Cylon Race (Battlestar Galactica - Original):

NPC Only:

The Original concept for the Cylon in the Series Battlestar Galactica was the race was an organic being that used a heavy amount of cybernetic support. This was also the concept used in the books that were written that were based on the television series. The television series changed to the concept of the Cylons being completely machines. In these write-ups, I have used the versions from the novels and the original television concept.

The Cylons are a group that in many ways are organized somewhat like insects are. The lower level workers and Warriors are in many ways almost drones that are simply do their assigned jobs. They can leave the bonds of their programing slightly but not by any great amount. Due to complex genetic factors, some Cylons have the capacity to receive an extra brain. All Cylons that can receive a second brain are assigned to be warriors but they are only a small percentage of the Warriors. Of the cylons than can qualify to receive a second brain, only a small number actually get that second brain due to the fact that the warrior must distinguish itself and many of the cylons with the capability to receive a second brain take huge risks. The few that get a second brain become High Officers. These Cylons become much more skilled, intelligent, and independent with this second brain. They need this because these Cylons act as the command personnel for Base-Star Capital Ships and Planetary Installations. Of the cylons than can receive two brains, a tiny amount of them can receive three brains. These are reduced by the same factors that reduce the potential two brain cylons but the three brain potential Cylons tend to take even greater risks. One among the three brain potential Cylons in chosen and becomes the Imperial Leader. The Cylon is chosen by other Cylons that have three brains. A Cylon will be an Imperial Leader for about 50 to 80 years and then step down. Remaining Cylons that have three brains act as advisors and choose the new Imperial Leader. All retired Imperial Leaders still have the same statistics as the Imperial Leader but do not make day to day decisions in governing the Empire. The Imperial Leader itself is the ultimate authority in the Cylon Empire and makes all high level decisions. The three brain Cylons are both the most independent and most intelligent of the Cylons. It is believed by Cylons, including the three brain Cylons, that they are Omniscient.

The Human Colonies initially engaged the Cylons because the Cylons attacked one of the human allies. That was a millennium previously and the Cylons and humans have been at war for the entire time. The Cylon initial goal is to enslave any race they find, if they cannot enslave the race, they will attempt to annihilate the race in question. This is the goal with the Cylons with regard to the humans

M.D.C. vs S.D.C.:

The Battlestar Galactica Universe if described in M.D.C. vs S.D.C. terms, vehicles would be M.D.C. but all smaller items including Cylons would be S.D.C. structures. If the Cylons are used in a Strictly Battlestar Galactica setting or in the Macross, Star Trek, or Babylon 5 Universes, they should be treated as S.D.C. Structures. In setting that even small targets have M.D.C. such as Rifts Earth or Phase World, they should either be allowed to discover M.D.C. materials for their Cybernetic shell or be already assumed to be M.D.C.

Cylon Technology:

The Cylon Empire is more advanced in some areas of technology that the Twelve Colonies of the humans were and in other areas they are less advanced than the humans are.

The main areas that the Cylons are more advanced in are the fields of Gravitics and Shielding. The Base star uses a form of gravitic propulsion that enables the ship to travel at sublight speeds without burning the huge amounts of fuel that the Colonial Battlestar does. These drives have not been developed for smaller ships so no ship smaller that the Base Star has this system of propulsion. While neither the Cylons or the humans have developed shields for their fighters, the Cylon shields on capital ships are more powerful than those on Colonial ships.

The main areas that the Cylons lag behind the Human Colonies are in structural materials and the Ion engines. The Cylon ships are not constructed out of as strong a material as the Colonial ships. This means that the hull of the ships be able to withstand more damage in combat on the hull. The Ion engines on Cylon ships are also less advanced. The Colonial Battlestar can outrun a Base-Star but consumes a lot of fuel in the process. The Colonial viper is also much faster than the Cylon Raider.

Cylon Warrior:
The Cylon Warriors were the common Cylons seen in the silver chrome suits in the Battlestar Galactica series. Both they and the workers Cylons have only one brain and they have specific programmed skills. The warrior Cylons have some limited ability to solve problems and do independent actions but for the most part simply follow instructions. Cylon Warriors who survive for long periods of time can learn and will improve their skills. This is the reason why Cylons are treated as having a level.

