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I'm running a sci-fi game for my friends in a setting that I can best describe as "Mass Effect meets Star Trek: Enterprise, without the stupid parts." They seem to be liking it so far.
I've got two specific issues that kinda need handling, though.
1. What's the best way to handle officer ranks (Ensign, Lieutenant, &c.)?
2. I planned on the ship's science officer (an NPC) to get nearly killed off, then get turned into something that the group will have to face later on. I was thinking something like a vampire- any other ideas would be appreciated, so long as the end result's a sentient humanoid.
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1. If the players are going to be given ranks then make sure they have specialisations.
(The Captain gives orders on the ship, but he should respect the Doctor's opinion on anything medical).
2. What if he gets infected with space spores, that really want to spread as far and wide as they can. When someone's life-signs stop they awaken as a horrible zombie. The Science Officer is the unwitting vector for a galaxy wide zombie apocalypse (that can be traced to every planet the PCs visit BWAHAHAHAHAHA).
I'm running a sci-fi game for my friends in a setting that I can best describe as "Mass Effect meets Star Trek: Enterprise, without the stupid parts." They seem to be liking it so far.
I've got two specific issues that kinda need handling, though.
1. What's the best way to handle officer ranks (Ensign, Lieutenant, &c.)?
2. I planned on the ship's science officer (an NPC) to get nearly killed off, then get turned into something that the group will have to face later on. I was thinking something like a vampire- any other ideas would be appreciated, so long as the end result's a sentient humanoid.
1. I have no idea--depends on the size of the crew and how independent you want the PCs to be.
2. I'm thinking a Kuato (Total Recall)/Face of Boe (Dr. Who) mash-up would be nice and creepy. Like, a giant face on the middle of his abdomen, with a really offensive tongue. Especially if after his near-death experience, he just got fatter and fatter. This is just to accomidate the bigger face on his abdomen. And when he dies, he bursts open like a rotten melon and all sorts of THINGS spurt out of his guts.
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Dudemeister: I, uh, probably should have mentioned this before... there was a captain. (Another NPC.) He took a direct hit to the face from a laser cannon commonly seen mounted to starships, and proceeded to take the Charcoal prestige class. (I field-promoted one of the PCs before by randomly rolling a d4.)
SmiloDan: The science officer's a female. I can't think of the bastard child of Kuato and the Face of Boe in female form without throwing up =p
Dudemeister: I, uh, probably should have mentioned this before... there was a captain. (Another NPC.) He took a direct hit to the face from a laser cannon commonly seen mounted to starships, and proceeded to take the Charcoal prestige class. (I field-promoted one of the PCs before by randomly rolling a d4.)
SmiloDan: The science officer's a female. I can't think of the bastard child of Kuato and the Face of Boe in female form without throwing up =p
Well, if you're drawing on Mass Effect and Star Trek Enterprise for inspiration, why not using something similar to something in those? I don't know much about Enterprise, but from Mass Effect, she could end up being like an ardat yakshi if you're looking for that vampire feel, or she could have something like the Thorian get ahold of her and effect her in that way, or have the whole "good guy turns bad" angle like Saren...
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I thought about something like either a vampire or a succubus- the crew lands on a planet, meet up with the local potentiate who requests air from the crew. He rigs the mission so that our lovely science officer is separated from the group (massive rockslide?) and left nearly dead, and the potentiate, sensing her psionic potential, turns her into his queen, and she engages in some messed-up Transhuman Treachery.
I have not an original bone in my body. =p
I was thinking succubus.
Oh yeah! Instead of a zombie apocalypse, do the opposite. She gets a version of Anita Blake's ardeur, except it's contagious, so it spreads like wildfire.
Or maybe she goes all siren instead of succubus. She sings a catchy little jingle, and then all who hear her sing it, and all who hear them sing it, and it spreads like an uber-meme!
Hmm... succubus would work- maybe as a template? But there's no succubus templates around =/
Just add some abilities from the night hag or, um, succubus demon....maybe some nymph and dryad stuff for moral ambiguity...?
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All righty- please read and review this template:
Creating a Succubus
“Succubus” is an acquired template that can be added to any living creature with 1 or more Hit Dice (referred to hereafter as the base creature). A succubus uses the base creature's stats and abilities except as noted here.
CR: Same as the base creature + 4.
AL: Any evil.
Type: The creature's type changes to outsider (augmented). Do not recalculate class Hit Dice, BAB, or saves.
Senses: A succubus gains darkvision 60 ft.
Armor Class: Natural armor improves by +7.
Hit Dice: Succubi gain 3d10 racial Hit Dice. Class Hit Dice are unaffected. Succubi use their Constitution modifier to determine bonus hit points.
Defensive Abilities: A succubus gains channel resistance +4, DR 10cold iron or good, resistance to acid 10 and cold 10, and immunity to electricity, fire, and poison.
Speed: Same as the base creature. If the base creature does not already have a fly speed, it gains a fly speed of 50 feet (average).
Melee: A succubus gains two claw attacks if the base creature didn't have them. Damage for the claws depend on the vampire's size (see Natural Attacks). Its natural weapons are treated as magic weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.
Special Attacks: A succubus gains several special attacks. Save DCs are equal to 10 + 1/2 succubus's HD + succubus's Cha modifier unless otherwise noted.
Energy Drain (Su) A succubus drains energy from a mortal she lures into an act of passion, such as a kiss. An unwilling victim must be grappled before the succubus can use this ability. The succubus's kiss bestows one negative level. The kiss also has the effect of a suggestion spell, asking the victim to accept another act of passion from the succubus. The victim must succeed on a DC 22 Will save to negate the suggestion. The DC is 22 for the Fortitude save to remove a negative level.
Profane Gift (Su) Once per day as a full-round action, a succubus may grant a profane gift to a willing humanoid creature by touching it for 1 full round. The target gains a +2 profane bonus to an ability score of his choice. A single creature may have no more than one profane gift from a succubus at a time. As long as the profane gift persists, the succubus can communicate telepathically with the target across any distance (and may use her suggestion spell-like ability through it). A profane gift is removed by dispel evil or dispel chaos. The succubus can remove it as well as a free action (causing 2d6 Charisma drain to the victim, no save).
Special Qualities: A succubus gains the following.
Change Shape (Su) A succubus has the ability to assume the appearance of a specific humanoid.
Tongues (Sp) A succubus can speak and understand any spoken language.
Unearthly Grace (Su) A nymph adds her Charisma modifier as a racial bonus on all her saving throws, and as a deflection bonus to her Armor Class.
At will—charm monster (DC 22), detect thoughts (DC 20), ethereal jaunt (self plus 50 lbs. of objects only), suggestion (DC 21), greater teleport (self plus 50 lbs. of objects only), vampiric touch
1/day—dominate person (DC 23), summon (level 3, 1 babau 50%)
Ability Scores: Str +2, Dex +2, Con +2, Int +6, Wis +4, Cha +10.
Skills: Succubi gain a +8 racial bonus on Bluff, Perception, and Sense Motive checks.