new to this

[Counselor Emiliana 0]

how do I start SIMming? I have to go to a Academy Chat, right? Just wondering. How long does it take [approximately] for me to graduate from the Starfleet Academy?

Thank you   :)

[LoAmi 0]

Hello and welcome to STSF.  

 

Most of the information you need to get started is, conveniently, in the "Getting started" section (you can get to it via the main stsf.net page) and the schedule (you can just click the "schedule" button right below the "Star Trek Simulation Forum" logo on top of the screen).  Graduation from the academy takes a variable amount of time.  Although the minimum is 3 academy sims, few people get promoted after that short of a time.  A few ways to hasten graduation: (1) follow all the instructions from the GMs (game masters) (2) Show up regularly at academies run by the same GMs - they'll get to know you faster.

 

Have fun!

[Garnoopy 0]

Yes, yes, Welcome!

 

To begin your Academy training just show up at an Academy sim, and the GM's will note you are there.

 

Loami gave most of the info already about where to find info on STSF.net, so I won't repeat, and he also gave most of the info on how long it takes to graduate! Alas, I have but one thing to add.

 

Feel free to ask questions. A lot of people tend to not ask a question because they feel silly that they don't know the answer, but don't do this. You'll save yourself embarressment and learn to sim faster and better if you ask that question you need to ask. And if you don't want to publically post your question, just send someone a message from the STSF.net boards, I know I'm personally always willing to help a new simmer by answer any questions I can.

[Guest STSF Dacotah]

Amen to that Garnoopy!  YES, ask questions! That is why we are here, to make your simming time more fun!  What fun is it to be confused by procedure or protocol?  Ask ask ask!  Look forward to seeing at the Academies!  Okay, time to go roast marshmellows -- gosh, I love Arizona in March :)  

 

Dac

[Dumbass 0]

Okay, time to go roast marshmellows -- gosh, I love Arizona in March :P  

Mmm, Burning Man!  That and Madri Gras are two things I want to do while I'm still young!  Running with the bulls in Spain would be cool too, but unrealistic. :)

[Counselor Emiliana 0]

Thanks everyone! i hope to be at the chat at 11:00 today!  :)

[Romulan Commander 0]

To tell you howlong it takes some people to graduate, I saw some graduate in 3-5 weeks. And for me, I still havent graduate, and this is my 3rd try in that 60 day thing. Or somthing around that amout.

 

May the force... no, no wrong movie. Live long and prosper

[Dumbass 0]

Precip, Garnoopy, and myself were the first STSF graduates.  It wasn't very well organized back then, and it took us about 5-6 weeks of CONSTANT simming to do it.  I even had to write a nastygram to A9 about it. (Actually I wrote it to the GMs as a group but A9 responded.)

 

Now, however, it can take as little as a week.  This is VERY rare, but it has happened at least once that I know of.

 

Then again there are some who were cadets when I was a cadet and they're STILL cadets.

[Romulan Commander 0]

how can you be an STSF if you are only an Ensign.

[LtCdrGromVik 0]

Then again there are some who were cadets when I was a cadet and they're STILL cadets.

Hey there,

 

 It really has nothing to do with the amount of time spent in the academy.  The academy is designed to train simmers and prepare them for advanced sims, which are quite different than the academy sims.  GMs have the responsibility to make sure cadets meet the basic simming requirements before they graduate.  This is the purpose for academies afterall.  A GM is never forced to graduate anyone, however, effort by the cadet to learn and apply basic simming principles I guarantee does not go unoticed.  Extra weeks in the academy work only for the player's benefit. :)  I advise any cadet to heck out the "Help" section for valuable graduating information.

 

Hope this helps,

[HyperDrive 0]

how can you be an STSF if you are only an Ensign.

 

 

If you are asking what it seems you are (I really didn't understand the question very well), but STSF is only about 6 months old. That makes it to where the first STSF graduates are only Ensigns and Lt(Jg). Everyone of a higher rank came from other simming groups that the GMs were members of.

[VileRomulan 0]

eh, it always seems I'm the last oneto reply, well technically I am before someone else posts, but everyone said it all already, so uhh, WHAT THEY SED!

[STSF Jorlis 0]

I advise any cadet to heck out the "Help" section for valuable graduating information.

Also, check out the "Tips from the Moose" threads on this board--valuable information from an excellent source.  :cool:

 

Collect those tips, study them, view them at future dates, consider them sacred and you will graduate in no time at all.  But above all, be patient, and have fun.  Your Academy tenure should be considered a fun learning experience, not just an obstacle that needs to be quickly hurtled.  If you become too focused on the actual graduation, you may find yourself distracted from the requirements, and your performance will drop.  :cool:

[Dumbass 0]

If you become too focused on the actual graduation, you may find yourself distracted from the requirements, and your performance will drop.  :cool:

I disagree.

 

I think it IS important to focus on what is required for graduation, or whatever your goal is, including the skills necessary to do so.  Otherwise you risk concentrating on things that are really not that important to your goal.

 

In an Academy it is possible to be a Chief of something, or sometimes even an XO or a CO, and have other players under you.  This can help you learn how to command or supervise, but these skills are not required for graduation to Ensign because when you transfer to a ship you transfer as the lowest ranking person on that ship.

 

It's like school in a way.  Do you seek to learn everything possible about a subject you're taking?  Of course not.  You're on a time crunch, and even your instructor doesn't know everything.  You study what you think will be on the test, learn that, pass the class, and then learn more on your own time if you want to.

