Monday, September 18, 2023

New class of scif badass: THE OV3R1T


The OV3R1T. Overwrites. The Overwritten. Many ways to say it, but they all describe the forgotten "reformed" and paroled prisoners (of a biological persuasion) that have been released back into the galactic population. Once hardened criminals, these neuro-reprogrammed ex-cons are given a chance to restart their lives after (sometimes hundreds of) solar cycles in solitary behavioral modification chambers.

Often, an OV3R1T faces challenges in reintegrating into society. As a result, many opt to take on the life of an adventurer-for-hire as a means to meaningful and lucrative employment. As you might have already guessed, sometimes code-rot, incomplete persona wipes, or data breaches occur and you've got a Simon Phoenix on your hands!

Don't do the crime...
Roll 1d20 for your criminal offense and implied, related skills and background (i.e., the reason you were locked up):
  1. Unlicensed Psionic Spice Sales and/or Distribution
  2. Sentient Species Trafficking
  3. Fencing Illegal Space Salvage
  4. Disintegration - First Degree
  5. Mandroidslaughter or Dismemberment
  6. Grand Theft Autobot
  7. Genetic Identity Theft 
  8. Kidnapping, (Somebody Really Important)
  9. Manufacture Methane-Based-Lifeform Narcotics
  10. Planetary Eco-terrorism (Especially if it was a nice planet like that one in Avatar)
  11. Theft by Cosmic Swindle (Wanna' buy a jumpgate on New Brooklyn?)
  12. Falsifying MIDC data for Space Settlement Stipend Payments
  13. Space Vampirism While in the Nude
  14. Unauthorized Detonation of a Solar or Planetary Body Within a Populated System
  15. Cutting in Line at Space Chipotle
  16. Theft of Central Space Command Property (or the nearest sovereign space authority)
  17. Selling, Distribution, and/or Marketing of the Xenobiological Parasites known as "Tribbles"
  18. Possessing or Operating a Particle Beam Weapon Without a License
  19. Tampering with the Temporal Spacetime Continuum
  20. Other (Fill in with your own heinous infraction of Galactic Law and/or disrespect for sentient lifeforms.)

...If you can't do the cryo-time!
You've served your sentence, now go in peace and start a new life using your recently-downloaded vocational programming. Roll randomly on the 1d12 table below, to overwrite your forbidden skillset.

  1. Repair Repair Droids - Fix things that fix other things.
  2. Xenolinguistics (dead languages only) 
  3. Art History - With time, you could become Captain of the Docents.
  4. Automat Quality ControlvMonitor
  5. Pizza Delivery Drone Pilot - Work at Starr-Mart, Galactic Outfitters, or even Kwarq-Trip Convenience Stores.
  6. Crowdfunding Campaign Promotion
  7. Flying Taxi Driver
  8. Extrasolar Missionary
  9. Dewback Grooming - Handy with a nail file.
  10. Space Barrista 
  11. Everything There is to Know About Power Converters
  12. Power Knitting - Complete projects in 70% less time than a normal human. (This is secretly a hack - all previous criminal skills are enhanced by two levels or you've picked up 2 new ones at one level each.)
Your new skillset will take effect immediately, and at a higher level than you might expect! (Typically +2 per level).


Corporate Malfeasance 101
PSIVILITY, the neuromedical research conglomerate that makes all the propriety software for cryo-prisons in the known galaxy, has encountered several severe bugs. The patches are released as quickly as possible through data-nodes at Galactic Security Outposts, but the file sizes are so huge that it's taken several decades to download them from one node to the next. PSIVILITY has had cutbacks and the entire Data-Integrity Division was let go approximately two centuries ago, so buyer beware.

If you can't wait that long, you can always attempt to reprogram an OV3R1T yourself using the following procedure:
  • Roll a programming attempt for each number of infractions the OV3R1T has committed during the session. (Target numbers should be set to DIFFICULT or comparable high level.)
  • Any failure will create a bug that will enhance one of the OV3RiT's criminal skills by one level. Three failures will create a permanent firmware upgrade making any further attempts impossible.
  • Success will bring your OV3R1T back into compliance, but with a personality quirk (roll or choose below):

1d10 Successful Reprogramming Attempt Quirks
  1. OV3R1T demands to be the Captain of your vessel.
  2. Can only eat expensive nanite "grey goo" as meal replacements.
  3. Walks arrhythmically - slowed and noticeable when movement or stealth matters.
  4. Will only speak to robots, not living beings.
  5. Intelligence score plummets to lowest ranking.
  6. Will or charisma soars attracting unwanted attention to the party.
  7. Cries or laughs (your pick) uncontrollably when you use their name or address them.
  8. Mocks anyone relentlessly within 3 meters.
  9. Can't remember anyone's name or what's going on, so resorts to their Cryo-Skill.
  10. Uncontrollable urges to commit crimes but completely inept at doing so (all attempts automatically fail spectacularly).
WARNING: Any paroled convict, sentenced under the Galactic Penal Code of 2402, found to be using prohibited skill sets may face re-incarceration, total mind wipe, scientific experimentation, and/or bodily disintegration. Prohibited skill sets are those defined as any skills that may cause physical harm, property loss or damage, mental or emotional distress to others, or other due harm. If you believe you have somehow acquired these illegal skills without your own doing or purposeful acknowledgment, it is your responsibility to turn yourself in for immediate assessment and incarceration.


Simon Says: "These space-age knitting needles have really been an eye-opener!"




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