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

[vicky_molokh]

After some thinking about the effects of Invertebrate, Semi-Upright and Horizontal, I think that Semi-Upright applies to them:

They like to hang on their hind legs when they're doing something, and I there was also mention of an idea about them being not very fast movers. So, Semi-Upright forces them to use all limbs for Full move, and 40% Move otherwise. This means they move at 2yds/turn when using only their hind limbs, but at 5yds when using all of them. Sounds plausible for a caterpillar.

I decided against Stretching, but for Flexibility. Now they have +2 Climbing from Brachiator and +3 from Flexibility, making climbing locomotion truly trivial for them.

I'm also trying to define their (more cultural than racial, but certainly reinforced through their very very mild racial memory) adherence to doctrines, which I will model as a Code of Honor, with the following tenets:
Doctrine of Eternal Vigil

• Be ever watchful of other species you encounter.
• Destroy/isolate those who threaten you and your allies.
• Never allow a fellow Ur-Quan to be enslaved again.
• Be polite all the time, even before killing an enemy. If you show anger, show it by actions, not swear words.
• Do your best to keep your word and never lie.

I'm putting it at -10pts. This is the post-second-war version, which allows peaceful coexistence without subservience, as per SC3. The Eternal Doctrine and Path of Now And Forever would probably give much more negatives.


Oh, and I'm currently seeing Invertebrate as not quite appropriate.

[WingedKagouti]

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

I decided against Stretching, but for Flexibility.

What about the Compact Frame Perk (PU2:13) or a slight variant?

[Kissamies]

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

• Be polite all the time, even before killing an enemy. If you show anger, show it by actions, not swear words.
• Do your best to keep your word and never lie.

Of course, these could just be results of their territorial nature and hierachical society. They have to behave that way in order to make it work.

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

The Eternal Doctrine and Path of Now And Forever would probably give much more negatives.

The way they pursued those could indicate a full blown Fanaticism, I think.

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

Oh, and I'm currently seeing Invertebrate as not quite appropriate.

Yeah, if you imagine them as giant predatory caterpillars hanging from trees and such, you'll assume they might drag things up those trees. They need pulling more than pushing.

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by Kissamies

Of course, these could just be results of their territorial nature and hierachical society. They have to behave that way in order to make it work.

Either way, I would call those culturally universal among their species, and thus acceptable on a template. After all, elves get CoH and SoD, so why not these fellas?

Originally Posted by Kissamies

The way they pursued those could indicate a full blown Fanaticism, I think.

I thought about that too, but it seemed a bit of a stretch in a serious campaign (and as I mentioned elsewhere, SC can be played very seriously, despite the existence of some silly moments in the canon).

Originally Posted by Kissamies

Yeah, if you imagine them as giant predatory caterpillars hanging from trees and such, you'll assume they might drag things up those trees. They need pulling more than pushing.

I have absolutely no idea why invertebrates get problems with pulling; I would imagine they should have trouble pushing. Either way, Kohr-Ah were chosen by the Dnyarri to be the builders and warriors; I can't imagine Invertebrates being chosen for that role - unless they modified away that trait.

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by WingedKagouti

What about the Compact Frame Perk (PU2:13) or a slight variant?

I certainly see that as a possible option, but still don't understand why would it be mandatory on a racial template. Do all humans who bend over in half have to get it too?

Anyway, current write-up:

Total Cost w/o Lenses == 15.

Brachiator [5]
Extra Arms 2 [20]
Extra Legs (4 legs, -50% Cannot Kick) [5]
Flexibility (+3 to rolls) [5]
High Pain Threshold [10]
Patience of Job [1]
Single-Minded [5]
CoH [-10]
Loner (6) [-10]
Selfish (6) [-5]
Semi-Upright [-5]
Territorial (Loner triggered by people entering 'home' too) [-1]
Feture: Trivial Racial Memory (Species-wide mental trauma or strong experiences give future generations slight moments of Déjà vu or influence instinctive reactions).

Green Lense (the thinkers and planners) [+10]:
IQ+1 [20]
Will-1 [-5]
Per-1 [-5]

Black Lense (the warriors and workers) [+10]:
Fit [5]
HT+2 [20]
Callous [-5]
Bloodlust (12) [-10]

Brown Lense (hypothetical, extinct ancestor-species):
Sharp Claws
Toxic Innate Attack or Affliction (follow-up on Claws)
maybe Binding and/or Accessory: Climbing Line.

I'm still unsure about a 5-point Restricted Diet.

[WingedKagouti]

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

I certainly see that as a possible option, but still don't understand why would it be mandatory on a racial template. Do all humans who bend over in half have to get it too?

Every human able to tuck in enough to reduce SM by one has it. Not every human is capable of that.

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by WingedKagouti

Every human able to tuck in enough to reduce SM by one has it. Not every human is capable of that.

It's just that judging by the videos, bending-over (as opposed to stretch-compressing) caterpillars don't seem to change SM.

[Archangel Beth]

Retractable Sheath... Nictitating Membrane?

Originally Posted by Kissamies

they are likely to just hang upside down most of the time, and that is indeed what they seem to be doing in every official picture of them there is. Probably the most natural posture for them.

I wonder if all their control surfaces are either "upside down" so they can operate them whilst hanging, or rotatable like an iPad (though probably with a button) for times when they're on the ground.