Cetacean characters?

[Sarge]

While looking over the deckplans for the Galaxy-class, I was struck by the volume set aside for cetaceans. Has anybody actually used dolphins as NPCs or PCs? I did see a couple episodes of Sea Quest and remember that they had a dolphin named Darwin on board, but I wasn't very impressed with Darwin as a character. I'm trying to decide if I want to leave the tanks in or let the PCs use the space for additional cargo holds or equipment bays. Anybody have any inputs?

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LUGTrek isn't really dead. Not as long as we remember it.

[JALU3]

Well, there is a templete for a dolphin character in the Species data bank on tngrpg.net . . . and I've been trying to persuade new players to chose that templete . . . I personnally thing it would lead to interesting game play, if played well. However, there do lie some problems in being a dolphin . . . for one you always have to be outwardly and inwardly hydrated . . . two, you lack hands or fingers . . . so everything would be nose based . . . three, you can't walk. Now taking that into consideration . . . it really depends on what type of vessel and/or campaign your running.

Me, myself am running a Shuttle based campaign . . . therefore . . . a doplhin wouldn't be a good thing. But if you're playing on a large vessel . . . even as small as a norway . . . you can pull it off.

I liked Sea Quest . . . even though it was offen called ST in the Sea . . . and I'll agree with you Darwin was badly played . . . however, I liked the drama, and some of the story line. But I'm sure you as the Narattor can do better, and your players can act better than a dolphin.

But I have to ask . . . does anyone have a PC Cairn? I think that would be interesting game play.

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"See Everything; overlook a great deal; correct a little." -Pope John XXIII

[Phantom]

There was a dolphin character in the novel, I know most novels are not considered canon, "Dark Mirror". If memory serves he had a transport device, like a large aquarium on hover suspensors (or something like that) and this transport was equiped with manipulator arms so the dolphin, who was a Star Fleet scientist, could carry out his duties.

I don't know if that is what you were thinking of, but I thought it was a pretty good way of getting rid of some of the race draw backs. Anyway, just an idea.

[GARY ENSMINGER]

An author by the name of David Brin wrote the uplift series. The book called Startide Rising has dolphins as crew. Actually most of the crew were dolphins including the Captian. The ship was designed for them. When the had to go on land they had spider walkers with manipulator arms, weapons and a water tank with misters to keep their skin cool and moist. The device I believe was thought controlled. Hope this helps

[Owen E Oulton]

Given Trek technology, a cetacean character isn't too difficult. A "wet" suit (literally) with a mister or perhaps a hydrient gel for the head wold be fairly simple. Given the complexity and range of Dolphin vocalisation, the ship's controls could be set to voice-command mode and still allow the Dolphins to enter commands as quickly and efficiently as a Human could keyboard them. Likewise, such ordinary tools as tricorders, PADDs and personal phasers could be attachments to the wetsuit/uniform and operate in the same manner. Walkers of some sort, or even antigravs of the sort Bashir wanted to equip Ensign Melora Pazlar with (until they found out they were incompatible with Cardie artificial grav systems) would be feasible, and could be neural-linked, though they wouldn't need to be. An antigrav harness programmed to convert swimming movements into propulsion commands is well within the capabilities of Federation technology. For tasks requiring physical dexterity, a small waldo (designed by Spar Aerospace in Canada, perhaps!) unit could be attached to the wetsuit chest and controlled by any of the methods mentioned above.

We know that Dolphins and Orcas were in the Enterprise-D's crew, from data given in the STTNG Technical Manual and Enterprise-D blueprint set, as well as dialogue in the episode The Perfect Mate.

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[Calcoran]

"... an antigrav harness programmed to convert swimming movements into propulsion commands ..."

Wow ... I like the idea of having a dolphin swimming around in the corridors of my station ... great idea . So ... Chief Engineer? I mean, Jefferey tubes wouldn't be a real problem for it/him/her, would it? It'd need a few fine manipulators, though ... but this would be just great. Now I just need a good barman and my players are really going to feel at home there .

