ZeroSpace 3e EN:Aliens

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At its height, the Imperium encompassed millions of populated worlds, and that is just a fraction of the populated worlds in the galaxy. Across these worlds is scattered a variety of sentient life forms, the diversity of which beggars the imagination. Rather than provide a comprehensive list of alien species, ZeroSpace provides you with a toolbox of alien traits, with which you can build any alien species you can think of (or nearly so).

That being said, the aliens in ZeroSpace can generally be categorized as one of three types: humanoid, android, or exotic.

Would you like to create a random alien? You can!

Table: Random alien type
Roll 3d6 Type
3-13 Humanoid alien
14-15 Android
16-18 Exotic alien

Humanoid Aliens

Humanoid aliens are the most common, and resemble humans in size and physique. They may differ cosmetically (skin color, eye color, hair color, etc.), but they typically have the same number of arms and legs, the same facial features, and so on. A humanoid alien species might have pointed ears, exaggerated brow ridges, or they might have tentacles or horns instead of cranial hair (or in addition to hair).

Would you like to create a random humanoid alien? You can!

Table: Random humanoid alien, skin
Roll 1d6 Saturation
1 Pale
2 Light
3 Medium
4 Deep
5 Dark
6 Patterned (roll twice!)
Roll 1d6 Color
1 Blue
2 Brown
3 Green
4 Grey
5 Red
6 Yellow

Optionally, a "pale grey" result can mean "snow white", and a "dark grey" result can mean "pitch black".


Table: Random humanoid alien, eyes
Roll 1d6 Type
1 Circular pupil
2 Horizontally slit pupil
3 Vertically slit pupil
4 Pupilless
5 Solid color
6 Compound
Roll 1d6 Saturation
1 Pale
2 Light
3 Medium
4 Deep
5 Dark
6 Glowing
Roll 1d6 Color
1 Blue
2 Brown
3 Green
4 Grey
5 Red
6 Yellow

Optionally, a "pale grey" result can mean "snow white", and a "dark grey" result can mean "pitch black".


Table: Random humanoid alien, head
Roll 1d6 Type
1 Hairless
2 Hair (normal)
3 Structure, hairless
4 Structure, hairless (roll twice!)
5 Structure, with hair
6 Structure, with hair (roll twice!)
Roll 1d6 Structure
1 Antennae
2 Brow ridges
3 Cranial ridges
4 Horns
5 Pointed ears
6 Tentacles
Roll 1d6 Hair Saturation
1 Pale
2 Light
3 Medium
4 Deep
5 Dark
6 Bright
Roll 1d6 Hair Color
1 Blue
2 Brown
3 Green
4 Grey
5 Red
6 Yellow


Optionally, a "pale grey" result can mean "snow white", and a "dark grey" result can mean "pitch black".

Skin color and eye color here are those of an individual, of course. An alien species may have lighter or darker tones among the population, or even a range of colors.

Androids

Androids are artificial beings designed to interact with biological sentients using ordinary conversation and social cues. Androids are usually constructed to serve a particular purpose. Whether androids are sentient is a subject of some controversy. On some worlds, androids are considered to be no more than ambulatory tools, while on other worlds they have the same rights and privileges as any other sentient. On worlds where androids are considered property, there are usually restrictions on how advanced their behavioural heuristics are permitted to be, while on worlds where androids have the rights of sentients, there are usually limitations on their manufacture. Androids might be humanoid in shape, or they might be shaped completely unlike humans, depending on their original purpose and the whims of the maker. Androids might be obviously artificial, or they may be lifelike and virtually indistinguishable from the species they have been constructed to resemble. Lifelike androids are illegal on some worlds. A prohibition against harming biological life is the most common directive hard-wired into androids during manufacture, and removing that prohibition is among the most common modifications made to them afterward.

While androids are inorganic, and thus do not "eat", "sleep", or "heal" in the biological sense, they have functional requirements that serve the same purposes -- recharging, "powering down", "auto repair", and so on. As with exotic aliens, these requirements can be removed with the purchase of a suitable alien trait.

