Searching for canon Charted Space alien races

[Prodromoi]

Hello folks,

I’m looking for suggestions, please, for existing canon Charted Space races which fit the following criteria for something that I’m writing.

• Tall (8 – 9 feet, 2.4 – 2.7 metres, or thereabouts)
  
  
• Has arms/limbs with hands/manipulators capable of using human or human style tools or equipment.
  
  
• Reasonable strength/bulk but doesn't have to be outrageous. But not weedy and waiflike.
  
  
• Able to conveniently interact with humans, Aslan, etc. So probably carbon based, oxygen breathing rather than needing exotic atmospheres or survival equipment.
  
  
• Comfortable with TL of around 9-13 (higher is OK).
  
  
• Can be broadly humanoid, but this is not critical.
  
  
• Native to Charted Space (Third Imperium preferable, but not critical if other criteria are good matches).

Might have got away with using a K’Kree, but they'd not fit with the idea in mind, being too antagonist.

Currently the closest fit I have in mind is an above-average height Tyui/Vegan (of Muan Gwi). However, I’d prefer a bit stronger and more dextrous, to fit the criteria.

This is for a relatively minor character (but still I want to get things right), so it doesn’t warrant creating a new race – I would simply like to find an existing race which is close enough to these criteria. If all else fails there are some still undefined races which I could look at – but I’d prefer the easy option first!

Suggestions please?

Thanks in advance.
A

 

[Grognardia]

First thing that came to mind: https://wiki.travellerrpg.com/Amindii

All Amindii Travellers have the following modifiers applied to their characteristics: STR 3D, DEX +1.
Additionally, activators receive STR +2 and EDU -2, whilst bearers receive END +1.

 

[Prodromoi]

First thing that came to mind: https://wiki.travellerrpg.com/Amindii

All Amindii Travellers have the following modifiers applied to their characteristics: STR 3D, DEX +1.
Additionally, activators receive STR +2 and EDU -2, whilst bearers receive END +1.

It's an interesting thought, thank you. I hadn't considered Amindii in this context as we already have one as a player character. They tend to be rare beyond Regina and the immediate vicinity. It's an option. Still interested in hearing other suggestions, though.

 

[Anstett]

This sounds like a job for @mavikfelna

Thread 'Species (Races) in MgT 2e'

Sep 4, 2025

I have been assembling a comprehensive list of the careers and races in the published books and JTAS. I probably should have recorded page numbers but never the less, here is the list. A note, I don't know if I have all the abbreviations correct but I just used the book name initials.
There are over 100 species, sub-species and cultural groups in the various books.

(Edited: removed broken table and fixed species list, Further updated with corrected species. 20/9/25 Updated Floriani. 14/4/26 added new species from latest MgT 2e books)

Species list
Species Subrace/Caste/Alternate Name...

• mavikfelna
• Replies: 80
• Forum: Traveller

• 
• 

 

[mavikfelna]

This sounds like a job for @mavikfelna

Thread 'Species (Races) in MgT 2e'

Sep 4, 2025

I have been assembling a comprehensive list of the careers and races in the published books and JTAS. I probably should have recorded page numbers but never the less, here is the list. A note, I don't know if I have all the abbreviations correct but I just used the book name initials.
There are over 100 species, sub-species and cultural groups in the various books.

(Edited: removed broken table and fixed species list, Further updated with corrected species. 20/9/25 Updated Floriani. 14/4/26 added new species from latest MgT 2e books)

Species list
Species Subrace/Caste/Alternate Name...

• mavikfelna
• Replies: 80
• Forum: Traveller

• 
• 

Yer putt'n me on tha spot thar Anstett!
I'll check after work. But first thought is Vrushii, but they may be too large.

 

[Prodromoi]

Virushi are a possibility - I haven't used them before. Thank you.

Other things I'm debating as possibles:

Sydites are another nearly-possible. TL is a bit low for what I'm aiming for.
Zhurphani - but like the Amindii, already have a Zhuphani in play.
Ithklur - interesting, but so far into the Hiver polity that I can't imagine many are "wandering loose" in the Third Imperium.
Kirissukyoya - tempting. Largely undefined, but the little bits I've found might well suit. (But do I really want to flesh out the whole race for a single minor character!)

Still happy for alternative options!

 

[mavikfelna]

Here's what I come up with a quick pass:
Amindii (JTAS9 p62)

Ael Yael (JTAS3 p47) - tall fliers, no stat mods

Alikaia (DNR1 p60) - Warriors are largish, STR +1, DEX +2

ESLYAT (SE p238) - Tall, but slender reptilians, Male STR +1

GITHIASKIO (JTAS2 p38) - Squiddies, largeish but no stat mods

GMINA (SE p77) - large centaur scorpions, 2D+4 for STR, roll 1D for EDU and have SOC 2, DEX-1.

