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What Alien Races do you allow for PCs?

Just a few suggestions, I can understand your view point.

My campaign hasn't had that problem since its TNE based. Although it was difficult to get anyone to play something other than a human rogue. Hence,
I punish HRs with a dose of reality from time to time (not that they're not having a great time).

Actually, if you could get 1 humans you'd have a Farscape like group makeup. It could be great fun. The ref could beat them up for making human assumptions on a regular basis.

Savage
 
So far, I've allowed (basically) Vargr and Bwaps as PCs. Though I'm still trying to figure out how to work the base culture.
 
Originally posted by Savage:
Just a few suggestions, I can understand your view point.

My campaign hasn't had that problem since its TNE based. Although it was difficult to get anyone to play something other than a human rogue. Hence,
I punish HRs with a dose of reality from time to time (not that they're not having a great time).

Actually, if you could get 1 humans you'd have a Farscape like group makeup. It could be great fun. The ref could beat them up for making human assumptions on a regular basis.

Savage
I am so lucky.

At least one of my PCs will be human. He wants to play a hotshot pilot type.

Plus since there are only three PCs I will sprinkle at least one NPC character that will be human.

It should balance out even if the other player does an alien.
 
I routinely allow Solomani, Vilani, Zhodani, Vargr, Newt, Aslan (Both cultural enclave and imperialized, as well as culturally aslan of other races), Virush, Dolphin, and a number of human minor races (including specifically Darmine). A few trustworthy players have been allowed to play droyne. One played a dandy. One played a solomani uplifted Ship's bobcat... Damncat! Even the mention of the character makes the player blush...

I'd run a hiver campaign if my players were different.
I've run a mini-campaign with K'Kree.

Ships Bobcat:

Str: 1d6+1d3 (C Max)
Dex: 3d3+3 (halved for manipulating obejcts, H Max)
End: 2d3+1 (9 Max)
Int: 1d3 (6 Max)
Edu: 1d3 (6 Max)
Soc: 1d3-2 (5 Max, refers to imperial society, may be -1)
Party: 0 (Max 0)
Char: 1d3 (Max F. Used for other cats and for vargr. half used as effective soc for friends and informal situations where seen as sentient)

additional notes: claws were rearranged and toes extended slightly. Front: 2 forward, 2 rear obliques, dewclaw. Rears 2 forward, 1 inside, one rear. Can not speak galanglic, but can learn it. Hearing range superior to humans, penalties halved for darkness. Genetically immune to space sickenss. Not known to be sentient until 1060. Dewclaws do damage as aslan dewlaws; teeth and claws useable, as well. All solomain designed firearms for bobcats are head mounted body, snub, or autopistols. (Anything with higher recoil was unsafe.) Imperial designed weapons include the accellerator rifle, snub, body, and autopistols, gauss pistol, laser pistol, laser carbine, SMG, and gauss rifle; pistols are either head mounts or two front paws; rifles are slung under the chest, and can be aimed with any two paws. Cats can walk upright for Dex Minutes. All 4 paws can grip. Walk (upright) spd 1, walk 4 foot spd 4. Can not run upright, but can run and sprint on all fours. Walkign upright isn't so much tiring as unsatble.

Aging, terms: terms are two years. Use the humman aging tables for CT/MT, but ignore the years. Base age is 2 for 0 terms. Charisma loss rolled every term, 2d for 6+ to avoid for terms 0-6, 9+ thereafter

Initial skills by career:
Any: (Personal Development)
1 Physical*
2 Physical*
3 Dex
4 mental*
5 Charisma
6 infighting.

Wild:
1 recon
2 hunting
3 infighting
4 stealth
5 survival
6 persuasion
Survival: 7+, DM+1 End 6+, DM +1 Dex 8+
Spl Duty: 7+

Ship's Cat (Service Skill: Vacc Suit)
1 Zero-G Combat
2 Zero-G Environment
3 Security* (Stealth, Recon, Sensors, Tactics)
4 CatCombat* (Gun combat, infighting)
5 vacc suit (Or battledress if already held)
6 spacecat* ( Vacc suit, Ship's Boat, Grav Belt, Battle Dress, Linguistics, Jac-O-T)
Survival 6+, DM +2 if Int 3+
Spl Duty: 5+

