Wookiees and trandoshans

[RebelDave 584]

How would you reconcile two players who want to play a Trandoshan and a Wookiee respectively.

As I understand it the two species really do not get along. Would you advocate ensuring both players are within the minority of their respective species who do not feel the way of the masses towards each other's race?

Or am I overstating the animosity between the two races?

Would it be easier (or even fair) to say at character creation that the party cannot contain a Wookiee AND a Trandoshan?

Cheers

RD

[2P51 33,446]

If they want to RP animosity that's fine.  If they don't care and don't want it to be an issue that's fine also.  I don't look at it as anything other than ala carte fluff.  I would never tell someone they can't play what they want mostly because that's not fun and the point of games is to have fun.

[HappyDaze 10,108]

We had one of each in our first game. Both were mercs hired by the captain of the ship. Neither had authority over the other, and both were (theoretically) under the authority of another PC that kept them apart most of the time. The players played up the low key antagonism. They traded lots of verbal cheap shots and had a mutual refusal to directly aid one another (but taking actions that indirectly helped or that were mutually beneficial were okay).

 

They added some minor tension, but they weren't the worst thing in that campaign. However, everyone agreed in the next campaign that we would not have both in the group again (and since we were doing a bounty hunting campaign, we said no to Wookiees this time).

[kaosoe 7,573]

There's no law stating that animosity has to exist at all. But with that being said, I think there's plenty of opportunity for some worthwhile character development in that type of group dynamic. I could definitely see a Gimli and Legolas type of camaraderie developing over time as the two come to respect each others rather formidable skill.

 

Ultimately, just let them know that a little metagaming might have to happen. Their characters in principle might not want to work with one another, but perhaps the players themselves could find some way to justify wanting to team up.

Edited June 18, 2014 by kaosoe

[Col. Orange 1,664]

The responsibility is theirs, reallly.

 

I'd play it as rivalry.  Trandoshan Phill takes out some troopers with his axe, I'd take out an equal number with my mits.  Hopefully at some point in the campaign (perhaps with the rest of the team down and we're forced to work together), I'd hope that would mature into genuine respect (for the individual, not their crummy species).

[Jegergryte 1,978]

While it's a fantasy universe, some diversity must be expected. In a galaxy of trillions, I refuse to accept - in my games at least - species stereotypes to be followed like dogma. Sure, if they want to play it out I'm all well and good with that, as long as it does not disrupt the game. If they want to be best of friends, I'll allow that too. A pair of NPCs I've made consists of a Wookiee and Trandoshan, both weapon smiths - I even toyed with the idea that they would be romantically involved. This can create quite interesting roleplaying opportunities for the the GM and the players - particularly if they're of either species.

[Dex Vulen 330]

While their character could grow to respect one another, their cultures wouldn't.  Would be interesting to see how the rest of their cultures would handle them if they caught wind of these two working together.

 

RP wise it could be a lot of fun (rivalry and all like was suggested above), but our GM would have a lot of fun with us, as far as, how others of those races would view us.

[That Blasted Samophlange 6,923]

With billions of sapients on both sides, there would undoubtedly be members that are fine with each other, even get along.

[knasserII 2,557]

How would you reconcile two players who want to play a Trandoshan and a Wookiee respectively.

As I understand it the two species really do not get along. Would you advocate ensuring both players are within the minority of their respective species who do not feel the way of the masses towards each other's race?

Or am I overstating the animosity between the two races?

Would it be easier (or even fair) to say at character creation that the party cannot contain a Wookiee AND a Trandoshan?

Cheers

RD

I absolutely would not stop the players from having a Trandoshan and a Wookie in the party. It provides role-playing opportunities. They start off filled with prejudices and hate, everything is tense. Then come the first battles, they are forced to fight along side each other against their common enemy. Grudgingly and slowly they come to respect each other. Soon it moves beyond merely fighting next to each other but complimenting each other's skill sets - the Trandoshan's marksmanship, the wookie's hand to hand power, group tactics emerge. They begin to let their guard down, one cracks a joke, the other laughs. Finally, in the cantina, a scaled hand and a furred one reach for the same mug of blue milk at the same time. The nictating membranes of the Trandoshan flicker as they peer into the soft brown eyes of the wookie. They realize - two high brawn species with a knack for violence, so much in common, divided so needlessly for so long by their racial history. Love triumphs. A beautiful character arc and romantic, life-affirming denouement.

