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Chameleons and shapeshifters
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Ten-20-Three
Ensign
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Joined: 23 Jun 2018
Posts: 41
Location: Poland

PostPosted: Mon Aug 27, 2018 4:26 pm    Post subject: Chameleons and shapeshifters Reply with quote

I've decided to share few species which I have gamemastered for quite a long time. I have looked for quite a time to check if there are any shapeshifters in official rules, and I have found as follows: Polydroxol, Protean (or Protrean), Shi’ido.
Source of information:
Pablo Hidalgo, Shape Shifters, Star Wars Adventure Journal, vol. 1, Issue 12, February 1997, pages 158-185 (Polydroxol, Protean, Shi’ido).
Paul Sudlow and other, Alien Encounters, 1998, page 118-120 (Proteans), 139-141 (Shi’ido).
Robert Kern, Star Wars The Game Chambers of Questal, 1990, page 34 (Protrean).
Todd Quigley, Treasure Hunt, Star Wars Twin Stars of Kira, 1993, pages 60-68 (Polydroxol).

It’s quite a challenge to be someone without a shape and face, and it’s kind like not having any physical features. As gamemaster I have met only one player who is able to fully use the potential of Gem species and feels natural to play it.

Hereafter I present Polydroxol which we are used to call “Gem”, and “Emu” race – chameleons predators. I did not find nothing similar in SW WEG publications.

I hope you find it useful.

Gem (Polydroxol)

Appearance and biology
Gem, or rather Polydroxol, is a barely recognized shapeshifter species. It has an inorganic structure and is devoid of vital functions in the way humans understand life. Gem’s body is build of mercury molecules bound together by highly corrosive acid.

Gems do not breed and do not have sex, although they have dominant features that are recognized by other species as male. New individuals are born by the planet itself (Sevetta). The question of reproduction has not been adequately investigated so far. All scientific expeditions are gone lost and the representatives of the race themselves do not appear to be interested in the fact of their origin. They “are” and that is all that matters.
They do not have an excretory, nervous, respiratory or blood system. They do not produce any body heat and usually are warmer than surrounding. Their bodies undergo gradual erosion, they die when they reach the limit level, which again is unknown to researchers. Erosion is caused by any environment outside Sevetta.

Polydroxol does not have to eat or breathe. Vitality can be provided by a bath in mercury, or rubbing with mercury. In addition, they do not sleep or dream. Their mind is filled with environmental analyzes as well as constantly created schemes and action plans.

Polydroxol does not forget, the only difficulty is the time it needs to remember a specific event or fact. With each failed test (associated with recalling something) in any given day the difficulty level of repeated test increases by 1.

Difficulty / Time elapsed since the information was recorded
Very Easy (1-5) / This week
Easy (6-10) / This month (up to 4 weeks ago)
Moderate (11-15) / Year ago
Difficult (16-20) / Two years ago
V. Difficult (21-30) / Five years ago
Heroic (31+) / Ten years and more

Difficulty / Complexity of information
Very Easy (1-5) / name, face image
Easy (6-10) / event, incident
Moderate (11-15) / details concerning person or group of people or event
Difficult (16-20) / text sheet
V. Difficult (21-30) / source code
Heroic (31+) / complex source code

Language
Gems did not communicate with each other until they did not make contact with civilization. They learn languages without difficulty.
Gems can freely modulate voice - the ability to imitate is determined by the Con test (cheating) specialization: Voice

Temperament
Cold as steel. There is no emotion in them - at least none have been found. Their nature has not been explored yet. Their motivators are unknown. There is an opinion that they do not get attached to anyone or anything. Nevertheless, they function in the galaxy, and some humans and other species trust them without a doubt. One among many theories is that they are under constant impression of organic life and derive a kind of satisfaction from being surrounded by it.

History and culture
Unknown.

