Vulcans

Externally, Vulcans are generally similar to Humans, the chief exceptions being the Vulcans' notably arched and upswept eyebrows and distinguished external ear structure, the top of which tapers into a clearly defined point.

Vulcans are known for their contributions to science. Most Vulcans in Starfleet are in the Science Division.

Common Traits

While not part of the Vulcan Template, there are traits that are associated with Vulcans, more so than other species. An exception is Cultural Familiarity (Human) and Language (English—accented), which are common to most spacefaring non-Human Federation species. Those in blue are exclusive to Vulcans.

* This disadvantage's cost depends on its self-control number.

Features

GURPS Character Sheet Program Downloads

Download the GCS file: VulcanFemale2.gct. Last modified: 2021 December 22 12:57.

Download the GCS file: VulcanMale8.gct. Last modified: 2024 January 16 13:13.

Download the GCS file: VulcanCommonTraits.gct. Last modified: 1969 December 31 19:00.

Vulcan Strength

Vulcan - Memory Alpha, the Star Trek Wiki claims Vulcans are three times stronger than Humans, which implies an average of ST 17/14 for males/females. Reducing Hit Points by -7/-5 brings Vulcan average HP back to 10/9. As hit points reflect your mass more than your strength, this reducion in hit pionts seemed the proper thing to do.

Vulcan Devotion to Logic [-30 pts]

Vulcans take devotion to logic to such an extreme, they become unacquainted with emotion. This makes it difficult for them to succeed in endeavors that rely, in whole or in part, on processing emotions.

It is a misconception that Vulcans do not experience emotions—a misconception that Vulcans themselves perpetuate. The truth is Vulcans are plagued by powerful negative emotions, but they keep them suppressed with regular meditation.

Socially Awkward

The inability of Vulcans to process emotions can render them socially inept. They have a -3 to rolls requiring any emotional sensitivity, including Acting, Carousing, Criminology, Detect Lies, Diplomacy, Enthrallment, Fast-Talk, Interrogation, Leadership, Merchant, Politics, Psychology, Savoir-Faire, Sex Appeal, Sociology, and Streetwise. This can be described in two ways.

• Anti-Talent 3 (GPU3:Talents, p. 20): 15 points/level, -33%(can learn the skills), -33%(no reaction penalty) = -5 points/level
• Low Empathy: -20 points, -25%(can take Empathy, Clueless, Oblivious) = -15 points.

Vulcan Emotions

The disadvantages below, which ones specifically will be determined by external stimulation and individual personality, manifest whenever a Vulcan goes more than a day without successfully meditating for 30 minutes. Time Spent modifiers (B346) can be applied. Repeated attempts can be made at no penalty if previous attempts fail, but each attempt takes the full allotted time. An exception is an attempt to instantaneously (a single Concentrate maneuver) regain your composure at a -10 penalty; if you fail that Meditation roll, your subsequent attempts must be for at least 3 minutes, no more than a -9 penalty.

† This disadvantage's cost depends on its self-control number.

The longer a Vulcan goes without meditation, the further they decline.

Once every seven years or so, regular meditation fails to mitigate Vulcan Emotions. This is known as pon farr — a Vulcan must mate, or die.

Secret (has emotions)

A Vulcan who too often displays emotion will be ostracized from Vulcan society. The consequences would be a negative reputation: -4 Reaction (-20 pts) from Vulcans (×1/2, large class of people) who will sometimes (⋜10) recognize you (×1/2) = -5 points. I.e. a Vulcan that doesn't suppress their emotions will have to convert their Secret to -4 Reputation.

Vulcan Inner Eyelid (1 pt)

Based off the 5 character point Protected Vision advantage [B78]. The Vulcan inner eyelid protects them from bright light, but does not confer the ability to adjust quickly to low light levels. After exposure to blinding light, a Vulcan will only be blind for several minutes (Takes Extra Time: minutes, -80%). This limitation reduces the cost of the Protected Vision advantage down to 1 character point.

Vulcan Weakness to Nitrous Oxide, N₂O

A few minutes exposure to Nitrous Oxide, aka laughing gas, will render a Vulcan unconscious.

Vulcan Weakness to Trellium-D

A few hours exposure to Trellium-D, a mineral used as insulation against Delphic Expanse anomalies, will render a Vulcan insane, eventually killing them.

Code of Honor (Psychic’s) [-10 points]

Starfleet instills this Code of Honor into its trained empaths/telepaths. Think of it as a Hippocratic Oath for telepaths. (It comes from GURPS: Psionic Campaigns, p. 34.)

• Never use your psi solely for personal gain.
• Never harm another person with your psi except in self-defense.
• Never psionically invade another person’s privacy (including eavesdropping) without his knowledge.

Meditation Skill

IQ/Hard

Will-6 or Autohypnosis-4

Chakotay mandated that B'Elanna Torres take meditation lessons from Tuvok, after she destroyed The Doctor's holographic camera.--Meditation - Memory Alpha

The Meditation skill's abilities are defined qualitatively on p. B207. This house rule adds additional, more quantitative aspects.

Calm the emotions: You can suppress an emotion that you regard as irrational and destructive, such as an Addiction, Phobia or awe for an overwhelmingly beautiful alien. It does not apply to self-imposed, mental disadvantages as you regard them as rational. This only delays the emotion for as long as you maintain a meditative state. The GM may require additional rolls against Meditation skill at appropriate moments to keep your emotions suppressed against an ongoing stimulus. Against some stimuli, this may actually be a contest of skills.

Control the mind: You can reduce your pain levels (B428): eliminate Moderate Pain, reduce Severe Pain to Moderate Pain and Terrible Pain to Severe Pain. This effect lasts for as many hours as your margin of success, after which a repeated attempt is allowed at no penalty.

Relax the body: You can slow your metabolism, consuming food, water and air at half the normal rate. More usefully: HT rolls to resist poison, for Bleeding (if used, B420), lingering through a mortal wound (B423) or Natural Recovery (B424) are at +1. To make use of this ability you may do nothing except speak softly and eat. This effect lasts for as many hours as your margin of success, after which a repeated attempt is allowed at no penalty.

You must be conscious and meditating to enjoy these benefits unless you make a successful roll against Dreaming skill (B188). Exception: Natural Recovery allows the +1 even if you fall asleep.

My thanks to Matthew Greet, aka warmachine, for this houserule: Steve Jackson Games Forums - View Single Post - Meditation: Is it just a Flavour Skill now?