Fwurg

[Brend]

This thread is for posting design ideas, inspiration, and discussion on:

Species Characteristics

Species Characteristics are notable biological aptitudes and qualities of a species with respect to other species. They set apart the species as a whole. These characteristics cover intrinsic qualities that make the species distinct.

Species Characteristics do not give Skills, Force Powers, or Combat Styles. They given things "you are", not things "you have". For example "you are large" works well, "you have force lightning" does not.

See also Species Characteristics.

To offer freedom in species creation, we want to have at least enough choices for all Jedi players to be able to create the species they want.

(Note that Species Characteristics do not give economical bonusses; that's what Cultural Traits are for.)

(Do not worry about the details, implementation, or numbers you give. Those are subject to change anyway since we must balance them with the other things that are being designed.)

[Pixie]

I'm considering to design a species that mainly lives in water, but can also survive on land.
Another characteristic I'd like them to have is the ability to generate powerful sound waves over a large frequency range, so that they can for instance 'sing' to each other over large distances (think whales) but can also use sound waves for navigation in the dark (think echolocation). I won't mind if it only works well in water.
No idea what to call it though.

So for them I'd need at least:

- Aquatic/amphibian
- Placeholder sound waves trait

[Brend]

I feel that "can make massive noise and use that for all kinds of things" is a bit too broad ;)

I'd say that "Echolocation" makes for a nice species characteristic. Especially since it is clearly a distinct way of perceiving the world (with the added benefit that it works in the dark).

As to the communication part, I would love to hear some more details. Is it only singing/letting others know you exist, and roughly where you are? Or can you keep up a conversation at that distance? These two cases are very different with respect to the gameplay value of the characteristic..

[Pixie]

To elaborate on the communication part: I intended it for keeping up a conversation of sorts over a distance, albeit not a very private one.
Mainly intended for relatively simple question-answer conversations, complication and detail depending on distance obviously. For instance for a scouting party and a main party to exchange simple findings and instructions (like 'We found food', 'This passage is safe, you can come over' of 'We cannot cross here, try somewhere else').

Unlike echolocation however, this does not need to be caused by a extraordinary biological predisposition. They may also be able to make it possible though instruments instead (however wind instrument like things might work underwater...)

[Brend]

I'd say that the instrument solution is very neat. It is easily explainable that a species that lives underwater and has echolocation has good (if not great) hearing. So, it stands to reason that they would use tools, instruments in this case, as sentient species are wont to do!

In my opinion, the case for wind instruments not work underwater can be handwaved away if the instruments are specifically made to work underwater...

[Brend]

Some more ideas:

• Natural Flight: The species can fly in some way
• Huge: The species is huge, compared to other species.
• Small: The species is small, compared to other species. (e.g., the Yoda species)
• Telepathic: The species has some form of limited telepathy
• Natural defence: The species has some form of natural defence (e.g., carapace, bristles, limited chameleon colourchanging, etc.)
• Natural weapon: The species has some form of natural weapon (e.g., claws, horns, spits goop, etc.)
• Space Native: (Needs better name) The species can survive in space for long periods of time.

Note that none of these are intended to give a direct +X on combat ratings. However, there are plenty of benefits from having a natural defence/weapon.

I notice that some of the species characteristics tend to emulate certain pieces of Equipment—correction, certain pieces of Equipment emulate species characteristics. I think that this is fine. After all, the whole point of being Aquatic is not needing Scuba Gear.

[Fedor]

Some more ideas I intend to use.

• Tails - This race has a tail which can be used as an extra limb or to provide balance.
• Cold blooded - The species relies on external sources of heat to control their body temperature.
• Hot Adoption - This species is adapted to living in temperatures most find uncomfortably hot, though they are less comfortable in the cold.

[Pixie]

Some ideas I'd like to use:

• Echolocation- This species can use echolocation to perceive the world around them.
• Radiant pigment - This race has pigments in one or more places that can radiate visible light.

I'm also interested in using the "Tails" characteristic Fedor mentioned.

[Pixie]

One idea I'm in doubt over:

• Passionate Trance - (Might need another name) Members of this species can enter a trance-like state when very exited about something, greatly enhancing their focus and endurance at the cost of awareness of things not directly related to the 'something'.

[Mercury]

I have nothing to add here, everyone is amazing with the idea's already

[Pixie]

• Lekku - A number of long, fleshy appendages protrude from the heads of all members of this species.
• Incredible metabolism - Most members of this species are in excellent physical shape, even if their diet results in a significant excess of nutrients.
• Infra red vision - The vision spectrum of this species edges a bit into the infra red range.