Trade and technology
They perfectly cope with technology and knowledge management. Ingenious network engineers. Trade is another area in which they fulfill themselves. They are especially willing to trade minerals. Last but not least, they also become operators in military organizations, performing all sort of task including concealment like special operations, intelligence, assassinations.

Gems in Galaxy
Most often associated with the professions of spies, thieves and assassins, some number specializes in trade. Gladiators and security guards are also renown in Galaxy. Among them, one of the most prominent generals of the Trade Federation at the time of the Clone Wars, Morbius - considered by General Grevious to be at least equal to himself.

Home planet: Sevetta

Attribute dice: 18D
Dexterity: 2D/4D
Knowledge: 1D/6D
Mechanical: 2D/4D
Perception: 1D/3D+2
Strength: 3D/7D
Technical: 1D/7D
Skills: 7D – but no more than 2D on any single skill;

Rare species
Polydroxol (Gem) is little known in the galaxy, as well as its abilities

Renown Gems
Morbius - General of Trade Federations during the Clone Wars
Morph - law enforcement officer
Agradi - assassin

Racial skills
Shapeshifting [Strength skill]: time required depends on shape - generally 1 to 10 minutes. Skill should be treated as advanced for the need of development. This skill allows Gem to take complex shapes. Below are listed difficulties for shape types.

Difficulty / Shape
Very Easy (1-5) / cube, simple object
Easy (6-10) / sphere, object with moving parts
Moderate (11-15) / humanoid figure
Difficult (16-20) / every species
V. Difficult (21-30) / vehicle
Heroic (31+) / vehicle with details and simple mechanisms

The test is carried out each time Polydroxol takes a new form. There is no need to perform a test to maintain a new form.

Skill can be used in the place of sneaking with a bonus + 2D in an environment where it is possible to find metal objects.

Time needed for taking new shape is up to decision of gamemaster, who should take into consideration modifiers like: (1) complexity of the shape, (2) previous experience with taking similar shape, (3) conditions in which the shape change takes place.

Special abilities:
Shape-shifting: Polydroxol can change its shape but cannot change its mass. Additionally, it cannot accept a volume of less than 10 cm in one of its dimensions, but it can flatten its limbs up to 1 cm in thickness.
It can create a weapon from its body with blades that increase damage in brawling/melee weapon and melee parry + 3D.

Surface change: Gem can change its texture to suit most metals. It does not acquire the characteristics of these metals, but only features of their surface. It can reproduce lettering and complicated patterns.
Segmentation: Gem can reduce its power by 1D to create a segment (separated segment of his body). The separated part has all the features of Gem except strength and stays under full control of Gem. The segment may operate in the range from the host specified in the table below.

Difficulty / Range
Very Easy (1-5) / Move
Easy (6-10) / 2 x move
Moderate (11-15) / 3 x move
Difficult (16-20) / 4 x move
V. Difficult (21-30) / 5 x move
Heroic (31+) / 6 x move

The separated segment has strength of 1D. If it is wounded, the host is also wounded until he breaks the contact. If the segment is incapacitated or killed, the host gets wounded and the contact is interrupted. Maintaining contact with a segment is treated as an action, as are activities carried out by the segment.
Gem might create few segments at once.

Acid: once a day, Gem can spit with acid dealing 10D6 + 12 damage to one target. The acid melts armors and all materials at a rate of 1 cm per round. It evaporates after 20 rounds.

Tuning - Polydroxol can connect to the network - as an antenna or by generating a terminal to connect to the slot. The following is the data it is able to filter out.

Difficulty / Range
Very Easy (1-5) / Single terms and passwords without connection
Easy (6-10) / Sentences forming a logical whole
Moderate (11-15) / Part of full information
Difficult (16-20) / Full information
V. Difficult (21-30) / Complete information with all related threads and traces (traceability)
Heroic (31+) / Full tuning - access to everything that is transferred.

Languages: during creation of character, Gem automatically acquires the ability to learn languages (skill languages +2D).

