Aslans going rogue

[ShawnDriscoll]

In the Alien Module 1 book:
If an Aslan is in the Spacer career and then later decides to leave and qualify for Space Officer, does he use his Rite of Passage to qualify again? If so, what happens of he fails to qualify? Does he go directly to the Outcast career with no chance of qualifying for anything else except for the Outlaw career? Or can he choose to qualify for the Scientist Career?

 

[Nathan Brazil]

First, I would think that your Rite of Passage number remains unchanged. The implication of that term implies a one time test (excuse me, I would like to retest to become a better adult :wink: for example.)

 

[Nathan Brazil]

1.I would use the Rite of Passage (or INT for scientists as is listed) if the Aslan is attempting to qualify for a second career in Aslan space.

2a.Being in Aslan space, if I fail the second career attempt (even as a scientist), I can attempt tol become an outlaw/outcast/pirate or muster out and begin play. Aslan society will treat me as outlaw/outcast/pirate. Even the scientists. They are Aslan too.

2b.If I fail, I can enter non-Aslan space and join a second career under "normal" qualification. Aslan society will treat me as a "barbarian" because I did not accept my demoted outlaw/outcast/pirate status.
Hidebound Aslan society treat the character as such even if the character (or player) does not like that. It would suck, but that is hidebound Aslan society for you.

From a story viewpoint, doing this also reinforces the relative lack of social mobility. Unless you think that Aslan can duel their way up to the top.

 

[ShawnDriscoll]

First, I would think that your Rite of Passage number remains unchanged. The implication of that term implies a one time test (excuse me, I would like to retest to become a better adult :wink: for example.)

I thought about that. The book vaguely mentions a one-time test at age 16 that has to be done only at age 16. But what test is used for other careers after? Or do Aslan only choose one career in their lifetime? And if so, where do they go next if they a forced out of a career (failed their survival roll)?

All my Aslan characters will end up being Outcasts or Outlaws, the way I'm doing CharGen now. Which doesn't make much sense. To be honest, I have not read through all the careers yet to see if any hidden clues are there for a character's fate.

 

[Egil Skallagrimsson]

Yes, there is a little problem here, because after qualifying for his first career, the Aslan still has similar chances to be ejected in term 1 or 2. The sourcebook suggests that Aslan typically stay in one career for longer, but what happens if they are forced to leave early? What about the rule that characters can only do a career once, and must try something else if ejected (to be honest, we usually ignore that rule)?

Our solution is to allow the rite score to be reused, and to allow Aslan to re-enter their original career path, but back at level 0 (and possibly with some scars).

Egil

 

[Nathan Brazil]

I thought about that. The book vaguely mentions a one-time test at age 16 that has to be done only at age 16. But what test is used for other careers after? Or do Aslan only choose one career in their lifetime? And if so, where do they go next if they a forced out of a career (failed their survival roll)?

All my Aslan characters will end up being Outcasts or Outlaws, they way I'm doing CharGen now. Which doesn't make much sense. To be honest, I have not read through all the careers yet to see if any hidden clues are there for a character's fate.

The rules and game mechanics on how to achieve the Rite number are clear on page 5. The vagueness is the description of what the Rite of Passage is in to the Aslan growing up other than "fitness to enter society".

As far as the career selection goes, it is quite clear on how long you must remain:

After serving at least three terms in a career other than Outcast or Pirate an Aslan character may attempt to qualify for another career using the standard rules – the Aslan are a more hidebound culture than the Imperium and expect characters to remain in a single career for some time.

So three terms of service in only one career or muster out. On the 4th term, you can switch. How many terms are you trying keep your Aslan characters and why switch them. From a roleplaying/story standpoint that does not sound Aslan-like. To me at least.

 

[ShawnDriscoll]

Yes, there is a little problem here, because after qualifying for his first career, the Aslan still has similar chances to be ejected in term 1 or 2. The sourcebook suggests that Aslan typically stay in one career for longer, but what happens if they are forced to leave early?

Yes. Aslan stay a minimum of 3 terms in a career. But do they go home to their clan after that? Become of bum? Do another career? They're still young. They're even younger if they are promoted to another career before the 3 terms is up (Going from Spacer to Space Officer)

After serving at least three terms in a career other than Outcast or Pirate an Aslan character may attempt to qualify for another career using the standard rules

Which standard rules exactly though?

 

[Infojunky]

Why does this thread have me pondering Feral Aslan.... Think along the lines of Feral cats who someone is feeding....

 

[GypsyComet]

Heirate Aslan are fiercely mono-cultural, so that label would apply to pretty much any Aslan outside the borders of the Heirate.

Imperialized Aslan use the Core book methods, modified only by the genetic racial traits (stats, lifespan, and urge to possess land).

 

[ShawnDriscoll]

Ok. I see now in the Outcast career that there is a chance to become a Wanderer or enter a career from the core rulebook. So Outcast is not a dead end 100% of the time.

ADDED:
I fixed things so that the Outcast career is gone through only once. Otherwise, it becomes a meat grinder for the character if they keep going into it. In theory, a character will have chosen a much better career to spend at least three terms in before becoming an outcast of some kind. I don't mind an outcast Aslan character for a player in a Traveller game anyway. I just don't want a half-dead outcast Aslan character.

MORE ADDED:
I have the Spacer, Space Officer, Wanderer, Outcast, and Outlaw careers programmed so far for my Aslan CharGen app. It's just gruesome, the results. Harsh living. I hope Aslan characters, and the skills for them, start looking better as I add more code for the other careers.