UFOP: StarBase 118 (or, SB118 as it is called for short) is a Play By EMail Star Trek Role Playing Game. The game was started in June of 1994 by Fleet Admiral Tristan Wolf, and has been in continuous operation since then. The group consists of writers from around the world, of all ages, and has over 100 members.
Because of the size of the group, the membership is split into several sub-groups, some being ships, others being bases. Each ship or base is facilitated by an experienced member (called the “Commanding Officer”) who has spent at least a year training to be part of the staff. The thorough and comprehensive preparation of our staff ensures that we provide the best simming experience possible to all our members. You can even become a Captain by being promoted through the ranks from Cadet (in training), to Ensign, Lieutenant Junior Grade, Lieutenant, Lieutenant Commander, Commander, and then Captain.
OUR MEMBERS LOVE US
I enjoy the friendships and that we have so many awesome creative minds here that it never gets boring!
I have met an amazing group of people. For their patience with me and understandings I’ll be forever grateful. It has helped me a lot with my cognitive skills and with my social anxiety.
What I love most about the ship I’m currently on is that we have a mature writer base with a very cooperative style and a wonderfully dry sense of humour.
This place is wonderful. The adventures are a boatload of fun. There is no end to the support you will receive from veterans, who will gladly teach you the art of PBEMing.
This is the first role playing community I’ve ever joined but I feel like it’s a great, friendly, and supportive community that everyone can enjoy.
The structure of the Executive and Captain’s councils, along with each ship’s staffs, keep the game engaging. The checks and balances found here are missing from many online RPGs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does this work?
Think of our game like writing a big Star Trek novel with a bunch of friends. Each of you has a character, and you write your piece of the story every few days. Those pieces of the story add up to a plot that lasts a few weeks, which is part of the ship’s larger narrative. You’ll receive other people’s pieces of the story via emails to your email inbox, and you simply reply to a special email address for everyone to receive your part of the story. Take a look at our example sim for an idea of what this looks like.
How much do I have to pay for this?
Applying for membership and playing the game is entirely free. Our group is volunteer run and supported by donations.
Is this the “new” Star Trek or the “old” Star Trek?
Our sim operates in the “prime” timeline of Star Trek, which includes everything before the events which occurred in the 2009 movie directed by J.J. Abrams, and also includes the destruction of Nero’s homeworld, Romulus. The events of the rest of the movie, such as Kirk’s father dying on the USS Kelvin, did not occur in our timeline. The events of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space 9, and Voyager are all a part of our history and canon. For more information, check out the StarBase 118 Universe Primer to learn about what’s been happening in the “prime” universe since 2379!
When is the next training group?
Training groups begin every Monday. You should apply to join today by completing this tour and submitting your application!
How active is the community?
Very! Check out our Community News, our forums, and recent changes on our wiki for a taste of how much is going on around the fleet. On the next page of the tour, you can also click on the “archive” link for each ship to see how active each ship is.
Do I have to sign on at a specific time?
No. Emails will arrive at your inbox throughout the day, and you can read and respond with your own piece of the story at whatever time is best for you.
How often do I have to play?
To keep up with most ships, you’ll need to submit a piece of the story at least three times a week. (During training, we’ll ask you how often you plan to play, and you’ll have the chance to decide whether you would like a faster or slower playing ship.)
Can I join more than one ship?
Once you have attained the rank of Lieutenant, you may play up to two characters on two different vessels. But even before that, you’re welcome to create minor characters used on your current ship to help facilitate the plot and interact with your character on a daily basis. And you’re always welcome to retire your current character and replace him or her with a new character.
How do I choose a duty post to play?
Consider the roles you were most drawn to when you watched Star Trek. Do you love the idea of piloting a starship? You’d make a great helm officer! Or perhaps you want the thrill of being the first person to respond to a call for help during an away mission? Security is the place for you. Maybe you loved watching Dr. Crusher and Voyager’s Doctor use the medical database to solve a particularly vexing illness from spreading through the crew? You should play a medical officer. Check out the duty post area on our wiki for more information about each role, and the duty post availability page to learn which roles are at capacity in our fleet, and which have the greatest need for players.
