yeah, you know the fat dancer in Jabba's Palace (during return of the Jedi). ... the one people are surprised to find out that those aren't fat rolls...

I'm setting up a mini campaign for two of my former classmates. One of the players (female) really wants to play as an askajian bounty hunter. I'm trying to figure out what stats to use. With this being a species most people tend to want to forget is a thing ... I wasn't surprised to find out nobody's done any work.

Currently, here's my attempt at a general fix. (commentary after). Let me know if you have any advice.

• Brawn 2
• Agility 3
• Intellect 1
• Cunning 2
• Willpower 2
• Presence 2

then

• 10 Wound + brawn
• 10 Stam + will
• 80 XP
• Bonus Rank Surival, may forgo water/survival needs far longer than other species (not going to work out specifics since it won't be an issue my campaign)
• Bonus Talent Rank in Distracting Manuever (performer's talent)

Rationale

• Askajians are apparently quite a bit behind on the tech tree in comparison to most other species (unique textiles being their major export). They also aren't as widespread in the galaxy as other species. I put a penalty on Intellect to reflect the lack of access most Askajians would have with regards to lore and general knowledge of the Galaxy.
• Again - backwoods planet on a pre-electric society. Knack of survival seemed appropriate. The water thing is just fluff, I can't see that popping up in very many campaigns.
• All sources I've read stated that Dance was super important to Askajians. Distracting maneuver seemed appropriate to reflect this innate tendency.
• XP adjustment little more penalized than other species due to the absurd utility of Distracting Maneuver.
• Which characteristic to put as a 3? (to counter the 1 in intellect) NO IDEA. The lack of lore makes it hard to decide. Leading choices were either Brawn, Agility, or Presence (mostly since cunning and willpower didn't seem as suiting). If you have any suggest, please let me know.

So yeah, that's as far as I got. Please let me know if you have any suggestions.

Why do they get Distracting Manuever?

dance continually mentioned in lore.

same reason all bothans get a rank in Convincing Demeanor

I stated these out way way back. Here's what I went with and why:

Askajian

http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100615161829/starwars/images/thumb/c/c2/AskajianNEGAS.jpg/300px-AskajianNEGAS.jpg

Return of the Jedi introduced the Askajian dancer Yarna dal' Gargan, a large, six-breasted dancer at Jabba's court. The EU filled out the details on Gargan's species, the Askajians, making them a peaceful desert people whose bulk is a form of water storage.

Brawn 1 • Agility 2 • Intellect 1 • Cunning 3 • Willpower 3 • Presence 2

• Wound Threshold: 12 + Brawn

• Strain Threshold: 10 + Willpower

• Starting Experience: 100

• Special Abilities: Askajians begin the game with one rank in Survival. They still may not train Survival above rank 2 during character creation. When making skill checks, Askajians may remove 1 Setback Die imposed due to arid or hot environmental conditions.

• Water Storage: Askajians can store water under their skin, allowing them to go up to three standard weeks without needing to drink. For each week's supply of water an Askajian is storing, the character receives an additional Soak of 1 (to a maximum of 3 bonus Soak), but suffers 1 Setback Die on social influence checks (to a maximum of 3 additional Setback Dice). An Askajian may imbibe a week's worth of water in a standard day; however, shedding a week's worth of water must be done naturally over a standard week.

Designer Notes

Brawn

The species is no stranger to war, with tribes battling each other for access to scarce oases (EGAS 8; AE 27; NEGAS). Similarly, life in the harsh desert likely gives the Askajians some natural hardiness. Still, WEG stats make them fairly weak (SWTSBSE 81; AE 27), and their culture is largely peaceful (NEGAS). We drop Brawn a point.

Agility

WEG stats lower their dexterity (AE 27), and that heft may give the species a deficit here (NEGAS). Yet, at least some Askajians excel at dancing (SWE 15; CSWE I 45; SWTSBSE 81; NEGAS), and the species is renowned for its weavers, a skill that requires great coordination (SWTSBSE 81; AE 27). We leave Agility alone.

