Nearly 30 years after its series finale, many Star Trek fans still see Star Trek: The Next Generation as the best series in the franchise. Another property with a dedicated longtime fan base is Dungeons & Dragons, especially with the upcoming D&D movie, Honor Among Thieves.
A Star Trek tabletop game does exist, bur the archetypes for the likes of Picard, Riker, and Data just have so much potential for roleplaying in D&D. These builds aren’t so much about copying their “powers” so much as it is evoking the essence of their characters in D&D's medieval fantasy setting.
Capt. Jean-Luc Picard: Knowledge Cleric 2/Inquisitive Rogue 18
Jean-Luc Picard, alongside the legendary James Tiberius Kirk, is considered one of the best captains that the Enterprise crew has ever had. A polymath, diplomat, and all-around cultured badass, Jean-Luc is a lot more cerebral than the emotionally charged Captain Kirk. This is reflected by the way he leads. Start with Cleric for the armor proficiencies and saving throws in Wisdom and Charisma, to showcase Picard’s iron will.
The Knowledge Cleric levels should cover the “polymath” aspect well, with the bonus proficiencies being in Arcana and History. Inquisitive Rogue fits the tactical mind of Picard really well and plays into his penchant for playing the sleuth in many episodes. The Observant feat would be wise to take, for even better investigative skills. Expertise in Persuasion and Insight should be the priority.
Commander William Riker - Valor Bard 6/Swashbuckler Rogue 14
In sharp contrast to the OG number two that was Spock, Commander William Riker is more of a Kirk than Picard ever was. A space ace with a penchant for romantic one-offs, Riker perfectly fits the stereotypes associated with Bards. Valor Bard perfectly fits his martial talents, and his capacity to invigorate his crew in battle.
Spells to pick up that would still fit Riker would be Friends, Vicious Mockery, Charm Person, Heroism, and Enhance Ability. Going Bard up to 6th level grants Riker Extra Attack, and from this point, one should pick up Swashbuckler Rogue. Few people can boast to be as snarky as Riker was, and Swashbuckler is pretty much geared toward roasting opponents (and sometimes allies) in battle.
Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge - Battle Smith Artificer 20
Geordi LaForge is the resident engineer of the technologically advanced Enterprise, and his habit of stating some impossible engineering feat, only to do it a few moments later, showcases why Geordi is the quintessential Artificer. Battle Smith is probably the best fit, and Geordi’s Steel Defender could be an adorable mini “Enterprise”.
The flavor could be that the “Enterprise” is shaped like the advanced seafaring ship that he is a caretaker of. For feats, Observant is a must, as this reflects his ability to see solutions where there are seemingly none. For infusions, Enhanced Arcane Focus, Mind Sharpener, Goggles of Night, Wand of Magic Detection, Lantern of Revealing, and other “sight”-based powers work best for Geordi’s unique visor. Flash of Genius is pretty much what Geordi is most famous for too.
Lt. Commander Worf - Samurai Fighter 20
Out of all the technologically advanced races in Star Trek’s history, the Klingons are the ones who’d be most at home in a fantastical world of martial combat. Samurai Fighter’s feature perfectly represents the traits that Klingons are most known for. Namely, their tireless Fighting Spirit yet unexpectedly sharp mind for diplomacy (if they feel like doing so, which is rare).
For race, Klingons would be best flavored as Orcs. In particular, the Aggressive trait evokes Worf’s reckless tendency to rush into battle. Feats to take would be Tough, as Worf, despite usually getting beat by the monster of the week, recovers with nothing more than a few scratches afterward.
Doctor Beverly Crusher - Thief Rogue 3/Life Cleric 17
Beverly Crusher is a sharp contrast to the more abrasive McCoy of old. While both are stubborn in their own way, Crusher, despite her name, is as gentle as it comes. She’s dedicated to her role of healing, and Life Cleric best suits that character archetype. The Thief Rogue levels are taken specifically for Expertise in Medicine and the Fast Hands feature.
