ALIENS sourcebook

[buck rogers]

I just got it and its excellent!!! two thumbs up, way up! The guys at decipher seem to have complete symmetry with the spirit of the trek universe. I liked the Borg and Species 8472 since I'm planning an encounter with those two races but wanted to wait until the is book came out. Great book guys

[C5]

Could someone please tell me if there are important changes in this book concerning Vulcans, Bajorans, Humans, and mixed species from the NG rules ?

My players will be re-creating their characters in CODA (we're finally switching from ICON) at the end of the week, and I fear I won't have time to find Aliens until then.

Thanks !

[Lancer]

Buck (or somebody else who has the book by now), could you tell me a little more about Aliens?
What I would especially like to know is how "in-depth" the cultures and histories of the alien species in the book are covered. How much of each entry is related to game mechanics (i.e. species template) and how much is background stuff?

I am asking 'cause IMHO the entries for the species in the PG and SFOM were a little too short, compared to the way ICON treated aliens. What I am really hoping to see in Aliens is some material that you can show to a player who wants to play (for example) a Tellarite and when he read it he will say "yes, now I know all I need to play a Tellarite character". Something none of the earlier CODA books managed as detailed as necessary for some players, especially the ones who are no Trekies.

[Hugh Casey]

I just love the fact that "Buck Rogers" gave us a review of a ST book!

Biddy-biddy-biddy!

[IceGiant]

Could anyone tell me if the species entries list when a particular species joined the federation?

Thanks in advance.

[Lowly Uhlan]

Ice Giant:Haven't read every description.It states ,in most cases when the UFP became aware of each Species existence,and in the cases of the major races what they were doing all the way back to the 22nd century,up to the DS9 era,and mentions what they would be doing in the Delta Quadrant.

Lancer:For "minor" races the spread is about 1 1/2- 2 pages(Ekosians or Pakleds,for example).Major players like the Romulans get about 4 pages,the Nausicans(a personal favorite) get 3 1/2,a testament to how long they have been around in yhe shows,I guess.The mix seems to be 2/3 background,1/3 game stats.

C5:I'll have to read further on that one.

[Darth Sarcastic]

I mentioned this in another thread...but it works here as well....

For $35 it was too small, and they left out a few races (Denobulans for one). I didn't see what (if any) improvements were made to entries we've already seen (Human, Vulcan, Andorian...etc) so I don't understand why they were even listed. I was under the impression that this book would include aliens that hadn't been covered anywhere else. This is just my opinion...not worth $35.

[T'lara]

Originally posted by IceGiant
Could anyone tell me if the species entries list when a particular species joined the federation?

Thanks in advance.

Yes it does but it is hard to find you have to get it in the History and Culture section looking for it but it is there.

[T'lara]

Originally posted by Darth Sarcastic
I mentioned this in another thread...but it works here as well....

For $35 it was too small, and they left out a few races (Denobulans for one). I didn't see what (if any) improvements were made to entries we've already seen (Human, Vulcan, Andorian...etc) so I don't understand why they were even listed. I was under the impression that this book would include aliens that hadn't been covered anywhere else. This is just my opinion...not worth $35.

I disagree it is. THey expanded on the Major Races like Andorians, Vulcans, Humans etc.

PROS
They have alternative and species only Edges and Flaws on many of the Species that they previously posted and longer entries on their pasts. They added in information on Andorian Weapons, Klingon Honor System, Orion Syndacate, Trill Symbiots in Character Creation, Personal Developement: Alien Upbringing (Yes this will be on my Update to be posted tomorrow if all goes as planned) for example. You end up having more Enemy, Support and PC Species than you have had in the Whole ICON game.
I am reading through this book and I have so much I can add into my game I am putting together.

CONS
Two races I felt did not need to be in there the Gomtuu (aka Tin Man) and the Horta. I feel they are more Creatures than Aliens. And my posts on the Jem'Hader are in another thread. I am suprised the Son'ya and Remuns are are in the book since they are major villians in the last 2 Trek Movies. Hopefully the Son'ya will be in a book sometime and the races that work for them and Remuns in the Romulan Star Empire book if they make one.

I did not expect every Trek Race to be in this book and to think that is impossible. I expect to see more Races in different books in the Future. There are too many Trek Races to put all in one book.

