip 0]

Vanroy brings up a darn good point. Do I as a graduate...hog up space in academy sims?

 

It seems by the replies...that this is not the case. I generally send a PM saying anywhere but sickbay (cuz..I feel...I'd sim lousy as a CMO..I just dont know Star Trek Medicine).

 

Nonetheless based on Vanroy's observation, I'll stick to my sim-anywhere PM and won't beg for a Tactical position in the future.

 

As for advanced courses...the idea is intriguing..and I have no idea how one would do it.

 

Just a thought though..

An advanced sim...not based on sim arcs like the others..but a one night only story...that would be darn challenging to pull off! Talk about zero tolerance for deviating from the GMs! aye caramba!

 

But I must defer to the obvious, more academys and GMs are needed on different days...and it appears the STSF is working towards that Goal.

 

Precip

[Garnoopy 0]

Well, I see Vanroy's point, and I agree, the last thing I wanna do is hog the chief posts or anything.

 

Thats why about 2 weeks ago I just started telling the GM's, put me anywhere you need me. I do truthefully love to sim, and it's only once and a while I'll go "I'll take any post except..." and I only do taht when I'm like getting the same post over and over, hehehe.

 

I also agree with Precip, more GM's are needed and as A9 said, I can see that they are trying to get more.

 

However, when I get posts liek CSCI or CENG I always try to work with my assistants when I get them. I always ask for imput, and get them to analyze things, always trying to make sure they are apart of the sim and have says. Sometimes they tell me things I wouldn't have said, but they are an officer, and I always listen unless of cource they are telling me something absolutely insane and out of the question.   :)  

 

Well, thats my tidbit.

[Dumbass 0]

It would be easy to have some kind of "Bridge Officer Test" or "Command School", just put an Academy graduate in the CO chair (like Lt. Savik in The Wrath of Kahn).  Most GMs do this and it seems to work.  I admit the other schools might be hard to coordinate.  Maybe we couldn't do it as a traditional sim alone and would have to use other evaluation methods - tests, papers, research, etc - but I think the interest is there.  Admittance standards would be something to think about, and we might have to have a ship CO recommend or authorize the training, but I think it's doable with a little work.  Just apoint a topic coordinator and have them put together a training program.

 

In the business world a 4-year degree and work experience isn't seen as a big enough commitment to continued learning, but advanced degrees, seminars, and professional certifications are.  Most employers are happy to pay for this because it increases the employee's worth to them.  The real military has similar programs - for enlisted as well as officers.  You just don't graduate basic training or college and that's it.  If you're promoted based on technical competence you will need the leadership skills to back it up and vice~verse.  I'm pretty sure the "real" Starfleet operates the same way and we should be emulating that as an example.

[Guest LtCdr Dacotah]

(everyone notice stsf_dacotah, going through GM training?)

 

  Plueeeeze, How can anyone NOT notice me??  ::dies laughing and goes back to polishing her *trainee* nametag, and admires her new [very non starfleet reg] boots:: New job, of course, means a new pair of shoes ... naturally I don't have to explain that to anyone   ::):

 

Dac

[ens_loami 0]

 Maybe we couldn't do it as a traditional sim alone and would have to use other evaluation methods - tests, papers, research, etc - but I think the interest is there.  Admittance standards would be something to think about, and we might have to have a ship CO recommend or authorize the training, but I think it's doable with a little work.  

Tests? Papers? Research? I have enough of these in real life, do I need them for sims too?  :)

 

I like the idea of advanced academies, continuing ed or whatever we want to call it, but, let's remember -- this is a sim we're talking about here.

[Atragon9 0]

I like the idea of advanced academies, continuing ed or whatever we want to call it, but, let's remember -- this is a sim we're talking about here.

BLASPHEMY!!!!

 

Heh-heh, yupyup, you nailed it!

 

Depending on the player interest and GM availability, we will definitely look into an "Advanced Academy."  In the meantime, you should talk to your sim's GMs and see what they would like from you to show your In Character advancement.  Maybe a detailed log or two about a seminar in advanced hypo-thermic, level 3, dual checksum technobable.  Maybe something you would do during a sim, depending on the main actions going on around you.  Maybe just some cookies in the mail to your GM's RL address (I'm kidding on that one).

