STAR TREK GAME ONE OF STRATEGY

Missions, dilemmas and strategy are a big part of the "Star Trek, The Next Generation" game.

By B. Ray Owen

Southeast Missourian

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, evil forces ruled with great destructive power.

Galaxy wars raged.

Missions, strategy and dilemmas were everyday occurrences.

Although the opening paragraphs here could refer to plots for space-related stories for "Star Trek," "Star Wars" and "Outer Limits," they can also pertain to a number of role-playing games.

One such game, "Star Trek, The Next Generation," was being played Saturday in a sanctioned tournament, held at the Salvation Army in Cape Girardeau.

"Missions, dilemmas and strategy are all a big part of the game," said Salvation Army Capt. Robert M. Gauthier. "I've been acquainted with the game since it first came out about five years ago."

Gauthier and his son, Robert M. Gauithier II, played the game in Medina, Ohio, before coming to Cape Girardeau.

The younger Gauthier, a student at Cape Central High School, and Michael Belk of Sikeston are among notable Star Trek players in the area.

Both are members of the local "Star Trek, The Next Generation" Club here, and Belk is hopeful of participating in the Decipher World Tournament, with finals to be held at Las Vegas. The nearest regional qualifying tournament will be held at Kansas City.

"I'd like to enter," said Belk.

Decipher Inc., headquartered in Norfolk, Va., is the manufacturer of the Star Trek game. Decipher sponsored Saturday's "sanctioned tournament" and provided the prizes. Gamemaster Mike Wallace totals and posts scores for each round. Prizes included special T-shirts and expansion-card decks.

Saturday's tournament featured four rounds of one-hour each, said Wallace, who is an official ambassador for the Decipher company.

Although it only takes 93 cards to play a sanctioned game, more than 600 cards are available.

Belk has them all.

"There are a large variety of cards," said Belk. These include a variety of mission, event, equipment, dilemma and interrupt cards. The first complete set consisted of 363 cards. Since then, special editions of 122 and 121 cards have been added.

Although only 93 cards are used, having all cards "gives a player a wider selection for games," said Belk.

The object of the game is to accomplish missions, despite dilemmas offered by the opponent, and score points. The first player to reach 100 points, or the player with the most points when either player's deck runs out, is the winner. In many cases an hour's time limit is established.

Much of the game's strategy is selecting the game cards.

"I try to anticipate what some of the dilemmas will be and select cards to offset them," said Belk.