The Unofficial Species Menagerie 3.0

[Fiddleback 138]

It gives me no small amount of pleasure to announce that the updated, improved, and much more pleasing to look at "Unofficial Species Menagerie 3.0" is now available for your gaming pleasure.

 

http://gsa.thegamernation.org/2013/10/29/unofficial-species-menagerie-version-3-0/

 

[torquemadaza 49]

Great job. Looks awesome, and the thought into each species is why this is a must download. 

[Drathen 204]

Only lowres or am i missing the high rez link?

[Kshatriya 1,199]

Very nice looking and I'm a huge fan of the previous version...so where should constructive criticism, if any, go? This thread or somewhere else?

[Fiddleback 138]

Ideally constructive criticism should go in the comments of the article itself.  It is the surest way of being seen.

 

But then, who am I to buck internet SOP?

[Fiddleback 138]

Only lowres or am i missing the high rez link?

In order to save space and bandwidth for all involved, I believe there is just lowres.  I shall ask though.

[Morridini 61]

Yeah a high-res version would be awesome, great work irregardless!

[Kshatriya 1,199]

Problems/criticism:

 

The first thing that comes to mind is Ubese. Characteristics are all 2s, WT/ST baseline at 12, +1 Perception or Survival (one great general skill or one situational one) and a piece of gear removing 1 environmental Setback (the voice modulator is basically fluff and a breath mask is worth, what, 25 credits?). And then 90 XP.

 

90 seems really low especially with the question of whether their equipment is compatible with other types of armor. Compare to Lungless Gand, who have an arguably better Attribute spread, +1 Discipline (another great skill to get free), and immunity to all atmospheres (which is worth 10 XP compared to Lunged Gand needed a breath mask) and still 100 XP starting out. Or the baseline human, who effectively have 130 XP (110 XP to spend + effective 20 from non-career skills).

 

Maybe Human is a better comparison. Ubese share a lot of traits with Humans, except -1 Skill and a piece of gear that provides the equivalent of a 10 XP Talent (at most, I'd cost it closer to 5 XP, it's basically Outdoorsman or Brace, both of which are commonly 5 XP Talents for their first iteration). Except unlike a Talent, this equipment it can be stolen or destroyed. Oh, and 20 fewer XP (110 vs 90).

 

Assuming that the +1 Perception/Survival Ubese get is non-Career, that brings them to effective 100 XP. You're saying a piece of gear that removes 1 environmental setback die is worth relative 30 XP, when the Talents that mimic this effect (Brace especially) start out at 5 XP? 

 

I think Ubese should have at least 100 XP. I think giving them 110 is very appropriate. There's no way that the equipment they get is worth as much as a free rank in a non-Career skill.

Edited October 29, 2013 by Kshatriya

[splad 136]

Superb work. I would have liked to seen coynites in their. They are in the old galaxy guides from west end games no.3 I think. Think of the as star wars own klingons but deadlier.

[Drathen 204]

High rez is here:   http://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?/topic/92798-the-unofficial-menagerie-30-official-thread-and-hi-res-version/

 Thanks dearth!!!

[Donovan Morningfire 10,195]

Yeah, thedearth is hosting a hi-rez version for those that desire such a thing.

 

Kshatryia,

About the Ubese, before you get too fired up, I would suggest taking a look at page 169 of your EotE core rulebook, where it lists under Armor Types, the Adverse Environment Gear that all Ubese PCs get for free.

 

In short, they are getting a 500 credit piece of armor for free, and one that's actually a bit better than the standard version as the Ubese one negates a setback die from any environmental effect, where the standard version only negates a setback die if the gear is appropriate to the environment the wearer is in.  Such as cold weather gear like what the Rebels were wearing on Hoth negating a setback die from the cold, but being of no help with any setback dice imposed from arid/hot environments, where the Ubese version would negate a setback die in both arid/hot and cold environments.  And again, it's a free set of armor, one that includes a hard point for further customization if the wearer so chooses.  Plus unlike Brace (which requires a maneuver to use), the Ubese armor's effect is always on.  I'd say that's worth a decent chunk of starting XP.

 

As for their Characteristics, nothing really stood out in their description to say they were uniformly good at one Characteristic and uniformly poor at another.  So much like I did for the Chiss, I opted to go with a straight 2's to make them less of a specialist species (a recurring grievance about several of FFG's efforts over on the Age of Rebellion Beta forums).  But since these are unofficial write-ups that are simply one person's take, if you think they should have a 3 in one Characteristic and a 1 in something else and you can fully justify it to yourself and your players, then go right ahead.

[Kshatriya 1,199]

Donovan: it didn't occur to me that the phrase "adverse environmental gear" meant an actual suit of the armor from the EotE core. That changes my opinion to a degree (now I just worry about that armor getting outdated since other given equipment e.g. Gand breathers, are never obviated by new gear, but that's another story). 

 

I might suggest putting in a EotE page reference after "adverse environmental gear" so readers can look up the reference and realize you're referring to this armor.

 

Then again, that special environmental gear is maybe worth 1000 credits (base for that type of gear is 500, I might say double the price for being broadly applicable) in exchange for having the equivalent of 10-20 spendable XP less than a human. 10 XP = 10 Obligation = 2500 credits. I'd probably still give them 100 XP. I have no issue with all characteristics at 2, just the additional stuff, I don't think that gear is worth 10+ XP in equivalent credit value.

[Donovan Morningfire 10,195]

I might suggest putting in a EotE page reference after "adverse environmental gear" so readers can look up the reference and realize you're referring to this armor..

