What's your fav. alien and why?

[Jame]

I think that my favorite actual alien species would be either the Aslan, Hivers or Ithklur. The K'kree would make a good opponent group.

My favorite Human culture would be first the Zhodani, and then the Vilani (me speaking as a Solly, which precludes thinking of Sollies as an alien culture).

 

[Fulminata]

I like all the major race Traveller aliens. I think they are some of the most developed alien races in sci fi. If forced to choose I'd have to say Vargr, Aslan, and Zhodani in that order.

The Vargr are alien enough that they are not just a human in a furry suit, but not so alien that you can't get your mind around their behavior and motivations. Same thing goes for the Aslan. I like the Zhodani culture and the idea that it is either paradise or hell depending on your point of view.

I don't know of any alien races that I'd import into the Traveller universe, but when I ran other games, I often exported some of the Traveller races to them.

 

[plop101]

Also, as another expansion of the original topic, but in a different direction, what races from outside Traveller would you import into Traveller, and why? (And what's the source of said race?)

Hmmm.

Pentapods [from 2300] Why? So my PC's can buy strange looking equipment from them.

More seriously, I'd love to see Ppods and Hivers when they first contact each other; that would/could be interesting.

Centauri [from Babylon 5] Why? The Imperial Court is sooo boring. Can't you just see Lando Molari chortling and back slapping Noris and Strephon.

Ullerians [from H.Beam Pipers Uller Uprising] Why? Read the cover blurb:
"The Ulleran soldier: silicon body, four arms, lizards head. The Terrans are too far from home to laugh."

I'd rather have them than the Sydites and the Saurians.

The Worm Guys [from Men in Black I and II] Why?
To torment the merchant PC's of course. Just imagine these guys as passengers.
"Once you know Worm, thats what you'll yearn!"

Maybe others as I think about it...

 

[bromdenlong]

In a game called Gamma World, there is an animal called a Podog - an oversized mastiff that can mimic the sounds its prey makes.

I swiped 'em and called 'em Scottmastiffs (Canis Schwerdtfeger-Scott). They were created at the same time as the Vargr by the ancients from Terran canid stock. (I know, I know, no mastiffs 300,000 years ago - they just look like one). They were placed on the Vargr homeworld along with the Vargr as an experiment in competitive evolution. The Vargr had working hands, and tools. The mastiffs had advantages of their own, however. They average something like 600 pounds. They are fully sentient - human level intelligence - equivalent to the Vargr. They are much better at cooperation - they aren't forever breaking away and forming splinter groups. They can speak - their own language is musical. Psionically, they can only be telepaths, but they do not lose psi points with age, and so can be trained at any age. 2D6 for psi points. they age at the same rate as humans, 'cause I didn't feel inventive about that.

They have an uncanny intuitive skill at figuring out almost any social situation involving all kinds of species, perhaps in part because they tried so many societal forms themselves before finally being conquered by the Vargr. The Vargr only managed to subdue them a few generations before developing jump drive. (They could have done so much earlier, but for their lack of large-scale cooperation.) The mastiffs only submitted to slavery when it became apparent that they would otherwise go extinct. They are not resigned to it, but it is hard to fight against gun-armed enemies with your teeth, even if they are a few inches long - and the Vargr seldom take them into space, except to provide stock for new planets. obviously, they can't operate vehicles of any kind unless they can be voice-controlled, and so IMTU the Vargr have very sophisticated voice-recognition technology for any given tech level to prevent mastiff access to forbidden equipment, installations and the like.

The mastiffs are not numerous - the Vargr don't use them for much except as guard dogs, and as draft animals in lower-tech environments sometimes. They don't use them as war dogs - it's too dangerous to let the Mastiffs socialize in large groups - they organize themselves too easily.

More later.

 

[grendelttroll]

I guess it would be Vargr for me, then Human, then K'kree. I just love the fact that vegans are not always the peace-loving flower children we think they are!!

 

[Jame]

Now, since the Lone Star Restaurant serves Humans to Vargr, we Humans should be allowed to eat Vargr in order to establish "deep and lasting dialogue!" Problem is, there aren't any recipies that I know of - mainly because Vargr are as likely as not to be unpalatable, and require massive processing.

 

[Jame]

On a more serious note, my favorite non-Terran culture in Traveller is that of the Zhodani - tall, dark and possibly psionic women, yum!

 

[Liam Devlin]

Originally posted by Jeff Zeitlin:
While this topic is quite interesting in and of itself, let's go into a bit more depth: Never mind which race you like best; there's gotta be a reason. What qualities do you like in a race?

In the Aslan, their sense of Honor. Also their culture which has gender specific roles/ language- the males do their thing, and the ladies tend to finanaces (ain't it the truth in RL!?). The Primogeniture ensures an ever expanding role for the ihatei like the second sons of medieval Terra..go forth and carve out your own future and legends! A steady source of Aslan adventurers!

In the Vargr, the fluid politics of prestige and Pack mentality of charisma. Chaos in the flesh to many observers "outside" the race. But a natural extension of cause/ effect of darwinism (and some Ancient's hocus pocus!).

The Bwap, for their byzantine adherence to "everyone knows their place, and which piece of paperwork goes where (although the Z'tachk of Hiver Space nearly matches them, they are humanoid, and more numerous)".

The ZHodani, I admire them for their stability of their society, and adherence to the clause that the gifted must look after the non gifted. A meriticracy of psionics functioning as a democracy (if ye have Psi- ye have a voice/ vote. If not, prepare to be lead by those superior to you! ANy questions, see the nice men from Tvarchedl over there...).

