Star Trek & Sci Fi Gaming

We started as fans of all things Star Trek, and now we are widening our scope to include other Science Fiction games, especially Role Playing Games, like The Expanse, Rocket Age, Alien, Apocalypse World, Dust Warrens, etc. 
We started with a focus on Star Trek Adventures by Modiphius Entertainment and then grew from that to include all games. We welcome everyone and if you want to host a meetup please reach out to the Leadership team. 
We have Message Boards under the MORE tab or follow this link:
https://www.meetup.com/Star-Trek-Gaming/messages/boards/

We follow Inclusive Gaming principles as set out in our Safe Space and Code of Conduct policy listed below.
Star Trek Adventures takes you to the Final Frontier of the Galaxy, where new discoveries await keen explorers of Starfleet. Your duties may take you to the edges of known space, or to Federation colonies in need, to the borders of neighbouring galactic powers or into the eye of interstellar phenomena. Your ship and your crew epitomize the best Star-fleet and the United Federation of Planets has to offer, and you are needed more than ever.
COVID-19 (March 15/2020): Yes its time for us to talk about the coronavirus pandemic... how to respond when social distancing is a key strategy in prevention? This is what we're doing:

1. We created a DISCORD Server under the RPG Alliance Banner (open to all affiliated meetups), for us to play in using the voice chat game rooms. Please join up and anyone who wants to help as an Admin would be really welcome. This may take time to build as an active server so again all help is welcome.

https://discord.gg/w7... (https://discord.gg/w7ZmWp)­

2. We also created a ROLL20 account under the RPG Alliance banner ;(open to all affiliated meetups), and with the pro subscription for those Game Masters who don't have their own account, we can set up a limited amount of games on this account for virtual tabletop play. Contact vicster to set you up a game.

https://app.roll20.ne... (https://app.roll20.net/users/5339621/rpg-alliance)

**Safe Space rules for everyone:  A Safe Space is a place where anyone can relax and be able to fully express, without fear of being made to feel uncomfortable, unwelcome, or unsafe on account of biological sex, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, cultural background, religious affiliation, age, or physical or mental ability. A place where the rules guard each person’s self-respect and dignity and strongly encourage everyone to respect others.  No drug use and we have a Alcohol use policy below, and no harassment of any type especially sexual. Sound good? Right on, Right on.
CODE of CONDUCT: (Borrowed from the Adventurers League)
BE INCLUSIVE, FUN, AND SAFE!
All Gaming Participants are here to have fun and should ALWAYS feel safe and included. All participants (players, Game Masters, and organizers) are expected to adhere to the following Code of Conduct.
- Participants must conduct themselves in a manner that is conducive to the enjoyment and safety of others at the event.
- Avoid excessively vulgar, sexual, or overly mature language and themes.
- Follow the GMs lead, avoid arguing with the GM or other players over rules.
- Let other players speak, avoid talking over others.
- Avoid excessive cross-talk that is not relevant to the adventure being played.
- Allow other players to get attention from the GM.
- Discourage others from using social media to bully, shame, or intimidate other participants.
- Avoid phone conversations at the table.
- If you must take a call, please excuse yourself from the table until your call is completed.
- No tolerance is given for theft or aggressive behavior.
- Theft and aggressive behavior are grounds for immediate removal from the play area and the premises.
- Aggressive behavior includes threats of or actual physical aggression, using racial, gender, or cultural slurs against another participant, and otherwise harassing other participants.
**WHAT TO DO?
Participants who feel as though they are in an unsafe environment should notify the organizer of the event immediately. Participants noticing disruptive behavior should make those responsible for the behavior aware of their actions. If a participant feels uncomfortable bringing it to the attention of the disruptive individual, the participant should notify the GAME Master or Organizer of the event immediately. The GAME Master has the right to ask a disruptive player to leave the table and speak with the organizer.
The Organizer has the right to remove a disruptive or aggressive player or GAME Master from the play area or premises or meet up group.
WHERE FRIENDSHIPS ARE FORGED AT THE TABLE!

Alcohol Policy: Sept 18, 2019
As you know this meetup is part of three meetups supported by the Organizer and our polices are the same for each.
Thanks to everyone who commented in our LGBTQIA+Allies D&D's August 2019 Discussion topic on removing the ban on alcohol use at games. 
We discovered that one size fits all policy won’t work in this case and as many of you said we are all adults. However, if there are any issues the Meetup’s Organizer will have final arbitration in the matter and if safety is a concern. Hopefully, we’ll never have that happen if we all work together.
So going forward the choice will be left to each Gaming Group to decide TOGETHER, with the Game Master having a veto if they don’t feel comfortable with alcohol at their table. This respects the wishes and the effort that your Game Master has put into running a fun game. By the same token a Game Master can’t ignore the players if they wish to exclude alcohol. Collaborative story telling is collaborative boundary making too.
Most of the Game Masters who run campaigns can have this discussion once and it’s done, but those Game Masters who have drop-in/play test games will need to have this discussion at the beginning of their game and establish a communal consensus.
What does that look like? Well we would cautious against the majority rules approach because it stomps over the minority, who are people whose boundaries need to be respected as fellow humans. We would encourage defining the boundaries by beginning with those that you folks brought up in the discussion: No to Wasted/Yes to Responsible (Chris H.), No to under aged drinking or over the legal limit for driving/Yes to moderate consumption (Brent K.), and the Safe Space Code of Conduct is maintained. Good boundaries that you have defined together as a group will make everyone feel comfortable. Also INVITE players who may be shy expressing their opinion to talk with the Game Master alone, or even have a brief conversations with each player and poll them in private so you don’t risk anyone begrudging or belittling someone’s opinion.
Ultimately, alcohol is not necessary to gaming. So if there is any impasse or lack of consensus then just don’t bring alcohol into the game. It’s a nice add-on but if it causes any stress to anyone in your game, it’s really isn’t worth the hassle.
Safety Policy: The Conversation begins with our leadership, the Game Masters
Jian had a good point, we need to do a better job at discussing the Safe Space Code of Conduct and the Safety Tools each Game Master has in their game at the start of every session and when we have new players so that everyone is on the same page.
Again if you have an ongoing campaign with the same recurring players, then you only really need to do this once and whenever issues arise. If this is a drop in/play test then likely you need to do it each time so EVERYONE is one the same page as far as expectations. It saves hassle down the road when everyone at the table understands the boundaries of the group.
We’ve set up a Safety Tool folder on our sister group's (LGBTQIA-Allies D&D Meetup), google drive where there are resources for all of you on safety tools: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1y4RsqzzafaqHPjIt1ZTiL8gNq54mnD8e
The Monte Cook’s Consent in Gaming and the TTRPG Safety Toolkit (Thank you to Matt Hayles for this fine resource).
In partnership with the RPG Alliance Convention, we have X-cards being made up and can provide these to you for free, just message the organizer here on Meetup. These X-Cards include our Safe Space Code of Conduct on them so it’s a very cool card to hand out to players and save you time.
Remember We ALL want to be respected as humans, to feel safe as individuals and have fun as a group of people playing a game together.
Thanks everyone!
Vicki aka vicster
Organizer