Trying to recreate the Tanctanese from the movie/series Alien Nation...

[Henry]

I'd do them as a level adjustment race.

+2 Str, +2 Dex, +2 Con, +2 Int
Maybe a -4 penalty on Charisma-based checks vs. humans [which can be bought off with a feat], to represent difficulty understanding humans
They have some kind of inner eyelid, as I recall, protecting them from bright lights.
+2 to Listen, Spot [keen alien senses]

I don't recall their senses being a lot keener; any shows or books to point to?

Salt water vulnerability

Treat as Strong Acid (1d6 for splash, 6d6/round for complete immersion)?

The weird internal organs could be modelled in a few different ways...maybe they get a bonus to saves vs. massive damage and to stabilize when reduced below zero HP?

I'd just say light fortification (25% negate crit)

+1 LA or +2?

probably +3 even.

 

[Storyteller01]

I don't recall their senses being a lot keener; any shows or books to point to?
.

Series made it a point to have Sam check things out, since he would have a better chance of spotting something.

In one episode, Sam had been followed by a news crew (reality tv). They also made a fuss about his enhaced senses. Of course, Sykes figured out the puzzle at the same time, but it was Sam's 15 minutes.

I do have the same question about the eye lid. When was that used?

 

[Storyteller01]

I'd just say light fortification (25% negate crit)

Not sure that would work. Sykes learned where the 'low blow' point was in about a minute. It took bigger guns to bring one down, but the series showed a twin bladed knife (yes, I know...cheesy) that had been used to kill a Tenctonese. It had been designed to hit both hearts. Wasn't so much of a fortification as a multitude of redudant systems (maybe that explains Klingons!? )



Anyone know anything about the monster they become if they overdose on the drug (this was in the movie)?

 

[Nuclear Platypus]

Anyone know anything about the monster they become if they overdose on the drug (this was in the movie)?

Just have it so they become enraged like the Barbarian class ability or otherwise similar to a boar's special ability.

Hmm. Since they were originally bred as a slave race, definitely some stat boosts (str and con) but the will power suffered while their self worth isn't too high (wis and chr penalties) after years of being under the boot. Perhaps a +2 str, +2 con, -2 wis, -2 chr ?

Since they were meant for hard labor, they must've had resistance (or even immunity) to certain environments (heat and toxic most likely), which might explain the derogatory 'Slag' nickname but damage resistance might accomodate this.

I don't know if they had better senses than a human but it might've been a trade off (sort of). Their eyesight was better but smell and taste was horrible (they didn't mind eating rotten food after all) but it could've just been an alien thing.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Each episode started off by saying the aliens had keener senses.

PS what about Overseers? IMO it doesn't make sense to breed slaves who are stronger than their masters...

 

[kenobi65]

i'd tack on a -2 charisma because of thier history of domination at the hands of others. thier egos are frailer or less dominant then a humans ego and that is goverend by CHA.

I'd tack on a +2 CHA for Overseers becasue of thier history of dominating others.

I was thinking the exact same thing.

 

[Storyteller01]

I don't know if they had better senses than a human but it might've been a trade off (sort of). Their eyesight was better but smell and taste was horrible (they didn't mind eating rotten food after all) but it could've just been an alien thing.

Actually, per the series, their sense of smell hadf been very good. The food was a matter of digestive prefference (butterflies hunt food by scent, and don't seem to mind manure).

Not argiing, just feedback. Love these suggestions folks!