Stats and ideas for Cylons and Visitors – 80s version

[jaz0nj4ckal]

Folks:
I know this is an open ended and subjective question; however, I am a sucker for 80s science fiction. I am trying to build the Cylons and the Visitors (lizard aliens from V) from the 80s version. I am having a hard time directing my ideas to get a baseline on what to build or how to start.

I only received the core book for Christmas, so I have not had enough to time understand the rules. In addition, no one I know plays it, but I am learning slowly, so any support and insight is greatly appreciated.

 

[Traveller-61]

Hmm.. I'd suggest the Robot book for the Cylons, but it depends on which version you are going for: the original idea of organic Cylons with the 1st, 2nd & 3rd brains, or the mechanical men with the single red eye?

DW

 

[jaz0nj4ckal]

I want to make all of them for my encounter. I suspect the blue faced guys would be a form of android, or cybernetics...while the mechnaical one would be more of a robot.

What is the robot book resource you talk about? I don't see a robot book by Mongoose?

thank you.

 

[AndrewW]

What is the robot book resource you talk about? I don't see a robot book by Mongoose?

thank you.

Book 9: Robot

http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/rpgs/traveller/core-rulebooks-accessories/book-9-robot.html

 

[jaz0nj4ckal]

the for the book...I guess I will use cybernetics for the cybernetic cylons.

thanks

 

[Jak Nazryth]

1978 was a good year. My bedroom was full of Starwars toys, and my favorite TV show came into it's own.
Battlestar Galactica was one the most watched TV show in U.S. history. I remember well the fall of 1979 sitting in front of our crappy black and white TV (because my Dad was too cheap to buy a color TV) with my best friend. We had all our BSG toys on the floor with us. Even my parents were excited to begin watching the first night of the second season. Then at 7 pm, exactly when the 2nd season was supposed to start, the following showed up on the screen.

and this is from memory...

"We apologize if we've mislead any viewers throughout the summer concerning the upcoming second season of Battlestar Galactica. While the show was an incredible success last year, due to budgetary reasons we have decided to cancel the series.
Now.. enjoy our new show, Mork and Mindy"

Even my mom screamed... "Nooooo...!"

I've never been the same since...

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

"Flynn's Guide to Alien Creation" is a good way to characterize your aliens. He expands upon the "alien traits" in the Core Rulebook and gives you tables to generate all the background/filler/biology stuff that may or may not come up in a game.

His system allows you to either roll randomly or choose from the list, so you can create your Visitors or any other alien race.

Samardan Press is his company. You can get the PDF off of RPGNow.

Highly Recommended.

 

[jaz0nj4ckal]

"Flynn's Guide to Alien Creation" is a good way to characterize your aliens. He expands upon the "alien traits" in the Core Rulebook and gives you tables to generate all the background/filler/biology stuff that may or may not come up in a game.

His system allows you to either roll randomly or choose from the list, so you can create your Visitors or any other alien race.

Samardan Press is his company. You can get the PDF off of RPGNow.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks

 

[Reynard]

I'd say Keep It Simple, Sir. I haven't found much mention showing a centurion's physical abilities. From what I remember they weren't too fast or agile and can't hit a barn door. I think they were stronger than a human so build a person and make DEX 5, STR 9 and END 7. They are neither brilliant nor stupid so INT 7. Maybe keep EDU low too as they're purpose built to fight. SOC? No, zero. For simplicity, they are immune to fatigue, disease, poisons and vacumn effects but use Endurance for other environmental dangers. As a balance, they can not heal but must be repaired.

For skills give it Athletics, Gunner(turrets), Gun combat (engery rifle), Melee (Blade), Pilot(small craft), Sensors and Zero-G. A commanding centurion could have Computer, and Leadership too.

I notice hoards of cylons get blasted and go down quite frequently so give them Reflect Armor over Cloth Armor TL 10. They carry a blaster rifle so go Laser Carbine TL 9 and a Blade for their sidearm sword. They are not juggernauts but there are lots of them.

 

[jaz0nj4ckal]

I'd say Keep It Simple, Sir. I haven't found much mention showing a centurion's physical abilities. From what I remember they weren't too fast or agile and can't hit a barn door. I think they were stronger than a human so build a person and make DEX 5, STR 9 and END 7. They are neither brilliant nor stupid so INT 7. Maybe keep EDU low too as they're purpose built to fight. SOC? No, zero. For simplicity, they are immune to fatigue, disease, poisons and vacumn effects but use Endurance for other environmental dangers. As a balance, they can not heal but must be repaired.

For skills give it Athletics, Gunner(turrets), Gun combat (engery rifle), Melee (Blade), Pilot(small craft), Sensors and Zero-G. A commanding centurion could have Computer, and Leadership too.

I notice hoards of cylons get blasted and go down quite frequently so give them Reflect Armor over Cloth Armor TL 10. They carry a blaster rifle so go Laser Carbine TL 9 and a Blade for their sidearm sword. They are not juggernauts but there are lots of them.

Are you sure you are not one yourself? Thank you so much...I like keeping things simple but mildly detailed to keep the game running smoothly and quickly in order to focus on roleplaying.

This is great thanks so much.

 

[jaz0nj4ckal]

I'd say Keep It Simple, Sir. I haven't found much mention showing a centurion's physical abilities. From what I remember they weren't too fast or agile and can't hit a barn door. I think they were stronger than a human so build a person and make DEX 5, STR 9 and END 7. They are neither brilliant nor stupid so INT 7. Maybe keep EDU low too as they're purpose built to fight. SOC? No, zero. For simplicity, they are immune to fatigue, disease, poisons and vacumn effects but use Endurance for other environmental dangers. As a balance, they can not heal but must be repaired.

