Starship Tyche RPG
Starship Tyche RPG
Starship Tyche RPG
Credits
Designed and Written by Berin Kinsman
Edited by Stefan Livingstone Shirley
Artwork by Marcus Coltrin
Thanks to Leonard Balsera, Tim Dyke, Fred Hicks, Byron Kerr, Robin D. Laws, C.W. Marshall, Brad
Murray, Steffan OSullivan, Mike Olsen, Amanda Valentine, and Clark Valentine for the
foundational system designs that make this work possible.
Special thanks to Cinamon and John Gentry, who endured my earliest, clumsiest playtest with
friendship and grace. Additional thanks to Lon Sarver and Philippe-Antoine Mnard for feedback
and moral support. Finally, all the love and gratitude in the world goes out to my wife Katie, for
her unwavering faith in me.
Product Identity: The following items are hereby identified as Product Identity, as defined in the
Open Game License version 1.0a, Section 1(e), and are not Open Content: All trademarks,
registered trademarks, proper names (characters, locations, equipment, etc.), dialogue, plots,
storylines, language, incidents, locations, characters, artwork, and trade dress.
Open Content: Except for material designated as Product Identity, the contents of are Open
Game Content as defined in the Open Gaming License version 1.0a Section 1(d). No portion of
this work other than the material designated as Open Game Content may be reproduced in any
form without written permission.
Copyright 2014 Berin Kinsman. All rights reserved.
All artwork is copyrighted by the respective artists and is used with permission.
Published by Asparagus Jumpsuit
AsparagusJumpsuit.com
2
Introduction
The purpose of science is to ask questions.
Large questions and small ones, grandiose
questions and mundane ones, all asked in the
service of finding answers. The answers lead
to more questions, better questions, deeper
questions, and more fulfilling answers. The
one caveat is that those answers must, in turn,
serve the truth.
Science fiction finds its purpose in providing
answers, not in service to the truth but to
possibilities and things that might be. The
very best science fiction uses its answers to
make us ask those follow-up questions (you
can insert your own joke about the number 42
here). It holds up a mirror to reality, and
forces us to examine things in a new light.
Tabletop roleplaying games are about
creativity and human interaction. Take a
premise, typically outlandish. Inject enough
reality to make it plausible or, at least, to
provide a context that allows us to suspend
our disbelief. Locate where the people are in
this scenario, and use their reactions and
emotions, their strengths and their flaws, to
flesh out the setting and continue the cycles
of questions and answers.
Starship Tyche is a science fiction roleplaying
game of interstellar exploration. If elements
seem familiar, they should. I freely admit
that Ive filed the serial numbers off of one
of my favorite settings, remixed some of its
elements a bit, and created whats intended
to be a loving tribute to sociological science
fiction.
Yes, sociological science fiction. What makes
Starship Tyche and its forebears work isnt
the fact that its set in outer space, and has
spaceships and ray guns and teleporters and
aliens. Those are all trappings meant to
quickly let the viewer know this is the future.
Theyre also conveniences for the writer (and,
now, the gamemaster) to allow characters to
get from one planet to the next, and from
the ship to the surface and back again,
without wasting valuable storytelling time.
The real science fiction takes place in the
attitudes and reactions of the characters
themselves. It revolves around the concept of
How would mankind react if?. We get to
experience that vicariously through the eyes
of a diverse cast of characters. We have
protagonists who embrace technology with a
passion, and others who distrust it. We have
characters who make decisions based on
instinct, and others one in particular
who prefer to base actions solely on the
pure light of reason. Not all perspectives are
given equal weight, but an effort is made to
respect each others differences, and to use
interpersonal conflicts as a way to learn
more about each other, and to learn more
about ourselves. Its a fabulous platform for
action-adventure stories, but it becomes truly
great when the stories are at least a little bit
introspective.
This game started out as something else
entirely. Ive been tinkering with systemless
roleplaying game settings for a while, and
had started working on a line based on
public domain films. One of the movies on
the list was an unpolished gem titled First
Spaceship on Venus. Its a 1960 East
German/Polish co-production loosely based
on the novel The Astronauts by Stanislaw
3
Lem. I was watching it with my wife Katie,
and she mentioned that she really liked the
casting. The ship had an international, multi-
ethnic, multi-racial crew. There were women
in positions of authority, and they were
treated with respect. People put aside their
petty differences and their nationalism to
achieve a common goal. We both wondered
whether the creator of a television series that
would premiere a few years later had seen
it, and been influenced by it.
When the latest editions of the Fate role
playing game were released specifically
Fate Accelerated Edition, or FAE I knew
that I wanted to tinker around and build
something with it. My regular gaming group
had been playing the same game for over
four years, and the same campaign for
three, and we needed a change of pace.
Everyones lives were busy and complicated,
so we wanted something with lighter rules,
and a setting that was familiar. I pitched FAE
as the system of choice, and promised that I
could customize it to suit anything. I proposed
doing something is a familiar genre or
setting, and rattled off a laundry list of
television and movie properties that I thought
lent themselves to a roleplaying game
setting. With very little discussion the group
unanimously agreed on one show. I put
together a series bible for our campaign,
and assigned them to the Starship Tyche
named after the Greek goddess of fortune
and luck because, well, we were using the
Fate RPG. I wanted to be at least a little
oblique and not call it the SS Fate, SS
Moirai, SS Norn, or something equally
obvious and hokey.
I mentioned that everyone was busy, and I
was getting a bit burned out myself. I had a
half-dozen writing projects going on (and
still do). I was doing heavy research for a
serious non-fiction book Im writing. I was
(and still am) going to college for yet
another degree. I was (and still am) getting
things prepped and ready for our then-
upcoming move from Albuquerque, New
Mexico to Jyvskyl, Finland. Even most of
the roleplaying game projects I was working
on were based on deep thoughts about
game design and story structure. One day
Katie dragged me to a bookstore, made me
pick out a book that wasnt research, nothing
scholarly or educational allowed. She was
going to force me to take a day off where
Id theoretically just sit down and read for
pleasure. I picked a tie-in novel for that
1960s TV show that we suspect was
influenced by First Spaceship on Venus, the
same show we were going to base our new
roleplaying game campaign on. The book
was pretty good, not a great work of
literature by any means, but I had fun. It did
the trick of getting me to relax and unwind.
And it made me think that I need to devote a
little more time staying connected to my
geek roots.
So here we are. Starship Tyche is a labor of
love, and something that I had a lot of fun
putting together. I put far too much work into
it to let it languish as no more than a just-for-
fun fanboy project, though. My hope is that
its something other fans will play and enjoy,
and that it will allow me to reconnect with
the fandom Ive been slowly drifting away
from for too many years.
4
Timeline of the Coalition
1957 Sputnik-1, the first artificial Earth
satellite, is launched. This initiates a
technological space race between the
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the
United States of America.
1969 Apollo 11 becomes the first
spacecraft to land humans on the Earths
moon. Neil Alden Armstrong becomes the
first person to walk on the moon.
