(Until proven otherwise) Gentleman, ladies, can we move on now?

Fine by me! I know what it's like to bump into walls all too well.

I've never put someone on ignore so I don't know how. Can someone help me?

Go to your “Profile” page. For me, that’s a link close to the very top of the page, with a URL that looks something like https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/user/123456789-username/From there, click on the button labeled “Edit my Profile”. For me, because that link doesn’t have my username or userid in it, I can give you the exact link, which is https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?app=core&module=usercp&tab=coreFrom there, go to the “Ignore Preferences” tab. For me, that is https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?app=core&module=usercp&tab=core&area=ignoredusersFrom there, towards the bottom of the page there is a box that is labeled "Add a new user to my list”. Fill in the appropriate name , then select the checkboxes for what kind of content from them that you want to ignore, like “posts”, “signature”, and/or “messages”.Then click the “Save Changes” button at the bottom of that page.Then you’re done.EDIT: And I hope that I am not the person you’re ignoring, because I like and respect you — a lot. And if I am the person you’re ignoring, well … I still look forward to seeing your posts elsewhere on the forum.

Those feelings are definitely mutual. If I even thought about saying I was going to ignore you, I'd have to be be playing Opposite Day with SpongeBob and Patrick! I'm not in Bikini Bottom, so...

I didn't even ignore ericb! I wanted to a few times... but not knowing how forced me to be patient and that usually made the feeling go away. I did this time, too.

I'm glad I know how to ignore now, but if I could endure ericb, I can endure anyone.

Very wise, Haley, and calmly done. Best not to get drawn into online dramas.

Funnily enough, ErikB is the only person I've ever ignored here, and not because I disliked him. I decided it was best not to get suckered into a fight of the kind nobody wins.

Arguing on the Internets about pretend stats for a fictional race of sexy pink-purple people is weird, even by my standards of weird...

Thank you

I wanted to ignore eric but I didn't. Then he made a new account, anyway. I guess he had to if he wanted anyone other than me to read anything he said. Almost everyone else had ignored him... and I wasn't responding.

Now that we're back on topic, any thoughts on my idea?

I like Zeltrons. But I don't feel that their natural emphatic abilities are taken into consideration when designing their stat block. Regardless of what their ability scores are I think they should have a special ability outside of a talent or skill rank. Something like the following.

Natural Empath: A Zeltron can cause selected emotions to heighten or lessen in an engaged creature capable of feeling them. At the cost of 2 strain a Zeltron can use the Natural Empath maneuver to manipulate the emotions of a creature within short range adding a boost or setback dice to the affected creatures next skill check. A creature only gains the Natural Empath modification if it remains within short range of the Zeltron.

Now that we're back on topic, any thoughts on my idea?

I like Zeltrons. But I don't feel that their natural emphatic abilities are taken into consideration when designing their stat block. Regardless of what their ability scores are I think they should have a special ability outside of a talent or skill rank. Something like the following.

Natural Empath: A Zeltron can cause selected emotions to heighten or lessen in an engaged creature capable of feeling them. At the cost of 2 strain a Zeltron can use the Natural Empath maneuver to manipulate the emotions of a creature within short range adding a boost or setback dice to the affected creatures next skill check. A creature only gains the Natural Empath modification if it remains within short range of the Zeltron.

The effect may be what you wanted, but "empathy" has zero to do with changing the emotions of someone else, and everything to do with being able to understand emotions in someone else.

So a Natural Empath would be able to sense their target's emotion and more easily conform (or seem to be conforming) to them. Maybe change it to something with "sway", "incite", "impress", "instigate", "induce", etc.

I was never quite satisfied with the Zeltron write ups in the USM, nor does the OP's really hit the right chords in all cases, so I've put what I see as the closest to my favorite little pink devils here (with corresponding justifications).

Zeltrons are considered empaths (meaning receptive to emotion, not manipulative of) and have been associated with a similar ability to affect pheromones as the Falleen. I'm a big proponent of not re-inventing the wheel, and there are abilities already published that reflect these talents.

