The Vrex--hive mind aliens

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The vrex are a major race, but they are rarely encountered outside thier local cluster.

Physically they are humanoids. The most noticeable characteristic is the head. Compared to a human head it is elongated with the eyes much farther out giving good all round vision. Also of note are thier hands, which posses no actual thumbs. Instead there are six digits on each "hand", three on each side of a "claw" operating in a pincer fashion.

The most note worthy aspect of this species is the hive mind. Communites of the Vrex share a group intelligence. The intelligence of a group seems to be related to the overall size of the group, larger groups having more intelligence. Another aspect of the group mind is the sharing of skills, once the group has learned a skill it is usable by any member of the group, but there does seem to be some variation, most likely due to muscle memory and other factors.

Vrex are rarely encountered outside their local cluster. This appears to be due to the loss of intelligence they suffer when too far outside the area of the hive mind.

 

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Vrex PCs

When playing the vrex stats are generated differently, roll 2D6, drop the lowest for the hives' base in a stat, an individual rolls 1d6 and adds to this base. The size of the hive determines it's overall INT. INT cubed is the overall size of the hive.

Hives will have a base skill set and value for each skill it possess. A hive may learn new skills by completeing a 40 year term of service or study.A single Vrex will learn all these skills, at a rate of 1 point per 4 year term. {example a hive has the skills medical-3 tactics-2 pilot-4 gamble-3, after 2 terms a single Vrex will learn all these skills at a rank of 2} After a single Vrex has finished learning from the hive mind he may learn additional skills on his own.
Skill loss may occur if enough of the hive is killed,injured or seperated from the hive, every time the hive losses enough members to reduce it's INT by 1 roll 8+ for each skill the hive has or lose 1 rank. This loss may be reversed if the loss is only from separation, not death.