Unlocking Character Races

Unlocking Character Races

I like the idea of unlockables--things you can get through adventuring. In Symbion I have four core phenotypes (think races) that each provide a simple bonus to attributes during character creation. Then, I have eight more phenotypes that give something more: better bonuses or small special abilities. These eight are not available at the start of an adventure but must be unlocked in some way, although I wasn't entirely sure how.

A couple of sessions ago, the question came up. 

-"How can we unlock the arachnid phenotype?" asked a player.

-"Adventuring, of course." I said, "Look for a way to get transformed."

They learned from local rumors that a giant spider deep in the woods could have the powers to transform someone into an arachnid humanoid. But the spider is always hungry and would require an offering. The Company bought an old racing pig from a local farmer as the offering. The pig was called Piggy Smalls, as a joke from a YouTube pig racing show. Then, things unfolded in the best imaginable way possible.

The spider was telepathic and was able to communicate simultaneously with the character and Piggy Small. Well, Piggy Smalls is a clever pig, and he managed to convince the spider that the adventurer was a tastier, bigger meal, and that he--Piggy Smalls--was the one that deserved to be turned into an arachnid humanoid (this was all the player's idea). Thus, Piggy Crawls was forged and the arachnid phenotype unlocked.

Piggy Crawls (by Silex Art Studio)

This got me thinking that unlockable phenotypes could be just that. Transformations of an existing character. I'm liking this approach because an advanced character need not be set aside to use a different phenotype; it can just become the new phenotype.

I am currently testing Symbion using The Evils of Illmire so I already have some ideas where to put other phenotype sources. For example, the merfolk phenotype can very clearly go in the underwater caves of the Misty Lake and the magical pearls could be the magical source of transformation. The Ogre phenotype could be unlocked at the Klepperhorn, perhaps having something to do with the sculptures made by the Mountain King.