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Typhon Station is a very fastpaced PBeM RPG with skilled, experienced
players and a warm sense of bonding and community. We play at the
turn-of-the-century, 2400, and are located in the Typhon Expanses,
bordering the Neutral Zone, proximate to the Romulan Empire, and near
the Iconian Digs, and are on the first warning route of the original
Borg Incursion.
We have three stations to post from, SB 185, USS Odyssey, and USS
Wraith. They all have general and particular storylines and all
interact. This game is not for the faint of heart! The writing is
superb and comes hot and heavy. We have some open spots and also we
will consider character suggestions. So, longtime RPGers and novices,
check us out. See if you want to make Typhon Station your home away
from home.
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Posted:
08:37:22 on June 19 2002
By: Steve Krutzler
Dept: TrekWeb Features
Collectibles Reviews
Written for TrekWeb by Nicholas J. Roche
Hello again everyone! As we spend the summer woefully awaiting both more ENTERPRISE and a new TREK feature, I’ve just gotten a new batch of items to review!
The main items this time around are the Official COMMUNICATOR replicas of the TOS STANDARD UNIFORMS. If you’ve seen the “prototypes” in the magazine, FORGET IT. The actual pieces look 10 times better. In fact, they look about 95% accurate to their original show counterparts.
The uniforms are all made of 100% polyester velour, with the appropriate—and extremely accurate--patch incorporated into each shirt. (I was told the patches are sewn on, but having turned each shirt inside out, I can’t tell where the shirt ends and the patch begins. It’s THAT seamless.) In addition, the colors on each shirt change color depending on the angle of the light hitting them. (Presumably, this explains why the uniforms were never the EXACT same color in each episode.)
In addition, the gold braid used for the ranks is not the same as that used on the show. But the Military Gold braid style they DID use actually looks a far sight better than the over-sized “rick rack” used on the show. The shirts only currently come in men’s sizes Medium to 3XL (no word on if or when the women’s miniskirt versions are coming), and they only come in Kirk (Command gold w/Captain’s solid-broken-solid rank stripes), Spock (Sciences blue w/ Commander’s stripes) or Scotty (Support Services red with Lt. Commander’s stripes) versions. A similar limitation in ranks was used for the old Rubies costume-style TOS Shirts, but that’s the ONLY true similarity here.
WORD OF WARNING: The sizes run a bit small, and the shirts are PURPOSELY short-waisted to match their onscreen inspirations. But the velour fabric is quite stretchy, and does give fairly well, except for the sleeves where the rank stripes are sewn. So the effect is quite accurate to the “skintight” look most of the uniforms are meant to have. (You’ll see this in the picture of me wearing a 2XL version of the Command shirt.) TRIVIA NOTE: I’m told the gold Command uniforms are custom-dyed, as the exact color fabric used for those tunics is no longer made.
INITIAL INTEREST: For someone who was raised on TOS as I was, it’s a cool alternative to the above-mentioned Rubies abominations OR any of those fan-made replicas you see for sale at cons and online. Would I have bought one for myself? Maybe, just for show. GRADE: B+
OVERALL QUALITY: I have yet to be truly disappointed with the quality of ANY of the COMMUNICATOR Uniform Replicas. As I said above, these are near-perfect replicas, with quality stitchwork and few drawbacks to the design. GRADE: A
INITIAL VALUE: It’s quality work, and yes, it carries a quality price. Sizes Medium, Large and XL run $85.00 (US), while 2XL and 3XL run $95.00. The 2XL I was given is snug but well fitting on my 280-lb. frame, so figure it from there. GRADE: A-
COLLECTIBILITY: You’ve heard me rip on counting clothing as a collectible before, so I won’t harp again here. I’ll just say if you’re gonna wear it on a regular basis, take care of it. GRADE: C- (feeling generous; they’re VERY well made)
OVERALL GRADE: B+. If you REALLY like Original Trek, you’ll REALLY like these shirts.
My only other two ‘objets d’Trek’ this time are the latest DVD offerings from Paramount: The STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION DVD BOXED SETS. I personally have obtained the first two sets, covering Seasons One and Two of the first TREK spin-off series. Granted, most everyone has taped these shows; either from when they first aired or the myriad times they were rerun PRIOR to their current go-round on TNN. (Can SOMEONE explain to me why they need those blasted black boxes at the bottom of EVERY show EXCEPT WWF—oops, sorry; now it’s WWE—RAW?) If not, you were forced to spend $15-$25 a tape for each episode from Paramount Home Video. (At 20+ episodes a season, that’s a chunk ‘o change.) Thankfully, having learned that we DON’T want episodes one or two at a time (as the TOS DVDs were put out), and possibly taking a cue from the boxed set releases of shows like FRIENDS and X-FILES, Paramount had the absolutely SPLENDID idea of releasing each season’s worth of episode in one shot, every other month for the rest of the year. (Meaning all 7 seasons will be on DVD by Xmas 2002!)
Now that I’ve commented on how GOOD the discs are, here’s how COLLECTIBLE the both sets are:
INITIAL INTEREST: I’ve got to admit I’ve fallen for the DVD format—for the most part. I feel that as long as the release has a good chunk of interesting extras, it’s worth adding to one’s collection. These do. GRADE: A+
OVERALL QUALITY: The episodes are in beautiful digital video quality, with your choice of Dolby 2.0 or 5.1 sound. The menus are eye-catching and easy to follow, for the most part. Although the menus on the Season 2 discs are a bit jazzier than those on the first set. GRADE: A
INITIAL VALUE: Most outlets—including our beloved TREKWEB—have the sets for a reasonable $100-$120 range price for the sets. However, I bought my two sets at my local Costco for a bit less--$95 for Season 1, and $90 for Season 2 (plus tax, of course.) GRADE: A
COLLECTIBILITY: As I said when I reviewed the STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE DVD, this new format is a great balance between watchability, archivability and collectibility. (Dunno if those are actual words, but they work for me! [G]) As for the additional materials, they’re mostly quelled from archival interviews on the first discs, but there’s a LOT of new material on the second set, including a MUST-SEE segment from TREK Prop Mistress Penny Juday. GRADE: A
OVERALL GRADE for both sets: A, even accounting for the unevenness of Season 1’s shows and the near-SPOCK’S BRAIN-ian SHADES OF GREY ending Season 2 (A CLIP SHOW? Come on…).
Well, that’s about it for now. Please look for my first non-collectible review of the new SEV TREK Movie PUS IN BOOTS, coming soon!
Again, thanks much to Steve and Sariah for dealing with the delay in this review, due to “real life” intervening once again! [G]
_NJR_ See you all soon!
You can purchase any of the exclusive STAR TREK: COMMUNICATOR items at FanMedia.com.
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