New alien species- cool idea!

[erhershman]

I have an idea for a new alien species to use in my game:

TAVERIANS appear physically identical to Humans, though internal organ placement differs. They are a unique species in that, althought they have mouths and vocal cords, they can only communicate through a language of motions similar to Earth's sign language. This presents unique problems, as motions cannot be understood with the universal translator.

I know my player enjoys this kind of cultural barrier, so this is a good idea for my series.

Any comments or questions or suggestions on changes/details to add? Thanks!

erhershman@yahoo.com

[Captain Zymmer]

I like them, but why have them be "exactly" like humans "but"...why not make them genuiniely alien?

[Michael Barratt]

I agree with Zymmer - I'd work on making them a little less human-appearing.

Now, you could go into a background as to why their primary language is sign. For one, give them a star system with multiple stars or somesuch, so that it's never dark (drives me nuts when it's too dark to see what someone is signing)...

A very thin atmosphere, or a super-windy one, would make hearing useless as a sense, so you could make a race that is equivalent to the poor hearing disadvantage, or maybe even a race without ears at all, but other sensory organs used only for sensing presence/vibration that isn't fine enough to determine sounds, just location... (lots of tiny hairs, or something)...

Aliens without ears, or the ability to speak... sup to you - I like this a lot though, and I warn you, I'm gonna slip these aliens into my campaign too.

Got a name for 'em?

The Doc

[Publius]

I have to say that I like them as they are, they do not need to be prosthetic forehead aliens to be aliens. How many times have alien species looked exactly human?

Lets take a look just as TOS: Ardelians, Ardanians, Capellans, Ekosians, Elanians, Eminarians, Fabrinians, Gideons, Iotians, Kalandans (dead older race) Khom/Yang (maybe human offshoot), Landruians, Magna Romani (human offshoot, never bought that "parallel development, I'm thinking Preservers), Neuralians, Platonians, Sarpedians, Scolosians.

Sure, I like prosthetic forehead aliens as much as the next guy, but hey, there is a strong tendency for aliens to appear human-like in Trek as well. Voyager had most of the "knobby-forehead" or "nosejob" aliens, as well as some really outlandish ones like the Tak Tak. etc. but those are in the Delta Quad. Treknologically, maybe that is because of 'genetic drift' as the precursor race seeded their worlds further and further away from wherever they came from. (Of course in the real world we know this is merely because of the higher production values of TV in the modern era, allowing for stoys to afford having aliens which have greater deviations from human normal appearance). Perhaps the races which are physically closer to Sol have an appearance which is much more close to the "human norm" (which arguably is also the "Ekosian Norm" and "Magna Romani" norm and "Fabrini norm" etc.).

[Michael Barratt]

Originally posted by Publius
I have to say that I like them as they are, they do not need to be prosthetic forehead aliens to be aliens. How many times have alien species looked exactly human?

Okay, point. I think I was just thinking of genetic reasons to rely on sign language - a race relying on it would likely have underdeveloped hearing, voice, or something else making sign a more functional language (which, it isn't in comparison to verbal under typical situations).

The Doc

[Warren]

Greetings! Another way to present the aliens is as former slaves. This was used for a race in the Star wars Rpg. They were a human subgroup called the Lorrdians. The Lorrdians had been forbidden by their Masters from using vocal or verbal communication, so they developed a new language based not only on hand signs but other body movements and gestures.

Now you could ehance this by having the former Masters removing the vocal cords of their slaves by the method of your choice.
Hope this helps!
Warren

[Michael Barratt]

Oooh! I like the idea of a race of former slaves... Hrm.

You could add Xenophobic to their list of mental troubles, and their newer generation would be capable of speech, but since their parents can't talk, their wouldn't be able to learn...



The Doc

[Dan Gurden]

Originally posted by Michael Barratt
Oooh! I like the idea of a race of former slaves... Hrm.

You could add Xenophobic to their list of mental troubles, and their newer generation would be capable of speech, but since their parents can't talk, their wouldn't be able to learn...
The Doc

I wouldn't say wouldn't be able to learn after all they would have contact with speaking civilisations and have learnt something from them. However, using an allegory to martial arts...

Black Slaves were often in chains, restricting their arm movements, which led to the spinny, kicky Coaporia, and Japanese 'Serf Classes' were not allowed weapons, which led to farm tools designed with being used as a weapon in time of need (the nightsick is descended from grain threshers), and even the development of martial arts...

