Charlie Greene, Sat November 26th 2011 7:04pm
In the Spotlight: An Interview with Dan Woodward
Interview conducted for FNN by Charlie Greene
Today, we're interviewing Captain Dan Woodward, the game manager of the USS Athena (NCC-80353).
FNN: Dan, thanks for speaking with us today. I would like for our readers to get to know the Athena and what makes the Athena a very special game. Let's start with "stomping ground". What part of space does the Athena explore?
DW: The Athena is stationed near the Delta Triangle, Star Base 218, and the Gorn Hegemony. The Delta Triangle provides navigation hazards and is difficult to explore, because of its ambient properties. We are still finding new races and technology inside it.
FNN: Thinking about theme, bringing together those different species sounds like a recipe for conflict. Is the Athena a conflict-driven simulation or do you strive for exploration-oriented missions like most episodes of The Next Generation?
DW: Our missions are mostly content-driven and try to integrate pieces of canon. For example, during the course of one mission, a malfunctioning time machine sent us to the year 2342, where we had to help the Enterprise-C (which was destroyed in 2344, according to The Next Generation) without altering the timeline.
We were able to hide in a radiation cloud and pick off Tholian raiders while the Enterprise’s damaged sensors could not detect us. Once the Tholians were defeated, the damaged Enterprise limped home for repairs, and the timeline was preserved.
FNN: The Athena is a Galaxy-class starship, a very classic design, and very immense. Does the game share the same mood and style as the Enterprise-D and her missions? Or have you added any special twists?
DW: Because new (and sometimes hostile) races are being discovered in the Delta Triangle, one of our shuttle bays now holds a marine fighter squadron. This helps protect the ship under a wider array of circumstances.
FNN: If any of our readers might want to join the Athena after reading about it today, what kind of roles are you looking to fill? What opportunities await potential players?
DW: We have a lot to offer! Right now, both Medical and Counseling positions have been open for a while. The current mission helps our Gorn neighbors with scientific exploration. We’ve just discovered aliens are raiding Gorn worlds for mineral resources.
Our last mission encountered a Borg Sphere disabled by the Delta Triangle. We recovered some Borg-made transwarp coils, which Voyager adapted for Federation use. The Athena is no stranger to exploring the frontier of technology, which sets us a bit apart from our peers.
It was quite challenging developing a scenario where the Borg Collective became disabled, but we discovered the Delta Triangle effects the way drones communicate with each other and causes both the drones and their ship to malfunction.
FNN: Getting a little bit more personal, tell us a little about yourself outside of the gaming world?
DW: I am usually quite busy as a graphic artist. I also am an accomplished cook. I receive a pension, so I supplement my income through self-employment.
FNN: What about your simming history?
DW: I remember joining the Athena in 2005. At the time, it was named the Edison.
FNN: Tell us a little bit about your character, Turrel Kratz. What kind of captain is he? What makes him unique?
DW: Kratz is a joined Trill. When I joined the crew, I confidently had the long-lived symbiont born in 2005, so I could remember when I came aboard. Turrel concentrates on character development. When he first arrived, his symbiont was slightly sensitive to transporters. Over the six years he’s been here, new technology and minor advances to transporters allow him to beam out regularly.
Also, his age and experience from multiple hosts/hostesses give him a long view and perspective on things. He is slow to anger and is rarely surprised (since Kratz has lived almost 400 years, he’s rarely in a totally new social dynamic.)
FNN: Last question - what do you love about your simulation? What makes you keep going?
DW: We have a lot of fun! Even though sometimes posting is slow due to a small crew, people really embrace our storylines. Just the other week, we added a new Chef Security Officer, Commander of our Air Group, and Chief Helmsman. There is plenty room for more!
FNN: Thanks, Dan.
DW: No problem. I’ll be sure to let FNN know how our adventure into Gorn space turns out.
Today, we're interviewing Captain Dan Woodward, the game manager of the USS Athena (NCC-80353).
FNN: Dan, thanks for speaking with us today. I would like for our readers to get to know the Athena and what makes the Athena a very special game. Let's start with "stomping ground". What part of space does the Athena explore?
DW: The Athena is stationed near the Delta Triangle, Star Base 218, and the Gorn Hegemony. The Delta Triangle provides navigation hazards and is difficult to explore, because of its ambient properties. We are still finding new races and technology inside it.
FNN: Thinking about theme, bringing together those different species sounds like a recipe for conflict. Is the Athena a conflict-driven simulation or do you strive for exploration-oriented missions like most episodes of The Next Generation?
DW: Our missions are mostly content-driven and try to integrate pieces of canon. For example, during the course of one mission, a malfunctioning time machine sent us to the year 2342, where we had to help the Enterprise-C (which was destroyed in 2344, according to The Next Generation) without altering the timeline.
We were able to hide in a radiation cloud and pick off Tholian raiders while the Enterprise’s damaged sensors could not detect us. Once the Tholians were defeated, the damaged Enterprise limped home for repairs, and the timeline was preserved.
FNN: The Athena is a Galaxy-class starship, a very classic design, and very immense. Does the game share the same mood and style as the Enterprise-D and her missions? Or have you added any special twists?
DW: Because new (and sometimes hostile) races are being discovered in the Delta Triangle, one of our shuttle bays now holds a marine fighter squadron. This helps protect the ship under a wider array of circumstances.
FNN: If any of our readers might want to join the Athena after reading about it today, what kind of roles are you looking to fill? What opportunities await potential players?
DW: We have a lot to offer! Right now, both Medical and Counseling positions have been open for a while. The current mission helps our Gorn neighbors with scientific exploration. We’ve just discovered aliens are raiding Gorn worlds for mineral resources.
Our last mission encountered a Borg Sphere disabled by the Delta Triangle. We recovered some Borg-made transwarp coils, which Voyager adapted for Federation use. The Athena is no stranger to exploring the frontier of technology, which sets us a bit apart from our peers.
It was quite challenging developing a scenario where the Borg Collective became disabled, but we discovered the Delta Triangle effects the way drones communicate with each other and causes both the drones and their ship to malfunction.
FNN: Getting a little bit more personal, tell us a little about yourself outside of the gaming world?
DW: I am usually quite busy as a graphic artist. I also am an accomplished cook. I receive a pension, so I supplement my income through self-employment.
FNN: What about your simming history?
DW: I remember joining the Athena in 2005. At the time, it was named the Edison.
FNN: Tell us a little bit about your character, Turrel Kratz. What kind of captain is he? What makes him unique?
DW: Kratz is a joined Trill. When I joined the crew, I confidently had the long-lived symbiont born in 2005, so I could remember when I came aboard. Turrel concentrates on character development. When he first arrived, his symbiont was slightly sensitive to transporters. Over the six years he’s been here, new technology and minor advances to transporters allow him to beam out regularly.
Also, his age and experience from multiple hosts/hostesses give him a long view and perspective on things. He is slow to anger and is rarely surprised (since Kratz has lived almost 400 years, he’s rarely in a totally new social dynamic.)
FNN: Last question - what do you love about your simulation? What makes you keep going?
DW: We have a lot of fun! Even though sometimes posting is slow due to a small crew, people really embrace our storylines. Just the other week, we added a new Chef Security Officer, Commander of our Air Group, and Chief Helmsman. There is plenty room for more!
FNN: Thanks, Dan.
DW: No problem. I’ll be sure to let FNN know how our adventure into Gorn space turns out.