However, all androids must purchase the following alien traits:

  • Immunity To Suffocation
  • Immunity To Poison

Some alien traits which are common for androids, but not required, are:

  • Armor
  • Data Jack
  • Immortality
  • Mental Calculator
  • Perfect Recall
  • Self-sustaining

Exotic Aliens

Exotic aliens might superficially resemble humans, or they might be utterly alien. What makes them a distinct group is that they possess traits beyond those possessed by humans and humanoid aliens. The line between humanoid alien and exotic alien is an arbitrary one.

Would you like to create a random exotic alien? You can!

Table: Random exotic alien type
Roll 1d6 Type
1 Animal-headed humanoid
2 Anthropomorphic animal
3 Anthropomorphic plant
4 Insectoid
5 Symmetrical organism
6 Weird biology


Table: Random exotic alien details
Roll 1d6 Animal Type
1 Avian
2 Canine
3 Cephalopod
4 Feline
5 Mustelid
6 Reptilian
Roll 1d6 Symmetry Type
1 Dendriform with bilateral symmetry
2 Dendriform with radial symmetry
3 Globular with bilateral symmetry
4 Globular with radial symmetry
5 Serpentine with bilateral symmetry
6 Serpentine with radial symmetry
Roll 1d6 Weird Biology
1 Colonial organism (roll for Symmetry Type)
2 Crystalline (roll for Symmetry Type)
3 Cybernetic non-humanoid (roll for Symmetry Type)
4 Gaseous
5 Myconoid (roll for Symmetry Type)
6 Viscous fluid

Alien Traits

This is a list of typical alien traits found in a ZeroSpace game. This list is not exhaustive. A character may well have a trait not listed here, subject to GM approval. However, any new traits should be approximately as useful as these traits, in order to maintain a sense of fairness with other characters. Each alien trait costs one character point. We suggest spending no more than 5 character points total on alien traits, gifts, and esoteric powers.

Would you like to randomly generate a character's alien traits? You can! If the character is a humanoid alien, randomly roll one alien trait. Otherwise, consult the "Number of alien traits" table.


Table: Random alien traits
Roll 1d6 Traits
1 Roll once on Typical alien traits
2-5 Roll twice on Typical alien traits
6 Roll three times on Typical alien traits


Count the number of alien traits, and subtract that number from your pool of character points. If the character is an android, they must also purchase the two required traits, Immunity To Suffocation and Immunity To Poison.


Table: Typical alien traits
Roll 1d6 Roll 1d6 Trait Benefit
1 1 360° Vision Can see equally well in every direction simultaneously
2 Aerial Winged or floating, the character can fly at their ground speed
3 Aquatic Can breathe water and survive in environments of extremely high pressure, such as in the ocean depths
4 Camouflage Blend into surroundings and become difficult to perceive
5 Clinging Can move at normal ground speed along walls, ceilings, and other surfaces
6 Data Jack Can connect to and communicate with computers
2 1 Energy Shield A force field or deflector shield protects the character from attacks
2 Fascinating Get attention, and perhaps favors, from admirers
3 Frigian Can breathe methane or ammonia, and comfortable in environments of extreme cold
4 Gelatinous An undifferentiated mass, able to squeeze through a hole the size of a tennis ball
5 Healing Revitalize a character who has lost Endurance in combat
6 Heavyworlder Stronger and more massive than typical humanoids
3 1 Hyperacuity Can sense details far too small or faint for ordinary human senses to detect
2 Huge Larger and stronger than typical humanoids
3 Immortality Never grow old nor die from "natural causes"
4 Immunity To Poison Unaffected by pathogens and poisons
5 Immunity To Suffocation Does not need to breathe, and can survive in a vacuum
6 Infernal Immune to the effects of environmental ionizing radiation, and comfortable in environments of extreme heat
4 1 Life Drain A Close Combat attack which ignores all normal forms of protection
2 Linguist Learn new languages with minimal effort
3 Mental Calculator Solve complex mathematical operations by thinking about them
4 Mental Resistance Resistant to mental attacks and unnatural coercion
5 Mind Link Characters who both have Mind Link can communicate telepathically over any distance
6 Multitasking Take additional actions during a round
5 1 Natural Armor Chitin, scales, fur, or exceptionally tough skin protects the character from attacks
2 Natural Weaponry Claws, fangs, spines, or some other natural Close Combat weaponry
3 Night Vision Can see in the dark with infrared, ultraviolet, or low-light vision
4 Perfect Recall Remember something perfectly with a Reason roll
5 Regeneration Heals much faster than the typical humanoid
6 Self-sustaining Can survive without eating through photosynthesis or some other metabolic process
6 1 Shapeshifter Can change shape and appearance
2 Stasis Put a target into a fugue state, unable to move, think, or take any actions
3 Subterranean Move through earth and rock as easily as air
4 Telepathy Communicate directly with the mind of another person
5 Tiny Smaller and harder to hit than typical humanoids
6 Unsettling Make people nervous for no real reason

