Vocations

The persona’s attribute scores determine her vocation. The attribute minimums for vocations are present to maintain game balance. Veterinarians need Charisma, and nomads need Awareness and mercenaries need Hit Points. The attribute score must be greater than or equal to the vocation requirement. For example, a biologist must have a combined Awareness and Intelligence greater than or equal to 18. A persona with a 4 INT and a 14 AWE can become a biologist. Usually, a player will have a list of vocations to choose from for her persona. The default anthro vocation is the nothing vocation.

A vocation’s knowledge represents things that the persona knows. The knowledge base of the vocation represents it’s literal definition. Knowledge is split into two parts: interests and expertise. Each vocation has tables devoted to knowledge this would inform that vocation. A veterinarian has knowledge around healing, and a mercenary has knowledge around combat. This does not mean that there are some overlapping knowledge.

Knowledge is not limited to book knowledge. Some of the knowledge is definitely about how to do things. Recalling details about alien anatomy is knowledge, and being skilled at cutting meat cakes is also knowledge. Knowing how to sharpen a knife is knowledge, but actually sharpening the knife is a task. Without getting over philosophical: anything that assists a player’s roll in succeeding at a task is knowledge.

There are two areas of knowledge: interest and expertise. Each vocation has dedicated interest and expertise tables. The player can roll randomly on, or select from, these tables. Players can also create bespoke knowledge, but this is only recommended for experienced play tables.

A task is anything that a persona tries to do. Vocations have lists of tasks that are best performed by a specific vocation. However, vocations can attempt each other’s tasks as task rolls. Some tasks are entirely vocation specific. For example, assassination can only be attempted by a spie, and a mercenary would not be good at tracking.

The persona’s interests, expertise and experience level determine how well the persona performs at a task. Initially some tasks will be out of reach as the player could not beat the listed difficulty. For the intricate details of how to resolve tasks in EXP jump to Task Rolls.

The persona should have at least a keen interest, or possibly an obsession, with her vocation. Veterinarians should show compassion and a desire to heal. Biologists should show respect, if not awe, for the natural organic world. Anti-knites should take on any opportunity to increase the universe’s entropy level.

Players that do not role-play their persona’s vocation can face challenges. Villainous veterinarians and altruistic anti-knites may see their tasks weaken. Nomads living in decadent luxury will find their survival tasks starting to rust.

Initially, their actions will cost them vocation related experience points. Continuing transgressions may make it impossible for the persona to carry out her tasks. A murderous veterinarian may find that her tasks don’t work well on those who know the truth.

A player may want to have a persona with more than one vocation. Inexperienced players or referees should avoid multi-vocation personas. The persona must have the attribute requirements for both vocations.

There are situations where the ref and players may allow a persona to have more than one vocation. A player may wish to change things up with her persona. The expedition may need a particular vocation, and a player volunteers to cross-train her persona. For example, a mercenary persona may add in the mechanic vocation to ensure maintenance of the the spaceship’s naval artillery.

The referee is the final arbiter on multi-vocation personas. Less mature players may abuse this privilege. The referee decides if the player is combining or switching personas in good faith.

The vocations in this section represent the anthropomorphic pursuits of knowledge and skill. Robots do not pursue a specific vocation, and are considered a vocation unto themselves. Robots have series and models that are built to fulfill specific goals. These goals are the robot’s vocation. In a sense a robot does not have a vocation, a robot is a vocation.

Playing a robot persona is very challenging and not recommended for neophytes. Robots engage in the milieu the same as any other player persona. Robots can earn experience, gain levels and improve their free will.

A robot may acquire an anthro vocation through programming, peripherals, or malfunction. Robots with anthro vocations are an edge case, and the referee and player must decide how to integrate this combined pathway.

To pursue a player persona robot, jump to Robots.

The vocations in this section are anthropomorphic pursuits of knowledge and skill. Aliens do not pursue a specific vocation, and are considered a vocation unto themselves. Aliens have goals of energy procurement and reproduction and have evolved to fulfill those goals. These goals are the alien’s vocation. In a sense an alien does not have a vocation, an alien is a vocation.

Playing an alien persona is challenging and not recommended for neophytes. Aliens engage in the milieu the same as any other player persona. Aliens can earn experience, gain levels, and improve their evolutations and combat skills.

An alien can be born into a society that has education and vocation. Under these circumstances the alien can pursue an anthro vocation. Aliens with anthro vocations are an edge case, and the referee and player must decide how to integrate this combined pathway.

To pursue a player persona alien, jump to Aliens.

It is a good idea to take a vocation once in a while. Relaxing vocations that connect with nature are healthy. However, improving one’s lifestyle is much more effective at reducing stress than a holiday vocation.