You must totally allow this!

Also, I now want to run a pastiche of West Side Story featuring Wookies and Trandoshans with all the labels ripped off and see how long it takes my players to guess and pelt me with dice. "Chewbaaacaaa, I've just met a Wookie called Chew-baaac-aaa".

Edited June 18, 2014 by knasserII

[That Blasted Samophlange 6,923]

Looking at Bossk's hands, trandoshans would have a real problem snapping their fingers, knasserll.

[HappyDaze 10,108]

There is always the possibility that players may select trandoshan/wookiee because they want to play a walking hate crime waiting to happen. These sorts are not likely to want to play the snowflake members that play nice together.

[Midnight_X2 164]

It really depends on if the players are role-play based and want to experience the process of sharing space with a hated enemy who over time will win the character's respect. I am seeing dialogue during game where they snipe at one another. Perhaps even a fistfight if they get in a huff. If they're good RP'ers they'll have fun with it and over time resolve their differences.

 

Of course, if they aren't roleplayers one character will kill the other and the problem will be solved.

[HappyDaze 10,108]

It really depends on if the players are role-play based and want to experience the process of sharing space with a hated enemy who over time will win the character's respect. I am seeing dialogue during game where they snipe at one another. Perhaps even a fistfight if they get in a huff. If they're good RP'ers they'll have fun with it and over time resolve their differences.

 

Of course, if they aren't roleplayers one character will kill the other and the problem will be solved.

Just because one character kills the other doesn't mean that either or both of the players were poor roleplayers.

 

Artificially keeping a hated enemy (and that's how they see each other) around just because they're both PCs doesn't make one a roleplayer.

 

Of course, I would have spaced Tyr Anasazi by episode 3 of Andomeda rather than giving him dozens of opportunities to screw everyone over...

[knasserII 2,557]

Looking at Bossk's hands, trandoshans would have a real problem snapping their fingers, knasserll.

Luuucaaaas! You've ruined yet another idea!

(but great point)

On a more serious note (though what could be more serious than Musical Theatre?), if the PCs do follow an arc such as many have described here: starting off as hated enemies and then growing to respect each other, the second stage which is really fun, is when they encounter their own people again. Whilst I was semi fork-tongue in cheek about the romance angle, Romeo and Juliet does make a great model for expanding the drama in realistic and compelling ways. I have sadly known a number of cases where someone will be friends with an Other in private, but when their mates show up they'll join in on the racial / sexual / gender epithets just to fit in. What happens when the PCs are now grudging comrades who mostly get along, and suddenly a group of Wookies enter the bar where the two are drinking together? Or they have to do a job on a planet where a race war is taking place? It's potentially a fantastic set-up for some really, really compelling character-based action. Doubly so because you can sneak it up on the players without them realizing how into their characters they are getting until they're suddenly faced with some ugly choices. For the less Classically minded individuals, watch the Futurama episode where Bender goes to a planet of only Robots.

The sad truth is that much, maybe even most, racism is group based rather then individual. I have actually seen a bunch of ten or twelve year old kids talking derogatively about Black people whilst there is a black kid amongst them and NOT because they were being mean to that kid but because they had actually forgotten that he was Black. Hard to believe, but true. When the teacher called them on it (again, entirely true) one of them replied "Well, we don't mean him".

Seriously - there's great role-playing to be had not simply when they dislike each other, but when they actually start to resolve their differences.

[MKX 248]

Group has 'grated' on the Wookie-Trando thing a few many times for my liking, mostly because its disruptive and gets irritating after a while. Mostly because of poor characterisation/stereotypical development by one of the players, who sometimes forget that that this isn't Black Crusade and needs a slap about the head to remind them its heroic space opera and stop being a douchebag.

 

Player/heros should 'break the mould' of their species stereotypes or at least look at ways to make them a bit more interesting. Otherwise they'd just stay at home getting a factory or office job and live a long, healthy and uninteresting life

[Desslok 13,571]

Or am I overstating the animosity between the two races?

 

I just read a book by Daryl Davis - a black jazz musician and his time spent interviewing and becoming close friends with Roger Kelly - Grand Wizard of the Klu Klux Klan. IN the course of writing his book (which is an interesting read, by the way), he's befriended many high ranking Klansmen and Neo-Nazis, convincing some of them to even renounce their old ways.