360° Vision

Constant

The character with 360° Vision can see equally well in every direction simultaneously. They probably have very large eyes, or many very small eyes.

Aerial

Constant

Aerial allows a character to fly at their ground speed. They might have wings, or they might be naturally lighter than air.

Aquatic

Constant

An Aquatic character may breathe underwater, and is comfortable in environments of extremely high pressure, such as in the ocean depths. The character can also swim at their ground speed.

Camouflage

Standard action

Camouflage allows the character to become difficult to perceive, by both living beings and machines. For example, the character might become transparent, they might bend light around them, or they may blend into their surroundings by modulating chromatophores in their skin. However the camouflage is achieved, the character is hidden from normal sight unless someone is actively looking for them or there is some environmental circumstance that might reveal the character's location.

If someone is actively looking for the character, perhaps by isolating their heat signature or tracking them by scent, the person trying to locate the camouflaged character must make a successful Perception (Reason) roll against a Stealth (Agility + Power Level) roll of the camouflaged character. A character with Clairvoyance or Hyperacuity may add their Power Level to their Reason when attempting to notice a camouflaged character. If an environmental circumstance might reveal the character's location, the person trying to locate the camouflaged character gains a bonus die on their Perception (Reason) roll. For example, fog might reveal the camouflaged character's outline, or fresh snow might reveal their footprints.

Clinging

Constant

A character with the Clinging trait can move at their normal ground speed along walls, ceilings, and other surfaces as if they were level. The strength holding the character to the surface is equal to their Brawn. If the surface is slippery or unstable, the GM might require the character to attempt a moderately difficult (DV 3) Athletics (Agility) roll to keep from sliding or falling.

Data Jack

Constant

A Data Jack is a close range (1 m) trait which permits a character to connect to and communicate with computers, typically at speeds much faster than would otherwise be possible.

It is rare for creatures other than androids and cyborgs to have a Data Jack.

Energy Shield

Quick action

A character with the Energy Shield trait has a force field or deflector shield which provides protection against normal damage. A character with Energy Shield adds their Power Level to their combat defense rolls. Energy Shield does not stack with conventional armor.

It is rare for creatures other than androids and cyborgs to have an Energy Shield.

Fascinating

Constant

A character with the Fascinating gift is naturally, effortlessly compelling. It is difficult for the character to pass unnoticed, because they will be the focus of attention in nearly any circumstances. People who are swayed by their instinctive responses may be more likely to cooperate with the character, and the character can sometimes gain favors from admirers. If this is the case, the character gains a bonus die on relevant Presence rolls.

If the character already has this as a gift, there is no benefit to purchasing this trait: the benefits do not stack.

Frigian

Constant

A character with the Frigian trait can breathe a super-cooled atmosphere such as methane or ammonia, and they are comfortable in environments of extreme cold.

The character might require some form of life support, such as a "breather" or an "environment suit", to operate comfortably in an atmosphere that most humanoids consider normal.

Gelatinous

Constant

A character with the Gelatinous trait is an undifferentiated mass, able to squeeze through a hole the size of a tennis ball.

Healing

Standard action

Healing is a close range (1 m) trait which restores lost Endurance. The character with Healing may use a standard action to attempt a moderately difficult (DV 3) Close Combat (Power Level) roll to heal the victim's injuries. If the character succeeds at this roll, then one Endurance is restored to the victim (or more, if using the optional margin of success rules).

