 September 28, 2011 - 8:38am | How to Create a Scientifically Plausible Alien http://io9.com/5784971/how-to-create-a-scientifically-plausible-alien-life-form National Academy report: Weird Life http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=11919 Galactic Habitable Zone and higher chances of inhabitable planets closer in toword the galactic core, only problem is its a bad neighbor hood with all the super novas http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/articles/living-in-the-galactic-danger-zone/ Sci-Fi Factor site; article is rambling and disjointed so thankfully its brief. Still there were some good ideas. http://scifi.fictionfactor.com/articles/creatingaliens.html This one was less helpful and more cheese: http://www.wikihow.com/Create-Your-Own-Alien-Species 15 memorable aliens in SCi-Fi http://listverse.com/2008/08/13/15-memorable-alien-races-in-science-fiction/ I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
September 30, 2011 - 8:38pm | Toying with echo location for a PC race- I haven't seen it done darkness or blindness do not affect the PC- fully capable in combat as long as its within a certain range. That said I'm not looking for a bat character. looking thru an animal book these ideas jump out for racial abilities 1. Quills 2. Armor plates (like an armidillo) 3. long mustache like feelers coming off the side of the nose confering exquisit sense of smell and touch (like a star mole's nose; just not as funky looking as the star mole) 4. large mobile ears- no surprise or very little chance of surprise, bonus to tracking if in "hot pursuit" at least a plus 2 IM 5. spines, antlers, horns or similar natural weaponry 6. prestigious swimming ability 7. Sonic Shreak - used to stun prey or opponents 8. Natural camoflage 9. chemical stored in body can be mixed and ejected in a powerful exothermic reaction 10 Amphibian 11. limb regeneration 12. Color shift cells in skin- can blend into environment 13. ability to sense electro magnetic currents -aids in repairing electric equipment 14. venom 15. musk glands Racial abilities from a variety of sources 1. Rapid healing 2. stubborn like bull- squat and thick heavy worlder- difficult to move and built like a line backer 3. powerful hand eye coordination- +15 to thrown weapons 4. speed 5. excellent climber 6. natural resistence to temp extremes hot or cold 7. Symbiote 8. Smell fear- ability to detect changes in blood chemistry through smell (close range) can recognize changes in emotion 15% which aids questioning or interrogating and NPC, bonus to diagnosis subskill 9. empathy 10. Read social cues In light of the fact that SF aliens paired a mental ability like Lie Detection, Comprehension, and battle rage with a physical ability like elasticity, ambidexterity, and gliding. I think a race ought to have a mental and a physical ability. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