In both these cases changes in circumstance didn't mean that the methods of defence dies, and while the martial arts are by no means across the cultural level, they are not a method of communication.

My point is that, while the decesndant will indeed be able to talk, and may even have developed limited (but growing) vocabularies, they might keep the sign language as an inter species method of communication, easily seeing the advantages in a covert method of cumminication.

But why keep them as human, or even humanoid with rubber heads . Why not insectoid? Or multi-limbed? Have them with 4 arms, thus allowing their forefathers to serve and communicate at the same time, or both sets of arms are involved in full comunication? Making the skill REALLY difficult to learn?

[C5]

Originally posted by Dan Gurden

But why keep them as human, or even humanoid with rubber heads . Why not insectoid? Or multi-limbed? Have them with 4 arms, thus allowing their forefathers to serve and communicate at the same time, or both sets of arms are involved in full comunication? Making the skill REALLY difficult to learn?

Speaking of insectoids... I think bees use complex dances to communicate. That could be an interesting variation to this (very good) idea.
Just picture a conversation of these aliens (however they may look like) : walking in complex patternes around one another while waving strangely... This language could be very hard to learn indeed.

A Advantage dealing with visual perception may be in order here, to reflect the fact that these aliens are able to detect the slightests movements.

And think that, after extended contact with humanoids, they could become extremely efficient at reading body language (hey for instance this ability could have drawn the attention of some unsrupulous alien intelligence services upon them - properly trained these guy could do the job of an empath)...

[Lt.Khrys Antos]

I'd have to agree and say that they should be less human in apperance. Add a couple of fingers or extra types of sensory organs on their hands. They speak by touching, sign language, pheramones(sp?) or whatever else. Would make it hard for a human with only five fingers to speak sign language with a 10 finger alien!

[Michael Barratt]

Originally posted by Dan Gurden
I wouldn't say wouldn't be able to learn after all they would have contact with speaking civilisations and have learnt something from them. However, using an allegory to martial arts...

<snip>

My point is that, while the decesndant will indeed be able to talk, and may even have developed limited (but growing) vocabularies, they might keep the sign language as an inter species method of communication, easily seeing the advantages in a covert method of cumminication.

Sorry, I meant more in a "genetically capable, but atrophied" sort of way. In the development of a child, there are critical periods of language development that rely on interaction with verbal play - babytongue - where the parent/guardian speaks in gibberish made up of all the sounds that said parent makes in day to day language use. Babies are capable of making every sound (including the '!' from some languages, rolling rs, all sounds used in all languages, basically), but if they don't practice, these sounds are never learned - and some of them are extremely difficult to learn later in life. With no language goin' on around them, the critical period would pass, and a lot of the genetic/physical development would go unused, and they'd end up verbally un(der)developed...

But that's not necessarily the case with an alien race, etc.

As for making the race nonstandard humaoid, that'd be cool, but I think I'd still prefer going with a typical humanoid in my campaign, with some minor-to-major differneces (ie: no ears, enhanced sensory organs, etc).

In "Clan of the Cave Bear," by Jean Auel, there's some great passages where a child from a verbal society ends up being raised by a society that uses sign as their primary form of communication. It's well-written, and could be very eye-opening for this idea...

The Doc

[Michael Barratt]

Playing around with this...

Species Template: The T'tihk

A species that at first glance may appear human, the T'tihk are humanoids which on a closer look, have an extra finger on each hand, an extra toe on each foot, and eyes slightly larger than the human average, which also are space slightly further apart, granting them a wider field of vision.

Their appearances vary much like most humanoids, though their hair colours tend to be lighter more often than dark, and they tend to wear their hair quite short (to avoid the annoyance of the sensation of their own hair brushing on their skin). Eyes run a full range, and tend to back-shine in low light conditions when a beam of light is directed toward them (like raccoons and other creatures that are able to see well in the dark).

T'tihk are deaf-mutes, but have exceptional senses of smell, sight, and touch - they have a visual acuity that allows them to notice even slight variations in positioning and movement, and a keen spatial sense in this regard: they are experts at body language, once they've studied a species for a while. Indeed, even the name for their species is a Federation approximation of the sound created by the species snapping their fingers twice with one hand - the sign for their racial name.