Healing can remove diseases, pathogens, and poisons from the target. The character with Healing may attempt a moderately difficult (DV 3) Close Combat (Brawn + Power Level) roll to cure a single disease or purge a single toxin from the victim's system.

Heavyworlder

Constant

A character with the Heavyworlder trait is stronger and more massive (but no larger) than a typical humanoid: +1 Brawn and a mass up to 200 kilograms. The character is also comfortable in environments of extremely high pressure, such as might be found on the surface of a heavy-gravity world.

Hyperacuity

Constant

Hyperacuity allows a character to make a moderately difficult (DV 3) Perception (Reason) roll to sense details far too small or faint for ordinary human senses to detect. On a successful roll, they can taste the number of salt grains on a pretzel, read text on a computer display by touching it, see fingerprints on surfaces, identify a person by the sound of their heartbeat, track someone through a city by their scent, and so on.

Huge

Constant

A character with the Huge trait is larger and stronger than a typical humanoid: +1 Brawn and from 2.5 meters to 4 meters tall.

Immortality

Constant

The Immortality renders a character immune to the ravages of time. The character will never grow old or die from "natural causes".

Optionally, the character is never truly "dead" -- they can be re-assembled, repaired, and revived if all of their component parts can be collected or replaced.

It is rare for creatures other than androids to purchase this trait.

Immunity To Poison

Constant

A character with the Immunity To Poison trait is unaffected by chemical and biological poisons, toxins, and venoms. The character is also unaffected by infectious viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc.

Immunity To Suffocation

Constant

A character with the Immunity To Suffocation trait does not need to breathe at all, and the character is comfortable in environments of extremely low pressure, such as in outer space.

Infernal

Constant

A character with the Infernal trait is comfortable in superheated environments. They are also immune to the effects of environmental ionizing radiation.

The character might require some form of life support, such as a "breather" or an "environment suit", to operate comfortably in an atmosphere that most humanoids consider normal.

Life Drain

Standard action

Life Drain is a close range (1 m) alteration attack which inflicts damage to the target's Endurance. Attacking with Life Drain requires a successful Close Combat (Power Level) roll against a Close Combat (Brawn) roll of the target, or a Close Combat (Brawn + Power Level) roll of the target if the target has Alteration Resistance. If the attacker succeeds at this roll, then the target's Endurance is reduced by one (or more, if using the optional margin of success rules). Life Drain ignores all normal forms of protection such as armor and energy shields. However, Life Drain is completely ineffective against non-living objects, even if they are sentient.

The damage from Life Drain is temporary. It all comes back after the fight is over, when the target has had a chance to rest and recuperate.

Linguist

Constant

Universe, an artifical language created thousands of years ago, is the official language of the Imperium. Every civilized being understands Universe, although not every species is physically capable of speaking it. Additionally, every alien species has one or more languages which they speak among themselves: some civilizations have hundreds of indigenous languages.

Barring unusual circumstances, characters are assumed to be fluent in Universe, as well as any other languages they could reasonably be expected to know. A character with the Linguist gift is fluent in over six million forms of communication, and is capable of quickly deciphering new forms of communication when they encounter them.

If the character already has this as a gift, there is no benefit to purchasing this trait: the benefits do not stack.

Mental Calculator

Constant

The character with the Mental Calculator trait can perform complex mathematical calculations in their head in the same amount of time that a skilled mathematician could perform the same calculations on a powerful computer. Also, the character has an intuitive understanding of higher mathematics, and is able to comprehend and remember intricate formulae and equations after examining them briefly.

If the character already has this as a gift, there is no benefit to purchasing this trait: the benefits do not stack.

Mind Link

Constant

Two or more characters who all have the Mind Link trait can communicate telepathically over any distance.

Mental Resistance

Constant

A character with Mental Resistance is resistant to mental attacks and unnatural coercion. A character with Mental Resistance adds their Power Level to their Mental Combat defense rolls.

If the character already has this as a gift, there is no benefit to purchasing this trait: the benefits do not stack.

Multitasking

Constant

A character with the Multitasking trait may take one additional action during their turn, such as a move action or a standard action.

The number of additional actions the character may use is equal to their Power Level. Once an additional action has been used, it may not be used again during that scene.