Guard Cat (Service Skill: Intimidate)
1 Str or End
2 Physical*
3 Interpersonal*
4 Cat Combat*
5 Hunting or Recon
6 Vice*
Survival 6+, DM +2 Str7+
Spl Duty: 7+

Rogue Cat (Service Skill Jack-O-T)
1 Vice*
2 Cat Combat*
3 Academic*
4 Charisma or Mental*
5 Vice*
6 Inborn*
 
Originally posted by Aramis:

Ships Bobcat:

Str: 1d6+1d3 (C Max)
Dex: 3d3+3 (halved for manipulating obejcts, H Max)
End: 2d3+1 (9 Max)
Int: 1d3 (6 Max)
Edu: 1d3 (6 Max)
Soc: 1d3-2 (5 Max, refers to imperial society, may be -1)
Party: 0 (Max 0)
Char: 1d3 (Max F. Used for other cats and for vargr. half used as effective soc for friends and informal situations where seen as sentient)

That is one of the coolest custom PC allowable aliens ever.

I might just have to try that out as a NPC or something.

I can't imagine letting a player try a K'Kree though since they are so darn big. A K'kree in a human starship sounds too much like trying to drag a centaur to a dungeon crawl.

Referee says: "Sorry man your character just does not fit. You will have to stay outside. Graze or something while we play this out."
 
He wants to play a hotshot pilot type.
--ACK

Oh no not another "hotshot pilot". Yes. I have one of those. rogue, pilot, scout...

I tossed a few things their direction, piloting issues. I also have something lined up for future tests: Turbo Vipers. M-12 should seperate the pilots from the rest.

Savage
 
Originally posted by Savage:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr /> He wants to play a hotshot pilot type.
--ACK

Oh no not another "hotshot pilot". Yes. I have one of those. rogue, pilot, scout...

I tossed a few things their direction, piloting issues. I also have something lined up for future tests: Turbo Vipers. M-12 should seperate the pilots from the rest.

Savage
</font>[/QUOTE]He said something about Max Striker from Robotech of all things!

file_21.gif


Anyway, it is ok. I will deal. Needed a pilot anyway.

The wife of one player has never role-played before. She actually wants to role-play and we got into this because she (not him now) was bugging the guy to find people to get up a game.

It was his main concern about a chat game since the face to face game he thought was a better intro into the experience. I am very interested to see what kind of character she plays.

I have ideas for a couple of NPC's depending on what type of character she chooses. I want at least the set of skills needed to pilot out a scount courier.
 
Women and gaming. Gotta love it.
My wife does a little RPG. Prefers Shadowrun to everything...
Here's a few out our gaming groups' new player/ women gamer rules of thumb:
1. If she's never gamed I'd recommend giving a character type that's nothing like her personality.
2. Don't technically challenge female players unless they choose that character type.
3. Don't let them do interdependent married couple characters until their experienced.
4. Try to spend 10 minutes giving her a mini-adventure (her and an npc meet thugs or something) to help her grow into it without the other players.
5. We've found it to be positive to arrange for a second female player. It makes them more comfortable and they learn quicker.

Cheers,
Savage
 
Key thing about aliens like Dolphins and Ships Cats: Human medicine works well (Only -1, not the -2 of "real aliens"), they have advantages AND DISADVANTAGES, which essentially limit them to not being god-characters, despite some potentially high damage capabilities.

Make them available, and sooner or later, someone will want to play one... for the change in pace, or for the guy who's got a flaky (read aass on-call) work schedule.

BTW, some recent data suggests that all the small and medium cats WILL FORM PRIDES, if population density rises sufficiently with adequate food still available. This data is partly why I gave persuasion on the Wild table. I assume that, in a hostile environment, the uplifts are more gregarious than their natural cousins, and hence pack more readily. Note that "Wild" in this context really means "escaped into the wild a generation or two ago" rather than a naturally occuring popuation.
 
Originally posted by Aramis:


Make them available, and sooner or later, someone will want to play one... for the change in pace, or for the guy who's got a flaky (read aass on-call) work schedule.

That reminds me didn't you use to play a Grip game with Hunter?

Remember the Vargr "hotshot pilot"?

