This weekend, players began asking if unarmed species may slip by some typical problems by not carrying weapons into civilized areas, or those places under close Empiric watch. While pros and cons of this idea were hotly debated, I asked which species they were considering.

For example, an Ithorian bellows, and a Quarren spits ink, a Whipids have tusks.

I guess that Wookies and Chevin merit some consideration, too, given their species traits.

I think the group may move on from this topic for future gaming, but I'd like to revisit it as a surprise encounter: unassuming unarmed combat encounter. However, is an unarmed wookie ever really disregarded?

I am not looking for examples of This species with THAT characteristic, THAT Talent Tree, etc. These encounters need not be overwhelming, just diverse and an opportunity to showcase a different element aside from blaster pistols and lightsabers.

Am I missing any other player character species that offer natural weaponry, natural defenses, etc.?

Thanks in advance!

Not really sure what to say to this, the various species don't matter much when it comes to combat, it's more the Career/Specialization. Very few species have a combat specific species benefit, and the ones that do, it's usually something minor, like +1 Boost die or something. If you want to surprise them, introduce them to some race that is historically "wimpy", but make them be an unarmed master who just wipes the floor with them.

Everyone expects the wookie, nobody expects the Ewok or Gungun.

Selonian is another with a "Natural Weapon"

The problem these species are going to have going into an Imperial held world are more about Racism and Xenophobia than the fact they have a natural weapon. I think most Imps will look down on them as if "Get a move on you disgusting beast, you should be serving food or digging in some remote mine, not walking around freely. My Blaster Rifle is better than anything you have anyway."

Species known to have natural weapons are likely known to have a reputation for being deadly in a fight. Just like everyone knows to let the Wookie win I'm pretty sure most places know that a Whipid can gore you with his tusk. As such I would assume that for any species with natural weapons people are wary of them when a fight is about to happen. I don't think anyone is going to be surprised by a Nikto for instance who has claws.

Also add Nikto to your list as one of their subspecies does in fact have claws.

I agree. Species with natural weapons (at least those that are common) are known to have them. Also, in many cases, as in the case of Wookies, these species often have cultural taboos about using their natural "weapons" as such. Wookies, for example consider it dishonorable to use their claws in combat. They're intended solely for climbing.

I agree. Species with natural weapons (at least those that are common) are known to have them. Also, in many cases, as in the case of Wookies, these species often have cultural taboos about using their natural "weapons" as such. Wookies, for example consider it dishonorable to use their claws in combat. They're intended solely for climbing.

I am curious about how that cultural shift happen for the Wookies. Because you know at some point in their development they had to have used them for defense/hunting. Given how violent they are as a species, those things were never just used for climbing. Which means they made a choice, as a culture, to refuse from using them for violent purposes. Which I find very interesting and compelling from a sociology, anthropological angle. It implies a conscious effort on their part to "rise above their violent nature", which is interesting, or at least it implies a layer of sophistication and depth to their culture that I find interesting.

Of course, I've probably just put more thought into that reason than George ever did, and most writers of the EU did. It doesn't feel like something that got a lot of coverage. But what do I know, I only read like 6 books from the EU, so for all I know, they had an entire series devoted to this aspect of Wookie culture.

I agree. Species with natural weapons (at least those that are common) are known to have them. Also, in many cases, as in the case of Wookies, these species often have cultural taboos about using their natural "weapons" as such. Wookies, for example consider it dishonorable to use their claws in combat. They're intended solely for climbing.

I am curious about how that cultural shift happen for the Wookies. Because you know at some point in their development they had to have used them for defense/hunting. Given how violent they are as a species, those things were never just used for climbing. Which means they made a choice, as a culture, to refuse from using them for violent purposes. Which I find very interesting and compelling from a sociology, anthropological angle. It implies a conscious effort on their part to "rise above their violent nature", which is interesting, or at least it implies a layer of sophistication and depth to their culture that I find interesting.

Of course, I've probably just put more thought into that reason than George ever did, and most writers of the EU did. It doesn't feel like something that got a lot of coverage. But what do I know, I only read like 6 books from the EU, so for all I know, they had an entire series devoted to this aspect of Wookie culture.

Nope. for all of the known galactic history, Wookies have always considered those who use their claws in combat as "mad claws".

I agree. Species with natural weapons (at least those that are common) are known to have them. Also, in many cases, as in the case of Wookies, these species often have cultural taboos about using their natural "weapons" as such. Wookies, for example consider it dishonorable to use their claws in combat. They're intended solely for climbing.

I am curious about how that cultural shift happen for the Wookies. Because you know at some point in their development they had to have used them for defense/hunting. Given how violent they are as a species, those things were never just used for climbing. Which means they made a choice, as a culture, to refuse from using them for violent purposes. Which I find very interesting and compelling from a sociology, anthropological angle. It implies a conscious effort on their part to "rise above their violent nature", which is interesting, or at least it implies a layer of sophistication and depth to their culture that I find interesting.

Of course, I've probably just put more thought into that reason than George ever did, and most writers of the EU did. It doesn't feel like something that got a lot of coverage. But what do I know, I only read like 6 books from the EU, so for all I know, they had an entire series devoted to this aspect of Wookie culture.

Nope. for all of the known galactic history, Wookies have always considered those who use their claws in combat as "mad claws".