 

[plop101]

Jamie writes:

On a more serious note, my favorite non-Terran culture in Traveller is that of the Zhodani - tall, dark and possibly psionic women, yum! [Devil]

This is the Thought Police. Please report to the nearest reeducation center. Thankyou for your cooperation.

 

[daryen]

Originally posted by Liam Devlin:

The ZHodani, I admire them for their stability of their society, and adherence to the clause that the gifted must look after the non gifted. A meriticracy of psionics functioning as a democracy (if ye have Psi- ye have a voice/ vote. If not, prepare to be lead by those superior to you! ANy questions, see the nice men from Tvarchedl over there...).

The one thing about the Zhodani that really creeps me out (which, from a metagame view, is good) is that the Proles HAVE to be happy. If you are unhappy, then you are "sick" and have to be "healed". <shudder>

Think about the full implications of that for a while.

 

[Liam Devlin]

Ah, but isn't it a better place with happy shiny faces as opposed to grouchy unhappy ones? The Zhodani Consulate has a lot of pluses fer it. The Soviet style CT era viewpoint of it that gamers came away with was contrary to Marc Miller's original script-still, the idea that at any time someone is rading yer brain would tend to keep the mischief down, and make any mischief lovin Imperial very paranoid! Bryan Gibson related a chat he had with Marc over this at a con once. Very insightful!

As we have seen!

 

[Liam Devlin]

Originally posted by Jeff Zeitlin:
Also, as another expansion of the original topic, but in a different direction, what races from outside Traveller would you import into Traveller, and why? (And what's the source of said race?)

________________________________________________
Separate question/ separate post:

The Kif.(reptilian guys) Someone with more charisma/ prestige leads the posse, more cutthroat than the Vargr! YUS!!! From CJ Cherryh's Chanur series\

The Mehendosaht (ape like beings), also from CJ Cherryh's Chanur series. Gota follow the exact letter of the what they're sayin, or the deal is another thing entirely!

The methane breathers ( two species the names were inpronounceable)-CJ Cherryh's Chanur series. Why? cuz their cool, crazy, and no one is mad enough to cross them!

The ATevi, a tall humanoid race that thinks numerically, and by "associations"; where the law is adjudicated by the all black wearing Assassin's guild. Extremely well detailed race. VERY alien. No concept of love. Manchi/ duty/ fealty/ loyalty, yes. Love those fortunate numbers! Way to wicked not to use!

Bryan Gibson's race D'Kelva. Very well detailed, short, fast, dexterity racial max(T20) out to 24??, poor stamina(endurance). Masters of ambushes. They state, they act. No bluff mechanism at all. Several castes/ tribes/ predominate. Clan oriented/ status is all...more? ye better get permission from BG! they're his.

 

[Jame]

Since the Tavrchedl' can use their fancy mind tricks to convince their masses to be happy, there's no problem, now, is there?

COME on, you too-tall humorless FREAKS, come and GET me! YOU'LL ONLY FIND THAT YOU MUST TRAIN MY PSIONIC GIFTS!!!!

Ha. Ha ha. Hah hah hah! Buah hah hah hah hah hah hah hah!

 

[hirch duckfinder]

vargr . cos they're so ridiculous and so believable at the same time .

 

[Liam Devlin]

Originally posted by Jame:
Since the Tavrchedl' can use their fancy mind tricks to convince their masses to be happy, there's no problem, now, is there? COME on, you too-tall humorless FREAKS, come and GET me! YOU'LL ONLY FIND THAT YOU MUST TRAIN MY PSIONIC GIFTS!!!!Ha. Ha ha. Hah hah hah! Buah hah hah hah hah hah hah hah!

--------------------------------------------------
Now the Answerin of Vland Sector, a minor human race there, live in a society where fear is deemed a mental disorder, treatable, of course, should you display any...and enforced by state & cultural policy.
The 1st Imperium used them for their Marines aboard starships in the Nth interstellar wars, and their conquests prior to that...

How are they any different from the Tvarchedl?
Nec Aspera terrent!
(Latin for "No fear on Earth", motto of my former regiment, btw)

 

[Falkayn]

My personal favourites (not already mentioned by Liam) are both ones by CJ Cherryh, and in both cases I like them because of their warrior spirit and sense of honour:

Shonunin The alien race who raised a Human child from genetic material extracted from the sole survivor of a Human starship that entered their star system and was destriyed by them. Especially cool are the Hatani, a caste of roving judges and solver of problems. Very divided and in constant conflict.
From: Cuckoo's Egg

Mri A race of alien warriors who survive by becoming the ultimate mercenaries. They are slowly dying out and eventually make the long trek back to their long lost homeworld. Very rigid culturally and adhering to a strict (if weird) moral code.
From: The Faded Sun Trilogy

 

[Liam Devlin]

Three cheers to Falkayn! I had forgotten the Shonunin/ Hatani & Mri! Kudos!

(been over 12 years since I read em, and it shows. Still, no one in fiction I know, does aliens quite like CJ does. )

 

[Jame]

CJ Cherryh does write a believable alien. The only thing I got of her's is "The Chanur Saga", which is a collection ( ) of the Chanur books. I never got into it, though that was partly because I wanted each book separately...

I really dislike separate books being put together when they were originally not; this may be because either I or the book publishers put pressure on myself/me to read the whole thing without any due pause.

 

[Jame]

CJ Cherryh does write a believable alien. The only thing I got of her's is "The Chanur Saga", which is a collection ( ) of the Chanur books. I never got into it, though that was partly because I wanted each book separately...

I really dislike separate books being put together when they were originally not; this may be because either I or the book publishers put pressure on myself/me to read the whole thing without any due pause. I want to be able to read one book and see if I want the others, too.