That was me.

My job schedule screwed my world up trying to play. Then I moved to VA and just now getting the chance to put things back together.

You guys still play?

I think the campaign was switching systems or something right at the end.
 
Originally posted by Aramis:
BTW, some recent data suggests that all the small and medium cats WILL FORM PRIDES, if population density rises sufficiently with adequate food still available. This data is partly why I gave persuasion on the Wild table. I assume that, in a hostile environment, the uplifts are more gregarious than their natural cousins, and hence pack more readily. Note that "Wild" in this context really means "escaped into the wild a generation or two ago" rather than a naturally occuring popuation.
Oddly enough, I remember seeing a TV show about a British wildlife biologist, on furlow from studying lions in Africa, who noticed the farm cats duplicating the same behaviors she had been documenting in lion prides.
 
Originally posted by ACK:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Aramis:


Make them available, and sooner or later, someone will want to play one... for the change in pace, or for the guy who's got a flaky (read aass on-call) work schedule.

That reminds me didn't you use to play a Grip game with Hunter?

</font>[/QUOTE]I've never played Traveller on-line. Ever. I have played in some Star Trek on-line games... but they all fizzled. I've run a Space 1889 that fizzled (RL hit me and my players all at the same time).

I don't use a wintel box, so I can't use GRIP anyway.

And as for hot-shot vargr pilots, have had a few play in my games over the years...

But more memorable were the Vargr Imperial Marine Cook (in the 1090's, using TNE), who killed a zhodani TM with his foot... (Critical hit to the head!)

... THe Vargr Journalist along on an RC exploration vessel (1213, Using TNE).

... The Vargr "Aslan" male who was such a hoot... getting all uppity about being Aslan, not "Barbarian".
 
Originally posted by Aramis:
I've never played Traveller on-line. Ever. I have played in some Star Trek on-line games... but they all fizzled. I've run a Space 1889 that fizzled (RL hit me and my players all at the same time).

I don't use a wintel box, so I can't use GRIP anyway.

And as for hot-shot vargr pilots, have had a few play in my games over the years...

But more memorable were the Vargr Imperial Marine Cook (in the 1090's, using TNE), who killed a zhodani TM with his foot... (Critical hit to the head!)

... THe Vargr Journalist along on an RC exploration vessel (1213, Using TNE).

... The Vargr "Aslan" male who was such a hoot... getting all uppity about being Aslan, not "Barbarian".
That is so weird. I know that Hunter was there. I believe he ran the game or a friend of his ran the game.

Odd, it was two years ago and I played it with them for over six months. Until RL smacked me. It was the only time I ever played with people that had any real history with traveller.

I had a real flaming arguement with Hunter about Visual Basic. I am not a real fan. Don't usually use a wintel box myself. I am a linux fan mostly but I have a deep respect for Mac design and a fondness for the tough nature of a Sun workstation.

But that is completely OT...

I liked playing a Vargr. His sole purpose in life was speed. He loved to pilot a ship or a grav vehicle. He took great pride in putting the ship on just the right spot coming out of jump etc.. He never understood the human need for running around completing tasks for no profit and little glory. But he was completely loyal to the Captain of the ship leader type and his buddy. The guy playing this human army type who kept getting into trouble.

He was the Shaggy to my Scooby if you will... Good times.
 
Originally posted by ACK:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Aramis:
I've never played Traveller on-line. Ever. I have played in some Star Trek on-line games... but they all fizzled. I've run a Space 1889 that fizzled (RL hit me and my players all at the same time).

I don't use a wintel box, so I can't use GRIP anyway.

And as for hot-shot vargr pilots, have had a few play in my games over the years...

But more memorable were the Vargr Imperial Marine Cook (in the 1090's, using TNE), who killed a zhodani TM with his foot... (Critical hit to the head!)

... THe Vargr Journalist along on an RC exploration vessel (1213, Using TNE).

... The Vargr "Aslan" male who was such a hoot... getting all uppity about being Aslan, not "Barbarian".
That is so weird. I know that Hunter was there. I believe he ran the game or a friend of his ran the game.

Odd, it was two years ago and I played it with them for over six months. Until RL smacked me. It was the only time I ever played with people that had any real history with traveller.

