The Campaign Builder's Guild

I will not be participating as a player/DM but I'll gladly serve in an advisory role should you guys go with Saga Edition as a ruleset and anyone needs assistance with it.

If this is the case, I can be found in the chat most evenings as well as reached by email at alphadifferential @ gmail.com

Possible characters I'm thinking of...

An asari (drell father) Justicar who broke her oaths and forsook the Justicar Code - sort of an asari Ronin or fallen paladin type.  She would probably beon the run from other Justicars, working as a mercenary, or perhaps a vigilante.

A vorcha Cerberus experiment designed to test the limits of vorcha adaptability: he was placed in a highly intellectual environment and subjected to daily tests of intelligence and problem-solving.  The non-differentiated cells of the vorcha adapted to give the creature extreme cognitive ability.  The result?  An extremely eloquent and well-spoken vorcha with a hyper-evolved mind.

I'll have to think up a proper character - depending largely on what kind of game it will be - but Turian or Quarian would probably be safe bets. Then again, I have this derranged urge to play a Volus.

Heh I was thinking of volus as well... for some reason I get an image of a volus in an anti-grav hover-suit similar to Baron Harkonnen's wielding a pair of pistols and laughing manically through his little gasmask thing, floating around and firing like a maniac.

I statted up a few races to get the discussion going:

Vorcha
Ability Mods: +2 to any one Ability, -2 Wisdom
- Medium Size
- Speed: 6 squares
- Skill Bonus: A vorcha gain a +5 bonus to Treat Injury checks made to treat himself.
- Limb Regeneration: Vorcha may regenerate a single lost limb after 1d2 months. At that time, all persistent effects due to the lost limb are removed.
- Superior Fortitude & Reflex: Vorcha gain a +1 species bonus to their Fortitude and Reflex Defenses.
- Conditional Bonus Feat: If a Vorcha is trained in Initiative, he may choose Skill Focus (Initiative) as a bonus feat.
- Automatic languages: Vorcha

Drell
- Ability Mods: +2 Wisdom, -2 Charisma
- Medium Size
- Speed: 6 Squares
- Survivalists: All Drell are considered trained in survival. This is a bonus trained skill
- Hightened Awareness: Drell may choose to re-roll any Perception check but the result of the re-roll must be accepted even if it is worse.
- Conditional Bonus Feat: If a Drell is trained in Perception, he may choose Skill Focus (Perception) as a bonus feat.
- Automatic languages: Drell, Hanar and Common

Krogan
- Ability Mods: +4 Strength, +2 Constitution, -2 Dexterity, -2 Intelligence, -2 Charisma
- Medium Size
- Speed: 6 Squares
- Rage: Once per day a Krogan can fly into a rage as a swift action. While raging, a Krogan gains a +2 Rage bonus on melee attacks and damage rolls but cannot use skills that require patience and concentration such as Mechanics, stealth or Use Biotics. The rage lasts a number of rounds equal to 5 +  the Krogan's Constitution Modifier. At the end of the Rage the Krogan moves -1 persistent step down the condition track.
Superior Fortitude: Krogan gain a +1 Species bonus to their Fortitude Defense.
- Extraordinary Recuperation: Krogan regain hit points at double the normal rate.
- Conditional Bonus Feat: If a Krogan is trained in Endurance, he may choose Skill Focus (Endurance) as a bonus feat.
- Languages: Krogan and Common

And the other races.

Salarian
Ability Mods: +2 Intelligence, -2 Strength
- Medium Size
- Speed: 6 Squares
- One Hour of Sleep: Salarians only require 1 hour of sleep and receive the same benefit as a Human who sleeps for 8 hours.
- Astute Initiative: A Salarian may use his Intelligence bonus instead of his Dexterity Bonus when making Initiative Checks.
- Bonus Knowledge Skill: Salarians may choose either a single Knowledge Skill or Use Computer as a bonus Trained Skill at level 1.  
- Conditional Bonus Feat: If a Salarian is trained in Gather Information, he may choose Skill Focus (Gather Information) as a bonus feat.
- Bonus Language: Salarians gain one bonus language at level 1.
- Languages: Salarian and Common


Asari
Ability Mods:  +2 Dexterity or +2 Charisma
- Medium Size
- Speed: 6 Squares
- Deceptive: Asari may choose to re-roll any Deception check but the result of the re-roll must be accepted even if it is worse.
- Biotics: All Asari are considered trained in Use Biotics. This is a bonus trained skill
- Conditional Bonus Feat: If an Asari is trained in Persuasion, she may choose Skill Focus (Persuasion) as a bonus feat.
- Languages: Asari and Common


