species_guidelines
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species_guidelines [2023/11/14 22:33] conan hybrid species restricted |
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| ===== Species Basics ===== | ===== Species Basics ===== | ||
| - | * **All Species are linked with a single Faction**. All species must be linked with one of the existing four [[Factions]] - which is the faction that the species is most associated with. This is likely the Faction that first encountered them or the one that controls the area where they evolved. Characters that are members of a species start the game as part of that Faction, although this may change during play. | + | * **Most Species are linked with a single Faction**. Species are generally linked with one of the existing four [[Factions]] - which is the faction that the species is most associated with. This is likely the Faction that first encountered them or the one that controls the area where they evolved. Characters that are members of a species start the game as part of that Faction, although this may change during play. Some species are not linked with any specific Faction, or with more than one - this will usually be due to some quirk of their background and society. |
| * **Each Species is distinctive**. A new species must be highly distinguishable from the Core Species – [[species:Terran|Terrans]], [[species:Tulaki]] and [[species:Elysian|Elysians]] as a minimum requirement. They must also be distinguishable from other existing playable species if at all possible. Therefore all new species must include at least some Species Trappings that unambiguously distinguishes themselves from other species. So, very human-seeming aliens like the Betazoids in Star Trek (whose only distinguishing feature is their lack of an ocular iris) will be refused. Same goes for reptilians who might be confused for Tulaki (unless you incorporate significant other elements like feathers or similar), or pointy-eared humanoids who resemble Elysians. Creating a new species is a good excuse for you to use cool and elaborate costume, which we would encourage. | * **Each Species is distinctive**. A new species must be highly distinguishable from the Core Species – [[species:Terran|Terrans]], [[species:Tulaki]] and [[species:Elysian|Elysians]] as a minimum requirement. They must also be distinguishable from other existing playable species if at all possible. Therefore all new species must include at least some Species Trappings that unambiguously distinguishes themselves from other species. So, very human-seeming aliens like the Betazoids in Star Trek (whose only distinguishing feature is their lack of an ocular iris) will be refused. Same goes for reptilians who might be confused for Tulaki (unless you incorporate significant other elements like feathers or similar), or pointy-eared humanoids who resemble Elysians. Creating a new species is a good excuse for you to use cool and elaborate costume, which we would encourage. | ||
| * **Alien Species should have unique abilities that reflect their physiology, history, etc**. Each new species should have distinct elements that allow it to stand out from others. Once a new species is created, it becomes part of the in-character setting of Orion Sphere LRP, and other players will be able to create characters of that species. In a universe full of variety, each species needs to have strong hooks and incentives to play them for people other than yourself. This might be an interesting set of Trappings, some cool background characterisation, or anything else, but in most cases the strongest incentives are mechanical - abilities that members of that species can do that others cannot. There is massive scope for interesting abilities that reflect and reinforce what makes it interesting to roleplay being a member of an alien species - we want playing an alien in OSLRP to feel alien, rather than a human with a bumpy forehead. | * **Alien Species should have unique abilities that reflect their physiology, history, etc**. Each new species should have distinct elements that allow it to stand out from others. Once a new species is created, it becomes part of the in-character setting of Orion Sphere LRP, and other players will be able to create characters of that species. In a universe full of variety, each species needs to have strong hooks and incentives to play them for people other than yourself. This might be an interesting set of Trappings, some cool background characterisation, or anything else, but in most cases the strongest incentives are mechanical - abilities that members of that species can do that others cannot. There is massive scope for interesting abilities that reflect and reinforce what makes it interesting to roleplay being a member of an alien species - we want playing an alien in OSLRP to feel alien, rather than a human with a bumpy forehead. | ||
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| While there is a lot of freedom to create new species, there are a few themes and topics that players should avoid, as they will make it extremely difficult for their species concept to be approved. These topics include the following; | While there is a lot of freedom to create new species, there are a few themes and topics that players should avoid, as they will make it extremely difficult for their species concept to be approved. These topics include the following; | ||
| - | * **Themes that violate the [[safety_conduct#Conduct]] rules** - We __will not__ accept any new species that involves breaking any of the game rules regarding conduct and unacceptable topics. See the [[safety_conduct#Conduct]] rules for more details. | + | * **Themes that violate our [[Code of Conduct]]** - We __will not__ accept any new species that involves breaking any of the game rules regarding conduct and unacceptable topics. See the [[Code of Conduct|Conduct]] rules for more details. |
| * **Cybernetics** - In the Orion Sphere LRP setting, cybernetics and technology directly integrated with living bodies is rare. The [[Corporeal Perfection Syndicate]] is the only source of truly effective cybernetics. While other factions and groups have developed cybernetics to a greater or lesser extent, these tend to be poor quality and plagued with issues - requiring frequent maintenance, special substances to work, or having a poor neural interface with the host. Although characters may roleplay having these lesser cybernetics as part of their character concept, they are minor aspects of individual characters - the future equivalent of "old war wounds" or similar. True, useful cybernetics must be purchased and installed in-game by the Corporeal Perfection Syndicate's agents, and come with dedicated rules. As such, new species that involve heavy cybernetic themes are unlikely to be accepted. | * **Cybernetics** - In the Orion Sphere LRP setting, cybernetics and technology directly integrated with living bodies is rare. The [[Corporeal Perfection Syndicate]] is the only source of truly effective cybernetics. While other factions and groups have developed cybernetics to a greater or lesser extent, these tend to be poor quality and plagued with issues - requiring frequent maintenance, special substances to work, or having a poor neural interface with the host. Although characters may roleplay having these lesser cybernetics as part of their character concept, they are minor aspects of individual characters - the future equivalent of "old war wounds" or similar. True, useful cybernetics must be purchased and installed in-game by the Corporeal Perfection Syndicate's agents, and come with dedicated rules. As such, new species that involve heavy cybernetic themes are unlikely to be accepted. | ||
| * **Ancient Species or Precursors** - In the Orion Sphere LRP setting, there are numerous examples of ancient civilisations that spanned large areas of the galaxy, **but none of their people survive to the present**. Every current space-faring species developed their civilisation at roughly the same time, give or take a few thousand years. Absolutely no civilisation that developed faster-than-light travel is older than 10,000 years, and the ones that took to the stars prior to humans never did so to the extent of building a large star empire equivalent to any of the [[Factions]]. Discovering more about the cultures of the Precursors, and what actually happened to them all, is one of the major mysteries of the setting. As such, while species can exist among the ruins of poorly understood Precursor technology (such as the [[species:Etherna]]), they cannot retain any knowledge of the Precursors handed down to the current time in any kind of useful form. | * **Ancient Species or Precursors** - In the Orion Sphere LRP setting, there are numerous examples of ancient civilisations that spanned large areas of the galaxy, **but none of their people survive to the present**. Every current space-faring species developed their civilisation at roughly the same time, give or take a few thousand years. Absolutely no civilisation that developed faster-than-light travel is older than 10,000 years, and the ones that took to the stars prior to humans never did so to the extent of building a large star empire equivalent to any of the [[Factions]]. Discovering more about the cultures of the Precursors, and what actually happened to them all, is one of the major mysteries of the setting. As such, while species can exist among the ruins of poorly understood Precursor technology (such as the [[species:Etherna]]), they cannot retain any knowledge of the Precursors handed down to the current time in any kind of useful form. | ||
species_guidelines.1700001228.txt.gz · Last modified: 2023/11/14 22:33 by conan
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