HHKAR (JTAS12 p90) - Strong reptiles, not necessarily really tall, STR +3

ITHKLUR (JTAS7 p37)

KTIAUAO (SE p82) - STR +1, DEX +2, not necessarily very tall

LURENT (BtC p173, BaEdtFFW p8) - very large, STR 2D +4, non-vocal communications

NENLAT (JTAS10 p61) - STR +1

SAURIAN (BtC p66) - STR +2

TENIPAL (DR2 p11) - unimaginative humanoid, STR +2, END +2, INT –2, EDU –3

VIRUSHI (TDatD p30, JTAS5 p54) - Very large, STR & END 1D+10, DEX +2

Alikaia Warrior, Virushi Tenipal, Saurian and Hhkar seem best fit for what you described. Ktiauoa isn't as big and more agile than strong but still would be interesting.

 

[Peter Cohen]

Alikaia Warrior, Virushi Tenipal, Saurian and Hhkar seem best fit for what you described.

I wouldn't recommend Saurians. I love 'em, but they're dumb as rocks and not at all used to working with high-tech, well, anything. Their society is still in the stone age. Some Saurians have been integrated into the society of the humans that have settled on their homeworld, but even that's just TL7.

SAURIAN (BtC p66) - STR +2

Also, small correction, but they have some other stat modifiers aside from this. They get STR +2 and END +2, and they also roll 2D3 for INT and 1D for EDU. They also get +2 natural protection.

---

Okay, so this is totally unrelated to the Saurians and all that, I just wanted to say that I was really thrown by the whole Amindii thing. I got Behind the Claw recently and I've been reading through it, so imagine my surprise when I'm just reading through forum posts and I find out that Regina has an indigenous sophont species which isn't mentioned at all in the sourcebook which describes Regina in detail. Would've been cool to have them in there, they seem pretty neat.

 

[mavikfelna]

I wouldn't recommend Saurians. I love 'em, but they're dumb as rocks and not at all used to working with high-tech, well, anything. Their society is still in the stone age. Some Saurians have been integrated into the society of the humans that have settled on their homeworld, but even that's just TL7.


Also, small correction, but they have some other stat modifiers aside from this. They get STR +2 and END +2, and they also roll 2D3 for INT and 1D for EDU. They also get +2 natural protection.

---

Okay, so this is totally unrelated to the Saurians and all that, I just wanted to say that I was really thrown by the whole Amindii thing. I got Behind the Claw recently and I've been reading through it, so imagine my surprise when I'm just reading through forum posts and I find out that Regina has an indigenous sophont species which isn't mentioned at all in the sourcebook which describes Regina in detail. Would've been cool to have them in there, they seem pretty neat.

I probably missed modifiers on several, since I was only looking for STR and DEX and if they were large. But you're right on Saurians being a poor fit, I didn't properly consider their barbarian nature.

 

[rinku]

My favourite are the Virushi. Love those guys.

But the Ithklur suit pretty well, and there's a LOT of lore out there for them. And they do have modern character creation rules, from JTAS 7.
STR and END +1, EDU rolled on D6+1, but not dumb or clumsy. They also have a bonus to agility style tasks like balancing because of their tail.
They replace SOC with Resolve (RES), starting at D6+1, but increasing as they succeed in their careers and approach enlightenment.

Journal 7 is solid for them, but eventually they should get into a sourcebook, whenever Mongoose gets around to detailing the Hive Federation.

Definitely familiar with modern technology.

 

[Sigtrygg]

What about the uplifted great apes and bears?

 

[Condottiere]

But are they aliens?

 

[Sigtrygg]

Unless they are native to the planet on which the adventure is set then they are aliens by definition...

 

[Prodromoi]

Here's what I come up with a quick pass:
Amindii (JTAS9 p62)
Ael Yael (JTAS3 p47) - tall fliers, no stat mods
Alikaia (DNR1 p60) - Warriors are largish, STR +1, DEX +2
ESLYAT (SE p238) - Tall, but slender reptilians, Male STR +1
GITHIASKIO (JTAS2 p38) - Squiddies, largeish but no stat mods
GMINA (SE p77) - large centaur scorpions, 2D+4 for STR, roll 1D for EDU and have SOC 2, DEX-1.
HHKAR (JTAS12 p90) - Strong reptiles, not necessarily really tall, STR +3
ITHKLUR (JTAS7 p37)
KTIAUAO (SE p82) - STR +1, DEX +2, not necessarily very tall
LURENT (BtC p173, BaEdtFFW p8) - very large, STR 2D +4, non-vocal communications
NENLAT (JTAS10 p61) - STR +1
SAURIAN (BtC p66) - STR +2
TENIPAL (DR2 p11) - unimaginative humanoid, STR +2, END +2, INT –2, EDU –3
VIRUSHI (TDatD p30, JTAS5 p54) - Very large, STR & END 1D+10, DEX +2
Alikaia Warrior, Virushi Tenipal, Saurian and Hhkar seem best fit for what you described. Ktiauoa isn't as big and more agile than strong but still would be interesting.

