Many systems have shifted to using Ancestry in place of what used to just be Race. I understand the why, I’ve decided to use Lineage instead.

I’m making a further distinction between Culture and Lineage.

Cultures are collective groups that share beliefs, customs, geographic regions and often physical characteristics.

Lineage is a deviation from a parent culture. The difference is often changes in beliefs, customs, adaptation to unusual or harsh geographic regions or influences by other cultures. This difference sometimes includes visual or physical variations as well.

Using this system I’m able to create a cultural background fitting them into a setting. I can then explore variations from the base culture across regions, time and influences.

Baseline

Humans are the most relatable Lineage because we are humans. Applying some basic mechanics to Humans offers an idea of the system’s flexibility.

Human Baseline

This is a generic human Lineage provided for quick generation.

  • Versatile: bonus Talent die at character creation
  • Adaptive: Learn new Talents at -1 XP cost (minimum 1 XP)
  • Determined: Once per session, re-roll a Wild Die implosion

As it typical across many game systems, humans are presented as the jack-of-all-trades.

Fantasy

ELF

  • Keen Senses: +1D to Notice checks
  • Trance: Need only 4 hours rest instead of 8
  • Fey Ancestry: Advantage on Resolve checks against enchantments
  • Fleet: Movement increased to 35 feet

Cyberpunk

AUGMENTED HUMAN

For cyberpunk or transhuman settings

  • Enhanced: Choose one attribute – gain +1D to checks using that attribute (not to the attribute itself)
  • Interface: May connect directly to computer systems, gaining advantage on Technical checks to operate them
  • Maintenance: Must receive technical maintenance once per week or suffer disadvantage on all checks
  • Obvious: Disadvantage on Persuade checks with those prejudiced against augmentation

Sci-Fi

SYNTHETIC

  • Artificial: Don’t need to eat, drink, or breathe
  • Reinforced Frame: +5 maximum Health
  • Interface: Direct connection to computer systems, advantage on Technical checks
  • Uncanny Valley: Disadvantage on Persuade and Attune checks with organics who distrust synthetics
  • Repairable: Craft (not Medicine) used to heal you