 

If your goal is simply to have fun simming then, by all means, do whatever you want.  But if your goal is to graduate with a minimum of fuss then concentrate on that.

[Garnoopy 0]

If your goal is simply to have fun simming then, by all means, do whatever you want.  But if your goal is to graduate with a minimum of fuss then concentrate on that.

Oh boy, I disagree completely. I had fun simming no matter what position I played. And now, I don't care what position, as long as I can play, because it is fun! Also, I've found attending additional Academy sims has helped me to improve my typing skills, and my simming style, helping me in Advanced sims.

 

If your not having fun simming, you shouldn't be doing it. No matter what your goal is. You should not have to be an Ensign to have fun on STSF.net, you should be having fun no matter what. Including when your working to get that Ensign pip.

[MisterSmith 0]

Just a little note.

 

When something bad happens on a sim, like for instance you are the security chief, and an ambassador is killed, don't feel really bad and stop simming. That ambassador was killed for a reason, and sometimes being able to continue your job without worry is what the GM's want to see. That happened to me and because I didn't cry and whine about it, I graduated that very same day. :)

 

PS: The "Ambassador" was Jami, in Dac and A9's Academy

[Zarr 0]

Welcome to STSF, and yes I'll be at Thuresday sim's. And Dumbass I see your using my Q Avatar that I added to the list. :)

[Webmaster 20]

When something bad happens on a sim, like for instance you are the security chief, and an ambassador is killed, don't feel really bad and stop simming. That ambassador was killed for a reason, and sometimes being able to continue your job without worry is what the GM's want to see. That happened to me and because I didn't cry and whine about it, I graduated that very same day.

LOL...  sometimes someone is just doomed to die.  There is no way around it.  They just had to die.  ::):

 

One of the things we look for are people who can just "go with the flow".  It does not matter sometimes that it is a little unrealistic.  ESPECIALLY in the Academy SIMs.  They are just meant to be something to help introduce you to the Role-Playing world and to get you comfortable moving into a more "defined" enviornment.  

 

One of my favorite plots for an Academy is "Cartoons In Space"...  where we have two feuding races....  It's funny watching Bugs Bunny's ship firing carrots at the evil Yogi Bear ship stealing picnic baskets while Marvin the Martian gets "very very angry" when he gets caught in the crossfire accidently.  lol

[KhreRiovtRex 0]

One of my favorite plots for an Academy is "Cartoons In Space"...  where we have two feuding races....  It's funny watching Bugs Bunny's ship firing carrots at the evil Yogi Bear ship stealing picnic baskets while Marvin the Martian gets "very very angry" when he gets caught in the crossfire accidently.  lol

Ya know, I knew we were right to worry about him.  ::sends for the men in the little white suits with the funny looking jacket for Randy::: :wink:

[Dumbass 0]

And Dumbass I see your using my Q Avatar that I added to the list. :)

Well I needed something to go with my "Immune to all ACTION items" tagline, and this was better to that end than Bart Simpson.

[Captain Huff 0]

LOL!  I'm sort of laughing as I recall my own academy days...  I stumbled in a Star Trek chat room with my new computer and blathered away with the rest of the gang incapable of typing a sentence longer than three words.  Then one night... there was a GAME in that room!  AHH!  I quickly left.  

 

The next night I happily signed in to talk in little words with my new buddies and THE GAME was going on again!  So I watched for about three minutes, deemed it far too complicated, and left.  

 

I soon noticed that there were those stupid games going on every night about the time I wanted to engage in fascinating chat about how great Kirk was.  So I watched a little more.  Okay, it wasn't quite as complicated as I thought - the symbols meant positions on the ship and there was some tool actually *running* the game to keep it on track.  Hmm.  

 

Then one night, I happened to stumble into my new found Nerd Land to find it was just in time to see the actual *instructions* to the game!  Hey...  I read them and played.  

 

It took me well over a month to graduate.  I went every night and had a blast.  I didn't give a rat's tail about graduating, I just had the wildest time playing an imaginary character on an imaginary little ship.  Then one night... they graduated me!

 

I still think it was to get RID of me, lol.

 

(The story about how I came to be a chat host is very similar, lol).  

 

The moral of the story:  Have a good time!  :)

[KhreRiovtRex 0]

I still think it was to get RID of me, lol.

::snickers:: She's just now figuring that out?  

 

The previous Huff anecdote brought to you by "new Folgers Crystals", the drink of nerdy Klingons everywhere.

 

:wink:

[FredM 0]

I still think it was to get RID of me, lol.

::snickers:: She's just now figuring that out?  

 

The previous Huff anecdote brought to you by "new Folgers Crystals", the drink of nerdy Klingons everywhere.

 

:wink:

Oh it isn't that complicated! If we really want to get rid of her, tell the office to give her a wake up call at 7:00am. :)

[Captain Huff 0]

Oh it isn't that complicated! If we really want to get rid of her, tell the office to give her a wake up call at 7:00am. :)

No, that's how you get rid of the office staff.  :)

[Guest STSF Lightning]

Welcome Emiliana! Hope to see you around soon. :) ~ STSF Lightning ~ Star Trek™ Simulation Forum Game Master (GM) Saturday STSF Lounge Bartender In the StarTrek.com Holodeck Chatroom 10:00 PM - 11:00 PM (Eastern) 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM (Pacific)