Crew Member Species

[Falconer]

Founding races of the Federation (generally accepted)

Human
Vulcan
Tellarite
Andorian
Centauran


STAGFF / Beyond the Final Frontier

01-70 Human
71-76 Vulcan
77-91 Andorian
92-94 Caitian
95-96 Edoan
97 Tellarite
98-00 Skorr


Starships & Spacemen 1e / The Lucanii Drift

1-5 Human
6-7 Rigel
8-9 Vulcan
10 Andromedan
11-12 Andorian
13 Caitian
14 Orion


FASA Trek

Human
Vulcan
Andorian
Caitian
Edoan
Tellarite


Prime Directive One

70% Human
Vulcan
Rigellian
Alpha-Centauran
Cygnan
Andorian


LUG TOS

Human
Andorian
Axanari
Centauran
Tellarite
Tiburonese
Vulcan


Where No Man Has Gone Before 2.0 / Controlled Implosion

Andorian
Human
Tellarite
Vulcan
Deltan
Caitian
Edosian
Tiburonian

[Falconer]

MELKOT [OC]: Aliens, you have encroached on the space of the Melkot. You will turn back immediately. This is the only warning you will receive.
SPOCK: Vulcan, Captain.
KIRK: English.
CHEKOV: It was Russian, sir. Every word.
UHURA: No, Captain. It was Swahili.

—from “Specter of the Gun”

It is just nice to keep in perspective that THIS is the sort of diversity that is idiomatic to Star Trek. Who doesn’t fondly remember Scotty the Scotsman, or Bones the Southern country doctor? And was there ever a more strikingly alien alien than the Enterprise’s one alien, Mr. Spock?

A lot of the RPGs I looked at disappointingly offered sample parties which included exactly one of each race (one human, one Andorian, one Vulcan, etc). I think that’s missing the point. I think there’s a case to be made that, in-universe, Starfleet is heavily human-dominated, based on what we see in TOS. This can be rationalized several ways, but I think it’s just a fact. But I think there’s also the meta perspective that this is a story of man boldly going where no man has gone before. If you lose sight of that fact, the universe starts to feel more like Middle-earth and a lot less like our future, with us exploring the mind-bogglingly vast and unknown frontier.

The flip side of the argument is that players should be given relatively free rein in this matter (I believe players should be happy with their characters), and also that allowing all these races is a 70s (+) Trek fandom tradition that should be respected and delighted in.

[Falconer]

What if instead of race or species, you would pick your “background”? A table could be included something like this:

1 America or Canada
2 American South
3 America Native or Alaska Native
4 Hispanic America
5 Brazil
6 Africa Sub-Saharan
7 Arabia
8 Armenia
9 Australia
10 China
11 Egypt
12 England
13 France
14 Germany
15 Greece
16 India
17 Ireland
18 Israel
19 Italy
20 Japan
21 Mongolia
22 Pacific Islands
23 Phillipines
24 Russia
25 Scandinavia
26 Scotland
27 Spain
28 Turkey
29 Mars
30 Vulcan
31 Tellar
32 Andor
33 Alpha Centauri VII
34 Delta V

Redo numbers as ranges and/or consider adding other options.

[finarvyn]

Dec 19, 2019 1:18:29 GMT -5 Falconer said:

Who doesn’t fondly remember Scotty the Scotsman, or Bones the Southern country doctor? And was there ever a more strikingly alien alien than the Enterprise’s one alien, Mr. Spock?

A lot of the RPGs I looked at disappointingly offered sample parties which included exactly one of each race (one human, one Andorian, one Vulcan, etc). I think that’s missing the point.

Well stated. What I sort of wish is that we had more depth of information about the various varieties of some of the alien species. Instead of just choosing "Vulcan" and assuming he or she is a Spock clone, it would be neat if we had some sort of "southern Vulcan" or "big city Vulcan" but maybe then the Vulcans would all turn out to seem like humans with pointy ears instead of the iconic race that they are in Trek.

I guess the notion that humans have lots of variety but aliens tend to be stereotypical is cool as well. Perhaps I've just argued against myself?

[starcruiser]

Got to watch out when you answer your own questions!

[Falconer]

BACKGROUND

“Vulcan, Captain.”
“English.”
“It was Russian, sir. Every word.”
“No, Captain. It was Swahili.”

