How It All Works
Joining the USS Magellan is simple. Here’s how our community runs and what you can expect when you come aboard.
1. Create Your Character
Step into Starfleet by designing your own original character. Will you serve on the Bridge? Engineering? Sickbay? The choice is yours.
👉 Don’t worry if you’re new — our team will guide you through ranks, roles, and backstories so you’re ready for duty.
2. Our Three Platforms
We keep things organized by using three connected platforms:
- 🌐 Main Website – the public “hub” of the sim, where you’ll find info about the Magellan, news, and resources.
- 🖥 Nova (‘Crew’ tab on main website) – where you create your character, write logs, and contribute to the ongoing mission stories.
- 💬 Discord – our community lounge. Here we chat out-of-character, share updates, and run the weekly live mission.
Each platform serves a purpose — together they make sure the story flows smoothly and everyone stays connected.
3. Join the Story
Our missions unfold in two ways:
- Play-By-Posting (on Nova) – contribute at your own pace by writing short or long posts as your character. Personal, reflective logs, your character’s thoughts on the upcoming mission, or their spare time. Each post builds on the last, weaving together into an ongoing mission.
- Weekly Live Session (on Discord) – once a week, the crew gathers for a one-hour ‘live’ mission. The ship is in real-time for a solid hour. Fast-paced, in-character, and full of surprises — it’s where big story beats happen.
Together, these create rich 3–4 week story arcs, just like episodes of a Star Trek series.
4. Stay Flexible
There’s no pressure to be online all the time. Most players spend:
- Around 1 hour a week in the live session (Discord)
- Plus as much or as little writing as they like in posts (Nova)
You can stay casual or dive deep — the story adapts to the crew.
5. Collaborate & Explore
This isn’t a single-person show. There’s no “Dungeon Master.” Instead, every player’s choices shape the mission. Characters succeed, stumble, and grow together — just like a real starship crew.
6. Enjoy the Community
We’re more than a game — we’re a crew. You’ll find:
- A welcoming Discord server for chat, planning, and out-of-character fun
- Optional donations to keep the lights on (the game itself is always free)
- A chance to make friends while telling amazing stories in the Star Trek universe
Ready to Report for Duty?
It all starts with your first mission: the Dedication Ceremony aboard the USS Magellan.