1970 Dr. Denis Feltham creates the
Leviathan supercomputer, tasked with
coordinating the missile defense system of
the United States and its allies. It became
self-aware and attempted to take over the
world. The Feltham project led to laws
restricting the further development in
artificial intelligence.
1992 A man calling himself M-39 claims
responsibility for a series of terrorist attacks.
He states that he is an alien from space, and
declares himself the Emperor of Earth.
Following a long and bloody war, it I
revealed that M-39 and his soldiers are not
aliens, but genetically engineered soldiers.
This colors humanitys view of both alien
contact and genetic sciences.
1994 Mexican theoretical physicist Miguel
Alcubierre proposes a speculative warp
drive, by which faster-than-light travel can
be achieved. This lays the ground for the first
Alcubierre drive 67 years later.
2001 Prospero, the first permanent colony
on Earths moon, is established in a joint
effort between the United States and the
United Kingdom. British-born Richard Strauss
is installed as the first governor. Two
commercial space vehicles, the Shepperton
and the Zarathustra, begin regular
passenger service between the Earth and the
moon.
2010 The European Space Agency
establishes the first colonies on Mars, New
Brussels, New Schengen, New Maastricht,
and New Lisbon. Mars was declared to be
an independent nation-state and a member
of the European Union, subject to the laws
and regulations of the EU.
2061 The first ship with an Alcubierre drive
is tested by Dr. Annike Tyche at the former
Malstrom Air Force Base in Montana.
Christened the Lady Macbeth for being
ambitious, dangerous, and power-hungry
(referring to the drives great energy needs),
the ship flew under traditional power to an
L5 Lagrangian point between the Earth and
the moon, and from there made a successful
jump to the edge of the solar system.
2063 Drawn by the Alcubierre drives
energy signature, peaceful aliens arrive on
Earth and make first contact. Because of their
slender, elfin appearance, Shakespeare buff
Dr. Tyche proclaims If it isnt Titania and
Oberon, referring to the fairy queen and
her consort from A Midsummer Nights Dream.
As their language is unpronounceable by
humans, the name sticks and they are forever
dubbed Titanians.
2070 Thanks to the Alcubierre drive, the
first interstellar colonies established. Most of
these are mining colonies, seeking resources
that long ago became scarce on Earth. Some
were established for ideological reasons,
and became the foundation for the Fringe
Worlds.
2079 Seeing the Earth needed a
coordinated presence to deal with increasing
trade with other worlds, the powers of the
United Nations are expanded, based upon
the European Union model. Mars and Earths
5
moon, now official called Luna, are included
as member nations.
2082 Fringe words begin declaring their
independence from the Earth nations that
sponsored them, and refuse to recognize the
authority of the United Nations. Some fear a
large centralized government, some object
on religious grounds, others a xenophobic
and do not want increased contact with non-
humans.
2156 Ships belonging to Earth and her
trading partners begin to vanish without a
trace. This is later determined to be the first
contact with the TLeng Empire. The TLeng
begin moving into colonized space, seizing
Earth ships and destroying planetary
outposts. Earth ships begin mounting
weaponry for the first time.
2161 To deal with the increasing TLeng
threat, the United Nations and the Titanian
High Council, along with the governments of
a number of other alien races, sign the
Treaty of New York and establish the
Galactic Coalition. A charter is written
establishing rules for trade and the
exchange of scientific knowledge, as well as
mutual defense.
2161 Following the Treaty of New York,
the newly-formed Coalition calls for the
creation of the Fleet, paid for and crewed
by member states in order to protect trade
lanes, expand shared scientific exploration,
and deal with the TLeng militarily as
necessary.
2243 The first self-aware androids area
created, with restrictions, to deal with
conditions deemed to hazardous for living
beings. While self-aware and capable or
learning, their free will is limited by
programming and they are not considered to
be sentient beings with rights.
2245 First encounters with beings dubbed
Zookeepers and Entities occur. The former
are technologically advanced aliens. The
latter are beings with powerful mental
abilities. Both groups seem to view humans as
inferior beings, or even animals.
2247 Dr. Theodore Nemor discovers the
Fold, a micro-application of warp fields
allowing for small-scale teleportation. It is
immediately incorporated into Fleet vessels
to allow for rapid transportation of
equipment, supplies, and personnel.
2251 The first of a new class of starships,
the Annike Tyche enters active service. Its
mission is a combination of scientific
exploration, trade support, and military
defense.
About the Crew
This is crew of the Starship Tyche prior to the
pilot (your first game session). They can be
used a player characters, staying aboard
during the next tour of duty, allowing new
players to simply pick up a pregenerated
6
character and start playing immediate. They
can be used as supporting characters, to be
run by the gamemaster to round out the crew
and the roles not covered by player
characters. They can also just be used as
examples of the types of characters possible
within the game.
TIMOTHY AUGUSTUS CHURCH
Tim Church grew up in the American
Midwest, among cornfields and agri-
processing plants. His father was a starship
captain, away for months and even years at
a time, so his family consisted primarily of his
mother and his younger brother. In spite of
his fathers absence, he idolized the man,
and eventually went into the Fleet. Tim
Church distinguished himself as a young
officer, and became the youngest starship
captain in Fleet history.
Church has a tremendous ego, stemming from
both his earned achievements and incredibly
lucky breaks. He can be arrogant when hes
right and outright cocky even when he knows
hes wrong in order to rattle the confidence
of his opponents and convince them that he
knows something that they dont. While this
makes him incredibly successful, it also makes
him very dangerous and occasionally erratic.
While many in the Fleet would like to keep
him on a short leash, every time they attempt
to rein him in he manages to save the
universe again and therefore justify his
erratic actions and decisions.
In a diplomatic situation, Church will smile
broadly and turn on his charm to the fullest.
He will almost always attempt to seduce
attractive, single women. He will regale
people with tales of his successes to impress
and/or intimidate them, and if all else fails,
will point out the firepower that his ship is
equipped with.
In a scientific situation, Church will always
defer to the experts on his crew (science
officers, engineers, and so on) and follow
their recommendations. He will always trust
his crews suggestions to those of outside
experts. He admits that science is not his
field, but will proudly proclaim that his crew
contains some of the greatest scientific minds
in the galaxy.
In a combat situation, Church will always
seek an opportunity to show off. He does not
back down from either hand-to-hand or ship-
to-ship combat, but will employ every
documented tactic and dirty trick at his
disposal in order to win.
TIMOTHY AUGUSTUS CHURCH
High Concept: Captain of the Starship Tyche
(Earth Human, Caucasian-American)
Trouble: Unable to Resist the Beautiful Ladies,
Its Not Stubbornness If Im Right
Other Aspects: I Have the Best Qualified
Crew in the Galaxy, I Command the Best Ship
in the Fleet
APPROACHES
Careful: Mediocre (+0)
Clever: Average (+1)
Flashy: Good (+3)
Forceful: Fair (+2)
Quick: Average (+1)
Sneaky: Fair (+2)
7
STUNTS
My Shirt is Torn (Again): Because I am willing
to go all-out and get messy, I gain a +2
when I Flashily engage in hand-to-hand
combat.
