What do you consider when choosing your species?

[Dromdarr_Alark]

I wonder about this when I read descriptions have made about their characters. It seems that there are several different components which could lead someone to choose a character. I can think of three criteria: Either they have an interesting background, they look cool, or they have stats that are easy to power-game.

My question is this: What do you consider when choosing the species of your character?




I generally consider looks and species history, as well as any story factors that would make for an interesting game. I especially like social flaws and quirks, because those can lead to exciting encounters.
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"I still wouldn't have a roll for it - but that's just how I roll."

[DougRed4]

I tend to go with look first and foremost.
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Currently Running: Villains & Vigilantes (a 32-year-old campaign with multiple groups) and D6 Star Wars; mostly on hiatus are Adventures in Middle-earth and Delta Green

[Dromdarr_Alark]

You like the reptiles, don't you, DougRed4?
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"I still wouldn't have a roll for it - but that's just how I roll."

[garhkal]

For me, when making a character alien, i try to match up what species i take with what concept i am going for. Like say i am doing a techie. You of course have Jawas and verpines, but often i also go for other less 'seen techie' races like Ugnauts or Slussi.
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Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!

[DougRed4]

[wildfire]

What looks like it could be fun to play, often of late it's been feline races

[DougRed4]

[Dromdarr_Alark]

I usually prefer non-humans, as well. I may also choose a race based on a book I recently read (for example: my next species will be Phindian, because one novel described them as habitually sarcastic).

Another reason someone might choose humans over non-humans is for status reasons. They might have a particularly harsh (for lack of a better term) GM who will have non-human PCs treated like garbage by authority figures. I have never seen this, but it could be a factor. Have any of you seen this happen?
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"I still wouldn't have a roll for it - but that's just how I roll."

[garhkal]

yes and no. Depending on when my campaign is set (rise of empire, post endor etc) depends on how much anti-alien sentiment there is, and it also depends on where its set. Inner rim, would have more of it than the outer rim or mid rim.
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Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!

[Lostboy]

I go for a character i can relate to.

[gavin storm]

I usually go for Basic human, though it depends on what you're going for.

A goody two shoes = naboo Or alderaanian
Pilot or heavy drinker = corrillian
Someone Who talks rather than fights = hapan or twi'lek
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Gavin Storm
Causing Imperials headaches, one punch at a time, since 2000

[DougRed4]

[Jedi Skyler]

[Mikael Hasselstein]

I like a race which I can connect to a common RW stereotype (and I don't mean a negative stereotype, though eyes and beholders, etc.), which I can then play to the hilt. For example, one of my favorite characters - Louw Wynstra - the old Duro navigator (see my avatar) is played like the stereotypical cranky old black man, many of whom I've known, loved, and gotten a kick out of. (I dunno, maybe I'm a racist, but the archetype appeals to me.)

So, why does Duro translate to old black man.... I don't know. It's that they're basically the same as humans, but green, in a humanocentric world.

[garhkal]