It can be fun to have one or two aliens in the crew, but it is best if most player characters are humans, since Star Trek is all about man exploring the unknown, and about celebrating real human diversity. Roll on the following table, or just use it for inspiration:

01 America or Canada
02 American South
03 America Native or Alaska Native
04 Hispanic America
05 Brazil
06 Africa Sub-Saharan
07 Arabia
08 Armenia
09 Australia
10 China
11 Egypt
12 England
13 France
14 Germany
15 Greece
16 India
17 Ireland
18 Israel
19 Italy
20 Japan
21 Mongolia
22 Netherlands
23 Pacific Islands
24 Phillipines
25 Russia
26 Scandinavia
27 Scotland
28 Spain
29 Turkey
30 Ukraine
31 Mars
32 Alpha Centauri VII
33 Andor
34 Argelius II
35 Capella IV
36 Orion
37 Tellar
38 Vulcan


FOUNDERS OF THE FEDERATION

The United Federation of Planets was founded by the Sol, Alpha Centauri, Andor, Tellar, and Vulcan systems.

Alpha Centaurans
Earth’s nearest neighbor and first alien contact turned out to be biologically human, apparently descendants of Greeks transported from earth in the 3rd century BC by the Preservers. They have developed a matriarchal society; only their women serve in Starfleet. Dexterity +2, Charisma +2 [PD]. Charisma +1 [CODA].

Andorians
Hot-blooded race from an ice planet, they sport blue skin, white hair, and antennae which help them be aware of their surroundings in darkness and detect changes in temperature and pressure. Dexterity +2, Charisma -2 [PD]. Strength +2, Dexterity +3, Constitution +3 [FF]. Intellect -1, Wisdom +1, Constitution +1 [CODA].

Tellarites
Pig-faced humanoids, they are very argumentative, and alcohol only makes them more so, but they make good engineers. Strength +2, Constitution +4, Charisma -2 [PD]. Charisma -2 [FF]. Constitution +1, Charisma -2 [CODA].

Vulcans
Demon-faced humanoids with a reputation for savage cruelty held in check only by devotion to cold logic. They have a lot of useful abilities like nerve pinch and mind meld, but they can be a liability as they are prone to assault and mutiny. Strength +2, Intellect +2, Charisma -4 [PD]. Strength +3, Intellect +3, Dexterity +2, Constitution +4 [FF]. Strength +2, Intellect +1, Charisma -3 [CODA].


OTHER ALIENS

Argelians
Humanoids devoted to peace and pleasure, descendants of their ancient priestesses possess great telepathic abilities such as Argelian empathic contact. These females have Strength -2, Intellect +2, Charisma +2 [me]. Wisdom +1, Constitution -1, Charisma +1 [CODA Deltan]. Charisma +1 [CODA Betazoid].

Capellans
Tall, strong humanoids with a tribal warrior culture and honor code who but recently were subjects of the Klingon empire but have recently thrown in with the Federation. They still prefer to fight with the boomerang-like Kligat. Strength +5, Dexterity +3, Constitution +5 [FF]. Strength +1, Intellect -1, Constitution +1, Charisma -1 [CODA Klingon].

Orions
Some believe that all Orion women are sexy green dancing girls, and all Orion men are rakish space pirates. Totally not true. Orions don’t serve in Starfleet, but they seem to pop up all over the place. Dexterity +2 [PD]. Women have Charisma +5 [FF]. Charisma +1 [CODA].

[Falconer]

Still working on the ability modifiers. I think PD nailed it for the Vulcans. Balanced, and the exact things you think about with Vulcans.

Tellarites: Due to those cloven hands, and they don’t seem to be super strong like Vulcans and Capellans, let's do Dexterity -2, Constitution +4, Charisma -2. Maybe instead of good engineers they enjoy engineering, and their clumsiness can be a source of humor.

Orion Women: They’re called “animal women;” I think it should be Intellect -4 and Dexterity +4. Charisma implies leadership skills. Use "courtesan" instead of dancing girls?

Alpha Centaurans: I think Intellect +2, Luck -4, Charisma +2. My inspiration is Number One. Smart and a good leader, but chronically unlucky in some undefinable way. I didn't want to deduct strength for these females because they are "strong matriarchs"

[Falconer]

Andorians:

Intellect -2 (“forget logic”)
Dexterity +2 (antennae and “My people are a violent race”)
Luck +2 (antennae contributing to sixth sense)
Charisma -2 (alienness and “Andorians are not known for their charity”)

[Falconer]

Argelians - I am leaning towards Strength -2, Intellect +2, Luck +2, Constitution -2.