I had a real flaming arguement with Hunter about Visual Basic. I am not a real fan. Don't usually use a wintel box myself. I am a linux fan mostly but I have a deep respect for Mac design and a fondness for the tough nature of a Sun workstation.

But that is completely OT...

I liked playing a Vargr. His sole purpose in life was speed. He loved to pilot a ship or a grav vehicle. He took great pride in putting the ship on just the right spot coming out of jump etc.. He never understood the human need for running around completing tasks for no profit and little glory. But he was completely loyal to the Captain of the ship leader type and his buddy. The guy playing this human army type who kept getting into trouble.

He was the Shaggy to my Scooby if you will... Good times.
</font>[/QUOTE]Well, rest assured, I've never gamed with Hunter, either... Don't even have a clue what he looks like, other than presumeably Homo Sapiens sapiens, and somewhat absent minded. Can tell he's got a temper....

Seriously, tho, many GM's don't run terribly "humanocentric" traveller games.

Sadly, since the playtest for T20, I've played two multi-session Traveller adventures, one of which I was a player in. Shadowbear ran that game, I played a Female Aslan Doctor. Basic Murder Mystery, stolen liberally from any number of victorian "Murder aboard Ship" mysteries. I had fun, but the character had no real tie to the other charaters, and so wandere off in search of a husband.

The other, well, I ran a military game set DURING the 5FW... a Marine Regiment, the cadre of which were all PC's. Take and Hold this world. (world was a reeducation camp. Haha!)

The real trick to aliens in traveller is to NOT have tthe blasse, star-wars-esque, "Oh, so which race are you? And your Friend?" An aslan, cultural or physical, is a very DISTINCT physiotype, clearly NOT an ape. People don't react like aslan.

A vargr is a whole different animal, pun intended. We are programmed to distrust groups of dogs, but trust lone dogs. Almost genetically. Some people will treat vargr as "talking pets", some as equals, some as thugs in fursuits.

Aslan inspire fear, pride, and martial competence. It is a stereotype put forth throughout the game, and one that the books don't de-emphasize, despite pointing out that most aslan are not warriors. One that is held for over a thousand years in the Imperium. Most imperials KNOW what an aslan is. Whether or not he's safe to talk to is another matter.

Vargr are likewise know of throughout the imperium. As are Hivers, K'Kree, virush, newts, and geonee. Possibly several others. But they are KNOWN, as in, "I might never seen one of em, but I seen pictures". As in, odd enough to arouse curiousity, but not so odd as to be unidentifiable. Dolphins, chimps. Ursa, Graytch, Ael Yael, and others, well, not so well...

And most college educated individuals will have at least heard of the droyne.

IMTU, Knowing of the various races is a task; the follwoing by:
Majors: Vilani, Solomani, Zhodani, Hiver, Aslan, Vargr:
Auto, edu,
Semi-majors: Droyne, Sword Worlders, Darrians,
Simple, edu,
Significant Minors: Virush, Newt, Dolphin, Vegans, Non-biological aslan, Geonee, Ursas, Anything in home sector
Routine,, edu
Minors: Anything in same domain. Difficult, Edu
Trivial Minors: SDG chips, Orangs, Orcas, Chimps, jonkerer
Formidable, Edu
Insignificant minors: Vanjeen Chirpers, Dandies, Striders, other non-starfaring minor races.
Impossible, Edu

All the above:
DM +1 if History 2+
DM +1 if Anthopology 2+
DM +1 if College graduate
DM +1 addiional if scout or navy 2+ terms.
Auto if speak their language
Shift down one level if within 20 PC of one of their worlds.
Shift down one more level if within 6PC of one of their worlds.
 
Originally posted by Aramis:


An aslan, cultural or physical, is a very DISTINCT physiotype, clearly NOT an ape. People don't react like aslan.

A vargr is a whole different animal, pun intended. We are programmed to distrust groups of dogs, but trust lone dogs. Almost genetically. Some people will treat vargr as "talking pets", some as equals, some as thugs in fursuits.

....

And most college educated individuals will have at least heard of the droyne.
Ok, you hit on a couple of good points. I had one lady PC who played a female Aslan who went Imperial all the way to escape the stiff sex roles and actually be more martial. She did not want all the responsibility of thinking for the guys blah..blah.. They were Imperial Aslan all the way from the start but usually Aslan stay apart with family ties in place. Not her ... she dumped all that and ran hard.