Quarians
Ability Mods:  +2 Intelligence, -2 Constitution
- Medium Size
- Speed: 6 Squares
- Vulnerability to Disease: Quarians receive a -2 modifier to their Fortitude Defense against Diseases.
- Mechanics: All Quarians are considered trained in Mechanics. This is a bonus trained skill
- Cooperative Spirit: Quarians can aid another on skill checks  made by adjacent allies as a swift action. Adjacent allies can also aid another on skill checks made by an adjacent Quarian as a swift action. This ability can only be used with the following skills: Gather Information, Knowledge (any), Mechanics, Pilot, Ride, Treat Injury and Use Computer.  
- Conditional Bonus Feat: If a Quarian is trained in Use Computer, she may choose Skill Focus (Mechanics) or Skill Focus (Use Computer) as a bonus feat.
- Languages: Quarian and Common


Turians
Ability Mods:  +2 Constitution, -2 Charisma
- Medium Size
- Speed: 7 Squares
- Perceptive: All Turians are considered trained in Perception. This is a bonus trained skill.
- Militant: Turians gain Weapon Focus with a Weapon Group of their choice.
- Superior Fortitude: Turians gain a +1 species bonus to their Fortitude Defenses.
- Conditional Bonus Feat: If a Turian is trained in Knowledge (Tactics), he may choose Skill Focus Knowledge (Tactics) as a bonus feat.
- Languages: Turian and Common


Volus
Ability Mods: -2 Strength, -2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, +2 Wisdom
- Small size: Small creatures gain +1 size Bonus to their Reflex Defense and a +5 size bonus on Stealth checks. However, lifting and carrying is 3/4s that of a medium character.
- Bonus Knowledge Skill: Volus may choose a single Knowledge Skill as a bonus Trained Skill at level 1.  
- Persuasive: Volus receive a +5 bonus on any persuasion check meant to barter or haggle.
- Conditional Bonus Feat: If a Volus is trained in Persuasion, he may choose Skill Focus (Persuasion) or Skill Focus in any one Knowledge skill as a bonus feat.
- Languages: Volus and Common


Humans
- Ability Mods: +2 to single ability
- Medium Size
- Speed: 6 Squares
- Driven: Humans may select either a bonus feat or an additional trained skill at level 1.
- Future Lies Ahead: Once per day, as a swift action, Humans may move +1 up the condition Track.
- Conditional Bonus Feat: If a Human is trained in either Persuasion or Deception, he may choose Skill Focus (Persuasion) or Skill Focus (Deception) as a bonus feat.
- Language: Any Human Language and Common


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Looks good.  Would an Int penalty potentially be more appropriate than a Wis penalty for Krogan, considering their shamanistic side and the fact that they almost never become scientists?  After all, they were culturally/technologically uplifted by the Salarians rather than inventing Mass Effect technology and the like themselves.  There'd still be enough Krogan with above average Int to serve as mechanics, inventors, etc...

EDIT: Reading more about the vorcha, it looks as if the vorcha's brain would actually have to be damaged to initiate the augmentation.  Definitely the sort of thing Cerberus would get up to!

Good point Steerpike! :)

So I think I will go with the crazy Vorcha character (I'm imagining him rather like X-Men's Beast in some ways)... if we go with Star Wars Saga he'll be a Scoundrel, if d20 Future, the Smart Hero.

And the other races.

Salarian
Ability Mods: +2 Intelligence, -2 Strength
- Medium Size
- Speed: 6 Squares
- One Hour of Sleep: Salarians only require 1 hour of sleep and receive the same benefit as a Human who sleeps for 8 hours.
- Astute Initiative: A Salarian may use his Intelligence bonus instead of his Dexterity Bonus when making Initiative Checks.
- Bonus Knowledge Skill: Salarians may choose either a single Knowledge Skill or Use Computer as a bonus Trained Skill at level 1.  
- Conditional Bonus Feat: If a Salarian is trained in Gather Information, he may choose Skill Focus (Gather Information) as a bonus feat.
- Bonus Language: Salarians gain one bonus language at level 1.
- Languages: Salarian and Common


Asari
Ability Mods:  +2 Dexterity or +2 Charisma
- Medium Size
- Speed: 6 Squares
- Deceptive: Asari may choose to re-roll any Deception check but the result of the re-roll must be accepted even if it is worse.
- Biotics: All Asari are considered trained in Use Biotics. This is a bonus trained skill
- Conditional Bonus Feat: If an Asari is trained in Persuasion, she may choose Skill Focus (Persuasion) as a bonus feat.
- Languages: Asari and Common


