User:Morwen/tng bible

Notes on the Star Trek: The Next Generation Writers/Directors Guide aka "Bible" : copy dated September 8. 1987.

p3. 78 years after the "time of Kirk and Spock", who are "legends". Galaxy still being explored, but is damned big. Notes that during TOS, 4% of galaxy had been charted (not properly explored, mind), this figure is now up to 19%

p4 claims TOS was not a "star and co-star" series but an ensemble show (I note that Doohan, Takei, Koenig and Nichols might beg to differ)

p11 outlines stories that "do not work". these are given as


 * ones not involving own crew
 * psychic powers
 * galaxy policemen
 * TOS characters
 * fantasy
 * swords and sorcery
 * failing to appreciate vastness of space
 * melodrama
 * war with Klingons, Romulans, no Vulcans at all
 * Prime Directive violations
 * "a whole civilization"
 * mad scientists/technology=bad

p14 outlines stardates. 4 = 24th century. 1 = season number. "The digit following the decimal point may be regarded as a day counter", whatever that means.

p15. NCC-1701-D is 2x as long as NCC-1701 and 8x the volume. 1012 folks in ship.

p17. back bridge stations are given as "sciences", "sciences 2", "propulsion systems", "emergency manual override", "environment".

p18. main viewer is holographic.

p19. 20 people transporters, 5 cargo ones.

p23. 5 holodecks: 2 large, 2 medium, 1 small. intent is for them to be environmental simulators. no mention of them being able to simulate people.

p24. Picard. Born in Paris. Served 22 years as Captain of Stargazer. In early 50s. Affects to be a French chauvanist. Attracted to Beverly.

p25/p26. Riker. Called "Number One" by everyone, not just Picard. Early 30s. Treats Picard as respected elder brother. Tries hard to not be sexist pig. Troi is not in love with him.

p27. Beverly Crusher. Early 40s, but "looks considerably younger". Crusher/Picard/Jack backstory established. "still has trouble dealing with Picard".

p28/p29. Data. Made by unknown aliens, who noticed an Earth colony was doomed, and put their memories in his head. Starfleet came looking for the colonists, and found Data, who was impressed and decided to join Starfleet. "fully functional". "possesses the dominant emotional traits of his 'parent-colonists', and appears to be absolutely incapable of falsehood". Avoids contractions. Compares to Pinocchio.

p30/p31. Troi. Appears about 30, but "no doubt actually somewhat older". human Starfleet officer father, Betazoid mother (no names). In first contact situations, 2nd in importance after Picard and Riker. Graduated from Starfleet Academy. Claims Troi/Riker left relationship unconsummated, and that there is sexual tension. She is supposed to be witty (cf Marina Sirtis interview where she was told by director that Troi isn't funny).

p32. Yar. 28. Security Chief. Grew up on hellish planet. Picard is her mentor. "Treats Wesley like the childhood friend that she never had"

p33. Worf. No fixed job. First Klingon in Starfleet. Earth and Klingon Empire at peace for 25 years. Worf was found on a Klingon vessel destroyed towards the end of the war, by the Federation, at the age of 8. (no Khitomer stuff)

p34. La Forge. Wants natural eyes. Shares private joke with Data that they both want to be "fully human". Claims an episode will fit La Forge with natural eyes and then he will decide they are the suck. No mention of Engineering skills. It does mention that his "aboard specialty is the starship school for children" (this may be a reference to LeVar Burton's work on "Reading Rainbow")

p35. Wesley. Very smart. Picard sees greatness in him.

p36. Captain will beam down only after the Away Team has declared a planet secure.

p37. Just look upward on the bridge to talk to someone else. Elsewhere on ship use a nearby companel, or your commbadge. (this seems silly now. companels eventually got abandoned).

p38. dilithium regulates mix of matter and anti-matter. crystals can be recrystallised. c. 24th Earth is a paradise, which won't be gone into in good detail (this seems same wording as Phase II bible, I must check).

p39. Klingons have actually joined the Federation (as per and ""). There are now as many alien worlds in Federation as human ones (supporting idea of human/earth-centric federation).

replicators are described in essentially an identical way to how Mr Scott's Guide describes the c. 23rd century food slots. it doesn't go into TNGTM style detail about these actually turning raw matter into food or non-food items, instead it talks about a really advanced synthesis system which then beams stuff to the destination.

p43. "Starfleet is not primarily a military organization". Notes that military elements are "very much de-emphasized over the movies". still traditional to use ranks on the Bridge.

p45. Transporter is line-of-sight, so you can't beam up folks on opposite side of the planet to where you are in your orbit.

p45/p46. Turbolifts sometimes just guess where you want to go and take you there.

p46. Warp 10 is meaningless.

p47. Phasers set to stun by default. Ship's phasers could destroy a small moon. Phasers are "beams of phased light", and cannot be used at warp.

photon torpedoes are matter/anti-matter annihilation weapons. has tiny warp engine so can go at warp speed and be used in warp combat.

p48. an elaborate guide on how to address the computer. "show me" and "tell me" instructions, as well as "get me" (opening up a communications chanel), and "play me" (play music).

p49. computer will notice when a person unauthorised to receive information is in same room as someone who is, the computer will notice this and not accidentally divulge the information to unauthorised person.

other notes: "Away Team" is not being used as a synonym for a "Landing Party", as it ended up being, but appears to refer to a standing group of people who would go as a landing party to a planet. This standing Away Team is led by Riker, and Data is said to be "Second in command of Number One's Away Team"