Move: 6/11
Height: 1,7-2,0 m
Weight: 80-200 kg
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Ten-20-Three
Ensign
Ensign


Joined: 23 Jun 2018
Posts: 41
Location: Poland

PostPosted: Mon Aug 27, 2018 5:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Emu

Appearance and biology
Emus are native predators from the planet Felucia. They are carnivorous hunters. They hunt alone. Their average lifespan is 60 years.

Emus measure from 1.8 to 2.2 m tall (5ft 10.8 – 7ft 2.6), with a moderate weight of 70 to 80 kg (154 lb – 176 lb). Emu skin in a natural form has gray-body color and is completely devoid of hair. Skin is rough as lizard skin, although very flexible. There are millions of pores on the skin that are used to fire ink that confuses opponents. In addition, the skin contains pigment cells allowing Emu to change color and adapt perfectly to the environment.

Emu eyes take completely the color of the skin. In addition, Emu can control the color of its eyes by himself selecting the color in the immediate surroundings to which they are to be made alike.

Emus have three rows of teeth, from tusks and incisors to ruminants.
Another distinctive element of Emu's anatomy is a single mustache, approximately 50-70 cm long, ending in a hektocotile - a suction cup-shaped copulation organ with an extended oyster shape. When he does not use the mustache, their ends rest in the bags over the ears, and the mustache is placed along the cheek, gently coming off. Emu can move freely with mustaches, thanks to the muscles they are equipped with. The Emu female has handbags under the ears to which the ends of the male mustaches fit. Then, fertilization occurs.

Emus will procure only on the home planet Felucia. So far no fertilization has been recorded on any other planet.

Emu bring their offspring to independence - about 12 years. After breeding offspring, the parents often dissolve and breed offspring with new partners. The female gives birth four times on average. Each time between 1 and 5 children are born.

Language
Felucia

Temperament
Emu have a varied temperament. They are not overly gregarious and find themselves particularly well in small communities / tribes. They are characterized by high independence and inventiveness. They are perceptive and eager to learn. Inherently suspicious. Less frequently as leaders, they are willing to undertake exploration-related roles. They have a great will to survive, hence their defensive and adaptive mechanisms developed over millions of years.

They focus on here and now. Emu understand the principles of law and abide it as long as it does not stop their freedom of action.
They feel best in a jungle, forest and ocean environment. They feel uncertain on open plains, rocky deserts, glaciers. The cosmos, due to the claustrophobic nature of spacecrafts, causes them to feel anxious and become impetuous.

History and culture
The concepts of self-government, state, government, private property are foreign to Emu. They acknowledge the fact of their existence, but they have no problem in ignoring each and every of them.

Emu are nomads, have no permanent residences and are always moving following food stocks. They did not create settlements or civilizations, and use achievements of other races on the planet, according to their own needs. They easily adapted to cosmic technology. Their perception and intelligence allow them to embrace the universe without difficulty to the extent that other races of the planet, usually thinking of them as half civilized predators, are truly amazed.

Trade and technology
They easily adapt to technology, although there are no engineers among them. They are more efficient users than designers.
Trade bores them. They do not belong to the species which collect material goods. They are guided by the principle that everything around can be used as needed and left to others. They do not attach to money.

Emus in the Galaxy
The number of Emu within the Felucia population: 10% (about 450 k).
Felucia is a beautiful multi-colored planet, with millions of hallucinogenic mushrooms and creatures not found anywhere else in the galaxy. The system includes several planets, of which Felucia is the main inhabitant. [the planet appeared in the episode III of SW where you can see its multi-color]
On average, about 1/3 of the whole population, is dispersed in the Galaxy (around 150 k individuals).

Emus do not get involved in politics, which is strange to them. The Republic is incomprehensible, unnatural and unnecessary in their opinion.

Renown Emus
Morgad Goldenface - the most famous thief of the era, he became famous for robbing several royal courts and scattering stolen riches on the streets. Captured and beheaded in some remote corner of the galaxy.