You Are. . . So Beautiful: Because Im
charming and manly, I gain a +2 when I
Forcefully take a woman into my arms to
seduce them.
Red Alert, Shields to Full: Because Ive studied
both time-honored tactics and the strategies
of my opponents, I gain a +2 when I
Sneakily employ tactical maneuvers in ship-
to-ship combat.
STRESS
CONSEQUENCES:
Mild (2):
Moderate (4):
Severe (6):
REFRESH: 3
AS A PLAYER CHARACTER
As a player character, Church has a lot of
power. He can approve the course of action
for other player characters and order them
around. A player who cant balance the
needs of the other players with his or her
own desires probably shouldnt take on this
role.
An advantage of playing Church is that as
captain he can go anywhere and do
anything, even if it doesnt make sense or
violates Fleet regulations. He can go on
landing parties to hostile planets, meet with
alien dignitaries, or personally investigate
dangerous situations as he pleases.
AS A SUPPORTING CHARACTER ABOARD
STARSHIP TYCHE
There are two options for leaving this
character aboard Tyche as an NPC. The first
is to keep him as the captain, allowing him to
make the big decisions. This works if you
plan on doing very little starship combat, or
the player characters are okay with just
making rolls for their stations and having
minimal input on tactical decisions during
starship combat. It works well if you follow
the logic of leaving command officers on
board, and allowing the lower-ranked
player characters to do the actual planetary
exploration and diplomatic-type things.
The second is to promote Church to Admiral,
and have him aboard for the shakedown
cruise to advise the new (player character)
captain. He should be hands-off, allowing
the new captain to make mistakes, but there
to step in to avoid critical failures. This is a
good option if the player characters are
relatively new and learning the ropes of the
system and setting. He can go away once
theyve got the hang of operating a starship.
Situation Aspect: When I Was In Command,
Heres What I Did. . .
AS A SUPPORTING CHARACTER NOT
ABOARD STARSHIP TYCHE
After leaving the Tyche, Church will be
promoted to Admiral and return to fleet
headquarters on Earth. The new player
character captain will technically report to
him, and Church will be the one giving the
Tyches new crew their orders and
assignments.
Situation Aspect: Your Continuing Mission,
To. . .
MEGARRY
To all outward appearances, Commander
Megarry is average. She is of average
height and average weight. Her eyes are
8
brown as is her hair, which is kept in a
standard Fleet regulation shoulder-length
cut. Her features are somewhat plain, and
she wears no makeup. She always wears her
uniform, even when off duty, and her cabin
contains no decorations or personal details.
In stark contrast to the larger-than-life
personality of Captain Church, Megarry is
all business, all the time.
Megarry grew up under the dome of a Mars
colony, where a non-nonsense approach to
life was vital for survival. Everything
depended upon following routines, and that
imprinted upon the way she lives her life. As
executive officer, she is responsible for day-
to-day operations of the ship, and tolerates
no incompetence or horseplay. Many people
speculate that she dislikes Church, but if so
her professional ethics would never allow it
to show. Some speculate that her relationship
with Chief Administrator Jaana Lundgren is
her way of getting in a dig at Church, as
the Captain frequently flirts with Lundgren
and is obviously interested in her; most
people, however, are completely clueless
about the relationship, because both officers
manage to keep it out of the public eye.
In a diplomatic situation, Megarry will follow
the book. She is more likely to be heavy-
handed and mention the benefits of the
Coalition and the military might of the Fleet
rather than any sort of personal charisma.
She will always be coldly professional and
incredibly knowledgeable and competent.
In a scientific situation, she will fall back on
the ships library computer and locate the
information needed to resolve the situation.
She is not a scientist, but her intelligence and
technical expertise makes her a strong
researcher and competent assistance to any
crew members working on medical or
technical problems. Her help is an asset to
other characters.
In a combat situation, she will always defer
to Church when he is present and insure that
his orders are carried out by the crew. When
she is seated in the command chair, she tends
to yell out standard, by-the-book orders that
are workmanlike and proven, rather than
finding creative solutions.
MEGARRY
High Concept: Commander, Executive Officer
(Mars Human, Caucasian)
Trouble: Its Not A Love Triangle If It Only
Has Two Sides
Other Aspects: The Book Exists for a Reason
APPROACHES
Careful: Fair (+2)
Clever: Good (+3)
Flashy: Mediocre (+0)
Forceful: Fair (+2)
Quick: Average (+1)
Sneaky: Average (+1)
STUNTS
There is Precedent for This: Because I have
memorized all of the rules and regulations, I
gain a +2 when I Cleverly find by-the-book
solutions to complex problems.
Allow Me to Assist You with That: Because I
am intelligent or proficient, other crew
members gain a +2 when I Carefully assist
them with solving problems.
Assume Standard Orbit: Because I a versed in
standard operating procedure, I gain a +2
when I Forcefully command the crew in
tactical situations.
STRESS
CONSEQUENCES:
Mild (2):
Moderate (4):
Severe (6):
9
REFRESH: 3
AS A PLAYER CHARACTER
Playing Megarry means always going by
the book, straight down to the smallesThe
advantage of playing this character is that
you get to work with the gamemaster to
write the book as you go along, and
establish all of the rules and regulations that
arent explicitly stated or implied here in the
Starship Tyche rulebook. The downside is that
youre then bound by those regulations.
As Executive Officer, youre second in
command of the ship, and responsible for
day-to-day operations. That means that
when Church is gallivanting about being
flashy, you get to clean up his operational
messed and keep the crew in line.
AS A SUPPORTING CHARACTER ABOARD
STARSHIP TYCHE
Megarry is the supporting character that will
call the player characters out for not crossing
their Ts, dotting their Is, filing their reports,
and cleaning up their labs. Shes also the
person everyone should turn to for advice
and assistance with just about anything
related to Fleet operations or any sort of
research. While player characters are
running around doing what player characters
do, shes making sure everything else is ship-
shape.
Situation Aspect: Someone Needs to Make
the Starships Run on Time
AS A SUPPORTING CHARACTER NOT
ABOARD STARSHIP TYCHE
If Megarry transfers off of Tyche, she will be
assigned as the commander of the nearest
Starbase, where she will continue to insure
efficiency and compliance with regulations.
She should still be available to be called
upon for assistance as needed.
Situation Aspect: Someone Needs to Make
the Starships Run on Time
AIZIVAISHE LOVEJOY
Aizivaishe is a Shona/Bantu name meaning
God knew. Aizivaishe Lovejoy, who goes
by Ziva for the benefit of those who have
difficulty pronouncing her name, was raised
in South Africa by a mother who was
Christian minister and a father who was a
scientist. She took different things from both
parents, pursuing both knowledge and faith.
