Description:
Gotals have spread themselves throughout the galaxy and can be found on almost every planet possessing a significant population
of non-Humans. They have found employment in mercenary armies and as members of planetary armies, where they make excellent lead
men on combat teams, as they are rarely fooled by sophisticated traps or camouflages (although, due to concerns expressed by high
ranking officers in the Imperial military regarding a possibly tendency for the Gotals to empathize with their enemies, they are
banned from service in the forces of the Empire). Along these same lines, they make excellent bounty hunters and trackers.
Gotals have also made a name for themselves as counselors and diplomats, using their enhanced perceptions to help other beings
cope with a wide range of psychological problems and situations. They can often anticipate tension and mood swings, not to
mention misinformation.
Many individuals are uncomfortable in the company of the Gotal claiming that they can read minds. While this is not accurate, it
is true that the Gotal can use data received from their cones to make educated guesses as to what the activity levels in certain
areas of a creature's brain might mean. Of course, this ability makes them formidable opponents in business, politics, and
gambling, and it is rumored that the finest gamblers in the galaxy learn to bluff by trying to trick Gotal acquaintances.
However beneficial it might seem, sensitivity to so many forms of energy input can be a hindrance in some situations. Gotals
senses become overloaded in the presence of droids or other high-energy machines, and this fact has kept the Gotal from utilizing
many modern technological advances, as well as from developing them.
Special Abilities: Mood Detection: Because of their skills at reading the electromagnetic auras of others, Gotals receive bonuses (or penalties) when engaging in interactive skills with other characters. The Gotal makes a Moderate Perception roll and adds the following bonus to all Perception skills when making opposed rolls for the rest of the encounter.
Roll Misses Difficulty by:
Penalty
6 or more
-3D
2-5
-2D
1
-1D
Roll Beats Difficulty by:
Bonus
0-7
1D
8-14
2D
15 or more
3D
Energy Sensitivity: Because Gotals are unusually sensitive to radiation emissions, they
receive a +3D to their search skill when hunting such targets that are within 10 kilometers in open areas (such as deserts and
open plains). When in crowded areas (such as cities and dense jungles) the bonus drops to +1D and the range to less than one
kilometer. However, in areas with intense radiation, Gotals suffer a -1D penalty to search because their senses are overwhelmed
by radiation static. Fast Initiative: Gotals who are not suffering from radiation static receive a +1D bonus
when rolling initiative against non-Gotal opponents because of their ability to read the emotions of others.
Story Factors: Reputation: Because of the Gotals' reputation as beings overly sensitive to moods and
felings, other species are uncomfortable dealing with them. This often hurts them in matters of haggling, as any species who
knows their reputation will not put themselves in a situation where any dealings must take place. Assign modifiers as appropriate. Droid Hate: Gotals suffer a -1D to all Perception based skill rolls when within three
meters of a droid, due to the electromagnetic emissions produced by the droid's circuitry. Because of this, a Gotal's opinion of
droids will range from dislike to hate, and they will attempt to avoid droids if possible.