Tintahalak the Wise - researcher on flora and fauna of nearly 50 solar systems. A discoverer of many species and physical dependencies. The most renown scientist of the Emu species.

Domegad Prudent - a famous scout, whose services were used by the greatest heroes of the era. Participator of numerous adventures and scandals.

Most frequent names: male: Morgad, Sepio, Katak, Sotong, Domegad; female: Tintahalak, Seepiat, Murrekkep, Baligi, Sepidia

Average Emu:
Emu: Dexterity 2D+2; Knowledge 1D+2; Mechanical 2D+2; Technical 1D; Perception 3D+1, camouflage 5D+1; Strength 3D+1 stamina 5D+1, ink 5D+1, survival 5D+1
Attribute dice: 18D
Dexterity: 2D+2/5D
Knowledge: 1D/4D
Mechanical: 1D/4D
Perception: 2D+2/5D
Strength: 2D/4D
Technical: 1D/4D
Skills: 7D – but no more than 2D on any single skill;

Racial abilities
Camouflage [Perception]: The skin contains special pigment cells, called chromatophores, which allow these creatures to change color perfectly to the environment. The difficulty concerns only the speed of adaptation to the environment:

Difficulty / Camouflage
Very Easy (1-5) / 5 actions/25 sec
Easy (6-10) / 4 actions/20 sec
Moderate (11-15) / 3 actions/15 sec
Difficult (16-20) / 2 actions/10 sec
V. Difficult (21-30) / 1 action/5 sec
Heroic (31+) / instantly

It is possible to move in camouflage. The difficulty concerns the speed of movement within one action without losing the quality of camouflage.
Difficulty / move
Very Easy (1-5) / 1/5 move
Easy (6-10) / 1/4 move
Moderate (11-15) / 1/3 move
Difficult (16-20) / 1/2 move
V. Difficult (21-30) / move
Heroic (31+) / run

Ink [Strength] - In an emergency, Emu shoots a dark brown substance (sepia) from subcutaneous cells all over his body. A dark cover is created around him that confuses and discourages the attacker. Emu is able to do it as many times a day as the strength attribute dice number.
The ink spreads spherically. The area covered by the ink after launch is determined in the table below.

Difficulty / Ink
Very Easy (1-5) / 1/5 move
Easy (6-10) / 1/4 move
Moderate (11-15) / 1/3 move
Difficult (16-20) / 1/2 move
V. Difficult (21-30) / move
Heroic (31+) / run

Example use:
Emu named Craiden found himself in a situation where he must escape from his approaching enemies. He decides to shoot his ink to give himself a better chance of fleeing. He want to cover as much area as possible, so he uses force point to double the result of test. His stats are: Strength 3D+2, Ink 6D, move 10. He rolls 6D and gets 18 multiplied by 2 (force point), which gives him heroic effect of run distance.

[A] Thermal concealment [Strength +stamina] – due to its anatomy and morphology, Emu can operate in the temperature range -50 to +50 and adjust its own temperature to such conditions. This skill allows Emu to blend in temperature of surrounding environment and stay invisible to thermal detectors.
Difficulty / Temperature adjustment time (no more than 3 ranges at once)
Very Easy (1-5) / 5 actions /25 sec (1 range up/down +5 to dice result; 3 ranges up/down -5 to dice result)
Easy (6-10) / 4 actions/20 sec (1 range up/down +5 to dice result; 3 ranges up/down -5 to dice result)
Moderate (11-15) / 3 actions /15 sec (1 range up/down +5 to dice result; 3 ranges up/down -5 to dice result)
Difficult (16-20) / 2 actions /10 sec (1 range up/down +5 to dice result; 3 ranges up/down -5 to dice result)
V. Difficult (21-30) / 1 action /5 sec (1 range up/down +5 to dice result; 3 ranges up/down -5 to dice result)
Heroic (31+) / Instantly (1 range up/down +5 to dice result; 3 ranges up/down -5 to dice result)
[Advanced skill: requires stamina skill at 4D]