She joined the Fleet for the opportunity to
not only explore the galaxy and broaden
mankinds understanding of the universe, but
to answer the call of her religion to serve
others.
Ziva is empathic, not in a psychic way but
in the sense that she is deeply compassionate
and cares about the feelings of others. This
would seem to make her an unlikely choice
for a tactical officer, but protecting people is
part of her personal code. By insuring that
weapons and defensive systems are in peak
operational order, and by training her team
to make both rational and compassionate
decisions, she feels that she can minimize
casualties when violence becomes inevitable.
In a diplomatic situation, she will be warm,
welcoming, and outgoing, doing her best to
make everyone feel comfortable. As she is
fond of saying, Your enemies are people
who havent discovered your friendship yet.
She has a weakness for intelligent men who
treat her kindly, but is also constantly on the
lookout for opportunities to play matchmaker
for other members of the crew. She wants
everyone, everywhere, to be happy and
feel loved.
In a scientific situation her expertise is purely
technical, especially regarding weapons,
defenses, and communications equipment.
She is very good with mathematics and
10
practical applications of science, less so with
theory and more abstract concepts.
In a combat situation she will do her best to
diffuse things before they turn to violence,
and will go to defensive measures first
before resorting to offensive and
counterattacks. She will also use her force of
personality to get people to stand down and
stop fighting (its even worked on superior
officers).
AIZIVAISHE LOVEJOY
High Concept: Lieutenant Commander, Chief
Tactical Officer (Earth Human, South African)
Trouble: Can You Truly Feel Too Deeply?
Other Aspects: You Two Have a Lot in
Common, I Know Just What You Need
APPROACHES
Careful: Good (+3)
Clever: Fair (+2)
Flashy: Mediocre (+0)
Forceful: Fair (+2)
Quick: Average (+1)
Sneaky: Average (+1)
STUNTS
Caring Nurturer: Because I am a caring
nurturer, I gain a +2 when I Carefully work
to make others feel welcome and
comfortable.
Technical Whiz: Because I am a Technical
Whiz, I gain a +2 when I Cleverly repair or
amplify weapon, shield, and communications
systems.
Stand Down: Because I have force of
personality, I gain a +2 I Forcefully demand
that people stand down and stop fighting.
STRESS
CONSEQUENCES:
Mild (2):
Moderate (4):
Severe (6):
REFRESH: 3
AS A PLAYER CHARACTER
As tactical officer, Ziva is responsible for
weapons, shields, and security. Her focus is
always on keeping people safe, rather than
inflicting damage or causing harm. She is
fascinated with figuring out what makes
aliens and monsters tick. She will always
approach every problem from a caring,
human level. For her, its all about building
relationships.
AS A SUPPORTING CHARACTER ABOARD
STARSHIP TYCHE
Ziva is head of security, will assign security
details for landing parties and make
recommendations on safety measures. She
will often lead security details on important
or dangerous missions. If there is no player
character manning weapons, she will take
that position on the bridge. She is also the de
facto ships counselor, offering crew members
advice on personal issues.
Situation Aspect: Im Here to Help in Any
Way Possible
AS A SUPPORTING CHARACTER NOT
ABOARD STARSHIP TYCHE
After leaving Tyche, Ziva will be head of
security for diplomatic missions. Any time an
important diplomat is traveling aboard the
ship, or the crew visits a planet where there
are ambassadors and other dignitaries,
there is a high probability she will be there.
It is also possible that she will be appointed
as an ambassador herself, and function as a
supporting character in that capacity.
11
Situation Aspect: Im Here to Help Keep the
Peace
GURRAALL
Gurraall is from the planet officially
designated as J044144, orbiting a brown
dwarf star. Both her race and her planet
have been nicknamed Binturong, after the
Earth creature her people resemble. She has
thick brown fur, a long, bushy tail,
pronounced canine teeth, and retractable
claws. Because her planet has very little
light, she can see well in the dark, but
requires sunglasses in brighter environments.
She also emits a musky pheromone that most
humanoids cannot consciously detect, but
causes them to like her and even find her
attractive. This causes her occasional
problems, as she has no interest I romantic
relationships outside her own species.
Because most other humanoids arent
anatomically capable of speaking her native
language, Gurraall has learned to speak
several common Coalition languages fluently,
and knows at least the social niceties (hello,
goodbye, please, thank you, and so on) in
many others. This has been valuable in her
role as chief communications officer.
In a diplomatic situations Gurraall is often
employed as translator due to both her skill
with languages and the advantage her
pheromones provide in creating a calm and
amicable environment.
In a scientific situation, she defers to experts
and helps as she can. She is adept at
maintaining and repairing communications
gear, but beyond that is not particularly
scientific or technical.
In a combat situation she will take full
advantage of her Binturong reflexes, her
claws, and her teeth. She will use a ray gun
for ranged combat, but up close will not shy
away from using her racial advantages.
GURRAALL
High Concept: Lieutenant, Chief
Communications Officer (Binturong)
Trouble: Im Not That Kind of Gurraall
Other Aspects: I Speak a Little Bit of That
Language, I Can See in the Dark, How Can
You Not Smell That?
APPROACHES
Careful: Mediocre (+0)
Clever: Fair (+2)
Flashy: Average (+1)
Forceful: Average (+1)
Quick: Good (+3)
Sneaky: Fair (+2)
STUNTS
Natural Linguist: Because I am a Natural
Linguist, I gain a +2 when I Cleverly speak
and translate other languages.
Catlike Reflexes: Because I have Catlike
Reflexes, I gain a +2 when I Quickly engage
in hand-to-hand combat or leap out of the
way of danger.
Subtle Influence: Because I am exotic and
attractive to other humanoids, I gain a +2
when I Sneakily sway their opinions in favor
of the Coalition and the Fleet.
STRESS
CONSEQUENCES:
Mild (2):
Moderate (4):
Severe (6):
REFRESH: 3
12
AS A PLAYER CHARACTER
Gurraall is friendly, polite, and professional,
but because of racial attributes she has no
control over has an undeserved reputation as
a sex kitten. Captain Church has learned
not to flirt with her (after Megarry had a
conversation with him about the discomfort
he was causing), but he will not hesitate to
use her abilities to manipulate others in
diplomatic situations. Shes fine with that, as
long as her presence is only used to help
keep people calm and avoid violence.
Because Communications falls under the
umbrella of Tactical, Gurraall reports
directly to Lovejoy. The Tactical Officer
considers the Binturong to be her protg,
and because of her combat expertise often
attaches Gurraall to security details where a
balance of diplomacy and violence may be
required.
AS A SUPPORTING CHARACTER ABOARD
STARSHIP TYCHE
As stated above, Gurraall will spend the
majority of her time on the bridge,
facilitating communications with planets,
other ships, and landing parties. As needed,
she can be used as a security officer, going
down on landing parties where her
specialized skills will be a valuable asset.
Situation Aspect: Hailing Frequencies Open,
Let Me Connect You
AS A SUPPORTING CHARACTER NOT
ABOARD STARSHIP TYCHE
If Lovejoy has also left the Tyche, Gurraall
will go with her and be her personal aide.
