Human Planetary Bonuses

[Kytross]

I have mentioned in other threads that I will give humans a 2 for 1 skill point bonus based on their planet of origin. I treat this like the Duros bonus, you can only use the 2 for 1 once per skill. Any further advancement is done at the regular cost.

Corellia: All space piloting and weapons skills, as well as sensors and shields

Naboo: Business, Law Enforcement, Cultures, Languages, Alien Species, Planetary Systems, Value

Alderaan: Value, Bargain, Con, Persuasion, Command

Tattooine: Survival, Blaster, Melee Combat, Repulsorlift Ops, Beastriding

Fondor: All space related repair skills.

Toprawa: Survival, sneak, search, hide, primitive construction

[garhkal]

So taking the 2 for 1 rule, i could say make a human from Corellia who has a base 4d mech, and 7 skills all at 6d vice that rule.. Fighter piloting, cap ship piloting, astrogation, shields, starfighter weapons, capital ship weapons and sensors.
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[Kytross]

Yup. Just like a Duros. Or repair skills like a Jawa, etc.

[Barrataria]

I kind of like this idea, but as I think garkhal is suggesting I'd allow a 2 for one on any ONE skill from that list. I've done something similar in a d6 Space game that might someday make it from a binder to my game table.
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[Kytross]

I see what you're saying. The inherent disadvantage to specializing is how low your skills will be in other areas. Put all your skills in MEC and you'll be lacking in other areas, but that's a player's prerogative.

I created these cultural bonuses in response to people picking alien races they don't like to get an advantage in game mechanics. My players felt like they were being penalized with ugly characters or lower stats, and I wanted to make them happy. These still aren't as good as some other species bonuses, but we felt it was a good compromise.

There is precedent in the Lorrdians and Hapans who are both baseline humans, but have different stats because of culture and environment.

[garhkal]

But then rather than having players take alien species to be the best at x, they would just switch to being human (no issues of racial bias from the empire afterall) to be the same. I really see no benefit to this.
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[Zarn]

We already know from the Legends continuity that Socorrans can have a particular facility with languages, too, which in addition to Hapans (result of eugenics, arguably) and Lorrdians (environmental changes) further strengthens that view.

I also seem to remember a template of sorts for a "heavy worlder" and a "light worlder", but I can't remember whether it was for Buck Rogers, a homebrew for WEG Star Wars, or Adventurer's Journal Star Wars (or something similarly published in a magazine once).

[atgxtg]

I think if you want to create a human bonus per planet of origin you should probably come up with some sort of drawback to offset the bonus. Most alien species with bonuses either have some sort of drawback or some reduction in thier stat ranges or in starting dice.

[tetsuoh]

And what of wookies born on high graity planets?

What of twileks born on a planet without slavery?

If you go too deep and away from the core of the race - then you have to choose where you draw lines - because you were already given lines for the Base of the races - you take that away for one and then you can't complain when your players want more depth on the other races as well.

Like a Twi'lek getting a bonus Seduction, because their entire race is stated through numerous sources as being naturally alluring. And thats a statement for the base race.

So yeah I'm not agaisnt your idea but just giving you fair warning that making small changes can usually need to making larger ones than you intended to be involved in.

[Raven Redstar]

I like the idea in theory. I'm not sure how well it'd pan out in practice. I have a lot of players who like to play humans, I have some who like to pick alien races. I'm sure the players of humans would be ecstatic about getting additional bonuses for their characters. I think some players who pick aliens might be a little miffed that a human can be just as good as they are without the xenophobic stigma against them.

One way to offset this would be to give alien characters a free die or so in skills to reflect general galactic prejudice.
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[garhkal]

And that no xenophobia is why humans in general don't get racial bonuses. Loordians and Hapans are only near humans.
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[Whill]

No, technically Loordians and Hapans are not near-humans. They are baseline genetic humans. Loordians have a culture-based bonues, and Hapans are a distinct human gene pool in that their night vision has atrophied, but not to the point of evolving into a separate species than baseline humans.

[Kytross]

Wow, impressive write-ups all!

This rule was initiated in a game where all my players were new and Two of them were teenage girls who didn't want to be "gross aliens." To clarify; pretty aliens, like Twi'leks, were ok. So I was trying to find a quick solution that didn't unbalance the game.

In my experience this turns out to be worth about 3-4 skill dice at character creation. There are essential non-bonus skills that need some dice allocated, like Dodge. Whill's 4D bonus would have similar results, I'm sure. Wish I had thought of it then.

My current players didn't even consider it. They love playing aliens.

[Raven Redstar]

I might add it as an option for people wanting to play humans.

And for those who decide not to, they'll get some dice for prejudice in the Empire, if that's the time period.

I really think these have potential in an Imperial Campaign. A Corellian TIE fighter ace, or a Rhinnallian Doctor or whatever.
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[garhkal]