For their empathy, the Arcona in Far Horizons have an ability called Mood Readers: They may add 1 Advantage to any Charm or Negotiation checks they make. This is representative of the Zeltrons ability to sense emotion, so I'd give them this. (Ironically, this is the same ability that the USM gave them as their 'Pheromones').

For their pheromones, the Falleen ability already exists, which allows once per check as an incidental, suffer 2 strain to upgrade the ability of a Charm, Deception, or Negotiation check against a living sentient being within short range once. This ability has no effect on targets wearing breath masks or without respiratory systems.

To reflect their vulnerability to negative emotions, I would give them the disadvantage of suffering 1 setback die on all Fear checks. Additionally, when receiving strain from a check that produced Threats, they receive 1 additional strain to the total.

Because they have 2 significant abilities (similar to the Verpine) they would normally start with only 80xp, however because they have a species disadvantage, I would give them 90xp to start.

Almost all species have 12 points divided among their base stats (Sakiyans being an exception, but they have the base skill buff and one ability, and only 80xp to start as a balancer). While anecdotal evidence shows their behavior to be "bubbly" or given to excess, this is more a byproduct of their empathy. It is explained in Legends lore that the nature of their empathy sees positive emotions as being pleasurable to them, and negative emotions as painful. As such, they tend to associate with those activities that promote positive emotions, which often leads them down paths of hedonism and revelry. This would make a strong argument that their base stats would be no different than a humans would (2 in all 6) as their shortcomings area learned behavior and not a physiological disadvantage. While there also is an argument that because they avoid the pain of negative emotions their Willpower would be a 1 (reflecting their tendency to 'take the easy way out'), I would counter argue that any Zeltron that takes to the life of a Star Wars hero would already be in possession of a Will strong enough to resist this temptation. However, if the standpoint of a Willpower 1 is acquiesced, then it stands to reason they would be practiced in promoting positive emotions, and their Presence would be then increased to 3, reflecting their natural Charm and desirability.

Their strain threshold could be argued to be higher, as the practice of using their pheromones is a mental drain on them, and the Falleen set the precedence of a 12+Willpower. This will also help balance the increased strain generation from threat producing checks.

Their wound threshold would in this case be 9+Brawn, as the Zeltron are reputed to have a metabolism that allows them to eat richly and to excess without weight gain. I have a friend in real life that has a metabolism like this. In order to gain 15 pounds in muscle mass (he weighs in at 135lbs standing 5'6" with 3% body fat) he would have to eat 10,000 calories a day according to the nutritionist/trainer. Yep, 10,000! As such, it's reasonable to assume that Zeltrons are generally thin and well defined (supported by visual evidence to be sure). Their slight frames however aren't incredibly brawny, and so their wound threshold reasonably suffers as a result.

So why not play a Falleen? Well, aside from the fact that you're a humanoid that sports skin matching Kyla's favorite color, with rocking purple (Kyla's second favorite color) hair, you aren't a reptilian humanoid. Additionally, while your wound threshold is lower than a Falleen's your Brawn is higher, reflecting your wiry corded muscles being able to produce offensive force through melee weapons. This means that Zeltron's make better fighters than Falleen, though they certainly aren't going to be besting any Wookies in arm wrestling. Finally, while Falleen start out trained in Charm or Negotiate, with the Zeltrons empathy providing them an advantage, they stand to capitalize on their success better than a Falleen would.

So why play a Zeltron? Well, for starters the increased strain gain from threat means that the availability of your pheromones will be less than a Falleen, and it increases the chances that you will taken out of the scene by a few bad rolls. This allows a Falleen to modify more rolls in a drawn out scene when playing the "face" of the group. Additionally, the Zeltron's average stats and lower initial XP means that it is more difficult to get the high starting stats of the more specialist friendly Falleen statline.