Whether Lovejoy is in a security or
diplomatic role, Gurraall will be at her side.
If Lovejoy is still aboard the ship, and a
player character has taken the role of
communications officer, Gurraall can either
be used as a security officer, or possibly
have moved on to another ship or starbase
to continue her role as communications
officer.
Situation Aspect: How Can I Assist You?
SUSUMU YAMAGATA
When Susumu Yamagata was a child, he
wanted to be one of the Three Musketeers.
When he grew up, he joined the Fleet
instead. It was the best way to scratch his itch
for action and adventure. This has led him to
become Churchs protg. Although
Yamagata respects the captain and is
grateful for the interest, he finds Churchs
sometimes cavalier attitudes toward the
feelings of others to be irritating, which often
causes Yamagata to question his own playful
attitudes and use of humor.
In spite of his swashbuckling personality and
willingness to flirt with both women and men,
Yamagata is not a player. He has a
boyfriend back on Earth, whom he has been
in a long-term relationship for a number of
years. His intention is to get married as soon
as his career with the Fleet allows. Being
away for months or years at a time is often
a major point of stress.
In a diplomatic situation, Yamagata will use
humor to diffuse hostilities or hurl insults,
whichever is necessary. Like Church, he will
try to use charm first, but not hesitate to
remind others of the resources that the
Coalition, and firepower that the Fleet, can
bring to bear. Its a combination of
boyishness and heavy-handedness that
somehow works.
In a scientific situation, Yamagata tends to
view things from the perspective of the
humanities. He is an accomplished botanist,
but only because flowers are beautiful and
smell nice. His was drawn into mathematics
13
because of the patterns and structure of
music. If science doesnt somehow support the
arts or enrich peoples lives, he tends to lose
interest quickly.
In a combat situation, he will seek every
opportunity to show off. At the helm, he will
never simply make one turn to port if he can
get away with making three impressive
hairpin-precision turns to starboard. Even in
a ray gun fight, he will change position
frequently and engage in non-stop witty
banter with his opponent. Of course, if he
can somehow manage to turn a combat
situation into a sword fight, hes in absolute
heaven.
SUSUMU YAMAGATA
High Concept: Lieutenant, Chief Helm Officer
(Earth Human, Japanese)
Trouble: Careers Wreak Havoc on
Relationships (and Vice Versa)
Other Aspects: Arts and Sciences are Best
Together
APPROACHES
Careful: Fair (+2)
Clever: Mediocre (+0)
Flashy: Good (+3)
Forceful: Average (+1)
Quick: Fair (+2)
Sneaky: Average (+1)
STUNTS
Top-Notch Pilot: Because I am a Top-Notch
Pilot, I gain a +2 when I Carefully maneuver
a ship through tricky situations.
Fencing Master: Because I am a Fencing
Master, I gain a +2 when I Flashily engage
in melee combat with any kind of sword.
Stunning Wit: Because I am a Stunning Wit, I
gain a +2 when I Quickly employ humor and
snappy repartee to throw opponents off
guard, lighten the mood, and/or entertain
my crewmates.
STRESS
CONSEQUENCES:
Mild (2):
Moderate (4):
Severe (6):
REFRESH: 3
AS A PLAYER CHARACTER
As a player character Yamagata is very
versatile. As Chief Helm Officer, hes on the
bridge constantly. As a skilled botanist and
adept fighter, he gets asked on landing
parties frequently. His penchant for bad
puns, balanced with his competence and
bouts of seriousness, make him an interesting
character to roleplay.
AS A SUPPORTING CHARACTER ABOARD
STARSHIP TYCHE
If no player character takes up the role of
helmsman, Yamagata will remain in place on
the bridge. If there are no other bridge
officers among the player characters and
Church and Megarry are still aboard,
Yamagata will often be in the command
chair when the captain and XO are away.
Situation Aspect: Steady As She Goes,
Captain
AS A SUPPORTING CHARACTER NOT
ABOARD STARSHIP TYCHE
If Yamagata transfers off of the Tyche, its to
take his own command. Hell get a promotion
to Lieutenant Commander and become small-
c captain of a scout vessel with a modest
crew in the same sector where the Tyche
operates. When the player characters meet
up with another Fleet vessel for anything
14
from resupply, shuttling diplomats, or combat
support, theres a good chance it will be
Yamagata.
Situation Aspect: Fancy Meeting You Here!
AXXTEP NISTYFF
Axxtep is a Triexian, from the planet
officially designated by the Fleet as Kepler-
223. A pediatrician and child psychologist
by training, the TLeng invaded the planet
before Axxtep was able to go into practice.
When both the male and female Axxtep had
been bonded to in childhood were killed in a
Tleng attack, Axxtep chose to become one
of the few Triexians to join the Fleet rather
than seeking out new mates. In spite of low
rank, Axxtep is one of the oldest members of
the crew. While in agreement with the Fleets
mission of keeping the peace, opportunities
to count coup or gain revenge against the
TLeng are never far from Axxteps thoughts.
Understanding that most humanoids do not
understand a third gender and are not
equipped semantically for the concept,
Axxtep will answer to either he or she. Most
Fleet members, in an attempt to be sensitive,
will avoid pronouns and use name or rank
when addressing Axxtep. Voluntarily
celibate, Axxtep rarely interacts with other
crew members while off-duty.
In a diplomatic situation, Axxtep will almost
always remain quiet. In situations involving
the TLeng or other violent races, Axxtep will
always advocate for war.
In a scientific situation, Axxtep will be curious
and eager to learn new things and help
wherever possible. The Triex medical training
has no practical applications to other
humanoid races, although knowledge of
biology and developmental psychology may
come in handy periodically when
encountering new races.
In a combat situation, only has two settings:
complete pacifism or total brutality. This is
part of the Triexian mindset that nothing
should ever be done by half measures.
Axxtep generally will not fight, unless it is to
protect others, unless ordered. When a fight
is to protect and reserve life, Axxtep by
default will want to kill every single
opponent to avoid future encounters and
problems.
AXXTEP NISTYFF
High Concept: Lieutenant, Junior Helm Officer
(Trexian)
Trouble: The Brightest Flowers Grow From
Scorched Earth
Other Aspects: No Children to Care For,
Stranger in Every Meaning of the Word
APPROACHES
Careful: Good (+3)
Clever: Fair (+2)
Flashy: Mediocre (+0)
Forceful: Fair (+2)
Quick: Average (+1)
Sneaky: Average (+1)
STUNTS
Surgical Strike: Because I employ Surgical
Strikes, I gain a +2 when I Carefully plan
and execute an attack against an opponent.
Medical Mind: Because I have a Medical
Mind, I gain a +2 when I Cleverly engage in
medical or biological endeavors.
Long Memory and a Short Fuse: Because I
have a long memory and a short fuse, I gain
a +2 when I Forcefully attack TLeng or any
other race or person abusing or oppressing
other intelligent beings.