Very comprehensive list, thank you.

I already checked through all of these, actually, and others - however it's good to see there weren't species/races that I'd missed.

A couple of the races that seem likely "statwise" I've decided against because they're simply too far outside the Third Imperium, or client races of hostile/semi-hostile polities, or just very new starfaring races which would be unlikely to fit the 'feel' I'm looking for. Namely, something in the realms of "oh, is that a - whatever race?" rather than a "I have no idea what that is". So common-to-uncommon is fine, but not outlandishly rare.

My shortlist is probably:
Virushi. Hadn't really given those much consideration until they were mentioned here. Might well work.
Sydites are another nearly-possible. TL is a bit low for what I'm aiming for, so will need to think on that.
Zhurphani - but like the Amindii, already have a Zhuphani in play. However, I do like Zhurphani.
Kirissukyoya - tempting. Largely undefined, but the little bits I've found might well suit. (But do I really want to flesh out the whole race for a single minor character!)
Vegan - a somewhat above-average height Vegan might suit. (A bit lacking in strength and dex, so this would be the fallback option if all else had failed!)

Probably not making the shortlist:
Ithklur - interesting, but so far into the Hiver polity that I can't imagine many are "wandering loose" in the Third Imperium.
Amindii - probably not, but interesting suggestion. We already have Amindii represented, and they tend to be rare off Regina.

 

[rinku]

Probably not making the shortlist:
Ithklur - interesting, but so far into the Hiver polity that I can't imagine many are "wandering loose" in the Third Imperium.

Hmmm. Hivers are curious, meddlesome busybodies and can often be found far afield. And potentially any roaming Hiver might bring along a couple of Ithklur.

And the Ithklur themselves can be quite adventurous. They're often fans of Terran culture, so I could see some making pilgrimages to the big smoke.

 

[Peter Cohen]

Hmmm. Hivers are curious, meddlesome busybodies and can often be found far afield. And potentially any roaming Hiver might bring along a couple of Ithklur.

And the Ithklur themselves can be quite adventurous. They're often fans of Terran culture, so I could see some making pilgrimages to the big smoke.

Great point! If it'd fit the campaign, making this NPC an errant Ithklur could be a great hook to get the party into some Hiver shenanigans.

Also, thanks for inadvertently teaching me a new bit of British slang.

 

[rinku]

Huh. I thought it was just Australian. We use "Big Smoke" to generally to refer to a bigger city than where you usually live, if that's regional. Especially the capital city of a state.

So, as a native Launcestonian, I might refer to Hobart that way - but also Melbourne or Sydney. But not Ballarat or Devonport.

 

[Prodromoi]

On reflection, I'm now wondering about using an Ithklur for this after all. Their overall racial psychology lends itself nicely to what I have in mind - or near enough, anyway. Which means I might just have to completely relocate what I had in mind from one side of the Third Imperium to the other, and set it in the Old Expanses or Diaspora.

Time for a-pondering...

 

[Sigtrygg]

Your pondering raises one of my 'complaints' about the setting - the wasted potential of alien polities and species.

An adventure set in the Marches or nearby has plenty of opportunity for shenanigans involving Vargr, Bwap, Aslan, plus the many other races we now know about.

But it is stretching credibility to Hive Federation races as common encounters in that part of the Imperium. Which is likely why the Hivers, The Ithklur and the few other races that are common in Federation Space are a referee contrivance if they are to be encountered.

Or as you say you can change your sector of choice, but then you are a long way from some of the best adventures and supplemental material.

Its a shame that the lore didn't make the Hive Federation races much more widespread in the Imperium somehow.

 

[rinku]

"Common"? No.

"At all for this particular campaign"? Why not?

Hivers are explorers and scientists. And quite curious. There are definitely things of interest in the Spinward Marches for them, and the appearance of a travelling Hiver group is not unreasonable.

The SM is an established region where Ancient sites are more common than average. It's the logical place for a Hiver group to go to to do Zhodani, Droyne or Vargr studies. Or Darrians. There may be less obvious reasons for them to be present (there are ALWAYS less obvious reasons when Hivers are involved...)

And... encounters with rare and unusual things should be par for the course in a Traveller game. I'd wager there's more Hivers in Regina Subsector than Sector Dukes. Or missing warships with mad computers. Or weird derelicts that power up by collecting solar energy.

By comparison, Hivers are a rare, but not extremely rare encounter.

And... they DO establish embassies and trade missions. Encountering them at a sector capital would not be stretching things, anywhere, any more than it would be to encounter a Human from Deneb in a trade mission in the Federation. Because of travel times, generally, there will be a small number of all the prominent alien species born and raised outside of their ancestral areas, concentrated around worlds that matter politically and economically.