These are some suggested "racial" templates for characters in For a Few Credits More. As with most of the For a Few Credits More files, what follows are only suggestions.
As a note, when it says "High" for an attribute, that means the attribute should be "Good" or better. When it says "Low" for an attribute, it should be no higher than "Mediocre". "Very Low" should be no higher than "Poor". Of course, I want to emphasis, these are my suggestions and they are only suggestions, if you have a good reason or explanation for doing something differently, tell me.
Heavy Worlders are human variants from worlds with a surface gravity of two to five G's. They have either adapted to or been genetically modified for the high gravity in ways that increase their strength for a given muscle and bone mass. Due to these adaptations, Heavy Worlders are normally short, but with very stout bodies, with prominent muscles.
It is perhaps due to their appearance that Heavy Worlders have a reputation for being slower and less intelligent than other humans. Realistically, this is demonstrably false, as they are easily as intelligent as other humans. As for their dexterity, when living under "normal" gravity, they are often very quick and agile. However, it may well be to their advantage to cultivate these impressions, especially when they can catch their opponents off-guard.
Light Worlders are human variants adapted to world with a gravity of approximately one-tenth of a G to three-quarters of a G. Light Worlders tend to be tall and thin, often nine or ten feet tall, with light bones and "under developed" muscles.
Light Worlders often have a reputation for being erratic or unreliable. While this may be true of individuals, it is rather undeserved for such a wide number of sub-races.
"Floaters" are humans adapted to a free-fall environment. They tend to have highly advanced reflexes and have often been genetically modified with additional hands replacing their feet. In general, most Floaters have very fast reflexes (at least in Zero-G), but are physically weak (due to growing up in a free-fall environment) with easily broken bones. Lack of gravity when growing up often means that Floaters are clumsy when they do have to live in gravity fields.
As a side-effect of the modifications made to adapt to Zero-G, most Floaters are the same size as "normal" humans.
It has always been a dream of humans to be able to fly by their own power. Genetic engineering gave some the chance to experience that dream.
In general, there were four basic solutions (if the Uriels count as a solution) to the "problem" of flight. Where the names of the four different "races" came from has been lost in the mists of time. Besides the Uriels, the other types of Angels are the Michaels, the Raphaels and the Gabriels.
Uriels are a border-line case. Some do not feel that they are "true" flying humans, as they cannot do more than glide in any significant gravity field. For the most part, Uriels use their wings as a form of propulsion in free-fall, being specifically adapted for that environment.
Due to also being adapted for free-fall, Uriels share many characteristics with Floaters, the main difference being that Uriels normally have fairly normal legs and feet.
Michaels, like the Raphaels, are humans who have been modified to be able to fly on low-gravity worlds or normal gravity ones with thick atmospheres. Unlike the Gabriels, Michaels have large (12 to 15 foot wing spans) wings and the problems that follow from that.
They share many of the problems of Light Worlders, with the exception of the height (that having been taken care of with the other genetic modifications). Additionally, often a Michael's metabolism has been speeded up, in order to provide the energy necessary for flight.
Raphaels are similar to Michaels, but their wings are the result of the merger of nanotechnology with genetics. When not in use, a Raphaels' wings fold up into her back, becoming hidden.
Like the Michaels, they are also a form of Light Worlder. And like the Michaels, they frequently have an increased metabolism.
Gabriels are the result of those who felt the ability to on "normal" worlds was worth the inconvenience of toting around huge wings. A Gabriel can fly on worlds with normal gravity and atmospheres. However, in order to accomplish this, a Gabriel frequently has hollow bones and an increased metabolism.
Augmented humans are human beings (of any type) that have been modified with cybernetic or nanotech implants. In some cases, these implants are designed to be inherited, by modifying the DNA to create the necessary nanotech devices to build the implants into the person's descendents.
As there were few truly stable races of Augmented Humans created before the fall of Maltaran Confederacy (with the exception of the Angels normally called "Raphaels", most of the augmented races died out or lost their augmentations), these peoples are really a new thing. As such, they face some prejudice. An additional factor adding to this is that some of early experiments used criminals, promising them their freedom in exchange for participation in the programs. As these new "races" have all been created in the last 100 years, it is too soon to tell how stable they will be in the long term.
At least two of:
Some of:
Some of:
There are many feline species in space. These are a few examples.
Pardines are one of the smaller forms of feline races. They are descended from hunter/pouncer stock and are often nocturnal. As with most Feline species, they have retractable claws on their hands (and feet as well) and most have the ability to see in lower light than most humans as well as thick fur (which serves to protect them from injury).
Leons are a feline race that is descended from a large plains hunter. They are very social creatures, preferring to be part of a group. However, a Leon finds it hard to follow someone they do not know is somehow "better" than they themselves are. Therefore, a Leon will tend to be "pushy", often in a physical manner until he is clearly "defeated" by another member of the group. After that point, he will loyally follow his group's leader, often acting to "put down" any in-group dissent. If the group's leader every suffers a significant defeat (for any reason), this process can start again. Additionally, he will defend his group and its leader from all outsiders at all times, regardless of the current "dominance" status.
Leons are noted as being noticeably stronger than most humans are, as well as having retractable claws. They also are frequently able to see in low light situations and their thick fur acts to prevent injury.
[More as I think of them.]
Michael Feldhusen / mike_f@io.com