its lack of functioning was therefore part of the plot complications (i.e. the one where Sulu and a landing party are on the surface of a cold planet and "ion storms" or something are keeping them there). There are episodes where a malfunctioning teleporter is part of the plot complications (the one where Kirk gets split into two moral halves).
Which, if memory serves, are the same episode. But I agree with your point. If part of the problem is that the transporters don't work than the hosing is central to the plot. I think I managed this in Writ in Tooth and Claw where the planet's strange energy field prevented safe beaming, so the away team went down in a shuttlecraft, only to be attacked by increasingly hostile predators while losing mental control themsevles. In this case the lack of transporters was a clue to the larger plot (the energy field, which was also casuing aggressive, irrational behavior). Yes, it was a conscious decision on the GMs part to up the stakes by stranding the away team on the surface, but it wasn't a bolt-on hosing.
Of course, to players with a Military/Tactical mindset it would be all too easy to see the aggressive animals as the core threat, ignoring or embracing the GM's direction for more aggressive behavior. If they never identify the larger problem then all they can see is the GM hosing them by denying them a handy tactical tool that would help win fights.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2007-09-05 03:32 pm (UTC)Which, if memory serves, are the same episode. But I agree with your point. If part of the problem is that the transporters don't work than the hosing is central to the plot. I think I managed this in Writ in Tooth and Claw where the planet's strange energy field prevented safe beaming, so the away team went down in a shuttlecraft, only to be attacked by increasingly hostile predators while losing mental control themsevles. In this case the lack of transporters was a clue to the larger plot (the energy field, which was also casuing aggressive, irrational behavior). Yes, it was a conscious decision on the GMs part to up the stakes by stranding the away team on the surface, but it wasn't a bolt-on hosing.
Of course, to players with a Military/Tactical mindset it would be all too easy to see the aggressive animals as the core threat, ignoring or embracing the GM's direction for more aggressive behavior. If they never identify the larger problem then all they can see is the GM hosing them by denying them a handy tactical tool that would help win fights.