CyberPunk Races

Here's the ins and outs of what types of things you can play in the CP/SR system. Granted, we go beyond the strict CP2020 system here to give you a bit of leeway, but remember, this ain't no fantasy game, so please leave the pixies in your pocket. If you want to go outside of these guidelines, contact a moderator and lay it out, but I can tell you from the start it's gonna be a tough sell. No dimension jumpers, shape-shifters, or time travelers will be allowed, period.

Human

Homo sapiens sapiens
Average Height: Male 70 in., Female 65 in.
Average Weight: Male 170 lbs, Female 120 lbs.

Natural Lifespan: Male 72 yrs, Female 77 yrs

Hopefully you know what these are, since presumably you are one. These are the vast majority of the populace in 2020, although some of them seldom appear to be what they were at birth. Most have at least aesthetic alterations, many have extensive cyberware. Some humans opt to look like something altogether, and these are known as 'Tweaks'...ie, the nut who has an obsession with 20th century sci-fi and gets himself sculpted to look like a Klingon...hey, you like the forehead ridges? Go to it, chombatta.

Aliens (Highriders)

Homo sapiens sapiens, type II
Average Height: Male 72 in., Female 68 in.
Average Weight: Male 150 lbs, Female 100 lbs.

Natural Lifespan: Male 74 yrs, Female 78 yrs

Stop dreaming...we ain't gonna let you bring in the she-bitch with the razor throat. True extraterrestrial life forms are wiped out the instant they hit Terran space by the ever-xenophobic Terran Space Guard. Aliens refers to those humans who live and work in Orbital and Lunar colonies. They generally have weaker body types due to lower gravity and sometimes require tech-assistance on the planet surface for the simple joys of life, like breathing without their lungs collapsing. They are typically taller than surface based humans, with a lighter, less dense body structure, and are somewhat weak in the immune system as well, having spent most of their lives in the sterile climate of space. However, in a low gravity environment they are much more agile than surface dwellers, and are almost immune to motion and space sickness, since their inner ears have become adjusted to the bizarre and sometimes sudden pressure changes of orbital life. Though they are generally considered too twisted for talk shows by the 'grounders' on Earth, they qualify for full human rights and Terran citizenship.

Elves

Homo sapiens nobilis
Average Height: Male 75 in., Female 70 in.
Average Weight: Male 160 lbs, Female 112 lbs.

Natural Lifespan: unknown, possibly 200 years

Adapted from the ShadowRun system, elves are allowed, but it's not quite the same as D&D. Elves (along with dwarves, orcs, and trolls) are the result of the mutated reappearance of a strain of DNA suppressed in the human race since the Dark Ages. Elves are essentially merely a variant of the human species, having pointed ears, and tall, slender (and somewhat androgynous figured) bodies. Elves typically have a greater density of rods in their eye structures, giving them better low-light definition in their vision, which results in a more nocturnal lifestyle; however this also means that they are slightly color blind. They are typically vegetarians. Because of the very recent nature of this mutation, lifespans are based on extrapolated data, but this data has been inconclusive in regards to elves. Being very close in DNA structure to a human, elves, dwarves, orcs, and trolls are given full human rights and Terran citizen status by the Geneva Humanity Act. (Note, only the tech side of SR is allowed, no magic.)

Dwarves

Homo sapiens pumilionis
Average Height: Male 48 in., Female 46 in.
Average Weight: Male 120 lbs, Female 100 lbs.

Natural Lifespan: Male 160 yrs, Female 170 yrs

Dwarves are stocky, strong, generally hirsute (both sexes), and with high immunity to illness and disease. They have disproportionately short legs, which tends to limit their agility somewhat, long, large noses, and somewhat pointed ears. Due to mutation of the eye structure, dwarves are slightly sensative to the infrared spectrum, giving them minute IR vision. Some dwarves favor a subterranean lifestyle. They qualify for full human rights and Terran citizenship status.

Trolls

Homo sapiens ingentis
Average Height: Male 78 in., Female 75 in.
Average Weight: Male 275 lbs, Female 200 lbs.

Natural Lifespan: Male 50 yrs, Female 52 yrs

Trolls are big, ugly, and mean-tempered, and while usually unsuited to cyberware, manage to be powerful enough without it. They are generally covered in coarse hair, which may or not be a good thing...nobody has ever managed to shave one to see just how ugly they are underneath. Trolls like to keep to themselves and think of interaction with the more gracile humanoids as merely a good way to get a little aggression out of the system by starting a limb-ripping fight. The easiest way to irritate a troll is to be born. Trolls are nocturnal, with excellent night vision and superior sense of smell, though one would assume the opposite from their hygeine preferences. While barely meeting minimal standards of intelligence on average, trolls qualify for full human rights and Terran citizenship status.