For skills give it Athletics, Gunner(turrets), Gun combat (engery rifle), Melee (Blade), Pilot(small craft), Sensors and Zero-G. A commanding centurion could have Computer, and Leadership too.

I notice hoards of cylons get blasted and go down quite frequently so give them Reflect Armor over Cloth Armor TL 10. They carry a blaster rifle so go Laser Carbine TL 9 and a Blade for their sidearm sword. They are not juggernauts but there are lots of them.

Was the Classic rules used in your example? In my Mongoose verion "Reflect Armor" is only good against lasers, or did I understand this wrong? Thank you so much for the help.

 

[locarno24]

Was the Classic rules used in your example? In my Mongoose verion "Reflect Armor" is only good against lasers, or did I understand this wrong? Thank you so much for the help.

That's correct. If I remember the cylon centurion was immune to low-velocity lever guns (in one episode) but that armour plate (if it was armour plate) never seemed to trouble colonial troops in the slightest, even with sidearms. Assuming the colonial sidearm is a laser pistol (3d6), and the 'pneumo' was something of 1-2 d6 damage, then armour 7-8 is enough to make the distinction. If you make it armour 10 due to poly carapace, then that's a second DEX DM, which explains the grud-awful marksmanship...

Stats look about right. Centurions could be beaten up close and personal but it wasn't easy.

 

[jaz0nj4ckal]

Was the Classic rules used in your example? In my Mongoose verion "Reflect Armor" is only good against lasers, or did I understand this wrong? Thank you so much for the help.

That's correct. If I remember the cylon centurion was immune to low-velocity lever guns (in one episode) but that armour plate (if it was armour plate) never seemed to trouble colonial troops in the slightest, even with sidearms. Assuming the colonial sidearm is a laser pistol (3d6), and the 'pneumo' was something of 1-2 d6 damage, then armour 7-8 is enough to make the distinction. If you make it armour 10 due to poly carapace, then that's a second DEX DM, which explains the grud-awful marksmanship...

Stats look about right. Centurions could be beaten up close and personal but it wasn't easy.

You make a good point. I was making my Centurions somewhat immune to Slug-Pistols,rifles,carbines - so the armor values would be high against damage from these weapons; however, laser based weapons did damage due to the type of armor.

thanks for the input.

 

[Beastttt]

Zombies that do not need to be shot in the head and no transforming in to 1 if bit

you not out numbered you just have a wide shot selection(living steel)

I'd say Keep It Simple, Sir. I haven't found much mention showing a centurion's physical abilities. From what I remember they weren't too fast or agile and can't hit a barn door. I think they were stronger than a human so build a person and make DEX 5, STR 9 and END 7. They are neither brilliant nor stupid so INT 7. Maybe keep EDU low too as they're purpose built to fight. SOC? No, zero. For simplicity, they are immune to fatigue, disease, poisons and vacumn effects but use Endurance for other environmental dangers. As a balance, they can not heal but must be repaired.

For skills give it Athletics, Gunner(turrets), Gun combat (engery rifle), Melee (Blade), Pilot(small craft), Sensors and Zero-G. A commanding centurion could have Computer, and Leadership too.

I notice hoards of cylons get blasted and go down quite frequently so give them Reflect Armor over Cloth Armor TL 10. They carry a blaster rifle so go Laser Carbine TL 9 and a Blade for their sidearm sword. They are not juggernauts but there are lots of them.

 

[locarno24]

You make a good point. I was making my Centurions somewhat immune to Slug-Pistols,rifles,carbines - so the armor values would be high against damage from these weapons; however, laser based weapons did damage due to the type of armor.

thanks for the input.

An anti-impact version of Reflec, essentially? Doubling up the armour against kinetic attacks.

 

[Reynard]

"Was the Classic rules used in your example? In my Mongoose verion "Reflect Armor" is only good against lasers, or did I understand this wrong? Thank you so much for the help."

I was using Mongoose. Cylons are bright and shiney so I figure they have reflect armor. That makes them very resistant to lasers but other attacks have no problem. As I said, they go down easy in the series so Cloth TL 10 is adequate defense without making them unstopable. I'm sure the original shiney armor was cool 70s disco look but why not assume cylons actually want a standard laser defense.

 

[jaz0nj4ckal]

You make a good point. I was making my Centurions somewhat immune to Slug-Pistols,rifles,carbines - so the armor values would be high against damage from these weapons; however, laser based weapons did damage due to the type of armor.

thanks for the input.

An anti-impact version of Reflec, essentially? Doubling up the armour against kinetic attacks.

Yeah - that is a better way to put it "anti-impact version of Reflec".

 

[JRoss]

I'd humbly suggest using the book, Supplement 8: Cybernetics for the Cylons instead of Robot. You can create robots with that book by just viewing the resulting characters as fully robotic. It's a lot more fun with many more options.

 

[jaz0nj4ckal]

I'd humbly suggest using the book, Supplement 8: Cybernetics for the Cylons instead of Robot. You can create robots with that book by just viewing the resulting characters as fully robotic. It's a lot more fun with many more options.

Thanks!!! I do not have supplement book 8 or 9 yet, but I hope to get them soon.

 

[JRoss]

Robot is Book 9: Robot, Cybernetics is Supplement 8: Cybernetics. There is the "Book" line that details careers, and the "Supplement" line that details everything else. Cyborg is an odd case in that it is just as much, if not more so of a career book than Robot. So, if you look up "Book 8" you'll find Dilettante (best Career book yet), and if you look up Supplement 9 you'll find Supplement 9: Library Data. Easiest to search for Mongoose Traveller Cybernetics or Mongoose Traveller Robot.