The Sparrials are a small, vaguely feline race, descended from a tree-dwelling predator. They are bipedal; their hands have four skeletally-thin opposable fingers with retractable claws. They are sleekly furred; most coats have varying patterns of brown or rust, but albinos are relatively common. The mouth is the most "alien" feature; closed, it does not look unusual, but it contains several fleshy organs and grids of rough, serrated bone that serve as teeth.
Environment: Sparrials are native to a .95 G Terrestrial world, with an average temperature of 65 degrees F – cool by human standards. They have a wider temperature tolerance than humans, however, and can live anywhere a human can. They breathe a standard Terran oxygen mix at .97 atmospheres.
Advantages and Disadvantages: Sparrials have a -3 to ST, +2 to DX, and +1 to HT. They automatically have the advantages of Night Vision, +2 Acute Taste and Smell, and +3 to Detect Lies skill vs. humans, Sparrials and most other races (they can "smell" fear). If they take a turn to prepare – using the Step and Concentrate maneuver – they can make leaps of twice their normal Jump distance. They have the racial disadvantages of Kleptomania (stealing small personal items is a common form of Sparrial competitveness), Gluttony and Stubborness. A Sparrial has normal height and weight, by human standards, for its ST.
As the racial advantages and disadvantages of Sparrials balance out, there is no point cost to play a member of this race.
Psychology: Sparrials are active and adventuresome, but can be very patient when there is need. They tend to be quarrelsome among themselves until a "pecking order" is established, through argument, battle or clever thefts. Sparrials steal from those around them in much the same way humans trade quips and insults – to establish dominance and show their worth without combat.
Sparrials react very strongly to scent. They dislike some races, and like others, purely on the basis of odor. Human scent varies widely, in Sparrial view. The first time a human meets Sparrials, roll 1 die and subtract 3, and record the result. This determines how Sparrials like his odor; that is the Sparrial reaction bonus (or penalty) to that person thereafter.
Sparrials have two sexes. Males are slightly smaller and faster than females.
If a campaign includes alien races, the GM should permit alien PCs whenever they can reasonably fit into the campaign.
Everyone – GMs and players – must roleplay creatively when taking the part of aliens. Even in a space-opera campaign, where all the aliens are essentially humans in furry coats, this will add to the fun. And in a "hard" SF campaign, it will be necessary to play other races as genuinely alien. A few points to keep in mind when dealing with alien races:
Charisma always works. For game purposes, we define this "force of personality" as universal.
Voice, good looks, etc., rarely work. Aliens will not respond to a pleasant voice unless it is, by coincidence, pleasant to them. Few aliens will notice physical beauty in a human. And so on.
Aliens will have racial likes and dislikes. This may be as simple as "reacts at +2 to Terrans," or as quirky as "will not deal with anyone wearing orange."
Aliens may not want the same things we do. Likewise, they may not fear the same things we do. Most humans want wealth, comfort and the approval of their fellow man, and fear injury, ridicule and death. Aliens may not see things the same way . . .
Aliens may like and dislike different things about individuals. The importance attached to personal odor by the Sparrials is an example of the unique standards by which aliens may judge other individuals.
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