[A] Thermal adaptation [Strength + stamina] - ability to withstand extreme conditions. For this skill all Stamina tests are performed as Adaptation tests. In addition, the result of the Adaptation roll [Strength + stamina + adaptation skill level = adaptation] determines how many rounds Emu can withstand in different temperature ranges without compromising health.
[Advanced skill: requires stamina skill at 4D]

Temperature range with colour indications of status (extreme, discomfort, comfort):
-50 °C /-58 °F / 223 K - Extreme – can withsand number of rounds equal to dice result – after that gets stun effect every round
-40 °C /-40 °F / 233 K - Extreme – can withsand number of rounds equal to dice result – after that gets stun effect every round
-30 °C /-22 °F / 243 K - Extreme – can withsand number of rounds equal to dice result – after that gets stun effect every round
-20 °C /-4 °F / 253 K - Discomfort – can withstand number of rounds equal to double dice result – after that receives stun condition every number of rounds corresponding to the base dice number of Adaptation skill
-10 °C /14 °F / 263 K - Discomfort – can withstand number of rounds equal to double dice result – after that receives stun condition every number of rounds corresponding to the base dice number of Adaptation skill
0 °C /32 °F / 273 K - Discomfort – can withstand number of rounds equal to double dice result – after that receives stun condition every number of rounds corresponding to the base dice number of Adaptation skill
10 °C /50 °F / 283 K - Comfort – roll not required – none effect
20 °C /68 °F / 293 K - Normal body heat – none effect
30 °C /86 °F / 303 K - Comfort – roll not required – none effect
40 °C /104 °F / 313 K - Discomfort – can withstand number of rounds equal to double dice result – after that receives stun condition every number of rounds corresponding to the base dice number of Adaptation skill
50 °C /122 °F / 323 K - Extreme – can withsand number of rounds equal to dice result – after that gets stun effect every round

Example use of Thermal Adaptation:
Emu hunter named Craiden starts to operate in +50 °C (122 °F) jungle. First, he makes the test for adaptation to specify how long will he be able to withstand these extreme conditions. His stats are: Strength 3D+2, Stamina 4D, [A] Thermal concealment 3D, [A] Thermal adaptation 2D. He rolls 7D+2 and gets 20, which means that he has 20 rounds to finish the task. Next, Craiden wants to blend in the surrounding temperature to stay undetected to thermal detectors. His current body heat is 20 °C (68 °F), so he needs to go three levels up (that is maximum in one test with -5 modifier to test result) to reach desired +50 °C (122 °F).
He wants to do it in 2 actions, so he must pass the Thermal concealment test on a difficult level. He rolls for concealment with 10D+2 and gets 26 and with -5 modifier gets final result 21, so he passes the test.

Move: 10/15
Height: 1,8-2,2 m (5ft 10.8 – 7ft 2.6)
Weight: 70-80 kg (154 lb – 176 lb)
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Telsij
Captain
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Joined: 07 Dec 2016
Posts: 510

PostPosted: Mon Aug 27, 2018 8:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thank you for sharing your write-ups for the shapeshifters!

I know that there was an official WEG Adventure Journal article on Shapeshifters that included stats for the Polydroxol, but yours is original and incorporates the new lore introduced since then (Clone Wars, etc).

(And as a side note, can't help but think of the animal Emu with the second species. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emu)

Quote:
It’s quite a challenge to be someone without a shape and face, and it’s kind like not having any physical features. As gamemaster I have met only one player who is able to fully use the potential of Gem species and feels natural to play it.


Out of curiosity, what did that player in particular do that allowed him to fulfill the PC potential of the species?
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Ten-20-Three
Ensign
Ensign


Joined: 23 Jun 2018
Posts: 41
Location: Poland

PostPosted: Tue Aug 28, 2018 10:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Telsij wrote:
(And as a side note, can't help but think of the animal Emu with the second species. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emu)


First of all, thank you for such a positive reaction.