Natural Armor

Constant

A character with Natural Armor is resistant to normal damage. The character may have chitin, scales, thick fur, or just have exceptionally tough skin. A character with Natural Armor adds their Power Level to their combat defense rolls. Natural Armor is not effective against mental attacks and alteration attacks. Natural Armor does not stack with conventional armor or energy shields.

Natural Weaponry

Constant

A character with the Natural Weaponry trait is equipped with claws, fangs, spines, or some other natural close combat weapon. These natural weapons are difficult to take away, and will usually re-grow if removed. A character with Natural Weaponry adds their Power Level to their combat attack rolls. Natural Weaponry does not stack with conventional weapons.

Night Vision

Constant

Night Vision allows a character to see in the dark. This capacity could be the result of infrared vision, ultraviolet vision, or simply exceptional low-light vision. Alternately, the character has sonar, a sense of touch so acute that they can detect and locate vibrations, or some other unusual sense.

Perfect Recall

Constant

A character with the Perfect Recall trait may perfectly remember any event, document, recording, or picture which the character has taken the effort to study and memorize. The character does not need to understand the items to be memorized, because the information memorized is not stored as text; it is in the character's memory as a picture. As such, the information is not subject to instantaneous retrieval, but the character may mentally "scroll down" or "fast forward" looking for a specific bit of data.

If the character already has this as a gift, there is no benefit to purchasing this trait: the benefits do not stack.

Regeneration

Constant

Regeneration accelerates the healing process and allows the character to recover from injury more quickly. Normally, an injured character may recover half of their lost Endurance (rounded up) by resting for about half an hour. After that, a character may only recover additional Endurance by getting a good night's sleep (or its equivalent, for characters who don't sleep). Barring some gruesome disfigurement, a character's Endurance will be completely replenished after a solid night's rest.

Regeneration drastically reduces this recovery time: the character recovers half of the Endurance they have lost (rounded up) after they have had a chance to rest and recuperate for one full minute. After that, the character will regain the rest of their lost Endurance by resting for about half an hour. Most characters with Regeneration can even regrow lost limbs or damaged organs.

Additionally, the maximum Endurance of a character with Regeneration can't be reduced to zero by an environmental hazard such as dehydration, poison, or pressure. The character's maximum Endurance will always be at least one, regardless of the hostile environmental conditions.

Self-sustaining

Constant

A character with the Self-sustaining trait can survive without consuming physical matter. This might be through photosynthesis, chemosynthesis, or some other metabolic process. Alternately, the character can eat anything that will fit into their mouth.

Shapeshifter

Standard action

A character with the Shapeshifter trait can change their shape, appearance, odor, etc., and they may increase or decrease their size by 50%. The character may re-assign their Brawn and Agility to suit their new shape, as long as the total of Brawn + Agility remains the same or lower. Shapeshifting does not give the character any new powers, such as night vision or flight.

A character with the Shapeshifter trait can change shape once per turn, using a quick action. If the character goes unconscious, the character reverts to their normal form.

Assuming the shape of a specific person, creature, or object is more difficult than changing into a generic example of a particular shape. If someone is actively looking at the character, or has any reason to suspect that the character is not the genuine article, the person observing the shapeshifted character may attempt a Perception (Reason) roll against the shapeshifted character's Deception (Presence + Power Level) roll. If the Perception (Reason) roll is successful, the observer can tell that the shapeshifted character is not who or what they appear to be.

Stasis

Standard action

Stasis is a short range (10 m) mental attack which prevents the target from moving, thinking, or taking any actions other than trying to break out of it. Attacking with Stasis requires a successful Mental Combat (Power Level) roll against a Mental Combat (Presence) roll of the target, or a Mental Combat (Presence + Power Level) roll of the target if the target has Mental Resistance.

A character under the effects of Stasis can't defend themselves nor make attack rolls, defense rolls, or skill rolls, other than rolls to escape the Mind Hold. They are effectively at the mercy of any attacker. While affected by Mind Hold, only a moment seems to pass for the target, but after they break out of it, they are aware that something unusual has happened, and that they have "lost time".