Alignment: None, Cylon Warriors simply follow commands of Cylon Officers and their Imperious Leader
Attributes: I.Q.: 2D6, M.E.: 1D6+3, M.A.: 1D6+3, P.S.: 25, P.P.: 12, P.E.: N.A. P.B.: 8, Spd.: 20. All physical attributes are fixed because they are the attributes of the cybernetic body.
Hit Points: Organics have 10 HP S.D.C.: 150 (See Above for more information on M.D.C. or S.D.C.)
Natural Armor Rating: If using S.D.C. Rating, have an AR rating of 10.
M.D.C.: 50 (See Above for more information on M.D.C. or S.D.C.)
Horror Factor: None
P.P.E.: 1D4
Natural Abilities: Laser Resistant (takes half damage from conventional lasers), Immune to vacuum, and Infra-Red vision.
Combat: 4 attacks per melee. Bonuses: +10 to damage, Bonuses do not include those from hand to hand combat skill. Has +1 bonus for saving throws against psionics and mind control. Cylons warriors are immune to Horror Factor.
Damage: by hand to hand or by hand held weapon
Magic: None
Psionics: None
O.C.C.: The Cylons cannot select an O.C.C. Level: Typical is first but can be 1 to 4 level
Skills: Hand to Hand: Basic, Radio: Basic +5%, Pilot Small Starship, Pilot Starfighter: Raider Only +10%, Starfighter Combat: Raider (Basic Level), Navigation: Space +10%, Read Sensor Systems, Weapon Systems +10%, W.P. Energy Pistol, W.P. Energy Rifle, W.P. Axe
Lifespan: Unknown
Size: 6.5 feet (2 meters) tall
Weight: 550 lbs (250 kg)
Equipment: Blaster Pistol (4D6x10 S.D.C. or 4D6 M.D.C., 800 ft (244 m) range, 30 shots per E-Clip), all other vehicles or equipment are assigned as needed.

Cylon Worker:
Cylon workers are effectively drones that fill labor positions within the Cylon empire. They are all of the standard Cylons that were not able to pass the tests for Cylon Warriors. Unlike Cylon warriors, they appear to be covered in a cloth coating. This is cheaper than the armor for the Cylon Warriors. They have specifically programmed skills and have only limited ability in problem solving.

Alignment: None, Cylon Workers simply follow commands of Cylon Officers and their Imperious Leader
Attributes: I.Q.: 1D6+1, M.E.: 1D6+3, M.A.: 1D6+3, P.S.: 20, P.P.: 8, P.E.: N.A. P.B.: 8, Spd.: 10. All physical attributes are fixed because they are the attributes of the cybernetic body.
Hit Points: Organics have 10 HP S.D.C.: 60 (See Above for more information on M.D.C. or S.D.C.)
Natural Armor Rating: None
M.D.C.: 20 ( See Above for more information on M.D.C. or S.D.C.)
Horror Factor: None
P.P.E.: 1D4
Natural Abilities: Immune to vacuum.
Combat: 2 attacks per melee (parries cost attacks). Bonuses: +5 to damage, Cylon Workers are immune to Horror Factor
Damage: by hand to hand or by hand held weapon
Magic: None
Psionics: None
O.C.C.: The Cylons cannot select an O.C.C. Level: First level only.
Skills: The Cylon Worker is programmed with ten skills (+5%)
Lifespan: Unknown
Size: 5.9 feet (1.8 meters) tall
Weight: 440 lbs (200 kg)
Equipment: all equipment is assigned as needed.

Cylon High Officer:
A small number of Cylon warriors become Cylon High Officers. These Cylons have two brains and act as leaders and administrators within the Cylon Empire. The look virtually identical to normal Cylons but their armor is gold chrome instead of silver chrome. The High Officers are far more intelligent and able to solve problems that the Warrior Cylons cannot but still follow all commands from Imperious Leader