Orcs

Homo sapiens robustus
Average Height: Male 70 in., Female 68 in.
Average Weight: Male 240 lbs, Female 180 lbs.

Natural Lifespan: Male 60 yrs, Female 63 yrs

Orcs are not generally regarded as attractive to any but themselves, but are much easier on the eyes than their cousins the trolls. They are in general very densely muscled, with large, somewhat flattened noses and large ears. While not as hirsuite as trolls, they nonetheless often have large patches of furry hair on their torsos. Orcs have poor eyesight but extremely sensative hearing and sense of smell. Orcs are intelligent enough to mix with normal society, but prefer to keep to themselves. Orcs are also gifted with a thick hide which acts as a decent armor on its own accord. Orcs qualify for full human rights and Terran citizenship.

Replicants and 'Borgs

Artifico sapiens erectus
Average Height: Male 70 in., Female 65 in.
Average Weight: Male 170 lbs, Female 120 lbs.

Natural Lifespan: Replicant 12-20 years, 'Borg undetermined

Replicants are sophisticated cybernetic organisms, who, along with their less sophisticated cousins, 'borgs, make up the main slave labor force in the offworld colonies. Due to the unique biotek interfacing abilities of replicants, their cyberware is vastly superior to that used by humans. Replicants look and act just like humans, including the ability to demonstrate emotions, and are therefore considered too dangerous to allow under LEO (Low Earth Orbit). Replicants can have a lifespan from 12-20 years, due to a self-terminating program designed to prevent them from becoming too powerful. 'Borgs, on the other hand, are very simple-minded machines that only follow simple programs, can be in any form from humaniod to a box on a table, and are legal on the planet surface. Replicants and 'borgs are not granted human-rights. Replicants are subject to instant termination by the special force of Terran police known as the Blade Runners if they are found out. Joy.

Bio-engineered Genetic Constructs (Gennies)

Homo mutatis
Average Height: varies by genetic mixture
Average Weight: varies by genetic mixture

Natural Lifespan: varies by genetic mixture

These are the results of DNA hybridism and manipulation by scientists. Gennies are used for labor and guard dog duty. They are only as intelligent as their creators need them to be to follow simple commands, and are fairly bestial. This is not to say that it is impossible to make a gennie that has the same functioning level and emotions as a human, but it is not considered advantageous to make them that way...after all, if you want thinking power, just get a human for the job. Gennie lifespans vary according to the cocktail used to create them, generally winding up with the shortest lifespan on the list (ie, a gennie hybrid of a human and a wolf would end up with the wolf lifespan, or about 15 years--don't argue with me on this, I'm a scientist). Gennies are sterile. They are distrusted and disliked by society in general, and do not qualify for human rights. Heck, they don't even get protection under the SPCA.

Bioroids (Full-Conversion Cyborgs)

Homo sapiens sapiens, type III
Average Height: Male 78 in., Female 72 in.
Average Weight: Male 300 lbs, Female 200 lbs.

Natural Lifespan: Male 72 yrs, Female 77 yrs

Robocop, here we come. It was once human (or at least qualified as such under Geneva) but now the only thing left that's human is the CPU. That's right, you can get everything converted but your brain, chombatta. Also know as a 'Convo'. Bioroids qualify as human because the brain DNA is still there, but what you really got is a c-psych on a leash. Bioroids are most often 'owned' by a corporation, often having gotten in that situation after being declared legally dead, the barely viable gray matter swooped down upon by a vulturous corporate biotech. It is not uncommon for Bioroids to have had their previous memories wiped during the conversion process, only adding to their lack of empathy, nor is it unusual for them to be persona non grata, since whoever they were before is dead according to the records. Voluntary full conversions also exist, but without a corp to control them, they almost always wind up being target practice for the boys at C-SWAT.

AIs (Artificial Intelligences) and Personality Constructs

Homo sapiens nebulis
Average Height: none
Average Weight: none

Natural Lifespan: indefinate

These get a bit tricky to play, since the only place they have any mobility is on the Matrix ('Net). AIs are computer systems that have become self-aware, and PConstructs (AKA Ghosts in the Machine) are previously human personalities that have been transformed into Matrix intelligences and are rarely happy about the experience. Both will usually be 'owned' by a megacorp and they do not qualify as having full human rights, although registered AIs and Constructs qualify for limited Terran citizenship. AIs and Constructs make contact with non-netrunners via monitor links and dataterms, although usually they will stay walled up in their massive and highly defensive datafortresses until they are contacted by a runner...and then they'll usually do their best to kill him just for the sheer pleasure of wiping out a frackin real spacer. (Note: Due to the extreme influence AIs and PConstructs can have, they will be reserved for NPC play only.)

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