Okay, here's my take on the cost of the various abilites...
Anaerobic Respiration 3 picks is correct for this special ability.
Can't Talk I would say that this would be equivalent to a Flaw, making it only worth -2 picks. Sigelians can still communicate and understand spoken speech; they just can't speak themselves.
Robust Okay, the +2 Stamina vs. temperature extremes would be worth 6 picks (3 picks per +1 reaction). Resistance to radiation is a specific special ability and costs 12 picks. So, this ability would be worth 18 picks total.
Extraordinary Sense: Ultraviolet Vision 3 picks is correct for the ability, and I agree that the Color Blind defect would be equivalent to a flaw, and -2 picks.
Skill Focus: Art of Non-verbal Expression You mis-read the benefit provided by the Skill Focus edge. The edge only provides the following bonuses: +4 to a single skill with specialty, +2 each to two skills with specialties, +2 to a single skill without specialty, or +1 each to two skills without specialties. ("With specialty" means that the bonus only applies when the listed specialty is used.) That said, the bonus would only be +1 to each Entertain: Dance and the one Craft skill, instead of +2 to each. The way you have it presented is actually providing 2 skill levels each to two skills, and would cost 8 picks.
Skill Focus: Ideas Market Same as above. 8 picks.
So, your totals would actually be:
3-2+6+12+3-2+8+8 = 36 picks.
I would recommend not using "Radiation Resistance," instead having the +2 stamina vs. temperature extremes apply to radiation effects, as well. (The would remove the cost of the Resistance ability.)
For the skill focus abilites, you need to decide if you want to go the skill focus edge route or another route that gives you levels in the individual skills. If you go with the skill focus, each of the skills listed would only receive a +1 bonus to tests. (Reduces costs to 2 picks each.) If you go with the skill levels, I would recommend either requiring the character to choose between the two skills listed, or reducing the benefit to 1 level in each. (Reduces costs to 4 picks each.)
For the "Can't Talk," I would suggest that the Sigelians have a language, but it is one of sign and body language. Also, would they have a written language? Perhaps a pictographic written language, since they have no sounds to make characters from? Also, I would think that a Sigelian would have no difficulty learning different languages; they just would not have the physical ability to speak it.
Along that line, I was thinking that a Sigelian character who frequently deals with speaking species would have some form of miniature sensor net that hangs like a necklace over his chest and is tied into a small voder. It would sense the hand and body gestures in the Sigelian's "speech" and translate it into spoken word through the voder.
So, with the recommended changes, the species balance would be either 12 or 16 picks, depending on whether you choose to go the Skill Focus or skill levels route.
Of course, you could go another route and provide 2 skill levels each to Entertain: Dance and a Craft skill (for the non-Verbal Expression ability) at 8 picks total, and the Skill Focus: Idea Market for 2 picks. This would give you a total of 18 picks.
Hope this helps.
Last edited by Sea Tyger; 12-05-2002 at 01:02 PM.
Davy Jones
"Frightened? My dear, you are looking at a man who has laughed in the face of death, sneered at doom, and chuckled at catastrophe! I was petrified."
-- The Wizard of Oz
Reply With Quote
