Uplifted Terran Animals

[ThunderChilde]

Let me preface this by saying I do not have MongTrav yet, but will as soon as the small book comes out.
Aside from the Dolphins, and I once heard Orcas, and a couple of monkey/apes, was anything else uplifted by humans?

The Vargr are a special point and I think I have read that some other canids were also tinkered with by the Ancients.

 

[aramis]

Non-MGT sources:
CT uplift by humans: Dolphins (JTAS), Chimps, Orangs (CT AM Solomani, no CGen)
Authoritative uplift by humans: Bears (the Ursa from T20)

Canonical Uplifted terran species done by Ancients: Vargr (mention of severa breeds in AM Vargr and in Viani & Vargr).

 

[Jame]

IIRC, according to GT Rim of Fire the Solomani tried to uplift dogs, but it didn't result in a sapient dog. Plus one of the JTAS articles had miniphants, which while not sapient were near enough.

 

[infojunky]

Non-MGT sources:
CT uplift by humans: Dolphins (JTAS), Chimps, Orangs (CT AM Solomani, no CGen)
Authoritative uplift by humans: Bears (the Ursa from T20)

Gibbons, Homo Sapians.... And a few others mostly in MT.

 

[ThunderChilde]

Thank you for the answers, I was away from traveler for far to long and missed quite a bit.

 

[DaveChase]

There are several other games/sources from which you can get UpLifted animals from

To use in YTU if you are interested.

But the guys above have covered most all of the OTU ones.

Dave Chase

 

[The Hinterworlds Rambler]

Been tinkering on and off with uplifts for a while. Mostly the support systems, like the Battledress type suits. I've got roughs and measurements for four kinds, one for an orca, a horizontal dolphin configuration, a vertical dolphin configuration, and a githkaskio support suit.

The Orca version is a combat chassis, all the way, like a human equivalent to battledress, but obviously scaled up. I also have rough concepts for an Orcan navigator/EW character on a line level ship.

The upright configured suit for a dolphin would allow for easier shipboard operations, but it would have the drawback of causing vacc suit like fatigue early in the wearer, requiring breaks.

The Githkaskio suit is something I've been wanting to design for a while, ever since I read the JTAS article. It may be like an armored bubble on a grav pedestal with manipulators. Also designed to operate on a deckplan.
(Yes, canon fans, I know that a Githkaskio is an alien, not an uplift.)

For manipulators on these suits, I was thinking either high point of movement tentacles with fine manipulation capable claw/hands at the ends, or maybe Remote Drones with "hands".

I'm starting to find that with the new work that I am starting at work in RL into "Animal enrichment" which simply put, is developing species specific interactives to allieviate some of the captivity symptoms that animals sometimes develop, such as what is known as "habitat hypnosis" and the like, that there are lots of specific animal sub species that would be perfect for uplift.

Octopus are at the top of my list. Some types are easily as smart as a dog, and they even have eyes very similar to ours. Not bad for an invertibrate.

 

[infojunky]

Octopus are at the top of my list. Some types are easily as smart as a dog, and they even have eyes very similar to ours. Not bad for an invertibrate.

Dude, though my players have yet to encounter one I have stolen the Astropus template from Transhuman Space.... Down to the church of Cthulu.....

 

[Duke Pellinor]

So what about the Schalli? Are they truly alien or uplifted? From memory (TNE material) they were uplifted.

 

[The Hinterworlds Rambler]

I thought they were independent aliens. They have tentacle things and look like dolphins. I'll get out the gurps book and look. There's also the Tahavi, which is the first contact race for the Vilani, like a manta ray, or a ixitactil (sp) in D&d or something, id reckon, except without the demon worship and spells and such. I'm not sure what source they are from, but they're mentioned somewhere, and i've seen Tahaver on some maps in the Vland sector.

It also would be cool to figure out some role for a massive whale like a Blue whale or something, but it would have to be for some really off the wall meta project, maybe some kind of off the map experimental survey mission. The rediculous life support requirements would need some serious justification. Maybe a highly unusual patron?

 

[epicenter00]

So what about the Schalli? Are they truly alien or uplifted? From memory (TNE material) they were uplifted.

They're aliens. I personally thought TNE would have been more interesting with some sort of uplifted "neo-dolphins" instead, but TNE went the route of aliens.

 

[beowulf2044]

How about an Uplifted Mongoose? Or perhaps that creature is better left alone.

 

[Bob Weaver]

uplifted non-vargr dogs

In My TU, I haven't introduced any true aliens, but for some flavor I added a few uplifted animals and a modified human species. The main one (at least their name) is borrowed from Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers: the neodog. This is how I explain them for my TU:

[FONT=&quot]Neodogs are the result of genetically altering normal dogs to increase intelligence. There are several 'breeds' of neodogs. Chows, retrievers, rottweillers, shepherds and beagles have all been 'intelligence-enhanced'. They have also been altered physically to improve their use of the forepaws as manipulators, and changes in the vocal chords allow rough but understandable human speech. Neodog personalities mirror those of normal dogs, but tend to stay away from extremes of playfulness or aggressiveness.

Neodogs live in packs, by themselves or with human families. While considered free sentient beings, almost all neodogs choose to continue the pattern of human-canine interdependency.