To break free of Stasis, the target must use a standard action to make a successful Mental Combat (Presence) roll against a Mental Combat (Power Level) roll of the attacker. If the target has Mental Resistance, they add their Power Level to their roll. If the target succeeds at this roll, they break free of the Stasis. If the target has not broken free of the Stasis by the end of the scene, then they break free of it shortly thereafter.

Stasis only affects sentient creatures: robots, machinery, and animated objects are unaffected by Stasis.

Subterranean

Constant

A character with the Subterranean trait can move through the earth as easily as other people move through water. However, the character is unable to pass through force fields and other energy barriers. The character can tunnel through earth and rock at their swimming speed, leaving a tunnel behind them.

Telepathy

Standard action

Telepathy is a short range (10 m) mental attack which permits a character to communicate directly with the mind of another person. However, if the willing target of Telepathy also has Telepathy, the maximum distance between the two telepaths is effectively unlimited.

To communicate directly with the mind of an unwilling person, the character must succeed at a Mental Combat (Power Level) roll against a Mental Combat (Presence) roll of the target, or a Mental Combat (Presence + Power Level) roll of the target if the target has Mental Resistance. With a successful attack roll, the attacker may mentally communicate with the target and may read their surface thoughts. If using the optional margin of success rules, the attacker may read the target's memories if the attacker achieves a margin of success of 3 or more (each memory viewed requires a separate roll).

To break free of Telepathy, an unwilling target must use a standard action to make a successful Mental Combat (Presence) roll against a Mental Combat (Power Level) roll of the attacker. If the target has Mental Resistance, they add their Power Level to their roll. If the target succeeds at this roll, they break free of the Telepathy. If the target has not broken free of the Telepathy by the end of the scene, then they break free of it shortly thereafter.

To communicate directly with the mind of a willing person, no attack roll is needed. With a willing target, the telepath may mentally communicate with the target and may read their surface thoughts and (if the target consents) their memories. A willing participant may end the telepathic contact at any time.

Tiny

Constant

A character with the Tiny trait is smaller and more difficult to hit than a typical humanoid: from 50 centimeters to 100 centimeters tall. Tiny characters are more nimble than larger humanoids (+1 Agility).

Unsettling

Constant

A character with the Unsettling trait puts off a disturbing vibe that makes people nervous for no discernible reason. Strangers will find themselves disliking the character without knowing why, and normal animals will avoid the character unless forced to approach by a trainer or some other circumstance. On the other hand, the character may find it easier to intimidate others, providing a bonus die on relevant Presence rolls.

If the character already has this as a gift, there is no benefit to purchasing this trait: the benefits do not stack.

Alien Motivations

The motivations of individuals are often at odds with the motivations of the culture to which they belong. Individually, a colonist may be kind and compassionate, even as her civilization systematically commits genocide and destroys entire ecosystems in their quest for expansion. This is a paradox; nonetheless it is true.

Would you like to randomly generate the motivations of an alien culture? You can!

Table: Random alien motivations, Table 1
Roll 2d6 Complexity
2 Roll once on Table 2
3-9 Roll twice on Table 2
10-11 Roll three times on Table 2
12 Schism: roll once on table 2, and see the note below

Schism: The species' society is divided into two opposing and mutually antagonistic cultures. Roll on Table 2, and make a note of the roll and its opposite. The majority of the society has the first motivation rolled, but a significant minority has the opposing motivation. For example, the opposing motivation of "adventure" is "security".


Table: Random alien motivations, Table 2
Roll 1d6 Roll 1d6 Motivation
1 1 Adventure
2 Asceticism
3 Audacity
4 Community
5 Compassion
6 Courage
2 1 Curiosity
2 Detachment
3 Enlightenment
4 Exploration
5 Freedom
6 Idealism
3 1 Justice
2 Mercy
3 Nobility
4 Passion
5 Pride
6 Rebellion
Roll 1d6 Roll 1d6 Motivation
4 1 Security
2 Materialism
3 Subtlety
4 Individualism
5 Wrath
6 Fear
5 1 Faith
2 Responsibility
3 Secrecy
4 Isolation
5 Control
6 Pragmatism
6 1 Vengeance
2 Ruthlessness
3 Fellowship
4 Serenity
5 Humility
6 Traditionalism