Ok, so I'm kinda a stickler about some species and players acting according to demeanor. Not all, but most. So this said, I have a dude trying to make a Bothan hired gun. As bothans shun violence, I said no. I mean they would defend themselves, but that isn't the character this cat is after.
He said it, the avoidance to violence, was a cultural thing and easily addressed by making the Bothan come from elsewhere (not raised by bothans/or in a bothan society). So, basically an orphan from tattooine or something of that nature. I fully agree with him on this, it is a social behavior that is learned.
Here is where the interesting things come up. Mechanics for the species. The stats are fine, they are what makes a bothan, biologically a bothan.
When you get to the bothan bonus perks… the streetwise, and the convincing demeanor talent… there becomes a bit of an issue, those are both "learned" behaviors based off the bothan culture/society. I mean, streetwise isn't a skill you're born to do, the convincing demeanor isn't because of vocal tone, or any biologic factor. We, my player and I, both agree here as well. It isn't like trando claws where they have them.
So what do I do to recomp the dude for these Bothan perks that he isn't getting? Do I do anything since he is knowingly giving them up to make the character he wishes? At that rate, I would think he would gain the learned behaviors of the society he was raised in. If raised by rodians, he would place the same emphasis on hunting as they do. If he was raised with humans- he would have developed along the same mindset as them- thus the access to their perks would be in order (bad example as they are kinda set up to offset the perks given to others, but still). Again, I'm not talking about the physical perks- he wouldn't get trando claws if he were raised there, but he may develop the hatred of wookies. I feel that just giving him the xp back for the perks, is kinda a cop out of what could prove to be an excellent plot and background ordeal.
Anyone see any reason why the "learned" behaviors shouldn't transfer over? Any of you number crunchers out there see a "break" in the game. I may be looking at it wrong, but wouldn't the fact that he was a bothan (furry, upright dog) really just be fluff? We, he and I, both know that bothans are not specked perfectly for the role he wishes to play, but it is what he wishes to play and I don't see a problem with it as long as we keep it logical. Just curious what others thought.