But I doubt that's actually the case. Given how violent they are, and how prone they are to beat you with their limbs (that have the claws) simply from an evolutionary standpoint, I seriously doubt they never ever ever in ever used them for defense. Like I said, at some point, they had to have developed a cultural taboo about it. "All of known galactic history" is a long time, but that's hardly the same thing as "the entire evolutionary lifespan of the Wookie species". There's nothing biologically stopping them from using those claws in combat, as evidenced by the "mad claws" who do so. Which means it's purely a cultural thing, which is what I was saying, at some point, they had to decide to do that. And I find that an interesting quirk, given how comfortable they are with violence (wookie rages and tearing arms off when losing), yet using your claws? Scandalous! It's interesting to me, the cultural mindset that would so easily embrace violence, but have this shameful taboo about one aspect of applying that violence they so readily employ, to the point of having a galactic reputation for being violent savages.

I agree. Species with natural weapons (at least those that are common) are known to have them. Also, in many cases, as in the case of Wookies, these species often have cultural taboos about using their natural "weapons" as such. Wookies, for example consider it dishonorable to use their claws in combat. They're intended solely for climbing.

I am curious about how that cultural shift happen for the Wookies. Because you know at some point in their development they had to have used them for defense/hunting. Given how violent they are as a species, those things were never just used for climbing. Which means they made a choice, as a culture, to refuse from using them for violent purposes. Which I find very interesting and compelling from a sociology, anthropological angle. It implies a conscious effort on their part to "rise above their violent nature", which is interesting, or at least it implies a layer of sophistication and depth to their culture that I find interesting.

Of course, I've probably just put more thought into that reason than George ever did, and most writers of the EU did. It doesn't feel like something that got a lot of coverage. But what do I know, I only read like 6 books from the EU, so for all I know, they had an entire series devoted to this aspect of Wookie culture.

Nope. for all of the known galactic history, Wookies have always considered those who use their claws in combat as "mad claws".

But I doubt that's actually the case. Given how violent they are, and how prone they are to beat you with their limbs (that have the claws) simply from an evolutionary standpoint, I seriously doubt they never ever ever in ever used them for defense. Like I said, at some point, they had to have developed a cultural taboo about it. "All of known galactic history" is a long time, but that's hardly the same thing as "the entire evolutionary lifespan of the Wookie species". There's nothing biologically stopping them from using those claws in combat, as evidenced by the "mad claws" who do so. Which means it's purely a cultural thing, which is what I was saying, at some point, they had to decide to do that. And I find that an interesting quirk, given how comfortable they are with violence (wookie rages and tearing arms off when losing), yet using your claws? Scandalous! It's interesting to me, the cultural mindset that would so easily embrace violence, but have this shameful taboo about one aspect of applying that violence they so readily employ, to the point of having a galactic reputation for being violent savages.

Well, considering we're talking well over 20,000 years, and even back then, they have had that taboo for as long as can be remembered, even at least as far back as their enslavement by the ancient Rakata, before Kashyyk was the verdant jungle it is today if not before, then yes, as far as anyone knows, the Wookies have always considered it taboo to use their claws in combat for as long as their civilization has existed.

20000 years in evolutionary time is nothing, humans 50,000 years ago where near identical to us and if there was a "way back machine" then we could mate with those humans.

But to counter KungFu I would say "Star Wars is weird" life is generally easier if you take it on face value and don't think too deep, I mean Hyperspace and all that? It just hurts your head, unfortunately.

20000 years in evolutionary time is nothing, humans 50,000 years ago where near identical to us and if there was a "way back machine" then we could mate with those humans.

But to counter KungFu I would say "Star Wars is weird" life is generally easier if you take it on face value and don't think too deep, I mean Hyperspace and all that? It just hurts your head, unfortunately.

No argument there. However, I would like to mention, that, at least according to KotOR, Kashyyk's evolution was rapidly accelerated by the Rakattan Star Map.

Add trandoshans to your list, theire Claw are to be recond with (even in this RPG)

as for the Wookies:

In KOTOR it is statet that the use (or not use) of the claws is what differs them from the wild beasts. So we can asume that the wookies made the decision to not use theire claws for fighting was when the first wookies decided to have a kind of tribalsociety and settled down.

there after any wookie who uses his claws to fight was nicknamed "Madclaw" and considerd to be nothing more than an animal and therefor he would be banished from wookie-society.

as for the Wookies:

In KOTOR it is statet that the use (or not use) of the claws is what differs them from the wild beasts.

Interesting. I would think that the ability to think, use language, written and spoken, the creation of tools, society, interstellar travel, and a place in a galactic community is what separates them from the wild beasts...but sure! We'll say it's just those claws and not using them for violence!

With the interesting discussion about Wookiees, I think naturally-armed unarmed combatants is something to explore.

If a GM/player can imagine it, and someone can gamble into fast credits for doing it, an encounter is waiting to be written. I dislike the overused 'gladiator pit' schtick, but I think this topic offers me inspiration.

Isn't it a responsibility for GMs to keep players' pacing with various, unique encounters?

Almost every Knowledge (Xenology?) check for Wookiees' claws may yield incorrect information whilst staring-down a captive forced to fight for (fill-in-blank) reason.

EDIT: Spelled "Wookiee" correctly.

This is going to come across as overly pedantic, but I just read through an entire thread written by people who are playing a Star Wars roleplaying game, all of whom seem to be fans of the franchise, some of whom seem very knowledgeable...

... and with around three dozen uses of the word, not a single person spelled Wookiee correctly.

Two Es, people. Two Es.

...

(Also... there are three Ys in Kashyyyk! )

the Tales From the Hydian Way podcast episode 94 - The Bar Brawl is a great example of how to put non lethal combat into your games, fits very well with the natural weapons.

My favourite is definitely the Selonians tail, uses Agility, has the Knockdown ability. its fun for a character who is less brawny and likes to control their opponent.