Strange Species

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Strange Species: Eyas Wulfantine, a Pythron

March 21, 2012by Aron Kells in Strange Species tagged ,

Most rosters in the StarBase 118 fleet are filled with members of well-known species – humans, Vulcans, Betazoids, Klingons, Trills. Spiced throughout are the uncommon species, and this series hopes to investigate those unique characters and the writers who decided to explore the strange new worlds of Trek.

from the USS Tiger-A, Eyas Wulfantine, a Pythron

Every previous article in this series has dealt with a species of some background, from the multiple appearances and mentions of the Orions and Caitians to the episodes based around the Brekkians and Gideons. The Pythrons, however, were not so lucky. “In the DS9 episode ‘The Rivals,’ a ‘Pythron’ couple were mentioned in passing (but never seen) as having been swindled by a confidence trickster on the station. … Once I had made sure there was no Memory Alpha details beyond the DS9 episode, I essentially let my imagination run riot. The sources I used were not so much Pythron-specific, but getting a better understanding of the Trek galaxy, and what an allied planet would be expected to be like. For example, how advanced would their spacecraft be or their domestic technology level – so that I wouldn’t create a race that would be too powerful or too weak vis-à-vis the established species.”

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Strange Species: S’Acul Aveunalliv, a Caitian

March 9, 2012by Aron Kells in Strange Species tagged ,

Most rosters in the StarBase 118 fleet are filled with members of well-known species – humans, Vulcans, Betazoids, Klingons, Trills. Spiced throughout are the uncommon species, and this series hopes to investigate those unique characters and the writers who decided to explore the strange new worlds of Trek.

from the USS Avandar, S’Acul Aeunalliv, a Caitian

As many forum frequenters know, S’Acul’s writer goes by “Ensign FluffyPants” there, indicating an ease with the role of the character. Yet the decision to write a Caitian was completely random and based upon the desire to write for a character that would be more challenging than a “safe” human. “I went to the ILI and started scrolling down through the names until I saw the word ‘Caitian.’ I had very limited exposure to the species, not much outside of a few novels and the animated series, but I thought it could be an interesting challenge to take on that race in particular.”

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Strange Species: Skyleena Blake, a Brekkian/Betazoid hybrid

February 28, 2012by Aron Kells in Strange Species tagged ,

Most rosters in the StarBase 118 fleet are filled with members of well-known species – humans, Vulcans, Betazoids, Klingons, Trills. Spiced throughout are the uncommon species, and this series hopes to investigate those unique characters and the writers who decided to explore the strange new worlds of Trek.

from the USS Mercury, Skyleena Blake, a Brekkian/Betazoid hybrid

For many writers, the attraction of a particular primary is in the challenge of writing that character. For Sky Blake, her writer wanted “a character that had a ‘cool’ advantage, but have a very annoying, and very hard to cope with, disadvantage.” However, Sky Blake’s creation was not solely informed by her species. “I wanted her to be the bad person with an attitude among a whole heap of good people, regardless of her species. And that is what she is. The only problem I had was that, at the time, there was no reason behind it.” The decision to make Sky at least part Betazoid seemed obvious: “I knew I wanted a Betazoid hybrid that was unable to control her telepathy as soon as I got the personality down for her.” But there are plenty of Betazoids in Starfleet and the culture has been explored in-depth; why choose a Brekkian half? “I thought of giving her the history of what no child should have to experience.”

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Strange Species: Eerie, a Brikar

February 22, 2012by Aron Kells in Strange Species tagged ,

Most rosters in the StarBase 118 fleet are filled with members of well-known species – humans, Vulcans, Betazoids, Klingons, Trills. Spiced throughout are the uncommon species, and this series hopes to investigate those unique characters and the writers who decided to explore the strange new worlds of Trek.

from the USS Avandar, Eerie, a Brikar

Writing for a Brikar is a unique challenge because the Brikars have never appeared in canon Trek; they have to date appeared only in the spin-off book series Star Trek: New Frontier. However, this nonorganic, rocklike race appealed to Mark, the writer behind tactical officer Eerie aboard the Avandar, and he set off to make the character his own. According to Mark, he already had the basic profile for Eerie before he decided to make the character a Brikar; indeed, it seems that the primary New Frontier source was not his principal guide. “I did a web search on the species and used some of that in creating the character; one of them was a Star Trek board game.  I tried to keep it  all of it in mind when describing the species.”

It is interesting to note that while the Brikar are noted as physically imposing, “statue-like,” and very strong, it is their temperaments — cold and closed-off — which seem to have informed Eerie’s character the most. “He still has a way to go, but after his time at the Academy, he knows he must open up more with others on his ship. It is slow road, but a fun on to see the development.” And the species-based physical quirks are not based solely around Eerie’s strengths: “He finds Starships cold, and likes the tactical position , as he doesn’t particularly like to sit down, as prefers to stand on duty and even off..  He is somewhat formal, and all business on duty, but will warm up a bit with close friends while off duty.”

What advice does Mark have for players interested in investigating uncommon species? “Perhaps, try to create some type of envelope for that species and work inside of the box. I like to ask myself how would the species react to certain situations, environments, etc.  I try not to stray outside of the envelope, both character and species. It is a lot of work but I have really enjoyed seeing it all come together.”

For more on Eerie, please visit his wiki page!

Strange Species: Kazazi, a Caitian

January 31, 2012by Aron Kells in Strange Species tagged

Most rosters in the StarBase 118 fleet are filled with members of well-known and allied species – humans, Vulcans, Betazoids, Klingons, Trills. But what about the lesser-known species, and the writers who create characters from those races? In this series, I explore fleet officers from unusual species and the writers behind them.

from Starbase 118 Ops,  Makombo M’kazazi (Kazazi), a Caitian

How and why did you decide to sim a Caitian?

The first reason that comes to mind is Star Trek Online. They included the Caitians as a playable character, but I suppose that doesn’t really explain why I choose the species for my character here.
To answer that I need to say that I am what is called a furry. Therefore I was quite exited that I could actually play a character that way rather then being one of the more standard species.
Of course I could have chosen from a few others, but since the dolphin was not listed and there were also no foxlike species I chose the easy way out so to say.

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Strange Species: Katy Orman, part Orion

January 18, 2012by Aron Kells in Strange Species tagged ,

Most rosters in the StarBase 118 fleet are filled with members of well-known and allied species – humans, Vulcans, Betazoids, Klingons, Trills. But what about the lesser-known species, and the writers who create characters from those races? In this series, I explore fleet officers from unusual species and the writers behind them.

from Starbase 118 Ops, Katy Orman, 1/4 Orion

How and why did you decide to sim Katy as part Orion?

Partly it’s my nigh-obsessive desire to be different.  I knew from the beginning that Katy was going to be mostly human, but the idea of a mixed-race heritage was really sparking my imagination.  So I decided to make her 1/4 alien.  1/4 seemed just right; not so alien that it informs everything she does, not so watered-down that it’s meaningless.
Why Orion?  Again, I suppose I was looking for a middle ground.  Not one of the primary races–I like the idea of going over the same issues from new perspectives, but it’s not what I was looking to do; I wanted to go over less-common issues.  And not something so obscure that we know very little about it and I’d basically be making everything up as I went along.  I think I ended up with Orion specifically because the idea of turning the oversexualised Orion female stereotype on its ear was appealing to me.
And really, it’s partly just because I like green skin.  What can I say?  I’m shallow like that.

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