GURPS Sector General

[Pursuivant]

Vosan (SNLU) (Vosan, Milky Way Galaxy) (-72 points)

Another extremophile species, this time from the extreme cold end of the temperature scale. They are another NPC species, due to their severe physical limitations. They are generally played for comedy, since despite being a literally icy cold species they are described as carrying on like characters in a soap opera.

Unfortunately, they are one of the most implausible species in the books due to the author's complete disregard for biochemistry, biophysics, and continuity. I blame Mr. White's editors for blowing off basic fact checking like the critical point for methane. (You can't have methane "breathers" who can only exist at temperatures where it's solidly frozen.)

Description

Spoiler:  

Psychologically, Vosan are an emotional, volatile species with strong personalities and a penchant for dramatic behaviors. The "soap opera" atmosphere of the Vosan ward provides a steady flow of juicy gossip for the rest of the hospital staff.

Physically, they are diamond-like, crystalline starfish-like bodies with eight long, flexible legs which double as manipulators. No head or facial features. The mouth is likely located on the underside of the body. The body is covered by crystalline “scales.”

Clothing and equipment aren’t typically carried, although lightweight protective envelopes are sometimes worn.

Native “speech” “sounds” like beautiful tinkling chimes, “like the amplified sound of snowflakes colliding.”

They are a methane-based crystalline species native to an ultra-cold, geologically dead, rogue terrestrial planet which retained the frozen remains of a methane-based atmosphere. They evolved deep in interstellar space, far from the light of any sun. It is said that they “breathe” methane, but that is impossible given the temperatures at which they operate. It is more likely that they somehow metabolize solid frozen methane via sublimation or some chemical process.

They have four genders and at least two sexes. Like Earth-humans, they are always capable of sexual activity.

It is possible that different sexes or genders have slightly different metabolic requirements from the norm, requiring them to wear lightweight protective suits when operating in standard Vosan environments.

It is possible that their supercooled crystalline structure makes them natural computers.

Template

Spoiler:  

Attributes: ST 6 [-40]; DX 10 [0]; IQ 10 [0]; HT 10 [0].

Optional Attributes: Altered ST [±10/lvl]; Increased DX or IQ [±20/lvl]; Increased HT [±10/lvl].
Secondary Characteristics: Damage 1d-4/1d-3; BL 5 lbs.; HP 5 [0]; Will 10 [0]; Per 10 [0]; FP 10 [0]; Basic Speed 5.0 [0]; Basic Move 5 [0]; Size -3.

Optional Secondary Characteristics: Altered HP [±2/lvl]; Increased Will or Per [5/lvl]; Altered FP [±3/lvl]; Reduced Basic Speed or Move [-5/lvl].

Advantages: Acute Sense (Vibration Sense) 4 [8]; Arms (Enhancements: Extra Flexible, +50%; Long (Size +1), +100%, Limitations: Foot Manipulators, -30%; No Physical Attack, -50%.) [7]; Appearance (Attractive, Enhancement: Universal, +25%.) [5]; Damage Resistance 1 (Limitation: Cannot Wear Armor, -40%.) [3]; Dark Vision [30];

Doesn’t Breathe [20]; Extra Arms (6 Extra Arms. Enhancements: Extra Flexible, +50%; Long (Size +1), +100%. Limitation: Foot Manipulators, -30%; No Physical Attack, -50%.) [102]; Extra Legs (8 legs, Limitations: Accessibility (Manipulative Feet), -10%; Cannot Kick, -50%.) [6];

Injury Tolerance (No Blood, No Head, No Groin, No Neck, No Vitals) [27]; Resistant (+8, Metabolic Hazards) [20]; Vibration Sense (Enhancement: Extended Range 3 (x10), +30%, Sound detection, +50%.) [18]; Voice (Limitation: Accessibility (Affects aliens only), -40%.) [6]; Vacuum Support [5].

Optional Advantages: 3-D Spatial Sense or Absolute Direction [5 or 10]; 360-Degree Vision or Peripheral Vision [15 or 25]; Absolute Timing or Chronolocation [5 or 10]; Acute Vision [2/lvl]; Altered Time Rate [100/lvl]; Common Sense [10]; Damage Resistance (Limitation: Cannot Wear Armor, -40%) [3/lvl];

Detect [Varies]; Digital Mind [5]; Empathy or Sensitive [5 or 15]; Enhanced Time Sense [45]; Extra Mouth [5 each]; Extended Lifespan [2/lvl]; Improved G Tolerance [Varies]; Infravision [10]; Intuition [15]; High TL [5/lvl]; Lightning Calculator or Intuitive Mathematician [2 or 5]; Longevity [2];

Pressure Support [5/lvl]; Radiation Tolerance [Varies]; Recovery [15]; Sensitive Touch [10]; Talent [Varies].

Perks: Scales [1].

Optional Perks: Acceleration Tolerance [1]; Extra Eyes [1 each]; Separate Respiratory Intake [1]; Standard Operating Procedure (Careful Movement) [1].