STRESS
15
CONSEQUENCES:
Mild (2):
Moderate (4):
Severe (6):
REFRESH: 3
AS A PLAYER CHARACTER
It would be easy to play Axxtep as aloof
and brutal, but the character is far more
subtle than that. Orders will be followed,
behavior will be as expected, and personal
opinions will be kept under wraps. Most of
Axxteps battles will be internal. Crew
members describe Axxtep is quiet and meek.
Thats why the murderous rage displayed
when Axxtep encounters an abused child or
an enslaved being is so utterly terrifying.
AS A SUPPORTING CHARACTER ABOARD
STARSHIP TYCHE
You can go one of two ways with Axxtep as
a supporting character. The first is to just go
with the quiet, humble navigator with the
tragic backstory. The second is to have the
calm exterior hiding a long-term plan to
exact revenge against the TLeng. Axxtep
could end up being a villain, endangering
the ship and the player characters and
plunging the Coalition into a nasty war
against the TLeng.
Situation Aspect: Most Likely to Sabotage
Any Mission Involving TLeng or Zookeepers
AS A SUPPORTING CHARACTER NOT
ABOARD STARSHIP TYCHE
If Axxtep transfers off of the Tyche, it will be
with a promotion to full Lieutenant and Fleet
recognition of Triexan medical certification.
Axxtep will become a medical officer, with
additional training in the anatomy of humans
and other Coalition races, and assigned to
another ship or starbase. If you wish to
pursue the darker side of the character,
imaging what can be done with a thorough
knowledge of TLeng anatomy.
Situation Aspect: I Have Many Oaths to
Uphold
ANGUS NADEEM SATTI
Satti is a 4th generation Scotsman of
Pakistani decent. He can trace his roots back
to the Punjabi region of India, during the
English occupation. In the late 20th and 21st
century his family made bagpipes in
Pakistan, and emigrated to Scotland over a
hundred years ago when the factory
relocated. He grew up hearing tales of the
battles for both Pakistani and Scottish
Independence, and identifies strongly with
both cultures. While nominally a Muslim, he
doesnt let that interfere with his practicing
the fine Scottish traditions of drinking and
brawling. In his cups, his Scottish accent
becomes so think that hes barely
understandable.
Having it drilled in to him that education is
the key to success in life, and hearing tales
of Scottish shipbuilders his whole life, Satti
went into engineering. Becoming fascinated
with starship design, he joined the Fleet with
the goal of becoming creating and building
new starships. He found that he being hands-
on with an active starship was far more
interesting, and has turned down offers from
private companies and opportunities to teach
engineering in order to remain aboard the
Tyche as the Chief Engineering Officer.
In a diplomatic situation, Satti will go by the
book and defer to his superiors up the point
where he, his crewmates, or his ship are
insulted. Thats when the fight starts. This is
why Church tends to leave him aboard ship,
in command as second officer behind the XO,
during diplomatic missions. As Scottish citizen
his dress uniform includes a kilt, which he
16
wears in traditional fashion, so such brawls
become uncomfortably revealing.
In a scientific situations, all Satti cares about
is the tech. Alien machines, supercomputers,
androids, and particularly unknown
spacecraft will have his full attention. He will
want to be hands-on in analyzing any sort of
new technology the crew comes upon.
In a combat situation, he is not a disciplined
fighter. Church keeps him out of hand-to-
hand combat situations whenever possible. In
command, he will allow the helm and tactical
officers to run combat, and offer only vague
orders like get us into firing position and
fire at will. Hed much rather be down in
the engine room.
ANGUS NADEEM SATTI
High Concept: Commander, Chief Engineer
(Earth Human, Scots-Pakistani)
Trouble: We Cant Hae Them Insulting the
Fleet!
Other Aspects: Give Me 20 Minutes an Ill
Have er Right as Rain
APPROACHES
Careful: Fair (+2)
Clever: Good (+3)
Flashy: Average (+1)
Forceful: Mediocre (+0)
Quick: Fair (+2)
Sneaky: Average (+1)
STUNTS
Umbrage Detector: Because I am an
Umbrage Detector, I gain a +2 when I
Carefully find a legitimate reason to take
offense at something and start a fight.
Lets See What Makes This Wee Beasty Tick:
Because I am obsessive about new toys, I
gain a +2 when I Cleverly analyze or repair
any piece of technology.
Miraculous Engineer: Because I am a
Miraculous Engineer, I gain a +2 when I
Quickly repair or modify the ships engines.
STRESS
CONSEQUENCES:
Mild (2):
Moderate (4):
Severe (6):
REFRESH: 3
AS A PLAYER CHARACTER
As Chief Engineering Officer, there is always
plenty for Satti to do aboard ship. Even if
there hasnt been a battle that requires
repairs to be made, he will always be
tinkering to keep the ships systems updated
to the latest standards and advances. As
second officer and third in command behind
Church and Megarry, and as the best
engineer and technical analyst aboard the
Tyche, there are plenty of reasons to include
him on landing parties, where he will
invariably get himself into trouble.
AS A SUPPORTING CHARACTER ABOARD
STARSHIP TYCHE
As a supporting character, Satti will spend
most of his time in the engine room will only
be heard via the intercom. He will only
appear in the flesh during ceremonial
occasions or when both the Captain and XO
are off ship and he needs to be in the
command chair.
Situation Aspect: My Engines Wont Be
Tending Themselves
AS A SUPPORTING CHARACTER NOT
ABOARD STARSHIP TYCHE
17
If Satti gets rotated off the Tyche, he will
end up overseeing the construction of the
next generation of starships, which he was
also involved in designing.
Situation Aspect: Shell Make Anything the
TLeng Have Look Like a Childs Toy
THELONIUS HATFIELD DAVIS
Dr. Davis hails from Nouveau Orleans, the
floating city build along the sea wall
protecting the ruins of historic New Orleans.
He described himself as an old country
doctor, remaining in private practice until his
children were grown and his wife passed
away. Wanting to remain useful and
contribute to the greater good of mankind,
he chose to join the Fleet rather than retire.
He hasnt stopped complaining about that
decision since.
An outstanding surgeon, Davis cares deeply
about people. Thats why he objects to
dangerous missions and military excursions.
He says its because it just makes more work
for him and his staff, but its really because
he dreads people getting hurt. In spite of his
sometimes gruff demeanor, he can be warm
and friendly, and likes to dispense folksy
wisdom along with medicine, with a
mischievous twinkle in his eye and a folksy
drawl. When not in the medical bay, hes in
his quarters cooking up authentic Southern
food and listening to classic 20th century
blues and jazz.
In a diplomatic situation, hes likely to
support any efforts that might lead to peace,
and harshly chastise any military personnel in
the immediate vicinity. He will not keep his
opinions to himself.
In a scientific situation, he will leap into
anything related to medicine or biology. The
more he learns, the better hell be able to
help people. Just dont ask him to do things
outside his fields of expertise; hes not a
physicist, an engineer, or any sort of repair
man.
