Month: February 2020

  • Energetic and loyal Anemone

    Energetic and loyal Anemone

    In I Was a Teenage Exocolonist, only 100 other colonists made the 20 year journey from Earth, so you know all the other kids who were born on the ship with you. Scrappy, athletic Anemone always wins at sportsball, and once the ship touches down on Vertumna she spends all her time playing outside.

    NameAnemone
    NicknameNemmie, Annie, Nem
    EnhancementArmor plated lizard skin
    BirthdayFirst week of Dust
    LocationGarrison / Sportsball pitch
    Dialog colorRed

    Anemone’s design is loosely inspired by Little Orphan Annie and her beautiful sea-creature-like curls. Her energy and smile can melt any old curmudgeon’s heart, even Chief of Security Rhett who finds himself in charge of a new sportsball pitch and a team of wild young things led by Anemone.

    As she ages, her mop of red hair grows out to an unruly lion’s mane of curls.

    Anemone, age 14-16
    Kom, Anemone (age 10-13), and Aunty Seedent

    Anemone idolizes her older brother Kom, who’s training to join the security force and helps coach the kids’ sportsball team. Her mother is Chief Steward Anne, in charge of the quarters and galley, who the kids fondly call “Aunty Seedent”. She’s often concerned for her daughter’s safety, as Anemone ignores her advice and fearlessly faces down whatever comes her way.

    Her mom has reason to be worried! Throughout the 10 years of the game, time and tragedy will shape Anemone’s teenage personality, and she’ll go through some drastic changes. In her late teens she’ll eventually trade in her sportsball for a plasma gun and join the colony’s defense force.

    You’ll miss her innocent smile, but when the going gets tough you can count on Anemone to defend her friends.

    Anemone with Vace, age 17-19

    Her genetic enhancement is tough, armor-plated skin and protective bone spurs. Character artist Mei and I considered giving her feline characteristics like claws and a tail, but instead extended her scales all the way from her jawline down her back and sides a little like a Trill’s spots.

    Sometimes her scales itch… but with her active life Anemone needs the added protection.

  • Sol was a Teenage Exocolonist

    Sol was a Teenage Exocolonist

    Sol, aged 17-19

    Sol – full name Solanaceae – is the default name of your character in I Was a Teenage Exocolonist.

    Your parents are farmers, and they named you after their favorite taxonomic family, the nightshades, which contains potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and tobacco.

    Flulu and Geranium, your parents

    You are your father’s Little Tomatillo, his Brave Gooseberry, his Spunky Petunia, and his Busy Aubergine. Your dad’s a sweetheart… but a little embarrassing.

    Your mom’s the realist of the family, always trying to get you to work hard and toughen up. You may butt heads with her, but it’s usually for your own good. It’s your choice whether you take her advice, or roll your eyes and fidget like a proper teenager.

    Sol, age 14-16

    Exocolonist starts with a short character generation which takes place during the first ten years of your life on the colony ship Stratospheric before it lands. You choose your name, your gender (two sliders for appearance and pronouns) and a genetic modification.

    Before the colonists left Earth, they “acquired” valuable gene editing tech to give themselves an edge on their new planet. All the colony children have one augmentation. You can pick:

    PerkSkillEffect
    Extra fingerscreativity + 10Increase Creativity and Organization faster
    Eagle eyesperception + 10Increase Perception faster, events while exploring
    Absorbent brainreasoning + 10Increase Reasoning, Biology, Physics faster
    Super strengthcombat + 10Increase Toughness and Combat faster
    Calm temperamentempathy + 1025% less Stress
    Nothing at allkudos + 3025% more Kudos because you tried your best

    Through a series of other choices you pick your childhood best friend, starting skills, and early childhood memories. These memories take the form of cards.

    A child’s first memories (temporary art)

    More about these cards and Sol’s list of skills in future posts!