TLDR;

Zeltron

Brawn: 2 Agility: 2 Intellect: 2 Cunning: 2 Willpower: 2 Presence: 2

Wound Threshold: 9+Brawn

Strain Threshold: 12+Willpower

Starting Experience: 90xp

Empathy: They may add 1 Advantage to any Charm or Negotiation checks they make. (Mood Readers ability from Arcona)

Beguiling Pheromones: Once per check as an incidental, suffer 2 strain to upgrade the ability of a Charm, Deception, or Negotiation check against a living sentient being within short range once. This ability has no effect on targets wearing breath masks or without respiratory systems. (Same as Falleen ability of same name)

Negative Emotion Vulnerability: Suffer 1 setback die on all Fear checks. Additionally, when receiving strain from a check that produced Threats, they receive 1 additional strain to the total.

Because reasons.

I used the menagerie for the Zeltron at my table. Worked fine. In fact he's the most fun RP character at the table honestly. I think of him as a bi-sexual pink Dean Martin who always has a cocktail in his hand ( he makes a point of always drinking). Only shows how you play it is more important than what you play. He and I had the conversation that if/when an official version comes out we will retcon his and he was fine with it.

In regards to fan made stuff when I posted the menagerie link in the other thread it was more to just let the OP know there was fan material in case they were launching into the effort thinking there wasn't any. Just as a time saver for them. I would never poo poo original house creativity and really I'm amazed at the number of threads where people vent about something not being in the books yet, or they can't find it. The suggestion to make something up and be creative is almost met with hostility, which baffles the hell out of me.

Now if you all will excuse me I have to go do my morning slackercise....

In my experience a good RP and rich concept always trumps dots on paper.

To be fair, the USM version of the Zeltrons had it's last published update long before Far Horizons or Fly Casual were published, and Cyril and I tended not to stray too far into "wild concepts," especially since we got enough flak/hatred as was for when we did stray a bit outside what the "norms" were back when most of these were written, back when the only thing available was the EotE Beta. We also didn't want to make any of the species be "gotta have it!" choices; our rule of thumb was that anything we created should not be inherently superior to the officially published species. Sometimes we missed that mark, and wound up with species that weren't that great, and occasionally ones that were better than intended, but it wasn't for lack of trying.

I disagree with the OP's take on Zeltrons, but I've already posted my reasons for why and suggested alternate ideas. What he does with that feedback (if anything) is his call.

Now that we're back on topic, any thoughts on my idea?

I like Zeltrons. But I don't feel that their natural emphatic abilities are taken into consideration when designing their stat block. Regardless of what their ability scores are I think they should have a special ability outside of a talent or skill rank. Something like the following.

Natural Empath: A Zeltron can cause selected emotions to heighten or lessen in an engaged creature capable of feeling them. At the cost of 2 strain a Zeltron can use the Natural Empath maneuver to manipulate the emotions of a creature within short range adding a boost or setback dice to the affected creatures next skill check. A creature only gains the Natural Empath modification if it remains within short range of the Zeltron.

The effect may be what you wanted, but "empathy" has zero to do with changing the emotions of someone else, and everything to do with being able to understand emotions in someone else.

So a Natural Empath would be able to sense their target's emotion and more easily conform (or seem to be conforming) to them. Maybe change it to something with "sway", "incite", "impress", "instigate", "induce", etc.

I agree that "empath" isn't the same as being able to cause the emotions to be felt. The name should be changed.

Maybe I am understanding Zeltrons wrongly. I thought the ability to cause the emotions was not limited to "pheromones". I though it was supposed to be a sort of telepathy/mind control. Is that right?

Nope, their ability to appeal to other's emotions has always been pheromone based, as evidenced by the Essence of Zeltros, a perfume that is made from the pheromones of Zeltrons that pass on their seductive abilities to the user.

To be fair, the USM version of the Zeltrons had it's last published update long before Far Horizons or Fly Casual were published, and Cyril and I tended not to stray too far into "wild concepts," especially since we got enough flak/hatred as was for when we did stray a bit outside what the "norms" were back when most of these were written, back when the only thing available was the EotE Beta. We also didn't want to make any of the species be "gotta have it!" choices; our rule of thumb was that anything we created should not be inherently superior to the officially published species. Sometimes we missed that mark, and wound up with species that weren't that great, and occasionally ones that were better than intended, but it wasn't for lack of trying.