Overall, this book is a major Trek need in my opinion. This allows so much diveristy in the RP gaming for both Player and Narrator.

[Publius]

Originally posted by T'lara
Two races I felt did not need to be in there the Gomtuu (aka Tin Man) and the Horta.

I have to say that I agree about Gomtuu. Then I read Gomtuu's entry, and I had some questions about the "Shuttlecraft Generation". For those of you who have the book, read it on page 75. To summarize for those who do not Gomtuu "generates them as needed by squeezing them out of an organ located aft", the tissue extrudes, hardens and is then squeezed off. I am neither making this up, nor am I taking it out of context, merely summarizing.

Warning: Some of the following may not be suitable for uptight and/or young audiences....






My question: Is this more properly a "Shittle" or a "Dropping Pod" and do I need a skill in Excrevehicular Operation to use one?

My hat is off to whomever got this one past Paramount. Kudos. kudos.

[Darth Sarcastic]

Originally posted by Publius
I have to say that I agree about Gomtuu. Then I read Gomtuu's entry, and I had some questions about the "Shuttlecraft Generation". For those of you who have the book, read it on page 75. To summarize for those who do not Gomtuu "generates them as needed by squeezing them out of an organ located aft", the tissue extrudes, hardens and is then squeezed off. I am neither making this up, nor am I taking it out of context, merely summarizing.

Warning: Some of the following may not be suitable for uptight and/or young audiences....






My question: Is this more properly a "Shittle" or a "Dropping Pod" and do I need a skill in Excrevehicular Operation to use one?

My hat is off to whomever got this one past Paramount. Kudos. kudos.

So you're saying it poops a pod? Ok, now I really believe that the ALIENS book is a waste (no pun intended) of $35.

[First of Two]

I have to send amazon.com a nasty letter. They seem to be taking their sweet time getting Aliens to me, given that it's out.

Or, maybe Dec is taking their sweet time getting their stuff to Amazon...?

Contradictory annoyances: amazon says Aliens ships in 3-5 weeks, but my order page says it'll deliver between June 6-9 (although it hasn't been shipped yet).

Oh, the wonders of our modern technological marketplace.

[T'lara]

Originally posted by Publius
I have to say that I agree about Gomtuu. Then I read Gomtuu's entry, and I had some questions about the "Shuttlecraft Generation". For those of you who have the book, read it on page 75. To summarize for those who do not Gomtuu "generates them as needed by squeezing them out of an organ located aft", the tissue extrudes, hardens and is then squeezed off. I am neither making this up, nor am I taking it out of context, merely summarizing.

Warning: Some of the following may not be suitable for uptight and/or young audiences....






My question: Is this more properly a "Shittle" or a "Dropping Pod" and do I need a skill in Excrevehicular Operation to use one?

My hat is off to whomever got this one past Paramount. Kudos. kudos.

With the announcement of The Next Generation book being designed I am more and more sure Gomtuu should not be in there. As stated the Gomtuu are rare and Tin Man maybe the last on. Gomtuu make a better Entry in there and I still reading think they are still a creature. They are too limited of a plot pont and race for a Narrator. Hey my opinion here.

[qerlin]

LOL...shittle! I love it!

Actually, I kinda of liked having Gomtu...but then again, I'm going to reintro this race as our 'Leviathans' for our campaign. Plenty of stuff you can do with it.

I did my review for RPG.net and my main complain was the inclusion of races that had no real change to the gam stats, though the additional info on the races: Betazoids, Klingons, could be handy to non-trekkie types. These books have to be written for the general RPG public, not just trek fans.

But the humans could have definitely been left out in favor of the Denobulans and the So'naa. The Remans weren't included most likely because the book's text had been frozen by the time the movie was out.

The Medusans and Horta were fine by me: using them in our campaign. My beef on the Horta...the one int he episode ripped out and carried off some bit of the fusion reactor (IIRC); that would imply they can do some manipulation of object and carry stuff, unlike the entry in the Aliens book.

[Publius]

My second question about Shuttle Generation: The shittles of Gomutuu do not seem to have any propulsion system, how could they as hardened material squeezed out by the living vessel? would that make it more of an Escape Poo?