Races in the Gateway PDF

Flynn · Jul 2, 2003

Hunter,

I've noticed a few inconsistencies in the presentation of racial stats in the Gateway PDF and in other D20 and T20 products. I will specifically address the ability score modifications in this post. In the D20 System, ability score modifiers are given in mulitples of two, specifically to avoid min-maxing. In addition, for those of us that do not use the standard die roll methods for creating ability scores, but instead use a version of the Point Buy method, the non-standard references to 2d8, 2d6 or 1d4+x, etc., do us no good, and aren't a standard method of presentation.

In addition, a number of races are missing racial game mechanics information entirely.

Recommendations:

Akeed: References 2d8 for ability score generation; should change to -2 to those two stats. Gives the same maximums and average.

Beree: References 2d6 and 1d4+2 for ability score generation; should change to -4 and -6, respectively. Gives an average that's the same in both cases, and reasonably low maximums that reflect the nature of these stats, at least in the case of 2d6 stat generation (14 compared to the 12 of 2d6.)

Chirpers: References 2d6 for ability score generation; should change to -4. Gives the same average, and reasonably low maximums that reflect the nature of these stats (14 compared to the 12 of 2d6.)

Droashav: References 2d6 and 4d6 for ability score generation; should change to -4 and +4, respectively. Gives an average that's the same in both cases, and reasonably low or high maximums, respectively, that reflect the nature of these stats (14 compared to the 12 of 2d6, and 22 compared to the 24 of 4d6.)

Droyne: References 1d8+5 for stat generation in descriptive text (which is different from the racial stats section; which one's right?); should change to -2. Gives an average that equals 1d8+5, and a max that's reasonable close (16 compared to 13, a difference game mechanically of only +1 on ability modifiers.) References 2d8 for ability score generation in the racial stats section; should change to -2 to those two stats. Gives the same maximums and average.

In addition, references adding a d6 or d4 to certain stats for certain castes. These stats should have a ability score modifier of +2 or +0, respectively, instead of -2, to reflect the average of 1d8+5+1d6 (avg 13) and 1d8+5+1d4 (avg 12), and allow maximums close to the original (20 compared to the 19 of 1d8+5+1d6, or 18 compared to the 17 of 1d8+5+1d4.)

The occasional mention of +3 to certain stats such as EDU should be changed to either +2 or +4, to bring stat modification into line with D20 System standards.

Hivers: References 2d8 for ability score generation; should change to -2 to those stats. Gives the same maximums and average.

Ithklur: References +1 and -1 stat modifiers, which should be changed to +2 and -2 respectively.

K'kree: References 2d8 and 4d6 for ability score generation; should change to -2 and +4 to those stats, respectively. Gives the same maximums and average for 2d8, and same average and reasonably close maximums for 4d6.

Kafoe: References -1 stat modifiers, which should be changed to -2.

Maskai: References 4d6 for ability score generation; should change to +4. Gives the same average and reasonably close maximums for 4d6.

No racial game mechanics at all for the Uplifted Races.

No racial game mechanics at all for the Wanderers.

There are more comments to be made about the alien racial write-ups. I'll try and address them shortly, if someone doesn't already beat me to it.

Hope this helps,
Flynn

Flynn · Jul 2, 2003

Akeed

pg 18: Descriptive text says "Movement is slow; 4m per round." Akeed racial stats stats that Akeed base movement speed is 3m.
No game mechanic is given for their ability under the Racial Stats section to remain underwater for long periods of time without breathing. I would suggest (taken from the drowning rules):

"Any Akeed character can hold her breath for a number of hours equal to twice her Constitution score. After this period of time, the character must make a Constitution check (DC 10) every hour in order to continue holding her breath. Each hour, the DC increases by 1."
The special feats and racial feats are not presented in the standard D20 System format, a format that was used previously in the THB and in T20 Lite.