I meant no disparagging remarks to you or Cyril, Donovan!! I'm very thankful for the work you all did on the USM, and even though I didn't agree with all the decisions, you were the pioneers into working out the races back then.

I always like seeing what other people do, if for no other reason than to help me quantify why I don't agree. Often, I find that I can't decide what is right for my table until I figure out what strikes me as off with another tables take on it.

Wookiepedia is saying that they are in fact telepathic abilities as well as pheromones. Not that that is supposed to be proof one way or the other just that there is supposedly a legends source for both.

I personally prefer the thought that the emotional manipulation is something psychic. My suspension of disbelief can more easily accept psychic power than it can "on the spot" generation of the specific chemicals that supposedly excite the libido of whatever various species you happen to meet.

I've always thought this whole pheromones or psychic control thing was a load of crap anyway. We don't see that in any of the original source material like the original Marvel comics or the Dark Horse Legacy run, just the stuff that WotC put out. Why cant the extent of Zeltron Mind Control on Males be exactly what every super-hawt, kind of slutty huge breasted blonde already has over horny normal men?

Wookiepedia is saying that they are in fact telepathic abilities as well as pheromones. Not that that is supposed to be proof one way or the other just that there is supposedly a legends source for both.

I personally prefer the thought that the emotional manipulation is something psychic. My suspension of disbelief can more easily accept psychic power than it can "on the spot" generation of the specific chemicals that supposedly excite the libido of whatever various species you happen to meet.

The Empath part is psychic, the ability to affect other's emotions is pheromones, and generally limited to appearing attractive/increasing the responsiveness of others.

To some extent I agree - Deliah Blue never used either as far as I remember, and the old Marvel comics didn't even have them take that front and center a role from what I remember. That being said, WEG and WoTC did a lot to flesh out all the races and give them more depth than, "they're (insert strange color here) humans."

Why cant the extent of Zeltron Mind Control on Males be exactly what every super-hawt, kind of slutty huge breasted blonde already has over horny normal men certain women?

Fixed for ya

Though I'll admit that look is totally not my type!

Yeah, I tend to take Wookieepedia articles with a grain of salt just on general principle. In theory at least, anyone can edit a page to say what they want.

As for Zeltron pheromones, I don't see them as being nearly as potent as the Falleen version, with that species having what accounts to rohypnol in terms of what they can do, with only exceptionally strong-willed individuals able to fend those feelings off. The Zeltron version I saw as being more of a minor boost to what they're already packing in terms of sex appeal, kind of like having their own personal mood lighting and live photoshop to make them look their best at all times. Thus, why I think simply adding an Advantage to Charm, Deception, and Negotiation works well; it's a nice boost, but not a super-powerful one either. I think an earlier version gave them a boost die instead of an automatic advantage, but we opted to scale that one back a bit in later versions.

Empathy's a bit trickier; I simply went for giving them an extra bit of "social defense" in resisting NPC social checks, kind of a scaled down version of Nobody's Fool (which upgrade's the other person's difficulty) but one that a skilled talker could overcome (either through sheer skill ranks or talents that remove setback dice). Ostensibly, you could go with the inverse of their pheromones and simply have it apply an automatic threat to any social checks targeting them; level of power would remain about the same I think.

Again, when working on the Zeltrons, we didn't want these to become the choice for a "face" character. They're a pretty strong one, given their species abilities, but not the choice for a given role. Which is something that anybody who creates a homebrew race should strive for, to ensure that the question "are there purely mechanical reasons I wouldn't play this species for a given archetype?" remains a "Yes."

Probably for my own notes, I'm thinking of adjusting the USM Zeltrons to have 11+Brawn for their starting Wound Threshold and 9+Will for their starting Strain Threshold and boosting their starting XP to 100, especially now that we've got a much broader range of species to use as baselines for what is or isn't a good idea in terms of species abilities. Not sure about their other special traits though.