Well, your thoughts are absolutely right. In SW universe there are plenty names taken from our universe and used to name different things. So, in the beginning it was just a joke, but after so many years actually when I hear EMU, first of I think is this SW species, and only then about the birds. Of course I could create some etymology, that the predators are in some way descendants or far cousins of Cassowaries, or that some explorer called them this way by mistake.

Telsij wrote:

Out of curiosity, what did that player in particular do that allowed him to fulfill the PC potential of the species?


I think it is in the nature of player. This race has some vulnerabilities, and you must be aware of them and remember to avoid unnecessary risks. Some players got to excited about shapeshifting possibilities and got evaporated by bounty hunters specializing in erasing Gems. I think we called the hunters - Adeamus (Latin verb: we will take possession). Our idea, when we had started to play shapeshifters, was that galactic society sees them as great danger, because they can become anyone and do anything and then disappear. Therefore Adeamus were hired, and they always acted in teams of at last 3 man. Confrontation usually meant end of existence for Gem.
This vulnerability lies in scattering the body of Gem on too large surface without the possibility of reconnection. The parts of body stay disconnected, degrades and whole Gem dies. I think we followed a rule, that if 50% body is out Gem dies. Mentioned weakness does not cover Protean, which is a very aggressive lifeform, dedicated to endure, very much like the thing.
Furthermore, Gem has no possession with him, no items, nothing which would left any sign of his presence when he will change his shape. Not many players will decide to play without any objects, which often are attributes of their character personality.
So, the player has stealthy nature, sort of silent observer who passes unnoticed. At the same time, he feels good with playing moving substance, shapeless, which becomes wall, floor, ceiling, sheet of metal, crawls like serpent. Even when it comes to fighting, he usually comes with very imaginative ways of doing so, like becoming stalactite slowly dropping on enemies heads, shrinking walls and so on. One additional thing is his ability to retreat, move back or even escape, and not all players have it. Some go all the way forward, no matter what, to the bittering or epic end.
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Ten-20-Three
Ensign
Ensign


Joined: 23 Jun 2018
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2018 7:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Time for Protean

Entity (Proetean; Prottean; Protean)

Appearance and biology
Semi-transparent organic gel, typically in shade of pale, therefore often referred to as clay mass or clay-thing.
In natural form has amoeba shape, also moves like it with use of pseudopods. Moreover, scientists found out that in many aspects Protean is closely related to amoeba, and that is about all that is known on the origin of the species.
Due to very complex systematics of Protean, each born may have a gender (male or female) or not. Those with gender must join to create children, the ones without create children by asexually reproduction through division (in this case all children have the same gender as parent). Regardless of the type of Protean, parents’ consciousness always ceases to exist i.e. it dies. Usually two to five children are created by mixing of parents or by division of single parent body.
There are two limitations experienced by Proteans. The required minimum of oxygen in any environment is 5%, or otherwise their body disintegrates in rate 1% each round without oxygen. Second is even more troublesome, and is responsible for such a bad reputation of the race. Protean must feed on a living body and eat equal amount to his own mass, and what is even more important, it must do it at least every 30 standard hours or, like in the case of oxygen, it starts to disintegrate. In case of hunger beyond 30 standard hours, it losses 5% every standard hour.
With each drop of 5% character gets stunned. Each time it suffers a 20% loss of body, character gests wounded. If it losses 60% of body it gets incapacitated, than again each additional 5% gets additional wounded – leading automatically to mortally wounded. If the body is less than 30% of its normal mass and does not feed in 5 rounds, it is automatically killed.
Little is known that Protean can switch knowledge – taking it from his victim. His own knowledge never drops below 1D.
If the Protean body is splashed over a larger area (after for example explosion), for every piece of body which is more than 5 m (ca. 16 ft) from the host, make a test of self-consciousness – if it passes, it must reach the host or find a new host (and feed on him) within 5 rounds. Otherwise, it dies.
In this way fragmented parts may become new Proteans, as long as they survive long enough to consume his new host. New Protean created in this way has always gender of parent.

