We’re going to fill out the series of Canon Events that stretch from the first episode of Deep Space 9 to its last episode.
Canon Events are events and repercussions in the established timeline that affect your crew. This often is an improvement or other change that affects your game during specific periods of time (or other timelines or alternate realities your campaign may end up in). You can activate these for use if you are in that timeframe.
One major change is that Canon Event (CE) Milestones have 3 components:
- Traits active during the CE; usually 3, and they are invoked when relevant
- Complication Range indicates what conditions result in a Complication Range increase
- Reconfigurations are special rules active for that period.
We will be updating past Timeline Milestones into Canon Event Milestones as well as adding new Canon Event Milestones.
CANON EVENT MILESTONE: Darkest Hours (April 2374-August 2374)
This Canon Event Milestone is Darkest Hours, which will cover the stretch of time from the episodes of Deep Space Nine titled 6×07 “You are Cordially Invited” and 6×18 “Inquisition”.
This stretch takes place after the Federation re-take Deep Space 9 and before the epsiode 6×19 “In the Pale Moonlight”, when the Federation is taking heavy losses during the Dominion War. Not a week goes by that someone doesn’t find the name of a loved one, a friend or an acquaintance on the casualty list. Many planets in the Federation will be taken by surprise, such as the loss of Betazed. The Dominion has also begun to clone Jem’Hadar Alphas, genetically engineered to fight better against the Alpha Quadrant species.
Traits:
- The Federation suffers major losses
- Romulan non-involvement in Dominion War
- Jem’Hadar Alphas
Complication Range: +1 when fighting Dominion forces, +2 if engaging in conflict with Jem’Hadar Alphas.
Reconfigurations: During this Canon Event, the Dominion has a greater advantage in the war for the Alpha Quadrant. There are also many deaths affecting the Federation and its allies.
Between missions, roll 1d20. Based on the roll, a special rule is in effect, and replaced when a new roll is made.
- 1-10 The Federation suffers a loss of another starbase, planet, or territory as the result of Dominion/Cardassian attacks. The affected territory is determined by the Gamemaster. The next Mission has the Trait, ‘Fleetwide loss of morale‘. It expires at the end of the Mission.
- 11-16 A loss close to home: a ship of the Federation or its allies is lost in a recent battle with the Dominion or Cardassians. Two players must choose to be affected by ‘a deep personal loss‘ Trait tied to this incident, inventing a NPC they knew in the past who was killed or reported missing in action. If two players do not volunteer, roll randomly.
- 17-20 The Alpha Quadrant forces hold their ground, just barely. Start the mission with +1 Momentum.