Help me develop a new Alien Threat(TM) [Starbase 619 Players DO NOT READ]

[erhershman]

Ah... now that I have my own online game, I have the satisfaction of posting spoiler warnings to my players before I begin each post about it

So as I said, if you are playing in the Starbase 619 game, please read no further.













I would like help developing a new Alien Species, a major power on the level of the Feds/Klingons/Romulans etc. I plan to locate them just beyond the western rim of Cardassian space, where the players' starbase is located. I want to use these aliens in a story arc. I like the Suliban and the Temporal Cold War arc on Enteprise, so I'd like to design something along the style of that... mysterious-race-with-hidden-agenda etc. Can anyone help me with this? I'm kind of stuck for ideas.

[Sheliak Bob]

There's an insectoid race that's mentioned in Steve Long's Cardassian SRM. There's even a ship for them. Possibly a template? haven't looked at it for awhile.
Anyway, I was planning to use them as a major threat race for any Cardassian based games I ran. Since they are game-canon only, there is little information and you are free to develop as you wish, but there's also some base material to expand from.
That's my favorite method for this sort of thing.
'Sides, it's a cool excuse to download the Cardassian SRM if you haven't done so already!

[Phoenix]

Bug people, why do we all have bug people out past Cardie space. I've put 3 minor powers out there, first an Alliance of 5 worlds (one is insectoid), a refugee bug people (the Kam'Jehtae from ST: Invasion crossed with the B5 Shadows then lightened alot so the PC's can stand a chance), and a Mirror Universe colony of escaped slaves (loosely based on the Neichians).
Story: 100 years ago the Kam'Jehtae controlled a dozen systems that had ben genocidally conquered. The 5 member species government were survivors that fought back and won after 25 years...I ramble...the Neichians, side plot species...I ramble more...

Bugs, Why does it always have to be bugs?

[pathstrider]

Bugs, Why does it always have to be bugs?

To provide a serious answer to a silly (I presume, given your smilies) question....

probabley cause we can easily imagine a insectoid race as being a logical (ish) analog to a mamilian race.

but, its harder to do them on TV in terms of make up budgets

So, when it comes to an RPG we all think 'Ah! I'll be orginal and do a insectiod race cause I've never seen them on TV but I can do it cause I don't have a make up budget!'

And I include myself in that - my latest race is insectiod

Later days!

Mark

[pesterfield]

What do you mean by Threat? The entire species, the government, just some parts of the government?

A good example of peaceful contact with evil agenda is V.

A species I've considered using are the Dilbians from some short stories by Gordon R. Dickson. Dilbians are extremely good humored, friendly beings, given to celebration and fellowship, boasting, boisterous games, and practical jokes. They are essentially peaceful, despite their bearlike physique and eight to nine feet in height, and will take pains to avoid unnecessary conflict. However, because their avoid fights with such care, perhaps conscious of their huge power, when they do get into a fight they don’t hold back. Dilbians are famous for their duels and their blood feuds, which can last generations.

Fiercely individualist, they nonetheless have a rigidly defined set of laws and codes governing their lives, even off world. At home, these laws and codes are administered by clan elders. Paradoxically, while Dilbians are devoted to the letter of the law, they feel it their "duty" to twist the spirit to the extreme. Many a Dilbian tavern tale is filled with heroes who got away from seemingly breaking the law by just such twists.

This unspoken flexibility of the code is responsible for the stability of Dilbian society. It also causes problems when Dilbians fall under another species' laws or enter into contracts with them.

Not really a threat species, though things could very easily go very badly if something were to mess up the first contact.

[erhershman]

Originally posted by pesterfield
What do you mean by Threat? The entire species, the government, just some parts of the government?

Any of the above, but I've created a new alien race and answered my own question above. My new species can be found at this thread:

http://forum.trek-rpg.net/showthread...&threadid=7095

[Typhonis 1]

For a combat threat you could go with Star Frontiers Sathar Worm like aliens that slithered like snakes and had two set o tentacles ,the lower set were used when it stod upright and were used for bracing and heavy lifting .The upper set ended in five digit hands and were used for fine manipularion. Mouths are tube like they have excellent sense of smell and there eyes have two distinct pupils

[buck rogers]

Ah Star Frontiers! In old days (early 80s) that game was awsome. The came Star Trek by FASA the two had such similiar rules. Does anybody still have Star Frontiers. I have Knight Hawks and Zebulons Guide to Fromtier Space. Would love to get Alpha Dawn or maybe some adventures. We did lots of crossovers with SF & ST back in the day. it would be interesting to revisit the "Frontier" in Coda.