Well, they went from basically 0% civilians in TOS to maybe 20% civilians in TNG. I think 200 civvies out of 1000 passengers and crew is not outrageous. Probably a mix of scientists, technicians, civil engineers, teachers, etc. Remember, they're supposed to be seeking out new life and new civilizations--that's going to require people with specializations that are likely to be found outside Starfleet MOS. Not every Federation vessel is necessarily going to have that military/civilian mix. A scientific research vessel would likely have more civvies, and a border patrol vessel would likely have very few civilians. AIUI, some of the accommodation for civilians is for married crew or those with families to bring them along--a 5 year mission is a long time away from family.
When you don't know what to do, just hit something.
When you don't know what to do, make a Luck roll.
When you don't know what to do, make a CHA roll.
Just because you 'kill' a supervillain doesn't mean he's dead.
Just because you didn't kill the supervillain doesn't mean he didn't die. (Just ask Viper)
Sometimes during play, players come up with ideas even better than your original episode; go with the flow.
Sometimes during play, players come up with cool episode ideas for you and don't know it; write them down.
This was a full page illustration that got away. In the sense that it is supposed to be an interior illustration. But the thumbnails that were more scaled to a interior didn’t suit the client. He wanted a sense of scale and wanted bad guys and good guys and pretty specific visuals on the good guys. This turned into full blown cover in its detail. Took me forever. I certainly lost money on this one.
But sometimes you have to take a bullet for the team. It is better to have a happy client than to finish something too fast.
Background: Kyle Langly was born with the power to move object with just a thought. But his power was initially limited and appeared to be crude able to shove things or pull them towards him but little else. Worse, his abilities sometimes activated unconsciously when he was startled, nervous or otherwise emotional. Already shy, Kyle became even more withdrawn and reclusive to avoid accidentally hurting anyone and the embarrassment his powers could cause.
Kyle turned to books for companionship and discovered that he had a talent for physics and higher mathematics on top of sharp mind. He threw himself into the subject, the start of a life long love and even won several science and essay competitions through his childhood and teens, eventually being awarded a scholarship at a prestigious university in applied and theoretical physics. Kyle found himself drawn to the field of paraphysics: the study of metahuman powers and their relationship to the laws of nature. He decided to use himself as a subject. His meager powers should be useful for something.
However in the course of research, Kyle learned that nature of his abilities was quite a bit different than originally thought. They weren't psychokinetic, not strictly psionic at all in fact but based on the ability to manipulate some fundamental forces of nature. The revelation was life changing like a door had opened in his mind. He worked harder, not just studying his power but working to hone it, swiftly developing an array of abilities as his understanding grew. And with that understanding came a new confidence and assurance. He wasn't somehow a failure with a meaningless and dangerous "power" as he'd always secretly feared. After using his new found abilities to thwart a campus shooting, Kyle's personal transformation culminated in the creation of a costumed identity: Doppler.
Persona: The introverted. academic and, frankly, nerdy young man the Kyle was has changed. He's now much more confident, bold and daring. He's not reckless but is much more willing to take risks and stand up not just for himself but for others and against injustice. He hasn't become arrogant or a blowhard thankfully and still likes quiet moment and intellectual pursuits. but he's much more willing to try new things. He's still more than a little clueless when it comes to interpersonal relationships though, especially with women. As Doppler, Kyle is even more extroverted and outgoing, even a bit of show off. He projects a cool confident and ever so slightly smug air that can annoying touchy criminals. In both personas he's unfailingly polite and a bit of a neatnick.
Powers: Kinetic control. Can add, remove and redirect kinetic energy and inertia with incredible aptitude and precision. At low levels his power mimic psychokinsis, enabling him to move objects but in a direct manner as if he were "pushing" them. At higher levels he can accelerate and decelerate targets rapidly enough to damage them, even shake them apart if applies continuously or stress living targets to with dangerous G-forces. crudely teleport himself and other targets but accelerating them to near light speeds and stop something dead by leeching all its kinetic energy and increasing its inertia. He can effect himself with his abilities and is immune to most of negative consequences that might result. Kyle can defend himself by sapping the kinetic energy of physical projectiles and creating dense shields of "Solid air" by slowing and stilling air molecules. He's learned to turn them momentum from his jumps into a form flight, more a sustained leaping gliding but he looks impressive while doing it.
His defenses require some awareness and conscious effort though so he wears an armored (and somewhat gaudy) costume for extra security. The costumes coloration is based on the red shift/blue shift effect his power create, particularly at high levels. It has some built in gadget such a GPS, visual enhancement, glare protection, cellular link and other items developed by a friend (and would be SO) of Kyle's in Engineering College.
Tom Cowan got a reaction from Cancer in The Advice Column
