So one of the bad guys in my next campaign is going to be like Belloq from Raiders of the Lost Ark, an archaeologist with a ton of resources and at odds with the group, swinging in at odd moments to steal what the PCs are trying to find. Not necessarily evil but not good either.

I cannot for the life of me think of what race to make him. I know I want him to be an alien of some kind but I just can't decide on what makes sense with the kind of character. Any ideas would be fantastic

I'd go with Chiss myself

Gungan... feel the BURN!!!!!

Gungan... feel the BURN!!!!!

Once again Doctor solo. Meesa gonna takes your loot.

For a serious bad guy, Chiss. Maybe Kel dor?

Humor...Weequay (Hondo style) or Gungan.

Zabrak

or Muun?

Zabrak is a good one. Togruta would be nice too.

Neimoidian

Yeah, Neimoidian make for good villains.

Muun or Nemoidian

Sakiyan.

Make him a sleazy Twi'lek and you'll have Belloq, french accent included.

My instinct would be to go with Muun, or perhaps Cerean or Drall for some interesting character build concepts.

Definitely Chiss if not make sure they have at least a couple of Chiss minions to act as their lieutenants!

Few things are as irritating as a pesky human, but if you want to keep it different. What about a Bothan? Or a Nikto... lots of good suggestions above. It depends on what you think his abilities should be, mainly talkytalky or if he's can stand on his own in a fight.

Best suggestions as far as I'm concerned: Muun, Chiss, Cerean and Sakiyan.

Thank you all for the ideas, I have it narrowed down to these now:

Muun, Chiss, Sakiyan, and Twi'Lek.

I actually already have a Nemoidian crime boss as a villain in this campaign as well as a crafty female Inquisitor. At the end of the campaign I see the three of them teaming up to take down the PCs but then they inevitably betray each other, making an impossible task for the PCs become a manageable challenge.

I don't know what you're going to make him mechanically, but you should totally name him "Ohio Roberts".

I don't know what you're going to make him mechanically, but you should totally name him "Ohio Roberts".

Believe it or not, an old GM of mine actually introduced a Mon Calamari with a fedora and a whip. He was an archaeologist named "Dantooine Johanas". Maybe I'll go with Tatooine Roberts though ha ha

How about a falleen archeologist, or perhaps an "assistant" to the archeologist who actually calls the shots because of her pheromones, maybe make the actual archeologist a cerean, who isn't real a bad guy but is totally infatuated with does whatever his falleen assistant tells him

If you do use a Cerean, make it a female. Male Cereans are supposed to be rare.

If you make this character at all make it a female they're rare for any NPC!

I don't know what you're going to make him mechanically, but you should totally name him "Ohio Roberts".

Of course, “Ohio” has to be the Womp Rat’s name, which you only discover in the fifth movie.

Zabrak has my vote. In my group one of the nemeses I'm making is a Zabrak.

Ever since Darth Maul, the Zabrak has to be one of the most intimidating races in Star Wars. Second only to the Trandoshan. But that is just my opinion.

Zabrak has my vote. In my group one of the nemeses I'm making is a Zabrak.

Ever since Darth Maul, the Zabrak has to be one of the most intimidating races in Star Wars. Second only to the Trandoshan. But that is just my opinion.

Yes, Zabrak are great if you are looking for an intimidating Nemesis. But HernerJade was asking for a Belloq-type NPC. For me, that is not an intimidating character by himself, at least not physically. He is charismatic but ruthless and has henchmen who do all his dirty work for money. He's all about money and doesn't get, how someone would do the right thing instead of the thing that makes him rich (and this is his weakness by the way). This makes him a very differnt NPC than something like a bounty hunter. The PCs will only ever meet him, when Belloq has the upper hand and the situation is in his control. It will be difficult to attack him directly, he hides behind his minions. A Zabrak might make for a good Rival NPC who serves as a Bodyguard next to the Nemesis Belloq.

Belloq will rarely fight himself, so he doesn't need good combat skills, but he should have a high presence and cunning, so I continue to think that Twi'lek would be a good fit (although the frensh accent was what made me think of them first). Toydarian might also work, since at least Watto was all about money.

May you always be faster than the boulder rolling behind you!

Fred

I'm with Fred.

Belloq is the mastermind behind the attempts to steal Jones' thunder and plunder. He's not really much of an intimidating type, but he has to come across as calculating, articulate, and intelligent. Chiss work very well for this, and I think it's the best suggestion I've heard so far, but Falleen and Cerean could be interesting, as well. (I particularly like EliasWindrider's idea of the female Falleen assistant controlling things from behind the scenes, and may have to steal that one!)

Heck, it might not be a bad idea to have the NPC befriend the party at first, and betray them along the way.

If you make this character at all make it a female they're rare for any NPC!

I have not experienced this at all.