Difficulty roll for self-consciousness [Perception test]:
Very Easy (1-5) / more than 30% of the original body mass
Easy (6-10) / less than 30% of the original body mass
Moderate (11-15) / less than 20% of the original body mass
Difficult (16-20) / less than 10% of the original body mass
V. Difficult (21-30) / less than 5% of the original body mass
Heroic (30+) / less than 0,1% of the original body mass

Language
Proteans do not have their own language. They do not have any need to communicate with each other, however they can become masters in voice imitation – their proficiency in it is determined by the Con test (cheating) specialization: Voice

Temperament
Feed, endure, survive, breed, these issues matter. Proteans will sacrifice anything and anyone. They do not create any bonds, do not have families, tribes, do not own. Nevertheless there are some individuals which raise above these premortal instincts and can experience happiness and satisfaction. There are no scientific explanation on such exceptions, which are estimated as no more frequent than 0,2% of the population. It is believed that it is strongly connected with high knowledge level which comes from being born from two parents.

History and culture
Need none, have none.
Trade and technology
Generally the species focuses on feeding. Only small group of less than 0,2% population travels in the galaxy and is familiar with trade and technology. Their knowledge is often stolen from their victims, and sometimes it is quite impressive.

Proteans in Galaxy
Most often associated with the professions of personal bodyguards, mercenaries, members of death squadrons, gladiators, assassins, some number specializes in thievery. Generally, Proteans like to feed on their pray during fight, so they will most probably join forces which allow them to do that without any restrictions.
Their instincts tells them to keep anonymity and not to stand out.
Home planet: unknown

Attribute dice: 18D
Dexterity: 2D/6D
Knowledge: 3D/7D
Mechanical: 2D/4D
Perception: 2D/4D
Strength: 2D/6D
Technical: 1D/3D
Skills: 7D – but no more than 2D on any single skill;

Rare species
Protean is little known in the galaxy, as well as its abilities.

Medicine for everything
Protean dead mass is highly praised by Medical Corporations due to amazing ability to heal almost everything in relatively short time. Therefore there is quite a big market demand for it, and there are specialized teams which hunt and kill Proteans.

Significant personalities
None known.

Racial skills

Shapeshifting [Strength skill]: time required depends on shape - generally 1 to 10 minutes. Skill should be treated as advanced for the need of development. This skill allows Protean to take complex shapes. Below are listed difficulties for shape types.

Cannot imitate moving parts separate from the body.

Difficulty / Shape (for the first time)
Very Easy (1-5) / animal not greater than dog
Easy (6-10) / humanoid shape/
Moderate (11-15) humanoid figure/ animal not greater than bear
Difficult (16-20) / humanoid with all the external body features – mirror image/ can have some amount of blood in the same group as victim
V. Difficult (21-30) / (21-25) humanoid with blood, skeleton and anatomical similarity to victim, (26-30) additionally can create clothes reacting on movement
Heroic (30+) / perfect clone with anatomical and cell structure and features (cloned DNA)

The test is carried out each time Protean takes a new form after feeding on a victim. There is no need to perform a test to maintain a new form.
Skill can be used in the place of sneaking with a bonus + 2D in an environment where it is possible to find sand.
Time needed for taking new shape is up to decision of a gamemaster, who should take into consideration modifiers like:
(1) complexity of the shape,
(2) previous experience with taking similar or this shape,
(3) conditions in which the shape change takes place.
Generally the more often Protean uses a shape the easier it is for him to shift to it. The time of shapeshifting should be somewhere between 1 to 10 minutes, but if character uses three or four shapes (generally no more than number of dice for its strength attribute) interchangeably it is worth consideration to do it even quicker than 1 minute.

Protean cannot create larger shape than creature of a bear size.
Absorption [Strength skill]: Protean can absorb his victim. The more proficient he is with this ability, the quicker he feeds. Protean absorbs all organic matter. Inorganic goes through him (drops on floor).