Hope this helps,
Flynn

Flynn · Jul 2, 2003

Beree:

The racial stats section doesn't include the Armor Rating 3 listed in the descriptive text.
The special feats and racial feats are not presented in the standard D20 System format, a format that was used previously in the THB and in T20 Lite.
Under Static Stability, change from a Special Feat (which seems consistent with terminology used to describe feats that a race's members gets to select from when choosing their feats) to a Racial Feat (consistent with terminology used to describe feats that a race gets automatically by being a member of that race.) In addition, you might consider replacing "smaller than a horse" with "smaller than a Large creature", to better reflect the game mechanic aspect of that portion of the description, as well as the fact that fewer creatures are described in terms of horse size.
The feats, Overcome Beree Revoltion I and II, would be much more easily viewable if they were detailed in the standard feat format.

Hope this helps,
Flynn

Flynn · Jul 2, 2003

Chirpers

Under Invisibility, the first word "Chipers" is misspelled, and should be "Chirpers".

Hope this helps,
Flynn

Flynn · Jul 2, 2003

Droashav

The alien level entry under racial stats doesn't include the usual descriptive text about 1000xp, as found in the THB.
The racial stats section doesn't include the Armor Rating 2 listed in the descriptive text.
The damage listed for the rear claw is 1d6+1, instead of using STR modifiers. Is that intentional? Also, is it a single attack or multiple attacks (the Vargr and Aslan are rather specific here, which is why I ask)?

Hope this helps,
Flynn

Flynn · Jul 2, 2003

Droyne

Different, conflicting methods of ability score generation is referenced in both descriptive text and racial stat sections. Which one is right? Also, see additional comments in first post of this discussion.
The leader caste are not presented with "Leaders:" in bold font, unlike the previously listed castes.
Under the racial stats section, droyne flight does not list flying speed nor maneuverability.
"Droyne have a high potential for psionics" needs to be defined game mechanically under the racial stats section.
"Droyne may take the special feats of..." is not consistent with the "Special feats: ..." entries of other races' racial stats sections.
The special feats and racial feats are not presented in the standard D20 System format, a format that was used previously in the THB and in T20 Lite.
The special feat Droyne Psionics might best be served by using the T20 feat Natural Talent instead. The game mechanical impact on the PSI score remains statistically the same, and Natural Talent gives other bonuses to the gifted character as well.

Hope this helps,
Flynn

Flynn · Jul 2, 2003

Faar

The special feats and racial feats are not presented in the standard D20 System format, a format that was used previously in the THB and in T20 Lite.

Hope this helps,
Flynn

Flynn · Jul 2, 2003

Hivers

Under Adventures, change "commonest" to "most common".
The special feats and racial feats are not presented in the standard D20 System format, a format that was used previously in the THB and in T20 Lite.

Hope this helps,
Flynn

Flynn · Jul 2, 2003

Ithklur

In the racial stats section, what is the range of Ithklur "infravision"? Also, in the D20 System, infravision has been replaced with darkvision.
In the racial stats section, under Automatic skill: In other D20 products, this is usually handled as a positive modifer to the skill instead of giving automatic skill ranks.
Under Adventurers, replace "commonest" with "most common".
The special feats and racial feats are not presented in the standard D20 System format, a format that was used previously in the THB and in T20 Lite.
What does the Enlightenment feat do, besides make an Ithklur feel better about himself? What's the game mechanical benefit of taking that feat? Does it give him a bonus with social interactions within his own race? Same comment for the Enlightened Rank feat....

Hope this helps,
Flynn

sandman · Jul 2, 2003

Originally posted by Flynn:
Beree:



The feats, Overcome Beree Revoltion I and II, would be much more easily viewable if they were detailed in the standard feat format.

Hope this helps,
Flynn

Also, they're explained in a fashion that is confusing, sometimes using the "-1" or "-2" to diffenretiate one from the other, sometimes not:

From the PDF:

Overcome Beree Revulsion-1 allows the character to function normally in the presence of Beree, and reduces the DC for witnessing live animal consumption to DC10. Overcome Beree Revulsion allows the character to automatically control [...]

One might have to re-read the paragraph many times to know which is which...

Flynn · Jul 3, 2003

K'kree

"Automatic Feat:" should be called "Racial Feat:" to be consistent with the racial stats sections of other races.
The special feats and racial feats are not presented in the standard D20 System format, a format that was used previously in the THB and in T20 Lite.
There is no game mechanic or even a strong statement regarding the impact of K'kree claustrophobia or gregarious nature. The Vehicle Crew feat suggests that there should be.

