We’re here with another interview with a newer member of our community. The title of this column is “Lower Decks,” hearkening back to the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode titled “Lower Decks,” in which junior officers aboard the Enterprise-D speculate on the reasons for recent unusual actions taken by the command crew near the Cardassian border.
This month’s interview is with the writer behind Lieutenant Scotty Reade playing a human male Operations officer assigned to Amity Outpost.
DeVeau: Tell us a little about the writer behind the character — where in the world do you hail from? Anything you’d like to share!
My name is Sunny, and I come from Vancouver, British Columbia. I have lived here my entire life, and I am deeply passionate about exploring the outdoors. Vancouver is a great place for outdoor enthusiasts like myself, with its mountains, forests, and beaches. I enjoy hiking the local trails during the summer and discovering hidden waterfalls and breathtaking views. As the winter comes, my focus shifts to skiing on the snow-capped mountains. I love the rush of adrenaline that comes with skiing down a steep slope and feeling the cold wind on my face.
Besides my love for the outdoors, I’m also an avid gamer. I have been playing video games since I was a child, and I find them to be a great way to unwind and escape reality. I enjoy various games, from action and adventure to puzzle and strategy games. Gaming has also helped me to connect with people from all over the world, and I have made some great friends through online gaming communities.
What was your introduction to Science Fiction in general and Star Trek specifically?
As a child, I wasn’t exposed to science fiction works as my immigrant parents are from India and were not into that. However, when I was young, my aunt introduced me to Star Wars, which sparked my interest in the genre. I started watching other movies and eventually came across my favourite, 2001: A Space Odyssey. As I got older, I started watching Star Trek Voyager on my iPad and finished the entire series in a month. Currently, I have caught up on the newer series and continue watching the older ones on my iPad. I’m currently on Season 3 of Deep Space Nine.
What is your experience with roleplaying?
I have had a great experience with tabletop role-playing games, particularly Dungeons and Dragons. I have spent countless hours playing with friends and have even had the opportunity to act as the Dungeon Master, which has been incredibly enjoyable. Recently, my group has transitioned to playing Baldur’s Gate 3, a video game heavily inspired by DnD. Before discovering Dungeons and Dragons, I dabbled in World of Warcraft RP, which was a unique experience. Playing as a Paladin and engaging in roleplay added a new level of challenge and excitement to the game. Overall, my experience with these games has been enriching and enjoyable.
What brought you to SB118?
I searched for other role-playing groups to join, and I Googled “sci-fi role-playing” on Google. The first result that came up for me was SB118. After browsing the website for a few minutes to see what the group was about, I decided to take the plunge. It was one of the best decisions I’ve made. I’ve made many friends from all over the world and, even better, one of the other players on Amity, Robin Hopper, is actually from the same town as me. We even got to meet in person, which was even more amazing.
I also enjoy all the events throughout the year, especially the awards ceremonies. It’s great to feel accomplished as you write stories, maintain the wiki, or handle aspects within your assigned vessel group.
Why did you choose this specific character and duty post?
I chose to simulate the character Scotty from Star Trek due to my experience working with computers as a helpdesk technician. With my strong knowledge of computers, I can simulate Scotty more effectively. I enjoy using both hands-on work and computer-based approaches to solve complex engineering problems, just like Scotty. I simulated a human character to better connect with Scotty’s persona. I see him as an extension of myself and enjoy mimicking his attributes and tasks based on my real-life experiences, which can sometimes be challenging but ultimately rewarding.
Where do you see your character five years from now?
Currently, he is the assistant chief of Operations, and I would love to see him become the full Chief on Amity or another vessel within the group. My end goal is to become a first officer, as I am not ready to be a captain at this moment in time.
Thanks for your time, Lieutenant Reade!
You can read more about Lieutenant Scotty Reade on the wiki.
