I've been tinkering with the Species design rules. For some reason I've latched onto the Lorillians, from "Broken Bow" as my first target. (I'll get to the Sheliak once I'm confident that I've mastered the system. I already have a general idea of how I'll write them up.)
The Lorillians are the Species encountered on the Rigel trade planet whose young breath only Methyl oxide and must be "weaned" into breathing standard atmospheres.
With just that one detail to work with, this is what I've conjured up:
+1 Vitality
-1 Perception (no sense of smell and accustomed to a thicker atmosphere than standard).
ADAPTIVE RESPIRATION: Adult Lorillians can breathe virtually any atmosphere that contains at least trace amounts of oxygen, in any form. Their respiratory tract is designed to filter necessary elements out of complex gas molecules and is resistant/nonreactive to other elements. This makes them functionally immune to inhaled toxins, with the exception of strongly corrosive gases, since their multi-lobed lungs do not allow harmful gases to be absorbed into the bloodstream.
(They are NOT immune to toxins that are ingested or introduced to the bloodstream through any other means, such as injection).
COSMOPOLITAN: Lorillians are a well-travelled species and are at ease with a wide variety of alien cultures. +1 Savvy when dealing with non-Lorillians.
LONERS: Lorillians bond only in small family groups. They are uncomfortable around other Lorillians who are not blood relatives. -2 Savvy with other Lorillians who are not closely related.
Lorillia is a rugged, mountainous world which is very volcanically active. The atmosphere is thick and divided into chemically discrete layers determined by altitude. Each layer has its own indigenous ecology. The lower altitudes have a thick methyl oxide atmosphere and though the oldest of the active biospheres, it is also the most primitive. Most advanced species have developed in the mid-ranges where standard nitrogen-oxygen atmosphere is most common. Individual mountains and mountain ranges have distinct species, rather like those that evolve on isolated islands.
The humanoid Lorillians adapted to take advantage of this ecology. They breed and raise their young in the lowest levels, where no large predators exist to threaten them. When they mature, they migrate upwards to the standard atmosphere altitudes, where more food is available. Though more populated, these levels also tend to be too small in area to support large numbers of the humanoid Lorillian species. This has led to the development of very insular, clannish cultures which rarely intermingle and are distrustful of outsiders.
Though they did not develop space travel on their own, the Lorillians were quick to adapt to it when they were contacted by other Warp-capable species. Their ability to breathe many different atmospheres put them in high demand as scouts, diplomats and trade negotiators. Lorillians are able to serve as the go betweens for Species who do not have mutually compatible environmental needs. They have used the resources this brings them to advance their own technology.
Different regions on Lorillia have very different tech levels, depending on how successful they have been in marketing their services to warp-capable aliens.
Preferred Professions: Diplomat, Merchant and Rogue.
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I like it a lot.