Personal Backgrounds

The United Federation of Planets (abbreviated as UFP and commonly referred to as the Federation) is an interstellar federal republic, composed of planetary governments that agreed to exist semi-autonomously under a single central government based on the principles of universal liberty, rights, and equality, and to share their knowledge and resources in peaceful cooperation and space exploration. (TOS: "Arena", "A Taste of Armageddon"; DS9: "Battle Lines"; VOY: "Innocence"; Star Trek: First Contact) – United Federation of Planets: Memory Alpha

Personal Background Lenses

Personal Background lenses cover your formative years.

Most of these lenses end up costing 10 points, but this assumes equal amounts of advantages and disadvantages are purchased. 10 points in Advantages and -10 points in Disadvantages is reasonable; any hard limit is campaign specific, e.g. disadvantages cannot exceed the campaign's disadvantage points limit.

All TL skill are at TL11, except medical skills which are at TL9. Remember to always add character points to a skill when one or more templates/lenses contain the same skill; do not have a skill double-listed on your character sheet.

These lenses are based on the Personal Development packages from DECIPHER's Star Trek role playing game and Matching Traits to Challenges from GURPS Template Toolkit 1: Characters.

Academic Upbringing

You studied hard, even before joining Starfleet Academy.

This lens represents an upbringing that nurtured your natural ability and/or interest in the sciences, math, computers, etc.

Artistic Upbringing

You grew up in an environment that allowed you to pursue your artistic talents.

This lens represents an upbringing that nurtured your natural ability and/or interest in the arts, crafts, performing, etc.

Athletic Upbringing

You were allowed to pursue you natural athletic abilities.

This lens represents an upbringing that nurtured your natural ability and/or interest in sports, fitness, physical pursuits, etc.

Criminal Past

You've had(?) to break a few rules.

This lens represents a lack of proper upbringing or seedy underground experience.

The Contact Group, Patron, and Secret listed below are 5-point versions; more expensive versions are possible.

Customization

Starfleet normally rejects anyone with a criminal record. A Patron advantage or Secret disadvantage are two ways around this. This makes either Patron or Secret required for members of Starfleet who take the Criminal Past lens.

Money-related disadvantages, like Greed, are rarely important within most Starfleet campaigns. Some GMs may forbid them in their campaigns. Alternately, your GM may reduce their negative costs (move them closer to 0 points).

Frontier/Colony Upbringing

You grew up without the myriad comforts many Federation citizens take for granted.

You spent more time outdoors than indoors. You are comfortable out in the elements and can make do without the infrastructure that most people would be lost without.

Genetically Enhanced

You are a product of highly illegal genetic enhancement.

The Genetically Enhanced Personal Background lens can not be somebody's only Personal Background lens; they will have a Formal or Informal Personal Background lens as well.

You may take one of the Genetic Upgrades from GURPS 4th ed.–Transhuman Space: Changing Times, p. 48, given in the table below. The Star Trek versions do not include Taboo Trait (Unattractiveness or Mental Instability); in fact, they require you to take -20 points worth of Augment disadvantage(s). Additionally, you must take a -20 pts Secret. If your secret is exposed, your Starfleet days are probably over; at the very least you will have to replace the Secret with -40 worth of new disadvantages appropriate to the situation, e.g. a demotion, bad reputation, low status, surgical de-hancments, etc. (reducing your character point total by 20).

Among other things, these upgrades allow you to exceed your species' maximum ability scores: +1 to DX and HT in most cases, +1 to IQ and HT with the Metanoia-Series Upgrade. Outside of this, they don't offer anything you couldn't achieve naturally.

Most augments have about -20 points worth of the disadvantages below. Having less than -20 requires an Unusual Background whose cost is the cost of buying off the disadvantage(s). E.g. an augment with no augment disadvantages would have a 20 point Unusual Background.

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

Customization

If you had yourself genetically enhanced, then consider the Criminal Past Lens. If your parents had you genetically enhanced, then the Rich/Famous Lens would be appropriate.

Mercantile Upbringing

You where involved in the Federation's thriving economy.

The United Federation of Planets boasts the most robust economy in the known galaxy, and you know how take advantage it.

The Contact and Independent Income listed below are 5-point versions; more expensive versions are possible.

Customization

Pair this lens with Well Travelled to represent a free trader.

Wealth and Independent Income are rarely important within most Starfleet campaigns. Some GMs may reduce the cost of these advantages in campaigns were they are of reduced utility. If so, expect that the negative costs of money-related disadvantages will be reduced (moved closer to 0 points) as well.