Disadvantages: Deafness (Limitation: Mitigator, -70%.) [-6]; Dependency (Supercooled Environment (Occasional), Constantly) [-100]; Fragile (Brittle) [-15]; Increased Life Support (Cold, Massive) [-20]; Mute (Limitation: Mitigator, -70%.) [-10];

No Sense of Smell/Taste (Limitation: Smell Only, -60%.) [-2]; Odious Racial Habit (-2, Constant Scandalous Melodrama) [-10]; Restricted Diet (Supercooled Nutrients (Common)) [-20];

Vulnerability (Heat (Very Common), x4) [-80]; Weakness (1d per 5 minutes, Background Radiation (Rare). Limitation: Variable, -40%.) [-3]; Weakness (1d per 5 minutes, Bright Light (Very Common). Limitation: Variable, -40%.) [-18]; Weakness (1d per 5 minutes, Temperature Changes (Occasional). Limitation: Variable, -40%.) [-6].

Optional Disadvantages: Bad Sight [-25]; Bad Temper [-10]; Bully [-10*]; Callous [-5]; Cold Blooded [-5 or -10]; Colorblindness [-10]; Compulsive Behavior [-5 or -10]; Curious [-5*]; Honesty [-10]; Incurious [-5*]; Intolerance [-10]; Jealousy [-5]; Lecherousness [-15]; No Sense of Humor [-10];

Odious Racial Habit [-5 or -10]; Overconfidence [-5*]; Pacifism [Varies]; Phobia [Varies]; Selfish [-5].

Quirks: Fractional increases in temperature increase romantic activity [-1]; Nudity Preferred [-1]; Restricted Temperature Range [-1].

Optional Quirks: Dull [-1]; Proud [-1]; Nosy [-1]; Staid [-1].

Skills: Area Knowledge (Vosan) (E) IQ [1] -10; Computer Operations/TL (E) IQ [1] - 10.

Optional Skills: Acting (A); Brawling (E); Camouflage (A); Carousing (A); Diplomacy (H); Driving/TL (Type) (E); Electronics Operation/TL (A); Electronics Repair/TL (A); Engineering/TL (H); Environmental Suit/TL (A); Fast-Talk (A); Geology/TL (H); Intimidation (A); Mathematics/TL (H);

Mechanic/TL (A); Navigation/TL (A); Physics/TL (VH); Piloting/TL (A); Politics (A); Psychology (H); Public Speaking (A); Sex Appeal (A); Shadowing (A); Stealth (A); Survival (Type) (A).

Cultural Familiarities: Vosan [0].

Languages: Vosan (Native) [0].

Features: Crystalline body structure. Immune to cold. Four genders. Methane-based. Radial symmetry. Suffer burn damage rather than the effects of heat.

Physiological Data: Physiological Classification: SNLU. Gravity: Unknown, presumably 1.0 G. Pressure: Unknown, presumably 1.0 ATM. Preferred Temperature: -459 to -441 °F. Comfort zone is presumably -467 °F (9 °F above absolute zero). Height: 2 feet. Length: 2 feet. Mass: 40-50 lbs. Size -3. Lifespan: ~100 years.

Variation: Hypothetical Second Species (-5 points).

Spoiler:  

It is possible that there are two different Vosan species, one of which is pacifistic, coldly rational, and mostly celibate and another which is melodramatic and lecherous. This would reconcile conflicts in canon regarding differences in behavior and preferred living temperatures.

Assume that the “peaceful” species cannot survive above temperatures of -121 °F and prefers to live at temperatures of -130 to -140 °F. They suffer the effects of Heat above -120 °F and suffer half the normal effects of Weakness (Heat) above -100 °F. Every 20 °F in temperature rise beyond -120 °F multiplies damage.

Unless they have levels of Temperature Tolerance, the species also suffers normal effects of Cold when exposed to temperatures below -205 °F and suffers damage from Extreme Cold at -300 °F and below.

This species actually breathes methane. Note that the species might also suffocate if the temperature falls below the point where methane liquefies (-258 °F). If it has levels of Temperature Tolerance which allow it to survive below that point add the Gills special limitation to Doesn’t Breathe.

The species also has senses of hearing and smell. Hearing is extremely acute.

Advantages: Add Acute Hearing 4 [8]; Discriminatory Hearing [15]; and Parabolic Hearing 4 [16]. Remove Acute Vibration Sense [-8]; Doesn’t Breathe [-20]; and Vacuum Support [-5]. Remove enhancements from Vibration Sense [-8].

Optional Advantage: Temperature Tolerance [1/lvl].

Disadvantages: Add Pacifism (Total) [-30]. Remove Deafness [+6]; Mute [+10]; No Sense of Smell/Taste [+2]; Odious Racial Habit [+10].

Quirks: Add Sexless [-1]. Remove Fractional increases in temperature increase romantic activity [+1] and Restricted Temperature Range [+1].