Hope this helps,
Flynn

Flynn · Jul 3, 2003

Kafoe

The damage listed for the claws is 1d4+1, instead of using STR modifiers. Is that intentional? Also, is it a single attack or multiple attacks (the Vargr and Aslan are rather specific here, which is why I ask)? Also, how does the bite attack impact the single/multiple attack description?
The special feats and racial feats are not presented in the standard D20 System format, a format that was used previously in the THB and in T20 Lite.
The two alien levels mentioned under the Adventurers section are not listed under the Racial Stats section.

Hope this helps,
Flynn

Flynn · Jul 3, 2003

Kahyri

The special feats and racial feats are not presented in the standard D20 System format, a format that was used previously in the THB and in T20 Lite.
Under Racial Trait: Bad Liar, the text should read "All kahyri possess this trait." rather than "All kahyri possess this feat."

Hope this helps,
Flynn

Flynn · Jul 3, 2003

Maskai

Under the racial stats section, the "limited infrared perception" ability needs to be better defined. As infravision is not a part of the D20 System, you may wish to consider defining this ability in terms of darkvision (including a range), and then imposing a -4 on Spot checks that depend on this ability.

Hope this helps,
Flynn

Flynn · Jul 3, 2003

Missing Write-ups

I'm rather surprised at some of the missing racial write-ups, actually. The Wanderers were listed on the back of the Traveller's Handbook, implying that the stats were written and then cut from the book as part of the latter stages of editting for that product. That's why I thought they'd be easy to plug into this document.

I also know that at least one of the Uplifted Races will be detailed in a later product, but I was hoping that perhaps one of them might be found in the Gateway to Destiny PDF, because of the huge amount of interest in Uplifted races on the COTI board last year.

Two more credits,
Flynn

aoehler · Jul 7, 2003

I would just like to add my support for Flynn's comments regarding stat racial modifiers. All modifiers should be in the form of multiples of two (positive and negative...) and not 2d8 etc.

Thanks.

Falkayn · Jul 7, 2003

Originally posted by Flynn:
[QB]In addition, for those of us that do not use the standard die roll methods for creating ability scores, but instead use a version of the Point Buy method, the non-standard references to 2d8, 2d6 or 1d4+x, etc., do us no good, and aren't a standard method of presentation.

Flynn,

I can see where you're coming from, but I do like the idea that alien races have completely different attribute norms than Humans. Whilst you can sometimes get a similar effect by simple +/- values, often you can't get the same diversity (or lack of it) that different dice will give.

At the same time, I usually use the point buy method with my players characters (but not usually with NPCs), so it would be preferable to have some link to that method. Perhaps the Traveller Players Handbook could have a version of the pointbuy that works with these new die rolls?

Stilleon · May 25, 2004

Originally posted by Flynn:

I've noticed a few inconsistencies in the presentation of racial stats in the Gateway PDF and in other D20 and T20 products. I will specifically address the ability score modifications in this post. In the D20 System, ability score modifiers are given in mulitples of two, specifically to avoid min-maxing.
Flynn

I just got my print version lst week and have been mystified by this practice of rolling the modifier for an ability.

2d8 instead of 3d6? 2d8 is 2-16 with a 9 average. This should be a -1 mod instead of 2d8.

Some even give a random bonus. What is +1d4? Should be a flat +2.

Any reason why this method was chosen over the "d20" way?

Flynn · May 25, 2004

I'm not sure, but think it is based in a different viewpoint on D20 System character generation methods than what you would encounter with other D20 publications. Doesn't make it good or bad, but different. This suits some people's tastes, but not others.

Personally, I'll probably rewrite a number of these character stats to make them more D20 System-compliant for my games, but will still follow those published when working on stuff for publication and for general discussions online. (House Rules: the cool thing about gaming...

)

Still waiting for my copy,

Flynn

Stilleon · May 26, 2004

I just am interested in methodology. I have played in games where all +'s are rolled (for instance, 1d6+4 damage becomes 1d6 + 1d8; a +6 to hit modifier becomes 1d20 + 1d10 + 1) so it is not that odd. But it is an interesting game design choice and that peaksmy curiosity.

Races in the Gateway PDF

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