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Old 02-09-2014, 01:49 PM   #1
Astromancer
 
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Default A character type for a Star Trek game

I might have a chance to get in on a GURPS campaign useing the setting of ST:OS about ten years after the events of the third season of Star Trek. Mind you the films aren't the future of this campaign, some features of later series are in this continuity, but few of them.

I'm looking for advice on my PC. I've chosen to play one of the eugenically enhanced humans that travelled with Khan on the Botany Bay. This individual when the announcement was made that the Botany Bay's crew was going to be settled on a wild planet asked to speak to those in authority away from the others. Kirk agreed to listen to him. Aidan explained he was unwilling to follow Khan any further, he'd been forced and blackmailed earlier, and he'd be willing to face prison, but he wasn't willing to stay with Khan. And then he asked for a hearing as an American citizen.

Kirk and Spock, once they except that Aidan is willing to face rehabilitation camp, and because he is younger than the other members of Khan's crew (mid-20s) agree to let Aidan face the law. Aidan does send time in prison, but is released early. Because Aidan is the only one of the genetic supermen who can be studied and Aidan has Psi ability (all PCs in this campaign have psi), Aiden is sent to the Vulcan Science Academy. Although Aidan isn't realy suited to the company, he excells at his studies and develops two Psionic abilities. First he develops a powerful mental shield he can extend to protect others. Second he gains the Empathy merit as a psi power.

Aidan convinces the Vulcans that he's better suited to starfleet and gets them to recomend him to StarFleet Academy. At the start of the campaign Aiden is a man in his mid-30's just starting out as a starfleet ensign.

Here's what I wanted help with.

First, how would this crowd advise building a mental shield that can defend a group so as to have that Star Trek flavor?

Second, what should Aidan's stats be? Khan must have had a GURPS ST of 22 or a little better. Aidan is clearly much stronger than a normal human, but what would fit? Similarly, his other stats are impressively high, what would fit the eugenic supermen, and the fact that Aiden is one of that group?

Third, Aidan's upbringing was confused. His parents died young and his older sisters (followers of Khan's) took charge of him. Aidan never admired Khan, but he was loyal to his family. The last of his sisters died in one of the failed life-support units on the Botany Bay. Aidan is defensive about how his education was interrupted (he left school at age 13 with the equivelent of his first year of college) and doesn't get back to school until the Vulcan Science Academy. Similarly, his social development has been derailed by his life. How do you represent this in GURPS?

Fourth, what social stigmas does Aidan face in being one of the "Supermen" of the Eugenics Wars?

Thank-you for your help.
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Last edited by Astromancer; 07-24-2015 at 11:59 AM.
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Old 02-09-2014, 04:46 PM   #2
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Default Re: A character type for a Star Trek game

A Red Shirt that doesn't die by the end of the episode.
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Old 02-09-2014, 06:08 PM   #3
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Default Re: A character type for a Star Trek game

Given the enhancements we've heard about, I'd peg Liam as entering either Security or Sciences (advanced intellect, don't you know). He'd probably also face considerable prejudice, considering the rep his people garnered on Earth during and after the Eugenics Wars. (He'd probably get along better with non-humans, and with those humans raised on worlds other than Earth, due to their lesser emotional attachment to that history.) Said prejudice would almost certainly keep him from ever getting a ship of his own, even if he went Command track.

Then again, if his interests lie in the direction of learning warp theory, that same intellect would probably serve him well in Engineering. Either way, he'd almost certainly wind up in either red or blue.
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Old 02-09-2014, 06:23 PM   #4
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Default Re: A character type for a Star Trek game

Probably a Secret. Compare with Julian Bashir in DS9. That analogy also points out that the character probably does need something other the eugenics advantage to fill him out. What else does he do? What niche does he fill in the game group?

(A favorite question of mine is "why does he adventure?"; there seem to be some easy answers in this case, but still worth knowing the answer.)
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Old 02-10-2014, 05:09 AM   #5
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Default Re: A character type for a Star Trek game

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Originally Posted by Anaraxes View Post
Probably a Secret. Compare with Julian Bashir in DS9.
I don't think he'd be able to keep it a secret. After all, his origin would be in his dossier for anyone (with access) to see.


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Old 02-10-2014, 05:49 AM   #6
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Default Re: A character type for a Star Trek game

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Originally Posted by Hemlock View Post
A Red Shirt that doesn't die by the end of the episode.
Aidan will wear a blue shirt, but gold is also appealing.
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Old 02-10-2014, 05:51 AM   #7
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Default Re: A character type for a Star Trek game

Quote:
Originally Posted by Irish Wolf View Post
Given the enhancements we've heard about, I'd peg Liam as entering either Security or Sciences (advanced intellect, don't you know). He'd probably also face considerable prejudice, considering the rep his people garnered on Earth during and after the Eugenics Wars. (He'd probably get along better with non-humans, and with those humans raised on worlds other than Earth, due to their lesser emotional attachment to that history.) Said prejudice would almost certainly keep him from ever getting a ship of his own, even if he went Command track.

Then again, if his interests lie in the direction of learning warp theory, that same intellect would probably serve him well in Engineering. Either way, he'd almost certainly wind up in either red or blue.
The character is supposed to have troubles with being a "Eugenic Superman." How would you set up the stigmas?
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Old 02-10-2014, 05:54 AM   #8
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Default Re: A character type for a Star Trek game

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Originally Posted by Anaraxes View Post
Probably a Secret. Compare with Julian Bashir in DS9. That analogy also points out that the character probably does need something other the eugenics advantage to fill him out. What else does he do? What niche does he fill in the game group?
Science guy, he also provides mental shields (he's in a group of PSIs). Later he might develop his mental shield into a form of psionic invisibility. In some ways he's a Mary Sue with a nearly crippling inferiority complex and similar issues.

Quote:
(A favorite question of mine is "why does he adventure?"; there seem to be some easy answers in this case, but still worth knowing the answer.)
Stardazzeled since he was a kid. He wants to explore, to see, to learn.
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Old 02-10-2014, 05:56 AM   #9
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Default Re: A character type for a Star Trek game

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I don't think he'd be able to keep it a secret. After all, his origin would be in his dossier for anyone (with access) to see.


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It's known. Scholars regularly interview him. Historians and authors ask him questions about Khan's court. He mildly famous, only he would say infamous.
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Old 02-10-2014, 11:51 AM   #10
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Default Re: A character type for a Star Trek game

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Originally Posted by Hans Rancke-Madsen View Post
I don't think he'd be able to keep it a secret. After all, his origin would be in his dossier for anyone (with access) to see.
Moot point, since Astromancer's said he's "out", but:

Not a Secret from Star Fleet Command, but from others, including civilians and fellow crew (though not likely his Captain). The "with access" is an important clause, especially given a "need to know" requirement -- which actually would exclude a lot of ranking officers in SFC.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Astromancer
Scholars regularly interview him. Historians and authors ask him questions about Khan's court.
There's another reason to get out where no paparazzi has gone before.
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