[Aliens]"...solitary giant predator caterpillars. Civilization wasn't easy for us"

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by Dinadon

I'm inclined to go with no, if only because I can't find an animal template with it on that isn't mythological. I'm also fairly certain cat and dog kibble isn't fresh meat, despite both being carnivores. Anyway, it sounds more like they won't eat plants, not can't so it seems a little moot.

I'm not sure how to differentiate between carnivores, herbivores and omnivores. IIRC being vegetarian is a 5-point disadvantage. I'm an omnivore, and I like it: some days/weeks I can eat no/almost no meat, while others I can eat just meat/more than 70% meat; I usually stay somewhere in the middle, but I don't get uncomfortable or hungry either way. Having to eat meat every day is certainly less convenient than picking whatever diet presents itself. So if Restricted Diet as written is too much, what is okay?

Originally Posted by Dinadon

Only if their minds are capable of it. Just because you can coordinate lots of limbs doesn't mean you think about two things at once. It's the latter that I feel is more important inside a control room.

First, I wasn't asking about eliminating penalties completely. Second, what use then is there from extra limbs except for having spares (which would probably be worth the cost as Alternate Abilities)?

Yes, I know that as trappers they had all the benefit in the world from the +2 per extra limb to a grapple.

Originally Posted by Dinadon

I wouldn't say spawning is right out. If the young aren't seen as food or interlopers, then it's possible for them to hang around an adult.

Maybe, but would they be smart enough to learn stuff while staying non-interlopers?

Originally Posted by Dinadon

As for eggs vs live, being pregnant isn't easy on the mother and makes it vulnerable. Eggs simply mean that there is a location the mother protects, the mother herself isn't really weakened for any significant length of time.

Okay, so eggs get even more of a reason for them to be territorial. And there's always the possibility of making egg-carrying an option (as in, done when needed, but not otherwise).

Originally Posted by Dinadon

Bears are solitary, K-strategy and don't form pair-bonding. The mother raises the cubs on her own. Solitary big cats are probably another good place to look.

Thanks.

Originally Posted by Dinadon

A faceted eye gives you more receptors, letting you notice small changes easily. Some form of Enhanced Time Sense might be plausible at the extreme.

Ah, I remember helping someone represent better visual motion detection through Vibration Sense (Vision-based 0%), i.e. rolling at +SRT movement bonus and +SM for motion detection (in addition to the normal Vision check).

Originally Posted by Dinadon

Acute Vision would be the minimum. If these are like insect eyes, Ultravision might be appropriate as I think insects can see further at that end. Realistic Infravision requires dedicated senses for the task, but targets that can be picked out from the background temperature is an important necessity.

Ultravision is very ambiguous in GURPS: some say it works wrong, some say it's cool for seeing underwater, some say it doesn't work underwater etc. As for Infravision, at least they won't have the problem of their eyes being too small for it. Not sure if Infravision makes sense in a jungle though - is the temperature difference big enough?