Not your typical Vulcan

When creating my supporting cast, I try to include at least one character which "breaks the mold," e.g. their species is stereotyped to act one way and they act completely different. In the case of my current series, that NPC is a Vulcan woman (no name yet) who was raised on Earth by humans- thus she does not follow the "logical" path and can express emotions- sort of like a human with pointed ears.
But I heard or read somewhere (can't remember where) that to a Vulcan, emotions can not only be undesirable, but dangerous- something about a "major chemical imbalance" that could seriously injure or kill the Vulcan if the emotions were not controlled.

I like the character, but how do I get around the dilemma about the "chemical imbalance?" My players will point this out if I bring forth this NPC, because they love to point out my little mistakes :-)

------------------
"Please rush me my portable walrus polishing kit, eight super brushes guaranteed to clean even the stickiest seabound mammals. Yes I am over 18, even though my IQ isn't."

I don't recall the chemical imbalances (other than the sex thing, but that's for Vulcan males). But if she does suffer from that, she could depend on good old drugs to keep them in check (that would be a dark secret). Players may wonder why she's so secretive about those "care" packages she gets from home.

The chemical imbalance may or be not be canon, but I quote from the TOS core book in the section near the beginning on Vulcans, page 23:

"People from emotional cultures, particularly Humans, like to twit Vulcans about the virtues of the passionate life, forgetting that the untrained emotions of a Vulcan are much more powerful and erratic than their own. For a Vulcan emotion is not just undesirable, but dangerous."

I like the idea of her having to take a drug to control her more "primitive instincts."

------------------
"Please rush me my portable walrus polishing kit, eight super brushes guaranteed to clean even the stickiest seabound mammals. Yes I am over 18, even though my IQ isn't."

I was always under the impression that emotions for Vulcans were more dangerous for others. That emotional Vulcans are dangerous because of they way they act. For instance, if angry, they might overreact and start a fight (which is of course dangerous against any non-Vulcan).

Of course, some humans can make themselves really ill simply because of their emotions, so I guess an emotional Vulcan could do just the same ... or maybe better.

------------------
Sometimes it's better to light a flamethrower than curse the darkness.
-- (Terry Pratchett, Men at Arms)

Woah! One of my character's (The one I take my posting name from) is based almost on the exact same concept! The gender is different obviously, but the PC is a reasonably good looking guy and rarely finds trouble acquiring willing "assistance" every seven years or so http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/smile.gif.

As for the emotions the rest of the time, I really don't see that there should be too many medical problems. After all, the Romulans are physiologically Vulcan and don't have any trouble expressing emotion. Sure, he has to keep himself more tightly controlled than most humans (and so practices Tai Chi, meditation and other relaxation programmes). For the most part, he comes across as a regular guy. But you do not want to see him mad... http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/eek.gif

------------------
"Spatial anomalies, energy beings, telepathic echoes. You know, sometimes I really miss the Dominion War. At least then all we had to worry about was where the next polaron beam was coming from...": Capt.Hunter, USS Tempest

Yep... I've seen this concept too. Does this mean the mould was busted up real good?
http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/smile.gif

Theres alot of roleplay potential, but as a Narrator I feel that while a Vulcans emotions be extremily passionate (Acting more like a Romulan)... The character growing in an outside environment would develop their emotional controls...

The other thing to consider is the characters Psi potential... If they are raised in an environment where they wouldn't gain the Vulcan emotional control, chances are they also wouldn't develop their nerve pinch and mind meld to the fullest extent (if at all)...

When I saw this concept I suggest dropping both to first level skills as a Maximum, if the player could justify how they were developed...

------------------
DanG.

"Hi, I'm Commander Troy McClure, you might remember me from other academy training holo-simulations as, Abandon Ship, the quickest way out, and I sense danger, 101 things you dont need a Betazoid to know..."

http://www.theventure.freeserve.co.uk

When you talk about "chemical imbalance" maybe you are thinking of the Voyager episode where Tuvak has the flashbacks of his time on the Excelsior.

It's established in that ep. that supressed memories can lead to chemical imbalances in Vulcans that can have deadly consequences if not dealt with properly.

Another thing about Vulcans and their emotions is that we have seen several cases when emotional outbursts in Vulcans take on very violent forms. Remember that Vulcans first started to control their emotions precisely because of their violent nature and to end the wars that resulted from that.

For a Vulcan who was raised by humans emotions could be a very dangerous thing, not only because of some "chemical imbalance", but because of the violent tendencies that seem to acompany Vulcan emotions in many cases.
IMHO an emotional Vulcan could be at least as problematic as a Klingon among humans.

OTOH, we never see much of the emotional side of Vulcan females. Maybe it's quite different for them, tham for the males?!

