D&D Tips From Star Trek (Video Transcript)
Four Dungeons and Dragons tips from Star Trek: The Next Generation’s third worst episode.
That episode, according to a rating of 5.1 on IMDb, is “Code of Honor.” It is the fourth episode of the first season and originally aired on October 12, 1987. Personally, I think there are a lot of other episodes that should be rated lower, but that’s the scale we are using for these videos.
TNG Code of Honor Breakdown
The episode breakdown: The Enterprise desperately needs a vaccine from the planet Ligon II. The people of Ligon are proud and have strict cultural rules and expectations. When the leader kidnaps Lt. Tasha Yar, Picard is faced with the problem of dealing with an alien culture and not offending them to still get the vaccine. However, the planetary leader Lutan has different ideas. Once Picard fulfills the cultural obligations, Lutan refuses to give up Tasha, forcing his wife Yareena to challenge Tasha to a duel to the death. In the end, Picard creates a plan where Tasha kills Yareena, and Dr. Crusher is able to bring her back to life, thereby winning the vaccine and disgracing Lutan.
Code of Honor Controversial
This episode has been accused of racism and sexism. I’m not going to address those issues in this video. However, I will refer any interested viewers to the YouTube channel The Seventh Rule, where those issues are discussed at length. Also, Trek Untold has an incredible interview with actress Karole Selmon, who played the proud, beautiful, and intelligent Yareena. Spoiler alert: She does not think the episode is racist in the slightest. Links are in the description.
Code of Honor Episode Remakes
I will merely deal with the story elements in this video. The most glaring of which is that “Code of Honor” is a gender-swapped remake of The Original Series episode “Amok Time.” However, “Code of Honor” sports good production values and great performances from the main cast and guest stars. It loses the urgency of the plague at the end which was so built up during the episode. The bridge crew takes a moment for a light-hearted 80s TV show ending while millions are dying on Styris IV. An interesting side note is that one of the writers of the episode, Katharyn Powers, would almost exactly 10 years later write a remake of “Code of Honor” in the form of the Stargate SG-1 episode “Emancipation.” That episode has also been accused of racism and sexism.
Back to the matter at hand. What dungeon master tips can be extracted from “Code of Honor”?
Dungeon Master Tips
Number One: A meta complication. In the episode, the planet the Enterprise is visiting has a vaccine that is needed to halt a plague on Styris IV. This complication not only gives a timer to the Enterprise’s mission but also means that Captain Picard can’t forcibly rescue Tasha because he must maintain good relations with the planet’s leaders to get the vaccine. In your Dungeons and Dragons campaign, adding a meta complication ensures your players must act quickly and decisively. It could also be used to make sure your players use their wits to solve a problem instead of brute force for a change.
Number Two: A kidnapping. Kidnapping is a great story device to raise the stakes. Once a valued member of his crew is kidnapped, Captain Picard is wholly invested in the situation at hand. Introducing the kidnapping of a well-liked NPC in your D&D session is a great way to get your players invested in the session. Also, having the entire party kidnapped or captured can have the same effect. Having only one member of the party kidnapped can be fun but must be handled with care. It’s a great option if the player will be absent for a session or two.
Number Three: Culture clash. The main action of the episode happens when two different cultures meet. The people of Ligon II have different ideas about marriage, property, and respect. When D&D characters visit an Elven city, there should be different rules and cultural backgrounds. A simple wrong word may mean no shop owner will sell to the characters or could lead to a challenge to the death. A clash of cultures can lead to misunderstandings and mishaps, instantly creating drama. Introducing a culture clash in your D&D campaign has the potential to provide excellent role-playing moments. It also lets the players know this fictional world is pulsing with life and unique peoples.
Number Four: The ensemble cast. Even though Tasha’s character is being spotlighted in this episode, all the other cast members get something to do as well. Since D&D nearly always involves an ensemble cast, let’s remember to give all of our players something to do. Or, worded another way, give room for the players to involve their own characters by being active.
There you have it: four dungeon master tips from TNG’s “Code of Honor.”
Dungeons & Dragons Resources and Links
If you need tabletop RPG resources, please check the description below for links to my books. I make books that help game masters have more fun at the table. Thank you, and keep gaming!
- The Seventh Rule – YouTube Channel
- Trek Untold – Karole Selmon Interview
- Dicegeeks RPG Resources