BTW, what are cetacean names like? Clksnhnkclckshwiiiiiiiouiclk or something?

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

[SIR SIG]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Owen E Oulton:
We know that Dolphins and Orcas were in the Enterprise-D's crew, from data given in the STTNG Technical Manual and Enterprise-D blueprint set, as well as dialogue in the episode The Perfect Mate.
</font>

Really? How awesome! I'll have to do a bit or reading.

Hey maybe their from Pacifica or even, dare I say WaterWorld

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SIRSIG
AKA: SirPostalot
AKA: The MapMaker
AKA: The Trek Cartographer
AKA:...Well I could keep going forever

[Dan Gurden]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Calcoran:
BTW, what are cetacean names like? Clksnhnkclckshwiiiiiiiouiclk or something?
</font>

"But my freinds just call me Klik..."

As the recent favourite quotes thread said;
"Its not easy being a Dolphin."


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Dan.

"A couple of thoughts from a random mind!"

[Sarge]

"He's called Ensign Flipper, Flipper
Faster than lightning..."

Jeez, am I dating myself or what?

I think the biggest problem with dolphins as PCs is the difficulty of away missions, even with an encounter suit. Can you imagine trying to keep one involved in a game based on City on the Edge of Forever? "No doubt you've noticed that my friend is a mechanical rice picker."

Dolphin and whale songs are theorized to have extremely high information density. Maybe they'd be good as communications officers or computer specialists. Their limited mobility would be much less of a hindrance in those jobs.

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LUGTrek isn't really dead. Not as long as we remember it.

[This message has been edited by Sarge (edited 04-30-2001).]

[Gamethyme]

FYI, the "Blue Planet" RPG features cetacean characters as an integral part of the system, and a lot of the ideas for "How to Integrate" them are system-less. I'm hoping the "Fin" book will have more / better info.

I'll let ya'll know if it does ...

Gamethyme

[Dan Stack]

Hmmm.... Dragon Magazine featured an article entitled "The Dragons of Known Space" dealing with Dolphin characters for the Chaosium Ringworld RPG. It's available on the CD-ROM archive.

[Aldaron]

Where in the ST:TNG Technical Manual is it?
Oh, and what's the dialog in The Perfect Mate? I've got that one on video, and I'd love to get a cackle out of it - it's something I've talked about doing for years, but didn't know there was anything canon about it.

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"Every atom in our bodies was forged in the furnace of ancient stars - it is our destiny to return home..."

[Owen E Oulton]

Lessee...

STTNG TM index reads: "Tursiops crew members - 44-45."

In The Perfect Mate (at least I'm pretty sure it's that episode), Geordi decoys one of the Ferengi away from a room he's trying to enter, saying "Have you seen the Dolphins?"

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[Aldaron]

Fair dinkum! LOL
Owen - that's great, thanks!

12 dolphins and 2 Takaya's whales aboard (according to p 44 - 45).

Now I've got canon support for what I thought was a cool idea and had others say "Nah...!" at!

Thanks again!


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"Every atom in our bodies was forged in the furnace of ancient stars - it is our destiny to return home..."

[Phoenix]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Calcoran:
"... an antigrav harness programmed to convert swimming movements into propulsion commands ..."

BTW, what are cetacean names like? Clksnhnkclckshwiiiiiiiouiclk or something?
</font>

Ok yes I DO have a Dolphin officer in my game, Lt. "Squii" ships marine biologist (Nova-Class) I use the anti-grav device and flipper end micro-waldo-like devices, both respond to motion, swimming for the anti-grav, and minute muscule twitches for the waldo units (personal equipment required), the com-badge is unchanged Voice or touch activated. Her quarters are envirmentally labled as class-N "Aquatic" or basicly a very large fish tank...

Well have fun with this one...Phoenix...


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"Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake."
-Napoleon