I'm in the process of developing a recurring major/minor race (more on this below) as a villian for MTU. I wanted to race to possibly--eventually--be for PC use, so I'm trying to develop it that way from the get-go.
The race is intended to be humanoid, but with some significant differences, especially in the nervous system. My idea is that the nervous system is divided into components: a "main" brain that controls most major body functions (and perhaps stuff like memory, pain, etc.) located in the upper chest, beneath some heavy ribbing. This brain is connected to five "ganglions" (sounded better than "sub-brains"), one for each of the limbs and the fifth in the head (sensory organ complex, basically) which has evolved to encompass the higher brain functions.
My concept is that the "sub-brains" can function somewhat autonomously--the main brain could assign the "arms" some task (like, say, basic tool use) that can be carried on without much "conscious" effort--the local ganglion can handle minor adjustments based on tactile input, and can even react before the "main" or the higher brain can process information. This decentralized structure also makes the race harder to take down in some ways; a blow to the head might knock out the higher brain, but the main brain and the ganglions might be able to continue some basic "survival" fighting.
In statting this out for T20, this is what I came up with:
Abilities: +1 DEX (reflecting the semi-autonomous activity); -1 WIS (slow to see "whole pictures"); maybe -1 CHA.
De-Centralized System: A +5 one-time Stamina bonus; makes it somewhat harder to knock out, but massive damage (Lifeblood) can still take one out.
Maybe a +2 Reflex Save Bonus
One reason I want to get the stats right is that I'm modelling the culture on the nervous system: sort of semi-autonomous de-centralization. There's something that the players might recognize as "centralized" government, but the individual organs (say, the local governor) seems to operate "instinctively" on his own. The same with technology; multiple redundancy in computer control systems, for instance (which is the big mystery for the players--the race back-engineered a misjumped Imperial jump drive wreckage, but adopted it to their own technologies, making it difficult for the players to find recognizable components).
Any help appreciated.
The race is intended to be humanoid, but with some significant differences, especially in the nervous system. My idea is that the nervous system is divided into components: a "main" brain that controls most major body functions (and perhaps stuff like memory, pain, etc.) located in the upper chest, beneath some heavy ribbing. This brain is connected to five "ganglions" (sounded better than "sub-brains"), one for each of the limbs and the fifth in the head (sensory organ complex, basically) which has evolved to encompass the higher brain functions.
My concept is that the "sub-brains" can function somewhat autonomously--the main brain could assign the "arms" some task (like, say, basic tool use) that can be carried on without much "conscious" effort--the local ganglion can handle minor adjustments based on tactile input, and can even react before the "main" or the higher brain can process information. This decentralized structure also makes the race harder to take down in some ways; a blow to the head might knock out the higher brain, but the main brain and the ganglions might be able to continue some basic "survival" fighting.
In statting this out for T20, this is what I came up with:
Abilities: +1 DEX (reflecting the semi-autonomous activity); -1 WIS (slow to see "whole pictures"); maybe -1 CHA.
De-Centralized System: A +5 one-time Stamina bonus; makes it somewhat harder to knock out, but massive damage (Lifeblood) can still take one out.
Maybe a +2 Reflex Save Bonus
One reason I want to get the stats right is that I'm modelling the culture on the nervous system: sort of semi-autonomous de-centralization. There's something that the players might recognize as "centralized" government, but the individual organs (say, the local governor) seems to operate "instinctively" on his own. The same with technology; multiple redundancy in computer control systems, for instance (which is the big mystery for the players--the race back-engineered a misjumped Imperial jump drive wreckage, but adopted it to their own technologies, making it difficult for the players to find recognizable components).
Any help appreciated.