When Spock was under the influence of the "happy spores", he didn't have any ill effects. True, when he did open the can of whupass on Kirk he went absolutely postal, but that's intense Vulcan emotion for ya!

My "emotional Vulcan" PC traded the DPs for losing the Psi skills for buying off the Hides Emotions disad and paying the cost of the Mixed Species Heritage ad (sorry, forgot to mention that he was only half-Vulcan - which explains the human name). He later bought limited Psi skills, justifying that curiosity about his father's species had led him to spend time on Vulcan (his Vulcan dad was a Starfleet officer who died fighting the Cardies when the PC was very young).

------------------
"Spatial anomalies, energy beings, telepathic echoes. You know, sometimes I really miss the Dominion War. At least then all we had to worry about was where the next polaron beam was coming from...": Capt.Hunter, USS Tempest

I have started writing the episode in which this NPC appears- she may become a recurring guest if she goes over well with the PCs. In this episode, the Vulcan is the prime suspect when the crew have to search for a Romulan spy aboard their starship- she's under particular suspicion because of the strange "packages" she keeps receiving- these are, as the PCs will discover, the drug which she needs to keep herself under control. I have incorporated all of the ideas you guys have suggested on this post. Thanks! I still would like more input on this NPC though: for one thing, should she have a Human or Vulcan name? She's a Vulcan, but she was raised on earth by humans...

------------------
"Please rush me my portable walrus polishing kit, eight super brushes guaranteed to clean even the stickiest seabound mammals. Yes I am over 18, even though my IQ isn't."

Quote:

---

Originally posted by erhershman:
I still would like more input on this NPC though: for one thing, should she have a Human or Vulcan name? She's a Vulcan, but she was raised on earth by humans...

---

Why not give her a double name? A human and a vulcan first name could be the way to go. Maybe she even doesn't like it when someone calls her by her vulcan name if she sees herself more as a human than a vulcan.

BTW, nice idea about the drugs. Are those something that's illegal in the Federation or does she want to keep it a secret for personal reasons?
------------------
"To seek, to strive, to find and not to yield" - Alfred Tennyson

[This message has been edited by Lancer (edited 09-22-2001).]

I think Vulcan Emotions are dangerous because they are not trained to confront them. They always neclect them and do not work with them - throwing them into a situation where they cannot control their emotions, they are more or les helpless, because then they probably switch off reason.
As your Vulcan is raised by humans and thus knows emotions, I do not believe that this poses a problem - In fact there are Vulcan sects, schools other than those of Surak, which have emotions and they do not have any bilogical problems with that. ( BTW in the Way of Kilhinar is nothing about this dangerous thing ).

------------------
"I am a great one for rushing in where angels fear to tread." - Cpt. Kirk, Star Trek VI


www.farrealms.de

My idea was more that she would just want to keep her drug a a secret for personal reasons, they're perfectly legal.

------------------
The road goes ever ever on,
Over rock and under tree.
And I must follow if I can.
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way,
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Evan van Eyk:
I think Vulcan Emotions are dangerous because they are not trained to confront them. They always neclect them and do not work with them - throwing them into a situation where they cannot control their emotions, they are more or les helpless, because then they probably switch off reason.
As your Vulcan is raised by humans and thus knows emotions, I do not believe that this poses a problem - In fact there are Vulcan sects, schools other than those of Surak, which have emotions and they do not have any bilogical problems with that. ( BTW in the Way of Kilhinar is nothing about this dangerous thing ).

---

That would bring us into the nature vs nurture debate. Yes Vulcans by their upbringing can't deal with emotions but the NPC we're discussing is raised like a human who are able to deal with emotions quite competently - well then again...

Anyway, I'm a bit curious about this chemical unbalance thing, is it cannon? I'm not one of those who goes off his rocker when things aren't cannon but it'll be nice to know.

"Small world" as I also have a Vulcan character, for whom my screen name is chosen. Capt Sawyer is a follower of Jerok, as per the Vulcan source book. I had placed Sawyer on a Vulcan colony named T'Khoia, populated by Vulcans who do not follow the Teachings of Surak. He had a longer name, but changed it to Sawyer (from Mark Twain, a person mentioned often in TNG) when he joined Starfleet. He usually doesn't smile in public, unless he is trying to unnerve an opponent.


------------------
~~~randy~~>

Ooh, the unnerving smile of a Vulcan! My own PC has used the "peaceful Vulcan" stereotype to deadly effect against overconfident Klingons:

"You are Vulcan - Vulcans are all pacifists!"

Thwok!

"If it's any consolation, I feel bad about doing that..."

------------------
"Spatial anomalies, energy beings, telepathic echoes. You know, sometimes I really miss the Dominion War. At least then all we had to worry about was where the next polaron beam was coming from...": Capt.Hunter, USS Tempest