Phew! Got there in the end. Here's a slightly neater version of the characteristic advance table:-

I've created a Google Spreadsheet with all of these advances. I'd make a PDF version if my graphic design skills weren't absolutely terrible, but someone has made a Drusian Confessor alternate rank, so I'm hoepful someone on these forums could create it for you. Lightbringer, if y]uo send me your e-mail I'll give you editting permission.

Some notes on the career: Command appears at both Rank 2 and 3, Climb appears at Rank 2 and 4, Trade (Chymist) appears on Rank 7 and 8 and Medicae +20 never appears at all but is required for Vat-Lord.

General thoughts: Rank 1 is very light on XP, I would raise all of those skills to 200. Instead of having Aether weapons have one general talent, split it up into having one weapon being purchaseable every other rank. Excellent career though, I can see it fitting in perfectly in a campaign!

Stryxis Nomad: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AhYPI8sS1DsYdG5WQzBMX2VLaWljaTVxUVl5U1RNb3c&usp=sharing

Drusian Confessor: http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/3448/roguetraderdrusianconfe.png

Erathia said:

Nice work, Erathia! Well spotted with the errors - D'oh! I have to say I have a lot of sympathy for professional game designers after doing this, errors like that are genuinely hard to spot when you've written the document yourself!

I'll update the tables in due course, to avoid the errors you've highlighted. With regard to your specific points:-

-I think I'll leave Command at Rank 2 rather than 3: arguably it's too powerful a skill for such a low level, but the character is (to a degree) a talker and haggler concept, so skills like Command are useful early on. I'll remove Command from Rank 3.

-I'll have a think about which Rank to put the Climb skill in. My inclination is to remove it from Rank 4 and leave it at Rank 2. I picture Stryxis scurrying around in an insect-like fashion, so giving access to the Climb skill at a low Rank level feeds into this concept. My only concern would be the interaction between this amendment and the one above: I don't want to give players too many skills at Rank 2 and too few later on!

-Gah! How annoying about the Trade (Chymist)/ Medicae +20 error. I think the "kill two birds with one stone" solution to this is to remove Trade (Chymist) at Rank 8 and replace it with Medicae +20.

-On your Rank 1 xp points cost issue, I need to think carefuly about this. From memory (I don't have the Core Rulebook to hand) many of the Rank 1 skills for other basic careers cost 100xp, not 200. But I'm certainly prepared to review the point!

-Aether weapons: yes, this sounds like a sensible way of dealing with it, but I need to go back and check the various sourcebooks for details of exactly what Aether weapons are actually available!

As for a PDF, my own IT skills are too feeble, but my better half (a professional photoshop artist) is capable of doing that: however, given that her computer is on the blink, I can't make any promises that this will happen any time soon! In the meantime, if you or anyone else wants to turn this into a PDF, then please be my guest. I'm delighted when people get some use out of this stuff, so feel free to use/amend/update as you see fit! :-)

Couple more thoughts on this career!

I have an alternate idea. Whenever the Stryxis Nomad is called upon to make a Deceive or a Blather test, he instead tests both skills, and may use whichever result he wishes. Stryxis are so skilled at disseminating and hiding information that they blend lies and confusion so effortlessly it is as a second nature to them.

Second, they should have access to the "Mastermind" Trait from Navis Primer at some point, as it's a Stryxis implant as is so it makes sense it would be offered to native Stryxis at some point.

Also I forgot to mention this in my previous comments, but you offer the Pilot skill in Rank 7 and then again at +10 in Rank 8, but you fail to specify which one (if there's a limit) they qualify for.

Regarding Rank 1 experience, most starting careers re-list the Starting Skills/Talents at 100-200 EXP, but then things that they buy outside of those tend to rise to 200 XP.

Erathia said:

Dealing with your points in turn:-

-Deceive/Blather test: I like this idea! Were you thinking of it as a replacement for the career trait I created (the one that allows Stryxis characters to spend a fate point to automatically pass any Koronus-expanse-related knowledge test,) or were you thinking of it as a purchase-able higher Rank level unique Trait/Talent restricted to this career? I suppose the latter creates more potential flexibility…

-I do have that book, but I must admit I'm not too familiar with that Trait: I'll have a look and have a think. I don't have the book to hand, but this would be a characterful Trait to add. My only thought is that if this is an implant, is it one that the Stryxis would implant in their own heads, or only in the heads of the gullible fools who'll buy dodgy second hand tech from them? :-)

- I don't quite understand your point about the Pilot skill - sorry! The player gets access to Pilot at Rank 4, and Pilot +10 at Rank 7 - there is no Pilot skill in Rank 8?

-OK…I'll have a think about this one. I see your point.

Thanks for your thoughts on this one, I do appreciate the input! :-)

Upon reviewing the career, I think more needs to be done to make Vat-Lord a more powerful and desirable Talent. At the moment it can be used to create Vat-Labourers. I think it should be expanded to allow the creation of other types of vat-creature, like vat warriors and the like. The ability to (slowly) create your own group of utterly devoted and horrific clone bodyguards is characterful, and suitable for a Rank 8 character. Plus it chimes nicely with the alien and sinister vibe that the Stryxis create.

Very cool, Lightbringer. Thanks for sharing.

Really good work here! I've been wishing for a Stryxis career for a long time, and this looks great. May have to playtest this if I can get a game together.

Now to keep wishing for a Sslyth career…

Lightbringer said:

The Deceive/Blather could either be a new Talent or the Stryxis starting ability. I juts like the ability, so either it replaces the starting Talent or is available somewhere.

Presumably it would have to be implanted, but I do also think they would save the "best" versions for themselves.

My point about the Pilot skill is that Pilot applies to three skill groups: Personal (Jetpacks), Flyers (Guncutters) and Space Craft (Void Ships). Do the Stryxis receive a "general" Piloting skill that applies to all of these, or is it sub-divided into the individual categories?