T'tihk sense of smell is heightened, as is their sense of touch - all their fingers (indeed, most of their skin surface) is capable of nearly ten times the amount of sensitivity of a typical humanoid - they can sense imperfections in the surfaces of items, and have a distinct ability to judge objects by touch once they've practiced. They tend to make excellent sculptors because of this, and are known for their "story-statues," which are statuettes of mythical creatures or heroes from legend, upon which is written, in a form of braille most humanoids can't detect, the story of said hero or creature. (Sculpture is suggested for the artistic expression trait below, but any tactile-based art would be good, too).


Attributes
Fitness 2
Coordination 3
Dexterity +1
Intellect 2
Perception +1
Presence 2
Empathy +2
Psi 0

Skills
Any Science (Choose Specialization) 1 (2)
Artistic Expression (Choose Specialization) 1 (2)
Culture (T'tihk) 2 (3)
History (T'tihk) 1 (2)
Language: T'tihk Sign Language 2
World Knowledge (T'tihk Homeworld) 1 (2)

Advantages:
Peripheral Vision (+1), Enhanced Vision (+2), Excellent Chemoreception (+1), Excellent Sense of Touch (+1)

Disadvantages:
Deaf/Mute (-1, -2)

This done in the format from the RPG website...

[erhershman]

TAVARIANS

Fitness 2(5)
Coordination 2(5)
Intellect 2(5)
Perception +1
Presence 2(5)
Empathy -1*
Psi 2(4) (Edit Change: Psi 0)


Culture (Tavarian) 2(3)
History (Tavarian) 1(2)
Language, Tavarian 2
Social Sciences (choose specialization) 2(3)**
Artistic Expression (choose specialization) 2(3)
World Knowledge (Tavaria) 1(2)

Physically Impaired (cannot communicate vocally) -2, Alertness +2,
Organ Redundancy +2

*- because you can't empthasize with someone you can't understand.

**-Tavarians are particularly adept at Archaelogy.

Comments? Questions?
Will post species background shortly.

[Michael Barratt]

Originally posted by erhershman
TAVARIANS

Physically Impaired (cannot communicate vocally) -2, Alertness +2

*- because you can't empthasize with someone you can't understand.

**-Tavarians are particularly adept at Archaelogy.

Comments? Questions?

I like that we went in different directions with these aliens - are these the ex-slave version of your idea?

I'm not sure, though, that lack of voice means that they cannot understand someone - it depends on whether or not they have other disabilities, but mute people are more than capable of being empathetic - it's that other people can't often understand them... Unless you're meaning there's something else that you're going to put into the write up...

The Doc

[erhershman]

TAVARIANS ALIEN SPECIES TEMPLATE

HOMEWORLD: Tavarians live on Tavaria Prime, on the Federation-Breen border.

HOME REGION/SOVERIGN TERRITORY: Tavarians have a well developed homeworld, and have colonized one planet in their solar system. They have just recently achieved warp flight (warp five.)

SUGGESTED ATTRIBUTE/EDGES: See my post above.

SPECIAL OR UNIQUE ABILITIES: Tavarians have psionic powers. They can communicate "vocally" through telepathy with psi-capable characters.

SPECIAL OR UNIQUE SKILLS: Tavarians have a penchant for archaeology, their homeworld is home to ruins of many ancient civilizations.

SIZE: About humanoid norm; althought they tend to have more graceful, athletic figures than other species.

TRAITS COMMON TO THE SPECIES: Tavarians cannot communicate vocally, though they have mouths and ears about the same as humans.

STORY NOTES: Being dangerously close to Breen space, the Tavarians are a prime target for invasion, due to their practically non-existent military and space fleet.

DESCRIPTION:
The Tavarians are physically identical to Humans, though internal organ placement is slightly different- Tavarians have three lungs and a redundant secondary heart.
They gained independence from dictatorial rulers from an unknown empire in 2369.
Althought they have mouths and ears identical to those of Humans, the most distinguishing Tavarian feature is that they do not communicate vocally; they use a sign language to communicate.
The Tavarians are an extrordinarly peaceful people- they ousted their occupiers from their world only out of absolute necessity. An example of just how peace-loving they are can be found in their language- there is no word* in Tavarian for "hate."
First contact was made by the Federation, their first interstellar contact beyond their invaders, was made in 2376, by the Soverign-class U.S.S. Atreides. The Federation has agreed to peaceful relations with the Tavarians, though the Tavarians have denied to join the Federation at this time- they are still suspicioius of offworlders due to their long occupation.

*-Although the Tavarians do not "speak" per say, individual signs in the Tavarian language are properly referred to as "words."

-------------------------
Anything else I should add?