When paired with the Healer feat, Fast Hands allows Crusher to heal up her comrades even without the use of magic. That being said, Crusher is never one to turn away the best methods available, and in the Forgotten Realms, that just so happens to be magic. Life Cleric’s features are all geared towards maximizing her healing output.
Counselor Deanna Troi - Aberrant Mind Sorcerer 20
Porting Deanna Troi into 5e is a bit of a challenge, especially given her “stating the obvious” status for most of the early seasons. However, that just means the player can finally lean into the empath aspect of Deanna Troi’s character. High Charisma fits Deanna for obvious reasons. So, Aberrant Mind sorcerer fits her innate psionic abilities best.
Her race would be Half-Elf, seeing as “Betazoid” isn’t an option in the Forgotten Realms. For feats, The Alert feat is a good one to pick up. Deanna Troi also tends to get possessed by all manner of cosmic beings due to her powers, so stuff like Revelation in the Flesh and Warping Implosion could just be side effects of those.
Lt. Reginald Barclay - Artificer 2 /Illusion Wizard 18
Lt. Reginald Barclay is one of the most unassuming members of the Enterprise crew, but he’s also one of the most beloved. Despite his obsession with holograms, Barclay is nevertheless a competent engineer. That said, to evoke his character in 5e, an Illusion Wizard that starts out as an Artificer would make the most sense.
The Artificer levels are for technical know-how. Illusion Wizard could be Barclay’s obsession with the Holodeck translating into illusions in the fantasy world of Dungeons & Dragons. After all, the Holodeck at many points got so advanced that it could have been mistaken for reality. Illusion magic in Dungeons & Dragons falls well under that umbrella.
Guinan - Divination Wizard 20
Guinan is the mysterious and wise bartender of the Ten Forward lounges. She is most famous for her prophetic quips and absurdly large hat. Guinan is so ageless and well-knowledged that Q of all people finds her intimidating. Mainly, because she’s one of the only few people who can peer into the future, something that even Q finds unsettling.
Divination Wizard is the best fit for Guinan’s powers and mystique. The Alert feat should be taken to reflect how stoic and unsurprised Guinan is by all the wacky misadventures of the Enterprise crew. Portent is easily flavored as Guinan’s wisdom and unnatural abilities ensure that she knows the best course of action at any given time.
Ensign Ro Laren - Scout Rogue 3/Battle Master Fighter 17
Ro Laren was a surprise hit among fans despite being a “bit character” in her introduction. Her beauty, fierceness, and snark made her a dark horse in an already stacked cast of loveable characters. She’s often involved in expeditions where a fight is expected. Add to that Ro Laren’s graduation from Advanced Tactical Training, Ro Laren is a perfect fit for Battle Master.
All the maneuvers are just the stuff she learned from her course studies. Of course, she’s not just a fighter. She was in the academy, after all, so she also has a surprising depth of knowledge which is represented by the Scout Rogue levels. The Expertise gained in Nature and Survival certainly fit her specialty, as seen in the episode “Rascals” where she was able to identify a rare plant at a glance, much to Keiko’s surprise.
Lt. Commander Data - Knowledge Cleric 20
Arguably the most beloved character of The Next Generation, Data is the seemingly cold android who nevertheless learns to love the humans he spends time around. His most iconic trait is his vast intelligence, and no class is better at gaining knowledge than the Knowledge Cleric. For race, those running Eberron obviously should pick Warforged.
In the Forgotten Realms, one could flavor Data as Goliath, to represent his superior strength and durability compared to humans. Think of him as a “golem” created by Wizards. From there, all the Knowledge Cleric features are very well-suited for his encyclopedic knowledge. To maximize this even further, take the Skill Expert feat to gain more proficiencies and expertise. Priority should be on Arcana, History, Nature, Investigation, and Perception.