Or perhaps I'm giving the average reader more credit than you are.  Just because you missed that I was referring to an actual piece of equipment that's listed in the book doesn't mean everyone else will make the same mistake.

[Kshatriya 1,199]

Or perhaps I'm giving the average reader more credit than you are.  Just because you missed that I was referring to an actual piece of equipment that's listed in the book doesn't mean everyone else will make the same mistake.

 

 

 

I don't even know what that means. Are you intending to snipe at me for missing a reference that was obvious to you (as the author)? That's how it's coming across.

 

I assumed that because I missed the reference to an actual, separate piece of gear, other people might do so as well. I have no idea how that is not "giving the average reader more credit" than me when I, an "average reader" not associated with your product, missed your reference as-written. It's not outside the realm of possibility that others would too.

Edited October 30, 2013 by Kshatriya

[Drathen 204]

Hey guys,,you might want to look into your credit for art. You have Allison Sohn: Zeltron

 

when it was actually Joe Corroney who did the art. was from star wars gamer magazine number 1. I actually have all the issues.

Edited November 6, 2013 by Drathen

[Donovan Morningfire 10,195]

Hey guys,,you might want to look into your credit for art. You have Allison Sohn: Zeltron

 

when it was actually Joe Corroney who did the art. was from star wars gamer magazine number 1. I actually have all the issues.

Yeah, noticing a number of other gaffes, including several species having their names misspelled in the header when they were correct in the soft-copy that I sent thedearth2 to use.  I only did a quick glance at the file before posting it, as my beta-editor had already addressed the typos in the soft-copy, so I figured no problems would arise in the process of converting to a PDF.  Seems that was not the case.

 

Given his rather irrate PM over his perception that I encouraged Fiddleback to "steal his thunder" and other issues that were out of my control (such as people not being able to respond to things at the drop of a hat), I wouldn't hold your breath on seeing any corrections to the file in the near future.  At least not until I can learn to do this sort of thing myself or I find somebody that's capable but not as high-strung.

[Fiddleback 138]

Steal his thunder?

Well, okay, I guess.

No one told me there was thunder to steal.

[Veruca 188]

Quick question: a friend wants to play a Nautolan, and now he's asking about their low light vision. How would you use this during gameplay? I take it things like a dimly lit room are represented by adding Setback dice? Can the Nautolan player simply remove these Setback dice? Or is this more a case where I lower the difficulty for using Perception checks for him?

[kaosoe 7,541]

Quick question: a friend wants to play a Nautolan, and now he's asking about their low light vision. How would you use this during gameplay? I take it things like a dimly lit room are represented by adding Setback dice? Can the Nautolan player simply remove these Setback dice? Or is this more a case where I lower the difficulty for using Perception checks for him?

I'm AFB, but there's a optical goggles or some other piece of equipement that negates setback dice due to low light. Mechanically, would handle lowlight vision like that. Narratively, some players would see a vague figure while the Nautalon would see that Aqaulish leveling a heavy blaster pistol at his Wookiee friend.

[Veruca 188]

Oh, thanks for the heads up. I'm still going through my frist read-through of the book and I just reached the chapter about equipment. I'll keep my eyes out for that piece.

[Donovan Morningfire 10,195]

Quick question: a friend wants to play a Nautolan, and now he's asking about their low light vision. How would you use this during gameplay? I take it things like a dimly lit room are represented by adding Setback dice? Can the Nautolan player simply remove these Setback dice? Or is this more a case where I lower the difficulty for using Perception checks for him?

Nautalons as Ben and I created them simply remove a setback die from Perception checks, when imposed by concealment (page 213 of the core rulebook).  So a Nautalan character would have no setback dice (i.e. no penalty) if the source of concealment was mist, shadow, or tall grass.  They only suffer 1 setback die (instead of the standard 2) if the source of concealment of fog, really thick grass, or early dawn/late evening lighting conditions.

[BrashFink 218]

Beautiful!

[Diggles 69]

Definitely easier on the eyes than the last version!  Thanks for the update and keep at it.  I noticed one race I was looking for wasnt on your list.  Talz, from SWTOR game & also shown in ANH Cantina alien scene.

 

Few constructive criticisms...

 

Its great that you have all these fancy formats but when the letters PDF make up about 7x7 pixels on a 21 inch monitor and I have to look at the page and SCAN for the obvious computer useable format, its frustrating.

 

Had I not referenced the previous version, I wouldnt think to CLICK on a race to get link to wookiepedia, which is awesome time saver.  Is it intentional that several races are missing the links to wookiepedia?  Could you consider UNDERLINING the names so we know they're links (universal 20 yr old web standard)

Edited November 12, 2013 by Diggles

[Donovan Morningfire 10,195]

Had I not referenced the previous version, I wouldnt think to CLICK on a race to get link to wookiepedia, which is awesome time saver.  Is it intentional that several races are missing the links to wookiepedia?  Could you consider UNDERLINING the names so we know they're links (universal 20 yr old web standard)

I'm working with a different individual (JegerGryte as a matter of fact) to get an updated PDF together, one that's not so heavily biased towards the EotE format, particularly as the Age of Rebellion Beta is out.  One of the tweaks being made is to make the hyperlinks to the Wookieepedia articles a little more obvious.

 

As for adding the Talz (or any other species at this point), I'm afraid that's probably not going to happen.  The only reason the revamp is being done is to address a number of minor spelling errors that crept in (most of those being the species name in the header of each entry) and a couple other very minor details, including a few art choices that thedearth made that I didn't agree with.  Maybe something could have been worked out, but as he was getting rather insistent on getting a PDF version up, I didn't push the issue when I probably should have.