The vargr thing was fun because I had played it as a minor pack leader thing with the captian and I ended up covering my buddy's back during most ground ops.

People take stereotype roles either too far in RPGs becoming overacting drama queens or ignore the roles and the idea that the aliens are different and just the play the alien like another human character.

It is hard to find a balance. I think a couple of other characters were alarmed I would argue with the captain occasionally in non-combat discussions before doing what he wanted. Like I was supposed to be his panting pet or something.

I have a character who wants to play a Droyne in Imperial space, a warrior caste no less. He has never played Traveller before.

What the hell do I tell him for advice in how to play the character?
 
Originally posted by ACK:

People take stereotype roles either too far in RPGs becoming overacting drama queens or ignore the roles and the idea that the aliens are different and just the play the alien like another human character.
that is the whole issue, tho. I would rather have the racial stereotype played than have "Man in suit" aliens.

I have a character who wants to play a Droyne in Imperial space, a warrior caste no less. He has never played Traveller before.

What the hell do I tell him for advice in how to play the character?
ask him to play something human first... I don't let players in their first Traveller charactr play non-humans.

Failing, that, ask him to read the correct AM. And if you don't feel the character is being plyed responsibly, take it away and replace it with a human.

Seriously, tho, i'd have disallowed that aslan... If you aren't playing the alien mind set, don't play the alien. Now, if it developed that way in play, that's good drama.

Likewise, I've allowed non-pacifist virushi in my games. But only to players who have played the "Normal" pacificst virushi first, and to my satisfaction. (In one case, a virush snapped when his NPC buddy was callously killed by a street thug... after handing over the wallet and the shopping... said thug survived, but only becuase the player had the virush come to remorse WAY quick.)
 
Originally posted by Aramis:
ask him to play something human first... I don't let players in their first Traveller charactr play non-humans.

Failing, that, ask him to read the correct AM. And if you don't feel the character is being plyed responsibly, take it away and replace it with a human.

Seriously, tho, i'd have disallowed that aslan... If you aren't playing the alien mind set, don't play the alien. Now, if it developed that way in play, that's good drama.

Likewise, I've allowed non-pacifist virushi in my games. But only to players who have played the "Normal" pacificst virushi first, and to my satisfaction. (In one case, a virush snapped when his NPC buddy was callously killed by a street thug... after handing over the wallet and the shopping... said thug survived, but only becuase the player had the virush come to remorse WAY quick.)
The woman who played the aslan should have been a drama major. A big part of what made her character is that she did understand the aslan mindset and was played the internal conflict she went through in rebelling against her sex roles to a T. OMG, she went through this whole shame period of her rebellion after getting verbally blasted by a Aslan leader she deeply respected.

I could definetly point him to the AM since there is an incredible store right near where I live and not outrageously far for him where they have all the CT reprints, Gurps and even some of the T20 stuff.
 
Originally posted by Savage:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr /> I have a character who wants to play a Droyne in Imperial space, a warrior caste no less. He has never played Traveller before.
---ACK


You've got guts for letting that happen.
</font>[/QUOTE]The guy is a good role-player from the one-offs we have been in. But...

I know what you mean.

I wanted to give them some choices besides human but a Droyne mindset might be a bit too much.

I let it happen. He did not push. I could have said no. He got got excited about the opportunity to role-play a real alien feeling creature. I love it when the players eyes light up a role-playing opportunity as opposed to another gadget or something. I am silly sucker for that stuff.

I have explained to him the caste system. I have explained the lack of personal intitiative in many of the caste roles. I explained about acknowledge the caste slave mentality and balancing that with having fun role-playing the character.

I hope I have not made a big mistake.
 
. He got got excited about the opportunity to role-play a real alien feeling creature.
ACK

That's always tough. I saw my merc ship captain act that way when he saw his first capital ship.

Suprised, that I have no real Alien contenders. I suppose you should see it as luck and enjoy it. Players will always destroy the environment they're in. Its natural. Defining the relationships are tough for you. They don't have a lot in common.

Savage
 
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