Psionically Gifted

You have psionic abilities; you may have even developed them somewhat.

The Psionically Gifted Personal Background lens can not be somebody's only Personal Background lens; they will have a Formal or Informal Personal Background lens as well.

Telepathy is the most common psionic ability, but ESP, telekinesis, and others are possible. Unless your species is naturally psionic (e.g. Vulcan telepathy) then you must take an Unusual Background (usually 5 points) in order to have any psionic abilities. This includes advantages like Danger Sense and Empathy.

A psionic ability lens will vary depending on your species and psionic ability. A few examples ares provided below.

Example: Human Empath

While rare, Empathy is a psionic ability that can manifest in species that are not typically psionic.

Customization

A Starfleet officer should choose Code of Honor (Psychic's). A villain who takes advantage of others for personal gain should consider Secret (Psionic).

One could replace Empathy (Telepathy, -10%) with the 9 points cheaper Sensitive (Telepathy, -10%), reducing the cost of this lens to 0 points. They could improve Sensitive to Empathy later as part of their character's development.

Example: Human ESPer

Danger Sense is considered a psionic ability in this campaign. This lens represents the cheapest way to acquire it for most species.

Customization

The above lens assumes someone who simply wants the Danger Sense advantage and has no desire to improve their psionic abilities any further. Someone wanting to develop a full ESPer should make use of the abilities given in GURPS Psionic Powers, pp. 37-43.

Adding Secret (Psionics) for -10 points would be hard to justify, and all but impossible for Starfleet officers who are tested for such abilities.

Example: Vulcan Telepath

This lens is all but obligatory for Vulcans.

Customization

Since Vulcans are known to have psionic abilities, they may not take Secret (Psionic). A villainous Vulcan need not take Code of Honor (Psychic's). See Vulcan Psionics for more options.

Religious Upbringing

Your philosophical/spiritual beliefs have always been important to you.

You might have little understood spiritual insights, strongly held ethical opinions, and/or experience with the teachings and practices of a particular denomination.

The Vow listed below is a 5-point version; more expensive versions are possible. A 10 point Unusual Background is required for the "supernatural" advantages; a single 10 points Unusual Background gives you access to all of them.

Rich/Famous

You have lived in the lap of luxury.

You've enjoyed the life of the idle rich. You may be petulant princess or philanthropist playboy, but you've never had to work hard and are used to getting what you want.

Customization

This lens pairs will with Well Travelled and any of the Formal Personal Background lenses.

Wealth and Independent Income are rarely important within most Starfleet campaigns. Some GMs may reduce the cost of these advantages in campaigns were they are of reduced utility. If so, expect that the negative costs of money-related disadvantages will be reduced (moved closer to 0 points) as well.

Starfleet Brat

You're a Starfleet legacy.

You grew up in and around Starfleet. You weren't raised on a starship (that's not allowed), but spent time in planet-side Starfleet facilities and possibly Starbases.

Customization

Starfleet officers will find there is overlap with this lens and their Starfleet Officer Template. You could take this as an indication that such abilities are especially appropriate and you'll with additional points in them. (Just do not make the mistake of having the same ability listed twice on your character sheet.)

Survivor

You escaped from a fairly hopeless existence.

Getting off your home-world was the best thing that ever happened to you. While the experience sharpened you in some ways, it also took its toll on you mentally and/or physically.

Well Travelled

You never stayed in one place for very long.

For whatever reason, you've managed to see more of the galaxy than most. Along the way, you made yourself useful aboard interstellar spacecraft.

Customization

Pair this lens with Mercantile to to represent a free trader. Pair this lens with Rich/Famous to give a wealthy character some interesting experience.

Area Knowledge Specialties [B177 and House Rules]

Neighborhood

The neighborhood where you grew up

Your living quarters, work environment, and social meeting places where you are stationed

Village or Town

The village or town where you grew up

The starship you are stationed on

The start-up colony or outpost where you are stationed

City

The city where you grew up

The starbase you are stationed on

The small colony or large outpost where you are stationed

Barony, County, Duchy, or Small Nation

The stomping grounds where you grew up

The established colony world where you are stationed

Large Nation

The local geographic region where you grew up

The self-governing colony where you are stationed

Planet

The world where you grew up, including its moons, orbital stations, and in-system colonies

The home world, or colony world that effectively has home world status, where you are stationed

Interplanetary State

The region where you grew up or that you currently patrol, made up of several sectors. All these region choices include basic familiarity (but not necessarily expertise) with the Human, Vulcan, Andorian, and Tellarites races. Appropriate choices for Federation citizens are:

The Old Frontier Region--towards the alpha quadrant/galactic core, includes the border with the Gorn Hegemony and unexplored space

The Saga Region--toward the galactic core, includes all of the border with the Romulan Star Empire

The Corporate Region--toward the beta quadrant, includes the Orion homeworld and the common border with the Klingon and Romulan Star Empires

The Phoenix Region--towards the galactic rim, includes all of the border with the Klingon Empire

The Sagittarius Region--toward the alpha quadrant/galactic rim, includes the border with the Tholian Assembly and the Kzinti Hegemony

Galaxy

All of Federation Space and what we know of the Klingon Empire, the Romulan Star Empire, the Tholian Assembly, the Kzinti Hegemony, and the Gorn Hegemony

Current Affairs Specialties [B186]

Choose from: Business, Headline News, People, Politics, Popular Culture, Regional, Science & Technology, Sports, or Travel.

Hobby Specialties [B200]

For a list of Star Trek appropriate recreational activities, sports, and games, see the Memory Alpha article on recreational activities.

Piloting and Driving Specialties

...as long as you're using thrust as lift in order to stay aloft, then you're using areospace. Once you're staying aloft because you've achieved (or exceeded) orbital velocity, you're piloting a spaceship. In the same way, if you're achieving lift by an airfoil, then you're flying an aircraft--Lord Carnifex: Steve Jackson Games Forums - Is Piloting (Aerospace) only good for atmospheric flight?

This house rule is clears up confusion concerning the various Piloting specialties and atmospheric flight.

Pilot/TL You must specialize.

DX/Average

IQ-6 and Special

The Piloting skill and a list of specialties are given on p. B214. GURPS Spaceships p. 40 has this to say about atmospheric flight:

Two Piloting specialties come up frequently in a Star Trek campaign: Contragravity (an ultra-tech replacement for Aerospace) and High-Performance Spacecraft. The vehicle type and where/how it is being flown determine which Piloting specialization is appropriate.

Piloting Specialties and What Vehicle Under What Circumstances They’re Good For

Listings in italics occur routinely in Star Trek campaigns.

Piloting (Contragravity)

Shuttlecraft maneuvering surface-to-orbit

Fighters maneuvering and not engaged in combat maneuvers

Fighters maneuvering in trace or no atmosphere and engaged in combat maneuvers

Aircars (except for primitive (TL9) models)

Hoverbikes (except for primitive (TL9) models)

Hovercars (except for primitive (TL9) models)

Piloting (High-Performance Spacecraft)

Starships in orbit and in open space

Shuttlecraft in orbit and in open space

Fighters in open space and not engaged in combat maneuvers

Piloting (VERTOL)

Starship maneuvering surface-to-orbit (e.g. an emergency surface landing, which uses thrusters)

Primitive (TL9) Aircars

Piloting (High-Performance Airplane)

Fighters in atmosphere engaged in combat maneuvers

Vehicles and What Piloting Specialties Are Used to Fly Them

Listings in italics occur routinely in Star Trek campaigns.

Aircars, Hoverbikes, and Hovercars

Most models - use Piloting (Contragravity) (some vehicles will have a Driving (Automobile or Motorcycle) option)

Primitive (TL9) models - use Piloting (VERTOL) (some vehicles will have a Driving (Automobile or Motorcycle) option)

Fighters

Combat Maneuvers in Atmosphere - use Piloting (High-Performance Airplane)

Combat Maneuvers in Trace or No Atmosphere - use Piloting (Contragravity)

Non-Combat Maneuvers - use Piloting (Contragravity)

Travel Surface to Orbit - use Piloting (Contragravity)

Travel Orbit to Open Space - use Piloting (High-Performance Spacecraft)

Shuttlecraft

Maneuvers - use Piloting (Contragravity)

Travel Surface to Orbit - use Piloting (Contragravity)

Travel Orbit to Open Space - use Piloting (High-Performance Spacecraft)

Starships

Travel Surface to Orbit - use Piloting (VERTOL)

Travel Orbit to Open Space - use Piloting (High-Performance Spacecraft)

Maneuvers in Open Space - use Piloting (High-Performance Spacecraft)

Driving/TL You must specialize.

DX/Average

DX-5 or IQ-5

Less wealthy individuals, enthusiasts, eccentrics, or lower tech level communities might drive groundcars instead of aircars. Others might use them as back-up vehicles. They are significantly cheaper.

Common Driving Specialties

Automobile

Motorcycle