Aliens, Planets and Nebulae! Crew and Spaceship Creation
On the first day of Aliens, Planets and Nebulae (APN), learners will create their characters and spaceships:
Materials:
- Printout of Crew Member Sheet (one per learner)
- An option is to use this Google Sheets workbook instead of (or in addition to) printouts
- Map of the Galaxy with Current Position
- Feel free to make your own maps – this is an RPG after all
- Large paper, modeling tools, or graph paper for learners to design their spaceship
Class Objectives:
- Each learner will create a crew member
- Encourage consultation to choose specialties that will create a diverse crew
- Go over how abilities are calculated (evaluating functions)
- Option 1: Facilitator can keep a workbook of abilities for students (with formulas) (This is recommended for younger or time constrained classes)
- Option 2: Facilitator can have students track their own abilities and recalculate them when they level-up (This takes time and is a great practice for evaluating expressions, but don’t let it take over the class)
- Facilitator may still choose to keep the workbook to keep track of class abilities
Facilitator Flow:
- Welcome learners to the crew of a new starship sitting at Space Station Alpha.
- Show a visual of the galaxy
- Split Class into groups of 4-7 (each group is a separate crew/ship)
- If virtual or using google sheets, then have a separate workbook for each crew
- The backstory is that they are a new crew in the Mathematical Astronomical Science Society (MASS)
- MASS solves problems and comes to the aid of many in need throughout the galaxy.
- Distribute Crew Member creation sheets:
- Choose One Species
- Humanoid – resembles human, Cephalopod (more like a squid), Reptilian, metamorphic (shape shifting)
- Choose One Specialty
- Diplomacy
- Leadership qualities, negotiation, communication
- Designs the bridge of the ship
- Medical/Science
- Doctor, experimental expertise, and good with scientific knowledge
- Designs the infirmary and greenhouse
- Pilot/Navigation
- Knows how to fly ships of various species
- Designs outside appearance of ship
- Engineering
- Manages sensors, engines, life support, etc.
- Designs any of those systems
- Intelligence
- Knows how to gather data, spy, disguise
- Designs ship common spaces
- Security
- Knows weapon systems, defensive tactics, and manages security
- Designs shield and weapon system for ship
- Diplomacy
- Choose one hobby and special skill
- These are anything students want them to be that fall into the realm of the possible
- Skateboarding, instruments, blacksmithing, martial arts, chess, etc.
- These hobbies and skills may come in use during missions
- These are anything students want them to be that fall into the realm of the possible
- Students can roll dice or choose height, weight, and age
- Choose One Species
- Explain that the structure of the class allows for extra ability points for work well done, innovation, and unique ways that they use their skills/hobbies and specialties.