The Dragon Tablets: Iteration Two – Races

The Elder Scrolls have many races, variants of humans, variants of elves, and others. Variations that don’t fit the racial templates already available in GURPS. We also return to the question of magic. Every hero, no matter race, is capable of using magic in TES. There are three ways to make that possible in GURPS.
1. If the world is High Mana, everyone in the world could learn to use magic. But I don’t like that solution.
2. If Magery is part of every racial template a hero could have, everyone of a hero race could learn to use magic. But I don’t like that solution either.
3. If we change the magic system so that the system doesn’t require Magery, everyone could learn to use magic. There are portions of that I do like. But others that I don’t.

A big problem with giving everyone the capacity to learn magic, is that magic could become commonplace. And that a wizard has less to do with talent and more to do with having the money to pay for the training. And this is not the feel I get from TES. Every hero can learn magic, but everyone cannot learn magic. And to keep this feeling of talent and rarity, it seems better not to allow Magery as part of the racial templates.

Instead I am going to use a combination of traits from TES, GURPS, and perhaps other influences in designing the racial templates.

In later iterations, I want to do something with the social aspect of where they come from, how they were raised, as well as when they were born, as their constellations actually have an effect on people in TES. I am also going to add variants to the “beast races” in a similar way to the variants that already exist for elves (nice) and humans (nen).

Yes, I have chosen “nice” as the Common word used to identify elves. Its etymology is from Elven and refers to the elves themselves, in plural. The word “elves” is a much older Common word, but racist humans started to use the word “nice” instead. Referring, in a derogatory way, to both elves and elf-loving humans, as a noun. They also used it as an adjective about anything that was too elf-like. And with time, it was adopted by those targeted and brought into mainstream Common. It has been part of Common for so long that terms such as “she’s so nice” are almost impossible to decipher without contextual information about the person in question. Similarly, “nen” comes from Elven and when used in Common refers to the nouns human, humans, and humanity.

Cat-Folk

Racial Cost: 74 points

Raoflin by Unknown

They are humanoid cats from Urdinia with catlike fur coloration and patterns. They have normal build according to their ST.
Attribute Modifiers: ST -1 [-10]; DX +1 [20].
Secondary Characteristic Modifiers: HP +1 [2]; Per +1 [5]; Will -1 [-5].
Advantages: Catfall [10]; Claws (Sharp) [5]; Dark Vision [25]; Fur [1]; Perfect Balance [15]; Silence 1 [5]; Striking ST 2 [10]; Teeth (Sharp) [1].
Disadvantages: Social Stigma (Minority) [-10].
Features: Tail (neither a manipulator nor enough of a problem to interfere with armor). Cannot wear human helmets that cover their face.

Gord

Racial Cost: 60 points

My new norn necro, Sivrunn, by Baewall

They are a type of human from Gordfast and generally have tanned to dark skin, black hair, and dark eyes. They have normal build according to their ST.
Attribute Modifiers: ST +1 [10]; DX +1 [20]; IQ -1 [-20]; HT +1 [10].
Advantages: Combat Reflexes [15]; High Pain Threshold [10]; Luck [15].

High Elf

Racial Cost: 65 points

Dragon Eyes by neven

They are a type of elf and generally have pale or pale golden skin, red or brown hair, and green, amber, or yellow, almond shaped eyes. They are 7 inches taller than their ST would suggest, but their weight is based on ST+1. Their ears are pointy, but not much larger than human ears.
Attribute Modifiers: ST -1 [-10]; DX +1 [20]; IQ +1 [20]; HT -1 [-10].
Secondary Characteristic Modifiers: Magicka +5 [15].
Advantages: Immunity to Sickness [15];  Unaging [15].
Features: They can learn the Recover Energy spell without any prerequisites.

Palatial

Racial Cost: 45 points

The Guardian by LAS-T

They are a type of human from Cornia and generally have tanned skin, dark hair, and dark eyes. They have normal build according to their ST.
Attribute Modifiers: IQ +1 [20]; HT +1 [10].
Advantages: Luck [15].

Reptonian

Racial Cost: 92 points

Koviell by WillOBrien

They are humanoid reptiles from Marshlands.
Attribute Modifiers: DX +1 [20]; HT -1 [10].
Secondary Characteristic Modifiers: Basic Speed +1.00 [20].
Advantages: Amphibious [10]; Claws (Sharp) [5]; Damage Resistance 1 [5]; Doesn’t Breathe (Gills, -50%) [10]; Nictitating Membrane 1 [1]; Perfect Balance [15]; Peripheral Vision [15]; Striker (Tail; Crushing) [5]; Teeth (Sharp) [1];  Terrain Adaptation (Swamp) [5].
Disadvantages: Social Stigma (Minority) [-10].
Features: Armor isn’t interchangeable with human armor. Born Biter.

Shadow Elf

Racial Cost: 85 points

Old Vadril by TheMinttu

They are a type of elf from Lunarstream and generally have dark, black, or purple skin, bone-white to cobweb-gray to jet-black hair, and black, red, or yellow, almond shaped eyes. They are 2-3 inches taller than their ST would suggest, but their weight is based on ST. Their ears are pointy, but not much larger than human ears.
Attribute Modifiers: DX +1 [20]; IQ +1 [20].
Secondary Characteristic Modifiers: Per +1 [5].
Advantages: Dark Vision [25]; Silence 2 [10]; Unaging [15].
Disadvantages: Social Stigma (Minority) [-10].

Soder

Racial Cost: 76 points

Nobility by merillizaART

They are a type of human from Celement and generally have pale skin, fair hair, and light eyes. They have normal build according to their ST.
Attribute Modifiers: ST +1 [10]; DX +1 [20]; IQ -1 [-20]; HT +1 [10].
Advantages: Damage Resistance 1 (Tough Skin, -40%) [3]; Luck [15]; Rapid Healing [5]; Temperature Tolerance (Cold) 3 [3]; Terror (Auditory) [30].

Wellen

Racial Cost: 0 points

They are a type of human from Rockwell and generally have pale skin, fair to medium hair, and dark eyes. They have normal build according to their ST.

Wood Elf

Racial Cost: 40 points

They are a type of elf and generally have tan to dark to green skin, dark to green hair, and violet or brown, almond shaped eyes. They are 2-3 inches taller than their ST would suggest, but their weight is based on ST. Their ears are pointy, but not much larger than human ears.
Attribute Modifiers: ST -1 [-10]; DX +1 [20].
Secondary Characteristic Modifiers: Basic Move +1 [5]; Will -1 [-5].
Advantages: Forest Guardian 2 [10]; Immunity to Metabolic Hazards [30];  Unaging [15].
Disadvantages: Sense of Duty (Nature) [-15]; Social Stigma (Minority) [-10].

Ogre

Racial Cost: 31 points

orc hunter by yy6242

They generally have light green to dark brown skin, dark to green hair, and green eyes. They have normal build according to their ST.
Attribute Modifiers: ST +4 [40]; IQ -1 [-20]; HT +1 [10].
Secondary Characteristic Modifiers: Will +2 [10].
Advantages: Damage Resistance 1 (Tough Skin, -40%) [3]; Fearlessness 1 [2]; Night Vision 3 [3]; Teeth (Sharp) [1].
Disadvantages: Appearance (Ugly) [-8]; Social Stigma (Minority) [-10].
Features: Tusks.