Difficulty / Range
Creatures up to the size of a dog:
Very Easy (1-5) / 3 rounds
Easy (6-10) / 2 rounds
Moderate (11-15) / 1 round
Difficult (16-20) / 1 action
V. Difficult (21-30) / free action
Heroic (31+) / free action

Humanoids, up to size of a bear:
Very Easy (1-5) / 5 rounds
Easy (6-10) / 4 rounds
Moderate (11-15) / 3 rounds
Difficult (16-20) / 2 rounds
V. Difficult (21-30) / 1 round
Heroic (31+) / 1 action

Immediately after absorption Protean can shapeshift to it.

Chimera [Technical skill]: Protean can mix species or alter one by adding elements of others in order to obtain the desired features like many limbs, wings and so on.
Roll should be made immediately before or after shapeshifting test.

Difficulty / Range
Very Easy (1-5) / 1 modification
Easy (6-10) / 2 modifications
Moderate (11-15) / 3 modifications
Difficult (16-20) / 4 modifications / mix of two species
V. Difficult (21-30) / 5 modifications / mic of three species
Heroic (31+) / 6 modifications / mix of four species

It is to the Gamemaster decision in consultation with player what changes in attributes, abilities and skills while in Chimera state.

Special abilities:

Shape-shifting: Protean can change its shape but cannot change its mass. Additionally, it cannot accept a volume of less than 20 cm in one of its dimensions, but it can flatten its limbs up to 1 cm in thickness.
It can mix anatomical features between species of his victims, and therefore to create a real chimeras.
He can remember shapes up to 10 times his knowledge attribute dice level (4D+2 = 40)

Surface change: Protean can change its texture to suit most natural organic surfaces. It does not acquire the characteristics of these materials, but only features of their surface. Quality of the surface is lower than the ones created by Polydroxol.

Switch knowledge: Protean can switch knowledge – taking it from his victim. His own knowledge never drops below 1D – it is his premortal attribute level. If Protean has 3D knowledge, than it can take 2D from his victim, but he cannot get back to the old one, because he dropped it during switch with current victim. He can decide how much D6 he wants to take from each victim, and for example he has 4D of knowledge attribute, he can take 1D6 from each of three victims, making him a character with various knowledge. Stealing of knowledge does not require any roll as long as Protean feed on the whole body of his victim. Character playing Protean may pick skills which he wants to steal from his victim.

Dislocation: When in his natural form Protean can rapidly change position by dispersion of its body, and relocate like falling drops of water to merge in a new location – in range of one round. It needs some sort of propeller to move – wind, the force of gravity – its speed, force and direction decides how far Protean will move.
Dispersion and merge are actions. Movement in dispersed form is a free action.
Number of dice for its strength attribute determines how many times a day it can use this ability.

Hibernation : Protean can freeze up in chosen form up to 1000 days x his strength dice , when he does not need feeding. The only requirement is the availability of oxygen (at least 5%) – in case of lack of oxygen process of disintegration is slowed 100 times. During hibernation he is unaware of surrounding and immune to signals coming from outside. It takes one hour to either start or finish hibernation state.

Difficulty / Range [Strength roll]
Very Easy (1-5) / 10 x strength dice
Easy (6-10) / 100 x strength dice
Moderate (11-15) / 300 x strength dice
Difficult (16-20) / 500 x strength dice
V. Difficult (21-30) / 750 x strength dice
Heroic (31+) / 1000 x strength dice

Bullet penetrable: In his natural form (organic gel) particles (projectile weapons e.g. firearms bullets) which hit Protean faster than 60 m/s i.e. 216 km/h (134 mph) move through his body without damaging him in any way.
Firearms – pistols have around 200 to 400 m/s, larger weapons even more.

Languages – during creation of character, Protean automatically acquires one language chosen by the player.

Move: 6/11
Height: 1,5-2,5 m
Weight: 40-100 kg
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