Intellect

Askajians are recent additions to the galactic community, so they lag behind technologically (EGAS 8; NEGAS)—their native tech is still in the stone age (AE 27). Indeed, WEG slightly lowers their know-how—but it simultaneously raises their technical aptitude (perhaps to represent their weaving) (SWTSBSE 81; AE 27). We lower Intellect a point to represent the species' simple nature.

Cunning

The species' lack of experience on the galactic stage (EGAS 😎 may translate to a reduction in Cunning. Nevertheless, hunting and gathering are essential to the Askajians' survival on their homeworld, and WEG stats raise their perception (SWTSBSE 81; AE 27). At least one Askajian crimelord was active in the galaxy (MF). We decide to raise Cunning a point to emphasize the species' ability to navigate harsh environments.

Willpower

A tribal culture led by chieftains, a harsh life in the desert, a religion of shamanism, and a veneration for holy dancers and lorekeepers (EGAS 8; AE 27; NEGAS) all point to a boost to Willpower. In addition, some Askajians are quite brave and fearless; indeed, there is evidence that some let their bravery cloud their judgment (EGAS 8). A boost seems warranted here.

Presence

When storing water, Askajians are often considered unattractive (EGAS 8; SWTSBSE 82). However, Yarna d'al' Gargan proves that some of them had Presence, as she was both a dancer for Jabba and the leader of his cleaning crew, before later becoming a merchant (SWE 112–13; CSWE I 323; SWTSBSE 81). We decide to leave Presence at average levels.

Wound Threshold

While they slim down when in a wet climate, Askajians tend to be bulkier than Humans (AE 27). Wound Threshold might be a way to compensate the species for a lowered Brawn characteristic, as well. We give them a decent score here.

Strain Threshold

There's nothing to justify either a bonus or a penalty here.

Skills and Talents

The Askajians are famed for their proprietary weaving techniques (SWE 15; CSWE I 45; AE 27; NEGAS), but, alas, there's no Weaving skill. However, we can represent the fact that the Askajians live by hunting and gathering (NEGAS) with a free rank in either the Survival skill or the Forager talent. We opt for the skill, as it is likely part of the upbringing of every Askajian cub.

Other Abilities

Askajians can store up water in their bodies (bulking up in the process) and go for several weeks without needing to drink (SWE 15; CSWE I 45; AE 27; EGAS 8; SWTSBSE 81; NEGAS). WEG stats quantify their water needs at one tenth of a liter per day (SWTSBSE 81; AE 27). Nevertheless, when storing water, most non-Askajians find the species unattractive (EGAS 8; SWTSBSE 82). To represent the water bulk, we provide a version of the Lutrillian species' blubber (JOY 14). It's tempting to count water stored this way against encumbrance, but we decide that the Askajians' biology likely prepares them to move about without problems in the engorged state. For the appearance reduction, we give a penalty to social checks while carrying excess water.

The Askajians' adaptation to arid environments (NEGAS) indicates an ability like that of the Twi'leks and Arcona.

Averaging 1.6 meters tall (EGAS 8; NEGAS), Askajians are Silhouette 1.

The askajian player joked with me that she would totally save the day with Super Weaving.

One thing I really like about this system as a whole is how well intellect, cunning, and presence separate from each other. Good rationale behind brawn, intellect, cunning, and willpower. The arid climate bonus was something I was looking at as well.

Thats a solid system for the water-storage mechanics (durability v charisma tradeoff). The only downside of it, though, is how it only pops up in certain types of campaigns. with my friend's character being a gadgeteer bounty hunter, that whole aspect wouldn't likely come into play unless I manufactured the scenario. In comparison, arid climates can happen even in civilian spy stories. (Part of why I gave that other talent, initially, more broad use)

Definitely gave me some great points to go from, though. Thanks again!