Quarians
Ability Mods:  +2 Intelligence, -2 Constitution
- Medium Size
- Speed: 6 Squares
- Vulnerability to Disease: Quarians receive a -2 modifier to their Fortitude Defense against Diseases.
- Mechanics: All Quarians are considered trained in Mechanics. This is a bonus trained skill
- Cooperative Spirit: Quarians can aid another on skill checks  made by adjacent allies as a swift action. Adjacent allies can also aid another on skill checks made by an adjacent Quarian as a swift action. This ability can only be used with the following skills: Gather Information, Knowledge (any), Mechanics, Pilot, Ride, Treat Injury and Use Computer.  
- Conditional Bonus Feat: If a Quarian is trained in Use Computer, she may choose Skill Focus (Mechanics) or Skill Focus (Use Computer) as a bonus feat.
- Languages: Quarian and Common


Turians
Ability Mods:  +2 Constitution, -2 Charisma
- Medium Size
- Speed: 7 Squares
- Perceptive: All Turians are considered trained in Perception. This is a bonus trained skill.
- Militant: Turians gain Weapon Focus with a Weapon Group of their choice.
- Superior Fortitude: Turians gain a +1 species bonus to their Fortitude Defenses.
- Conditional Bonus Feat: If a Turian is trained in Knowledge (Tactics), he may choose Skill Focus Knowledge (Tactics) as a bonus feat.
- Languages: Turian and Common


Volus
Ability Mods: -2 Strength, -2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, +2 Wisdom
- Small size: Small creatures gain +1 size Bonus to their Reflex Defense and a +5 size bonus on Stealth checks. However, lifting and carrying is 3/4s that of a medium character.
- Bonus Knowledge Skill: Volus may choose a single Knowledge Skill as a bonus Trained Skill at level 1.  
- Persuasive: Volus receive a +5 bonus on any persuasion check meant to barter or haggle.
- Conditional Bonus Feat: If a Volus is trained in Persuasion, he may choose Skill Focus (Persuasion) or Skill Focus in any one Knowledge skill as a bonus feat.
- Languages: Volus and Common

I know I'm not really playing but I just thought that I might chime in here for one thing I noticed.

Humans
- Medium Size
- Speed: 6 Squares
- Bonus Trained Skill: A human gains an additional trained skill at level 1
- Bonus Feat: A human gains one bonus feat at level 1

This doesn't seem to represent humanity in Mass Effect which is shown not as a jack of all trades (which I always found silly when DnD used it) but as a very stubborn yet slightly unorthodox group. You might consider instead of the bonus feat and skill giving them a diehard style trait and perhaps a resistance against suggestion (like say a +x to sense motive or something like that) or alternatively a bonus to bluff. Also for languages I would give them automatic common and one earth language (I imagine the alliance uses English but you could let the players choose).

Oops, some how the Human Language section got cut off! I had Any Human Language and Common listed. Great minds think alike :)

I struggled with the Humans. I think the problem is that even in Mass Effect - they are still sort of the generalists. Its more due to the perspective of the story (i.e. Human-centric) than an inherent generality of Humanity. Almost every other race specializes in a particular field (Asari - Biotics, Krogan - Soldiers, Quarians - Tech, etc.). Humanity has been shown to take up careers in every field imaginable. Granted they aren't as generic as Humans in other settings but they're still generic (for lack of a better term).

Having said that, I agree. We should probably break out a bit and make Humans special.

How about:


Humans
- Ability Mods: +2 Charisma
- Medium Size
- Speed: 6 Squares
- Driven: Humans may select either a bonus feat or an additional trained skill at level 1.
- Future Lies Ahead: Once per day, as a swift action, Humans may move +1 up the condition Track.
- Conditional Bonus Feat: If a Human is trained in either Persuasion or Deception, he may choose Skill Focus (Persuasion) or Skill Focus (Deception) as a bonus feat.
- Language: Any Human Language and Common

Quote from: Steerpikefor some reason I get an image of a volus in an anti-grav hover-suit similar to Baron Harkonnen's wielding a pair of pistols and laughing manically through his little gasmask thing, floating around and firing like a maniac.

I don't understand how you could say this and not follow it with, "So I'll be playing a Volus."

Heh maybe I should :).  I wrote up a backstory for the vorcha character but realized that in some ways he's rather close to my character in TMG's Carbon Skies game i.e. experiment gone wrong.

A pair of wannabe Volus Specters that have reached the point of doing a trial mission for the Council could be quite amusing. Just a thought, not even sure I'm totally sold on it.

We'll need weapons and armor ans such, too. Please, please, please let us use credits and not some abstract wealth system. I hated that about D20 Modern. If it isn't too much trouble (you could probably find such a thing online) having some sort of system to customize equipment, especially weapons, would be great. I think that was very important to ME1, even if it was a bit of a mess.