Any news from nerosfiddle? Any chance he might update the document a little with some of the suggestions from this thread? I really love this setting and hope it won't stagnate.

Grimwulf wrote:

I am very happy with the RAW. But I too would like to encourage nerosfiddle.

Absolutely - the RAW are great (hence why some of us are so hooked on the setting). I'm certainly not complaining but, at the same, I'd love to see the book go through another version just because nerosfiddle did a great job on the layout and his choice of art fits the setting perfectly.

Not sure if this has been mentioned before, but I would appreciate a list of Careers on the page before the detailed descriptions. It makes writing up characters and other tasks easier if I don't have to flip through virtual pages to make sure I remember all the pertinent careers.

This is just a tiny quibble, but it would make using the book, which I am really liking, that much easier.

I have been working on Aliens and Mutated Human [which I am called Gen-odes in my setting] Life forms.

Currently, my scheme is to define aliens in game terms with a series of Aspects that have positive and negative traits in the game. Some are more positive than negative, and the positive ones must be balanced by negative ones similarly to the Boons and Flaws. If a GM lets the players build their own, they get one positive aspect for free, the rest have to paid for with a negative aspect. In game, pre-generated life forms may not follow this formula however, some being more or less powerful than others. Players don't have to balance aspects on 'standard' races, but they must accept the 'package' of aspects for that race.

Players who choose to play an alien or gen-ode may do so by taking the boon 'Powerful Non-Human'. The boon does not confer abilities itself, but is a pre-requisite to play a non-human that is more powerful than a standard human. The Boon balances the 'free' positive aspect, or pays for the 'package' of a pre-existing race. For a race that is essentially human with odd ears, nose, etc. ['Star Trek' aliens] without other abilities, the boon is not necessary.

Here is an example:

Wulfen

A gen-ode species that is common enough and genetically stable enough to breed true, Wulfen are a hybrid species of humanoids with DNA splicing from the ancient wolves of Old Terra. Originally created as powerful front-line soldiers by the Free Nord League, Wulfen are strong and savage, ideal warriors, but commonly the subject of fear and prejudice in the modern era.

Positive Aspects - Large, Feral
Negative Aspects - Primitive, Berserk, Prejudicial treatment - Fear: from Large


Large – you are significantly larger, taller, bulkier and usually stronger than mere humans. You can carry three times as much as a human of your Strength, and gain an automatic +2 to Str [Current and Max]. You also gain a -1 to Defense. Many things will not be sized for you, articles to suit your size must be specially made. Using items or gear made for smaller manipulatory limbs your difficulty begins at Hard. You also gain the Negative Aspect 'Prejudicial Treatment – Fear', when in the presence of humans or many smaller creatures.
 
Feral – your behavior and physique are bestial, rather than intellectual. You approach problems directly, in a more animalistic fashion, rather than trying to think your way through them. Fortunately, you have the tools to succeed in your approach to ‘problem solving’. You have thick nails, talons, horns, fangs or tusks that add +1 to unarmed combat damage. You also add +2 to your roll for standard perception rolls. You make tests for abstract understanding or problem solving at hard. Careers rolls for similar knowledge are also affected.

Primitive – your mindset and technology is below standard. You may have come from a lost world with a low tech level, been raised as a savage or grew to adulthood as the lone survivor of a crash.  You begin play with more primitive gear, and you suffer from a weak understanding of how technology functions. All checks made for any but the simplest tasks with tech above your level, are made at Hard. So you could fire or reload a plasma gun without difficulty, but recharging the magnetic bottles of plasma is done at Hard.

Berserk – Your rage is terrible to behold and a danger to friend and foe. If you run out of enemies in melee combat, you will turn on the nearest friend or bystander unless you can roll Mind at Moderate. You may attempt to gain control of yourself each round.

Prejudicial Treatment – because of your race or appearance, others shun or fear you. If you are shunned, you are something of a social pariah, possibly along with you species [certain gen-odes suffer from this sort of Prejudice]. If you are feared, you likely will also be shunned, but will definitely be treated carefully by those who fear you while you are in a position to make them fearful. At other times, you might be isolated, sent away or attacked outright. While it might be possible to use this aspect to your benefit occasionally [intimidating prisoners, etc.] you will suffer fromt eh prejudice far more often. 
 



 

Thanks. I am currently compiling the lists of Aspects. And some alien races.