In a combat situation, he will generally call
people uncivilized idiots and try to shame
them into not behaving themselves and
acting like mature, intelligent beings. Hell
defend himself if he has to, but wont carry a
weapon unless ordered and wont fight
unless its to protect an innocent life.
THELONIUS HATFIELD DAVIS
High Concept: Commander, Chief Medical
Officer (Earth Human, African-American)
Trouble: Thats Not My Damned Job!
Other Aspects: This is a Southern Specialty,
You Dont Appreciate True Culture
APPROACHES
Careful: Fair (+2)
Clever: Fair (+2)
Flashy: Average (+1)
Forceful: Good (+3)
Quick: Average (+1)
Sneaky: Mediocre (+0)
STUNTS
Country Doctor: Because I am Country
Doctor, I gain a +2 when I Carefully treat a
patient using all tools and techniques at my
disposal, including but not limited to those
damned modern machines.
Southern Shame Daddy: Because I am a
Southern Shame Daddy, I gain a +2 when I
Cleverly manipulate people into doing what
I think is the right thing.
Passionate Gravitas: Because I possess
Passionate Gravitas, I gain a +2 when I
Forcefully try to convince other people
precisely why Im right and theyre wrong.
STRESS
18
CONSEQUENCES:
Mild (2):
Moderate (4):
Severe (6):
REFRESH: 3
AS A PLAYER CHARACTER
Davis is a sweet old man who has no business
being in the Fleet, but hes convinced that if
he werent there to provide a moral compass
the military types would be in charge and
everything would go to hell in a hand
basket. He acts as if the ship is a small town
and hes just the kindly local sawbones. As
Chief Medical Officer there are plenty of
reasons to stay aboard ship, treating the
injured in ship-to-ship battles, but there are
an equal number of opportunities for him to
join landing parties for official functions and
act as a medic.
AS A SUPPORTING CHARACTER ABOARD
STARSHIP TYCHE
Davis makes for a stern-yet-lovable father
figure for all of the crew, and is someone
safe to talk to about both personal and
professional problems. Hell be there to help
patch your wounds after both landing party
missions and starship battles. As a supporting
character, hell rarely leave the medical bay,
except to enforce mandatory rest and
relaxation.
Situation Aspect: I Can Prescribe Just the
Thing You Need
AS A SUPPORTING CHARACTER NOT
ABOARD STARSHIP TYCHE
If Davis rotates off the Tyche, hell probably
retire back to Earth. He might be found in
private practice aboard a starbase or on
some lovely planet with warm weather and
attractive women.
Situation Aspect: This is How Human Beings
Are Supposed to Live
CRISTINA CAPELA
Cristina Capela is a nurse practitioner, and
the First Medical Officer on the Tyche. Dr.
Davis calls her his strong right hand and
chastises her for not becoming an outright
doctor, because he considers her to be one
of the finest medical practitioners hes ever
met. Her Fleet file has nothing but the highest
marks, and she is a respected researcher
who has written or co-written dozens of
published papers on a variety of medical
topics.
Born on Novo Paolo, a conservative religious
Fringe World, Cristina hails from a large
extended family, with many siblings, uncles,
aunts, and cousins. Her cabin is decorated
with many family photos, and frames letters
supporting both her career in nursing and in
the Fleet.
Capela is also the ships hopeless romantic,
continually falling for men she cant have, or
running into old boyfriends while on away
missions. She currently carries a fiercely
burning torch for the asexual Chief Science
Officer, TPokk. She is, strangely, one of the
few attractive women aboard the Tyche that
Captain Church doesnt flirt with.
In a diplomatic situation, Cristina will try to
see all sides but invariably side with
whomever she feels is the underdog. She is
rarely outspoken, but Davis has been
mentoring her to speak her peace without
fear, especially on issues she feels a
personal connection to.
In a scientific situation, she tends to see things
in terms of what will make an interesting
case study or peer-reviewed paper. She will
work to preserve not just life, but quality of
19
life, and abhors practices and developments
that do not put humanity at the forefront.
In a combat situation, Capela is most likely to
run away. Shes a medical professional, not
a fighter, and she abhors violence of any
sort.
CRISTINA CAPELA
High Concept: Lieutenant Commander, 1st
Medical Officer (Earth Human, Brazilian)
Trouble: He Doesnt Love Me The Way I Love
Him
Other Aspects: This Bears Further
Investigation, I Couldnt Have Done Any of
this Without My Family
APPROACHES
Careful: Good (+3)
Clever: Fair (+2)
Flashy: Average (+1)
Forceful: Fair (+2)
Quick: Average (+1)
Sneaky: Mediocre (+0)
STUNTS
Best Nurse in the Fleet: Because I am the Best
Nurse in the Fleet, I gain a +2 when I
Carefully treat patients using existing
techniques and treatments.
Ardent Researcher: Because I am an Ardent
Researcher, I gain a +2 when I Cleverly find
new courses of treatment and cures for
illnesses and diseases.
Nurse Knows Best: Because I am a nurse and
know best, I gain a +2 when I Forcefully
order a patient to stop fussing and adhere
to the course of treatment.
STRESS
CONSEQUENCES:
Mild (2):
Moderate (4):
Severe (6):
REFRESH: 3
AS A PLAYER CHARACTER
There are plenty of reasons to keep Capela
aboard ship. Her talent as a field medic and
researcher also provide plenty of reasons
for her to join a landing party. The real fun
with her is that shes a walking romantic
subplot, falling in love at the drop of a hat.
Even when that love is reciprocated,
something tragic inevitably happens to the
guy. Yet she always picks herself up, dusts
herself off, and moves on.
AS A SUPPORTING CHARACTER ABOARD
STARSHIP TYCHE
Capela can be used as a supporting
character either aboard ship or in a landing
party. If a player character is a medical
officer, they will technically report to her
rather than Dr. Davis, and she will act as
their mentor. She will always remind people
that their oaths and duties to the Fleet
emphasize preserving and saving lives, not
taking them.
Situation Aspect: Remember the Oath Your
Swore
AS A SUPPORTING CHARACTER NOT
ABOARD STARSHIP TYCHE
If Capela rotates off the Tyche, she will
likely end up either mentoring young medical
professionals at a teaching hospital, or
leading a research team on a space station
or a planet that holds the promise of a cure
for some disease.
Situation Aspect: I Will Go Where I Can Do
the Most Good
20
TPOKK
TPokk is the tall, lanky Titanian Chief
Science Officer aboard the Tyche.
Androgynous in appearance, TPokk is a
member of the Cult of Reason, and devoted
only to science and factual reality. Emotions
are acknowledged, and then dismissed as
unhelpful distractions and barriers to
thoughtful and rational action. This makes for
a particularly effective scientist, but not
necessarily the most cheerful social
companion.
