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A Strategema game in progress.

A Strategema game in progress.

Strategema was a complex, holographic board game played in the 24th century.

Specifics

Popular with Vulcans and Zakdorn, Strategema was a fast-paced game requiring two players of keen intellect. Players competed to control territory on the opponent's board while defending their own, manifested as three-dimensional grids. Games were often played in public, with spectators betting on the outcome. (Last Unicorn RPG module: Raiders, Renegades & Rogues)

A self-contained holographic generator projected the game board. Players moved circular icons using silver connections that were attached to their fingers and thumbs, so it required a high level of hand dexterity. Early phases of the game, or plateaux, moved more slowly, but later plateaux increased the pace of gameplay to a frantic level. It was a popular game across the galaxy. (Star Trek: The Magazine vol. 2, Issue 4: "Briefing: Games and Sports")

Evenly-matched players were known to make more than 1,000 moves in one game. (TNG episode: "Peak Performance")

It was nearly impossible to defeat a Zakdorn grand master of Strategema. (Last Unicorn RPG modules: Star Trek: The Next Generation Core Game Book, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Core Game Book)

History

As a young boy, William T. Riker enjoyed playing strategma, along with parrises squares, poker, and racquetball. (TLE novel: Deny Thy Father)

In the 2360s decade, Sirna Kolrami was a third-level grand master. In 2365, Riker invited him to play a game, but lost after having made just 23 moves. Katherine Pulaski suggested that Data play him instead. In their first match, Kolrami won 100 to 81, teaching Data that it was possible in life to make no mistakes and still lose. In a rematch, Data opted to play for a stalemate rather than a victory, a strategy that allowed the game to take more than 32,000 moves before Kolrami quit in frustration. Worf observed that this was the first time Strategema players had made that many moves. (TNG episode: "Peak Performance")

In 2380, Riker mused that a victory at chess was more emotionally rewarding than winning Strategema. (TTN novel: The Red King)

In 2381, Brad Boimler suggested playing a Strategema tournament aboard the USS Cerritos. (LD episode: "wej Duj")

Later that year, the Federation News Network reported that a six-year-old Zakdorn had become a grandmaster. (LD episode: "Grounded")

Beckett Mariner recalled playing Strategema as a kid. In 2381, she told Boimler that she never lost. (LD video game: The Badgey Directive episode: "Pique Performance")

Appendices

Appearances and references

Appearances

References

External links