By Stephen Near

The starship captain is often the main character in every instalment of the Star Trek. And many Star Trek Adventures troupes gladly nominate one player as the captain, with the rest as supporting officers and staff. But this isn’t the rule, and many groups prefer the captain to be an NPC. Although it challenges the trope of captain as series protagonist, decentering your captain allows games to shift the focus in some fun ways. In the two games I now play, an NPC is the captain, and here’s a handful of techniques I’ve seen and used to put this shift into action. I’ve also included a Sample Value and a Key Talent to consider as part of the build for an NPC captain.

Department Spotlight

With an NPC captain, there is a natural “command-gap” that forces the PCs, ideally the department heads, to tackle the central problem of the adventure. This puts the focus of the action squarely on them to debate and collaborate. The captain may set the mission parameters, but it’s up to the player characters to drive the execution of the orders. This captain lets the players shine as department heads, letting them step up while reinforcing their jobs as competent, professional officers.

Sample Value: My ship is only as good as my crew

Key Talent: Advisor

Advisors To Authority

The chain of command on a starship is clearcut. But removing authority from the players gives them more agency by making them trusted advisors to the captain. She may hold the rank but, when faced with a critical decision, the captain must leans on the player characters as ethical sounding boards or strategic consultants. This lets players have fun as they argue the various sides of a dilemma, be it security vs medical needs or the weight of the Prime Directive, without having to make the final call.

Sample Value: No obstacles, only options

Key Talent: Voice of Authority

Senior Staff Step Up

Onboard a starship, player characters often manage other officers or enforce discipline. That responsibility means they’re next in line of authority should anything go wrong with the captain. And with Complications and a Threat pool, something always goes wrong. Whether kidnapped by Q, assimilated by the Borg, or trapped in alien negotiations, there’s countless reasons for the captain to be missing in action. That’s when the XO and department heads must sit in the captain’s chair, make the big calls, and deal with the hard consequences of their decisions.

Sample Value: My crew has my back.

Key Talent: Methodical Planning

Asset Driving Action

Unpredictability is part of any gaming group. Even with Mission Directives and Reputation Influences, action can go off the rails pretty quickly in an STA game. But an NPC captain can be a valuable anchor to guide the mission and the dramatic beats of the story. It’s perfect for a game of new players, or even when you need to drop some key story lore. The captain can freely question the players’ plans, raise ethical dilemmas, or speak for Starfleet principles, even as they provide mechanical support through their Talents. Think of this sort of NPC captain as kind of narrative engine, helping drive the action instead of being a leader that directs it.

Sample Value: Every choice is a consequence.

Key Talent: Teacher

Bonding the Crew

As iconic as the captain is in Star Trek, there’s an unspoken rule that they stand apart from the crew. This dramatic isolation works on TV, but it can drag down a role-playing ensemble, especially for the player in the centre seat. An NPC captain neatly solves this issue by keeping them outside the player dynamics. Whether haunted by trauma or simply aloof, a detached captain frees the players to bond as a group, allowing for deeper storytelling over the course of the campaign. From poker nights to healing circles to holodeck hijinks, the crew can share highs and lows while bonding with one other in ways they might not with their captain.

Sample Value: Lead my crew, yet always outside them

Key Talent: Close Knit Crew