Part of the discipline TPokk practices allows
for a connection to another sentient being to
be established with a touch. This allows
TPokk to essentially hook into the other
persons central nervous system and brain. A
brief touch can be used to disrupt neural
activity and cause the other person to pass
out; this is seen as a peaceful way to avoid
violent conflict. With prolonged contact,
TPokk can read the other persons thoughts;
members of the Cult of Reason use this to
quickly share information.
In a diplomatic situation, TPokk will ignore
all emotional arguments and focus on the
objective advantages and disadvantages,
making pleas to reason. The science officer
will appear confused, if not surprised, if this
does not work.
In a scientific situation, TPokk can do
anything that is required. While not a
specialist, the Science Officer has at least a
passing knowledge of all major scientific
disciplines and many minor ones. Given 24
hours, necessary knowledge can be looked
up and memorized for application to the
current situation.
In a combat situation, TPokk will use the
lowest effective setting with either a ray gun
or ships weaponry to achieve the desired
outcome. In a physical confrontation, mental
intrusion techniques will be applied to render
the opponent unconscious. As a last resort,
TPokk is freakishly strong compared to
humans, and will use that to restrain an
opponent or, as needed, use the minimal
amount of force required to incapacitate
them.
TPOKK
High Concept: Lieutenant Commander, Chief
Science Officer (Titanian)
Trouble: I Do Not Understand Your Emotional
Outbursts
Other Aspects: Mental Clarity Requires
Discipline, Unnecessary Physical Contact is Not
Rational
APPROACHES
Careful: Fair (+2)
Clever: Good (+3)
Flashy: Mediocre (+0)
Forceful: Average (+1)
Quick: Fair (+2)
Sneaky: Average (+1)
STUNTS
Computer-Like Mind: Because I have a
Computer-Like Mind, I gain a +2 when I
Carefully assemble all available facts and
come to a conclusion.
Mental Intrusion: Because I have the power of
Mental Intrusion, I gain a +2 when I Cleverly
touch you to read your thoughts or override
your nervous system.
Pragmatically Technical: Because I am
Pragmatically Technical, I gain a +2 when I
Quickly construct a device that will do what I
need it to.
STRESS
CONSEQUENCES:
Mild (2):
21
Moderate (4):
Severe (6):
REFRESH: 3
AS A PLAYER CHARACTER
TPokk can be an interesting character to
play. While not in the chain of command as
Chief Science Officer there are plenty of
reasons for the character to either be on the
bridge advising or in a landing party. The
balance of knowledge and combat abilities
make TPokk versatile, and the characters
alien mindset provide ample opportunities to
make commentary on human behavior.
AS A SUPPORTING CHARACTER ABOARD
STARSHIP TYCHE
As Chief Science Officer, TPokk has a hand
in anything related to science aboard the
Tyche. Any science officer or Titanian
character will have an automatic superior
officer and mentor to offer advice and
assistance. If there are no other science
officers among the player characters, TPokk
can fill all your science needs.
Situation Aspect: The Scientific Ramifications
of Your Discovery Are Fascinating
AS A SUPPORTING CHARACTER NOT
ABOARD STARSHIP TYCHE
If TPokk leaves the Tyche, there are a
number of possibilities as to where the
character would end up. It may be a choice
to no longer live among aliens and return to
Titania. It may be to head up a research
facility somewhere, probably remote and
with other Titanians about. Whatever it is, it
will definitely involve science and reason,
and probably far less contact with irrational
humans.
Situation Aspect: Human Contact Wearies
Me On Many Levels
ANNA REZNIK
A repatriated Russian Jew, Reznik was born
and grew up in Israel. As a young girl she
moved with her family back to Moscow to
help rebuild and repopulate the Great City.
As a result, she is boldly patriotic and takes
every opportunity to boast about the rebirth
of her homeland.
Reznik has a genius level IQ, and started
college at age 14. At 19, after earning her
Masters degree in Physics, she chose to
enter the Fleet rather than continue on to her
Ph.D. Her logic was that there would be
more opportunities to study the stars if she
was out among them, and she was not
wrong. Although she is the youngest officer
on the ship, she is also one of the most
respected.
Despite being a science officer, Reznik wears
a command uniform. This is because she
chose to train as a pilot as well as a science
specialist in order on gain more time on the
bridge. When not filling in for TPokk as
relief science specialist, Reznik is also on the
rotation as a relief helm officer. Church has
described her as an overenthusiastic
overachiever.
In a diplomatic situation, Reznik will keep her
mouth shut and take the opportunity to watch
and learn. Unless, of course, the topic of
Russia comes up, in which case she will leap
22
in to discuss why it is the greatest nation on
Earth, ever.
In a scientific situation, Reznik will be on the
front lines, either leading the scientific team
or acting as TPokks right hand.
In a combat situation, Reznik will not shy
away from action, drawing her ray gun and
leaping into any sort of physical
confrontation. She can hold her own, and
uses the scars shes earned in various fights
to impress cute boys.
ANNA REZNIK
High Concept: Lieutenant, 1st Science Officer
(Earth Human, Russian)
Trouble: Why Would You Say My Blind
Patriotism is Annoying?
Other Aspects: I Am Russian - I Fear Nussink
APPROACHES
Careful: Good (+3)
Clever: Average (+1)
Flashy: Fair (+2)
Forceful: Mediocre (+0)
Quick: Fair (+2)
Sneaky: Average (+1)
STUNTS
Scientific Prodigy: Because I am a Scientific
Prodigy, I gain a +2 when I Carefully study
a situation to find answers.
Fearlessly Foolhardy: Because I am Fearlessly
Foolhardy , I gain a +2 when I Flashily leap
into personal combat situations.
Technical Savant: Because I am Technical
Savant, I gain a +2 when I Quickly repair,
assemble, or cobble together a piece of
scientific equipment.
STRESS
CONSEQUENCES:
Mild (2):
Moderate (4):
Severe (6):
REFRESH: 3
AS A PLAYER CHARACTER
Reznik is a good viewpoint character for any
new players who arent familiar with the
setting. Having recently entered the Fleet, its
a good excuse to ask questions in-character
and learn about the Coalition, the Fleet, and
the universe setting. Theres a good balance
of combat and roleplaying opportunities,
with an easy hook of patriotism and
enthusiasm. There are ample opportunities to
bother remain on the ship or to be part of a
landing party.
AS A SUPPORTING CHARACTER ABOARD
STARSHIP TYCHE
If Reznik remains aboard the Tyche, she is
pretty much the universal supporting
character, who can fill nearly any supporting
role. She is a pilot, a scientist, possessed of a
strong sense of curiosity, and not afraid of
danger.
Situation Aspect: I Would Be Happy to Assist
You With That
AS A SUPPORTING CHARACTER NOT
ABOARD STARSHIP TYCHE
Reznik will be in demand by any research
team on the galaxy, and shes young enough
to take any opportunity that appeals to her
without thinking about long-term career
goals. If she doesnt stay with the ship, she
could turn up just about anywhere that a
brilliant scientist supporting character is
needed.
Situation Aspect: We Are Doing Important
Work Here!