Xenos-focused RPG setting - what would it look like?

[Teetengee]

A "how to roleplay a different species" section could be great if handled well (or really uncomfortable if handled poorly)

[Mazer Rackham]

I think we've covered most of it, but as a small primer, I would probably say this:

 

RP'ing is meant to get you to step out of your own head anyway, with certain arcehtypes being close to what you know, to make it accessible. The real trick is work closely with the GM in order to immerse yourself in the fluff of the race. Once you have that, you start thinking like that, and therefore your character development follows. However, it should be pointed out that individuals are not nations, and therefore if you want to be a benign corsair prince, who merely reocates the Double-Monkeighs off your Exodite world, you can be.

 

Conversely, you could decide they're all pests, and Humanity = gazbomillions of amoebas, and no-one is going to miss a few woodlice.

 

In this, the alien mindset is not as difficult to grasp. Remember that the alien is not alien to their type of alien.

 

He is however, alien to other aliens.

 

Mass Effect, interestingly, does this quite well - being based on Star Trek helps a lot of course, but if we take the Asari as our example (not to get too non-board specific, so I'll keep it short), they refer to mankind as alien, sees them as agreessive and are willing to expend them, because Thessia rules, I'm Blue doo-beede-boo-de-daaa, and go eat dirt Double-Monkeighs, because our civilisation built everything, and the fact someone came before us is...well, who cares?

 

Space Marines, and even IG to some extent fear Chaos and damnation and heresy, but the Oomies may never even see it. As an Eldar, (since we're sticking to this theme) are cursed by the Fall for all Eternity to be gobbled up by Mr/Mrs Pinchy Bits, and that dogs them every step. They're already damned, they had an empire, the world is falling about them, and they desperately, desperately want to try and hold the back the night in whatever form it presents itself.

 

Imagine that weight. Do Aeldar laugh? Maybe only cruelly, because the world is a JOKE. The weight of aeons of that burden, when they were the galaxy's policeman, now they're mall cops, beating up idiots trying to steal from the jelly bean counter and shove crayons up thier nose - and what the hell does it matter anyway?

 

You live forever - if you're careful, good and lucky, using the tools given by the Old Gods with very poorly understood or incredibly out of date instruction manuals written in a language that is a feeling, translated by people with a soul already drowning in agony, accompanied by a backing track of whalesong and anguish that ended 10,000 years ago...

 

And now, it's all your problem.

[StratoKhan]

There’s been lots of great and well thought out responses and ideas. 
 

If I ever got round to doing something like this, I think I’d like to focus on a minor or entirely new species.

As an example, despite their mentions in the background we still know relatively little about the Tarellians. There’s a sketch in the 3rd edition rulebook, and a few passages sprinkled here and there in the background, including the mention that they hate the Imperium because they tried to wipe them out. Not a lot to work with, vs. your average Eldar character. But it makes for a very different set of challenges, in making them work within the 40k setting.

 

Zoats and their relationship to the Tyranids would also be very interesting to delve into more.

 

And the great thing about the massive scale, timeline and size of the conflicts in 40k is that everyone can have beef with everyone, and someone you hate more than the guy right in front of you is potentially always around the metaphorical corner. It makes for some great temporary alliances and double/triple crosses.

Edited April 6 by StratoKhan