The Diplomat's and Explorer's Sourcebook
An Ephemeris RPG Supplement
By J Alan Erwine
Copyright 2010 by Nomadic Delirium Press
Learn more about the Ephemeris RPG at http://www.nomadicdeliriumpress.com/ephemeris.htm
Published by Nomadic Delirium Press at Smashwords
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
INTRODUCTION TO THIS SUPPLEMENT
The supplement you are now looking at is actually a combination of two supplements. The first section will detail more information about the Diplomat class, while the second section will detail more information about the Explorer class.
THE DIPLOMAT'S PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE
Diplomats are the individuals that keep the peace, negotiate the treaties, and generally try to solve any problems that might crop up between planets, species, guilds, corporations, or whatever other groups the game master might come up with.
At first glance, the Diplomat class may not seem like all that exciting of a class to play, but given the general danger level of the Ephemeris universe, Diplomats can actually be a very exciting class. It's important to remember that in the game of Ephemeris, the player gets to select a lot of the skills that their character will have, so each Diplomat will be unique. Some could be great in combat, while others might focus almost exclusively on diplomatic skills, or others might be amazing pilots. It's all up to the players.
It's also important to keep in mind that sometimes diplomacy breaks down and a Diplomat can be forced into "aggressive negotiations." The Diplomat has to be able to talk or possibly fight their way out of any situation they might find themselves in, and this can lead to some great game play.
Diplomats are often in the employ of a planet, sect, guild, or corporation, but many of the diplomats that a player will want to play are freelancers, working for whatever pay they can muster, and trying their best to survive. Most parties can benefit greatly from the presence of a Diplomat, as they are often better at negotiating their way out of a tricky situation than other character classes would be.
Ultimately, the Diplomat will be as interesting of a character class as the player and game master make them.
DIPLOMAT SUB-CLASSES
This section features listings for five possible sub-classes that are available to players that want to play the Diplomat class, but find that the original character class doesn’t offer them quite what they were hoping for. This list of sub-classes is far from exhaustive, however, and game masters should feel free to use these sub-classes as a guide to creating sub-classes that are appropriate for their own games, always making sure that game balance is maintained.
All of these sub-classes roll two six-sided dice to determine their initial health and the amount of health they gain with each new level. They also use the same attack and defense dice as the basic Diplomat.
AMBASSADOR
Ambassadors are Diplomats that are assigned to another world, country, sector, system, or what have you. They're responsible for representing their homeworld's interests on the alien world. Forced to live among aliens, Ambassadors must be adaptable. They have to be able to get along with the aliens, but at the same time, they must be able to put the needs of their own government first.
Ambassadors are usually given the right to represent their homeworld in whatever negotiations are necessary, and the higher level they are the less they have to interact with their own governments to determine what is the best course of action in a particular situation.
The idea, that is common on Earth, of diplomatic immunity can be used in your Ephemeris game if you choose, but it does not have to be.
Skills: The Ambassador starts out with a slightly different skill set from the standard Diplomat. At the beginning of the game, an Ambassador gets one skill point in each of the following: etiquette, diplomacy, protocol (see the Special Diplomat's Skills section), weapon skill (player's choice), and they receive two points in negotiation.
Starting Equipment: The Ambassador starts out the game with a computer system.
Limitations: The Ambassador will usually be limited to one planet or one planetary system. Because of this, they may not get to see as much of the galaxy as a character might want, but one planet or one star system can still be very interesting, exciting, and deadly.
Advantages: The Ambassador will usually have much better relations with the individuals that they are used to working with. This can give them an advantage when dealing with these individuals. In addition, if they're good at what they do, they will be much better received by the individuals that they're used to working with. The Ambassador is often slightly better at negotiation than the standard Diplomat.
ABILITIES RECEIVED AS THE AMBASSADOR ADVANCES IN LEVELS:
2nd Level: The Ambassador gains an additional skill point in negotiation and protocol. This is above and beyond the normal skill points gained for class advancement.
3rd Level: By this point, the Ambassador has probably had to fight their way out of more than one negotiation, so they gain a +1 on their attack bonus with a weapon of choice, or they can gain an additional skill point in each of the following: etiquette, diplomacy, protocol, and two points in negotiation.
4th Level: The Ambassador learns a lot of tricks as they progress in levels, and at this point, they add a +2 bonus on any checks (other than combat checks) when dealing with the species they deal with the most.
6th Level: The Ambassador has now built a bit of a name for himself, and as a result, he gains the services of a 1st Level character. The exact class is chosen by the game master, although it should be a class that will help the character further their ambassadorial duties. The character is usually of the same species as the character.