[Anandraj Singh 0]

I would fully support an advanced training sim, i might even join it if i ever manage to Graduate just for the distraction, since i wont be getting a position on a ship. :)

[Travis Kroells 0]

Well I for one happen to like Vanroys idea about the "advanced academy" sims if not to get promotions then to have things go faster.  I hate to say this but when I am in a sim it some times takes five minutes to say do a scan or raise shields.  This is not a bad thing do to the fact that there is a lot of chat trafic and the new cadets can get confused easily (god knows i did) but if there were a sim with just us graduates it could move a lot faster and have more plot.  One of the things I realy dislike about the academies is that we are always left with a clifhanger that wont be resolved.

[Webmaster 20]

One thing I (and several other hosts) have done in the past with other Academy SIMs is just have it continue with the same plotline each week.  When we start each week, the CO would give a brief run-down as to what was happening and the major events.  That way the folks who were not there the previous week are not confused as to what is happening.  It also encourages cadets to show up for multiple weeks.

 

Who knows...  just something to think about.

[Cmdr Laura Issia 0]

That works.... sometimes. :o  And then there are the plots that took a left turn somewhere out by Saturn and have since become so twisted you're not sure you could explain it to an experienced simmer...   ::):  I'd rather run plots for multiple weeks, since it would allow the Academy to slow down and give everyone a chance to breathe.   I think that'd make things less confusing for the new player.  But, at the same time, you have to have decent stopping points in the plot where you can bring in new players.  End a sim in the middle of a battle, ok.  Pause in the middle of one, not so good.   Tough to lay it out so that you reach stopping points at the end of the hour.

[trekkie45 0]

so any ways i would also like to see some of the academies start a little earlier because some people have school and work in the morning

[VileRomulan 0]

umm, trekkie, the times posted are kinda permanent because some GM's can't get on any earlier, you see, some of our GM's are old farts who have jobs and other work to do before they can do nething, so the times there are convenient for alotta people, heck, I got school and I still get the 7 hours of sleep needed, try rearranging your schedule a bit :)

[VileRomulan 0]

some GM's can't get on any earlier, some GM's are old farts

I mean't no offense to you A9, sorry

[HyperDrive 0]

Perhaps something like an "Elite Force" for the Academy graduates. Perhaps, in some of the Academy sims that are really full of people (both graduates and beginners both), the GM could make a group of only graduates to form an "Elite Force" and leave the ship on another mission, periodically checking back in on the ship. This would also leave the beginners as Acting Chief in whatever department they are in.

 

hehehe - Just my little idea. :)

[Atragon9 0]

some GM's can't get on any earlier, some GM's are old farts

I mean't no offense to you A9, sorry

::Just sighs and walks away, muttering::  His time will come...

[trekkie45 0]

i missed out on why everyone makes fun of a9 is he really THAT old or do people say that???? i'm confused  ???

[VileRomulan 0]

yes trekkie, he is THAT old, that 9 stands for how many decades he's been alive, juss don't ask him about that, you'll make him mad

[Travis Kroells 0]

::Just sighs and walks away, muttering::  His time will come...

oui someones made fun of a9's old age...not to be a brown noser but wisdom comes with old age...so what im realy asking is.  A9 can I be there when you burn him to a pulp? :nod:

[Atragon9 0]

oui someones made fun of a9's old age.

And someone else decided that I'm bald.  Not sure where that came from, as I'm not bald, but it's better than being called ugly or stupid or fat or short or having bad breath or three eyes or fangs or... or... or...  (By the way, no one can now use these about me, now that I have - So There!)

 

::sigh::

[trekkie45 0]

hey a9 your a super admin use your power  :;):  i'm just kidding

[FredM 0]

And someone else decided that I'm bald.  Not sure where that came from,

Hey there,

 

I called you that. You are bald and you know it! I've met you in person and your bald! Bald! Bald! Your wig is worse than...um....Robert's!  ;)