Wisdom from the Wastelands issue 40: New Races 2 Bonus Content

Originally I had intended on writing up a series of issues that introduced several familiar alien races to the Mutant Future game. In the end I decided to drop these possible issues as inappropriate for the genre.

But during this period I was also writing the latest New Races issue and had taken the time to create a new race that was based upon the aliens I had planned on introducing. I won’t deny that they were heavily influenced by the series ‘Outlanders’ by Mark Ellis.

Originally I had intended on writing up a series of issues that introduced several familiar alien races to the Mutant Future game. In the end I decided to drop these possible issues as inappropriate for the genre.

But during this period I was also writing the latest New Races issue and had taken the time to create a new race that was based upon the aliens I had planned on introducing. I won’t deny that they were heavily influenced by the series ‘Outlanders’ by Mark Ellis.

This particular race had been written and I was going to include it but when I made the decision to not bother with the Alien races issues of WftW, it ended up on the cutting room floor.

So here it is, added to the issue as purely bonus material.

Hybrids

It is a well-known fact that humanity encountered numerous alien races before the final wars nearly destroyed the planet. If the rumors are to be believed, many of the so-called mutant species that can be found roaming the wastelands are in fact Alien survivors, trying to eke out a living in the new and extremely deadly environment.

Before the final wars there was experimentation with the mingling of human and alien DNA. Most of the time, these experiments failed outright. Often the union of genetic material produced monstrosities that had to be destroyed, although once again it is speculated that they were allowed to live and were the basis of many of the horrible monsters that roam the wastes.  In the end, one particular race of aliens, a race that has supposedly been on earth for tens of thousands of years, was discovered that viable hybrids could be conceived. This particular race of aliens was known as the Reptilians, due to their physical appearance. They were also known as the Annunaki.

These aliens were capable of mating with humans, although only the males could impregnate human females. It was discovered that the females of the species could not be impregnated by human males.

The offspring, like their parents, are cold, calculating and very arrogant. They possess emotions, but they are carefully suppressed. Still, once an emotion comes to the surface, the hybrid will feel the emotion far more intently than normal humans or mutants would. This can often be a major drawback, especially in the new world where there are drugs and mutations that can affect ones emotional state. Those who are unlucky enough to gain the empathy mutation often end up committing suicide, or become recluses or hermits due being incapable of dealing with the emotions they feel from those around them.

Appearance: Hybrids closely resemble their human parents, although they are usually much taller and leaner. The average hybrid is between 6 and 7 feet in height, although some have been known to achieve 8 feet. Like their alien parents, even though they are lean, they weigh an average of 25% more than other humans their size.

All hybrids have six fingers and toes, although they lack the claws that are present in pure Annunaki. The heads are only slightly larger than a human’s, but this is not readily apparent, unless someone is scrutinizing them.  The features are also very human, but a light freckling of scales are present along the cheeks, running under the eyes and sometimes across the forehead. These scales are also found along the spinal column and down the throat, which travel down the side of the body and meet at the tailbone. The scales always represent the Annunaki parentage, being the same color as the parent. Both men and women have hair, and like the scales, the color is the same as the Annunaki parents.

Hit Dice: 1d6 per point of Constitution, with a maximum Constitution score of 21.

Mutations: Annunaki Hybrids will never possess any sort of genetic defect. Those who mated with mutant humans simply would not allow for that to happen. All hybrids possess the following mutations: bizarre appearance (scales, see appearance), increased balance, and increased physical attribute (strength).  Offspring will have a slight chance of having one or two additional physical mutations. Roll 1d4-2 for the number of additional physical mutations, and they cannot be drawbacks. Mental mutations are more common, however, and the hybrids may possess 1d4-1 non-drawback mental mutations. 50% of the time the mental mutation will be Neural Telepathy. Once it has been rolled, then the hybrid does not have to check again.

Statistic Modifiers: Hybrids gain +4 to Strength and +2 to Intelligence. Due to the inherent arrogance of the Hybrids, they also suffer a –3 to both Will Power and Charisma.

Bonuses/Drawbacks: Hybrids will never gain mutation due to exposure to radiation, and they gain a +4 to all saving throws versus radiation, poison and disease. They are also subject to AI recognition (if the rules from Wisdom from the Wasteland issue 4: New Races) are used. Due to their emotional state, whenever they are exposed to any sort of mutation, drug or other effect that will alter emotions, the hybrid suffers a -4 to the saving throw (if one is required) and any effects are not only doubled, but the length of time they remain in effect is doubled as well.

Chris Van Deelen is the author of the Skirmisher Publishing LLC sourcebook  Creatures of the Tropical Wastes  sourcebook, co-author of its  Wisdom from the Wastelands  game supplement and contributor to the  'Sword of Kos: Hekaton'  Anthology.