There is very little 'culture' among neodogs. They do not paint, sculpt or draw. Some neos have reputations as storytellers, but these are found exclusively as guardians/companions to children. Neodogs are extremely practical. A typical neodog's ambitions can be summed up as: 'eat, sleep and play with humans'. Some have even displayed an almost disdainful attitude towards their two-legged creators. "Where would these no-tails (neos' term for humans) be without us?" Scientists who study neodogs claim that the ‘neos consider humans to be a mutant species of dog. The neodogs deny this as 'ridiculous'.

In game terms, neodogs roll 1D+1 for STR, 2D+1 for END, 1D+3 for INT and 1D for other stats. Neos never try to increase INT or EDU, and SOC reflects their status among other Neos. Normal dogs have a Neo-SOC of 2.[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]I don't use them a lot; as I said they are there for flavor.

Cheers,
Bob W.
[/FONT]

 

[savage]

Ursa and you

As for MTU I built on the Ursa premise. Had intentions of working on a few alien uplifts but that was as far as I got.
As for the Ursa I found it most enjoyable when the being has arrived at a justification for there creation. In my case, the monks arrived at the concept that god allowed their creation to guide reckless humanti.

http://www.angelfire.com/empire2/savage/1WorldOrder/Home-Rules/Ursa_MWC_Prestige_class.html

Uplifted monkeys are a logical step. How would a vargr respond to an uplifted canine? Probably the same way we would...

 

[ThunderChilde]

If anyone could expand a bit on the Ursoids, I'd be very appreciative

 

[savage]

Ursa

Ursa, from Traveller T20 page 28, are Rule of Man, Solomani uplifted Terran Brown Bears.

 

[grymlocke]

I wonder how David Brin feels about his material being taken for use in traveller...

I talking of is entire uplift series...
Practice effect
Startide Rising
Sundiver
uplift war
etc..et al?

what's next Thennanin Dreadnaughts off the port quarter?
I only bring this up as his material is copyrighted, and steve jackson games did
do an uplift book for gurps years ago, but it went away very quickly (legal ???'s).


oh, you may want to scan down about 3/4 of the way and make note about the movie based on the book.
http://www.reference.com/browse/Startide+Rising&

ok, call me a buzzkill...but I thought I should point that out.

 

[epicenter00]

I wonder how David Brin feels about his material being taken for use in traveller...

I blatantly use Brin's stuff in IMTU and if anyone asks, I tell them the inspiration was from David Brin (who's my favorite sci-fi author).

His explanation for his Uplift Universe being unashamed opera and putting in multiple ways of getting around the lightspeed barrier inspired me to include J-drives, stutterwarp, jump gates, and psionic shifting IMTU. The Solomani have uplifted various animals (ones with Potential - I've never really liked the "Albedo" anthromorph path that uplifting lions, tigers, and bears would bring so have avoided it and just said only the Ancients could uplift something as lacking as wolves into sentients) and there's a faction of the Solomani who believe since the Ancients aren't around anymore, it's obvious the Vargr are unfinished and could use a few more centuries of Uplift polish (getting the Vargr to agree to this another matter entirely). And so on and so on.

 

[BlackBat242]

Grymlocke... you really need to learn something about copyright law and the publishing industry before spouting off & making a fool of yourself.

David Brin does NOT have copyright in the idea of "uplift" (a fancy term for genetic enhancement)... nor could he!
His first book to feature it, Sundiver, was published in 1979... while Rendezvous With Rama, by Arthur C. Clarke (which features as crew-members on a Terran spaceship, chimpanzees with genetically-enhanced intelligence, called Simps [for Super-Chimps]), was published in 1972.

The re-use of ideas and concepts is a standard part of writing in all fields... it only becomes a © violation when specific names and details, or entire specific passages are used.

Even book titles are not copyrighted... the local used bookstore here is called "Twice Upon a Time", and has a collection of some 15 books by different authors, in many different genres... all with the same exact title (the store name)!


And by the way... The Practice Effect is a stand-alone novel that is not part of the Uplift series, nor does it feature uplifted animals.

 

[grymlocke]

Grymlocke... you really need to learn something about copyright law and the publishing industry before spouting off & making a fool of yourself.

David Brin does NOT have copyright in the idea of "uplift" (a fancy term for genetic enhancement)... nor could he!
His first book to feature it, Sundiver, was published in 1979... while Rendezvous With Rama, by Arthur C. Clarke (which features as crew-members on a Terran spaceship, chimpanzees with genetically-enhanced intelligence, called Simps [for Super-Chimps]), was published in 1972.

The re-use of ideas and concepts is a standard part of writing in all fields... it only becomes a © violation when specific names and details, or entire specific passages are used.

Even book titles are not copyrighted... the local used bookstore here is called "Twice Upon a Time", and has a collection of some 15 books by different authors, in many different genres... all with the same exact title (the store name)!


And by the way... The Practice Effect is a stand-alone novel that is not part of the Uplift series, nor does it feature uplifted animals.

Don't get snippy with me..it only gives the impression your an arogant, self rightious snob.

All I was trying to do was be the voice of caution, I freely admit I know nothing about copy right laws. That, makes me all the more cautious about putting to print anything with out making sure the lawyers give it the ok....

But if your the expert on all things legal, and feel no need to be sure your not stepping on someone's toes...then go ahead.

DILLIGAF (Do I Look Like I Give A F***).

yes I know several of Brin's book are stand alones, but they are derived from his common unvierse--(this is the point I'd give you a dismissive hand gesture, indicating I'm done with you...)