 

So if a black dude can be the godfather to the daughter of a Grand Dragon, a Wookiee and Trandoshan can probably find common ground. As Davis said - you don't have to agree with them for them to be your friend. . . .

Edited June 18, 2014 by Desslok

[Col. Orange 1,664]

Of course, I would have spaced Tyr Anasazi by episode 3 of Andomeda rather than giving him dozens of opportunities to screw everyone over...

 

"I have faith in nothing but this: when the Universe collapses and dies, there will be three survivors. Tyr Anasazi, the cockroaches, and Dylan Hunt - trying to save the cockroaches."

[DanteRotterdam 3,941]

Your characters are at the edge of the Empire, far away from their home and culture.

They might be a reason behind this fact.. Your players are adventurers and not the average representatives of their race and they might differ from the general population quite a bit, so there is no reason why a Wookie and a Trandoshan couldn't cooperate in your group.

[CapnSkillet 19]

I think it could work out well if the players decide they have reconciled differences or have animosity without it getting out of hand.  Maybe the campaign gives them opportunities to learn respect for one another as individuals rather than judging them for their race's mistakes.  I have had a bad experience in my own RP group a while back with a player intentionally playing a PC to get under my PCs skin.

 

In a D&D 4e game, I decided to play a dragonborn Paladin of the Raven Queen.  Followers of the Raven Queen hate undead and always seek to destroy them because undead are denying the Raven Queen her rightful ownership of the dead.  When I decided to play said paladin, another player decided to play a necromancer to intentionally cause friction within the group.  That would have been okay, but it turned into that player constantly badgering my character and making sarcastic remarks about everything he said.  As the party face, I had a hard time talking to NPCs because my own party member was working against me.

 

This campaign did not last long and I finally called out the other player on being a jerk.  My point is that it could develop into good RP as long as one player is not harassing the other and making the game not fun for them.

[ianinak 166]

I think that technically the bit about Wookiees and Trandos hating each other came from a source that is no longer official cannon.  It it was called out in the movies or the Clone Wars series, I'm sure someone who knows more details than me will step in presently.

 

That being said, I am hoping that FFG stays on the timeline of stuff that "was" until very recently, cannon.  I don't think you should limit them at all.  If they have been adventuring together before the game starts (IE: a history) then they have likely worked out their differences.  If not, then remember that everyone is unique and NOBODY likes to be judged based on what others of their race does.  Just because many wookiees and trandos don't get along doesn't mean that they can't.

[DanteRotterdam 3,941]

I think that technically the bit about Wookiees and Trandos hating each other came from a source that is no longer official cannon.  It it was called out in the movies or the Clone Wars series, I'm sure someone who knows more details than me will step in presently.

 

 

The episode 'Wookie Hunt' alludes to this...

[Jshock 31]

How would you reconcile two players who want to play a Trandoshan and a Wookiee respectively.

 

One hails from the arboreal cities of Kashyyyk! The other is looking to score some Jagganath! Together, THEY FIGHT CRIME!

[Revanchist 1,063]

How would you reconcile two players who want to play a Trandoshan and a Wookiee respectively.

Or you could have an intertwined backstory: someone killed a man whom the Wookiee owed a life debt while the Wookiee was away to see his family; this someone also stole the Trandoshan's honor, resetting the Jagannath to 0. Someone important. Someone too powerful for either to fight alone. Someone who must be killed—to avenge the Wookiee's life-debt, to regain the Trandoshan's point standing. Together, they can discover who this man is, where he is, and how to take him down: someone unwilling to answer questions from a Trandoshan may be willing to talk to a Wookiee (and vice versa). They may stand as allies, but not as friends (like the US & Russia during WW2). However, they both need each other if they are to bring that someone to justice.

Edited June 21, 2014 by Revanchist

[That Blasted Samophlange 6,923]

Read in Don Lafontaine's voice:

In a galaxy far, far away..

One wookie must regain his honour.

One trandoshan must hunt for his soul.

One criminal has pissed off two mortal enemies.

Star Wars: Cold blood and Rage - coming to a tabletop near you.

[Jshock 31]

Read in Don Lafontaine's voice:

In a galaxy far, far away..

One wookie must regain his honour.

One trandoshan must hunt for his soul.

One criminal has pissed off two mortal enemies.

Star Wars: Cold blood and Rage - coming to a tabletop near you.

*dum... Dum... DUM... DUMDUMDUMDUMDUMDUMDUM*

*BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAM!*