Alignment: Considered Miscreant
Attributes: I.Q.: 3D6, M.E.: 2D6+2, M.A.: 2D6+2, P.S.: 30, P.P.: 18, P.E.: N.A. P.B.: 8, Spd.: 25. All physical attributes are fixed because they are the attributes of the cybernetic body.
Hit Points: Organics have 12 HP S.D.C.: 240 (See Above for more information on M.D.C. or S.D.C.)
Natural Armor Rating: If using S.D.C. Rating, have an AR rating of 12.
M.D.C.: 80 (See Above for more information on M.D.C. or S.D.C.)
Horror Factor: None
P.P.E.: 1D4
Natural Abilities: Laser Resistant (takes half damage from conventional lasers), Immune to vacuum, and Multi Optics vision.
Combat: 5 attacks per melee. Bonuses: +15 to damage, +1 to Strike, parry, and Dodge. Bonuses do not include those from hand to Hand combat skill. Has +1 bonus for saving throws against psionics and mind control. Cylons High Officers are immune to Horror Factor.
Damage: by hand to hand or by hand held weapon
Magic: None
Psionics: None
O.C.C.: The Cylons cannot select an O.C.C. Level: Typical is fifth but can be 5 to 8 level
Skills: Hand to Hand: Expert, Radio: Basic +10%, Pilot Small Starship, Pilot Starfighter: Raider Only +20%, Starfighter Combat: Raider (Elite Level), Navigation: Space +15%, Read Sensor Systems, Weapon Systems +15%, Computer Operation +5%, Computer Programming, W.P. Energy Pistol, W.P. Energy Rifle, W.P. Axe. Aslo select 5 other skills.
Lifespan: Unknown
Size: 6.5 feet (2 meters) tall
Weight: 550 lbs (250 kg)
Equipment: Blaster Pistol (4D6x10 S.D.C. or 4D6 M.D.C., 800 ft (244 m) range, 30 shots per E-Clip), all other vehicles or equipment are assigned as needed.

Imperial Leader:
This Cylon is the leader of the entire Cylon empire and has three brains. While no longer having any direct control over the Cylon Empire, retired Imperial Leaders act as advisors to the present Imperial Leader and have the same statistics of an Imperial Leader. Except for a few human prisoners of war that were killed, no human has even seen the Imperial Leader with the exception of the traitor named "Baltar". The statistics for the Imperious Leader also includes all three brain cylons.

Alignment: Considered Miscreant
Attributes: I.Q.: 4D6+2, M.E.: 3D6+2, M.A.: 3D6+2, P.S.: 30, P.P.: 18, P.E.: N.A. P.B.: 8, Spd.: 25. All physical attributes are fixed because they are the attributes of the cybernetic body.
Hit Points: Organics have 12 HP S.D.C.: 300 (See Above for more information on M.D.C. or S.D.C.)
Natural Armor Rating: If using S.D.C. Rating, have an AR rating of 12.
M.D.C.: 100 (See Above for more information on M.D.C. or S.D.C.)
Horror Factor: None
P.P.E.: 1D4
Natural Abilities: Laser Resistant (takes half damage from conventional lasers), Immune to vacuum, and Multi Optics vision.
Combat: 5 attacks per melee. Bonuses: +15 to damage, +1 to Strike, parry, and Dodge. Bonuses do not include those from hand to Hand combat skill. Has +1 bonus for saving throws against psionics and mind control. Cylons Imperious leaders are immune to Horror Factor.
Damage: by hand to hand or by hand held weapon
Magic: None
Psionics: None
O.C.C.: The Cylons cannot select an O.C.C. Level: Typical is tenth but can be tenth to fifteenth level
Skills: Hand to Hand: Expert, Radio: Basic +10%, Pilot Small Starship, Pilot Starfighter: Raider Only +20%, Starfighter Combat: Raider (Elite Level), Navigation: Space +15%, Read Sensor Systems, Weapon Systems +15%, Computer Operation +5%, Computer Programming, W.P. Energy Pistol, W.P. Energy Rifle, W.P. Axe. Also select 15 other skills.
Lifespan: Unknown
Size: 6.5 feet (2 meters) tall
Weight: 550 lbs (250 kg)
Equipment: Anything the Imperial leader wants

IL Series Androids:
These are a series of androids built by the Cylon empire to act as advisors and in some limited cases as leaders. In many ways they are the most independent members of Cylon society. In Rifts terms, they are considered a Neural intelligence.

Alignment: Considered Anarchist
Attributes: I.Q.: 23, M.E.: N.A. M.A.: 18, P.S.: 20, P.P.: 15, P.E.: N.A. P.B.: 10, Spd.: 20. All attributes are fixed because they are the attributes of an android.
S.D.C.: 150 (See Above for more information on M.D.C. or S.D.C.)
Natural Armor Rating: If using S.D.C. Rating, have an AR rating of 8.
M.D.C.: 50 (See Above for more information on M.D.C. or S.D.C.)
Horror Factor: None
P.P.E.: None
Natural Abilities: Immune to vacuum, and Multi Optics vision.
Combat: 4 attacks per melee. Bonuses: +5 to damage, Bonuses do not include those from hand to Hand combat skill. Has +1 bonus for saving throws against psionics and mind control. Cylons IL Series Androids are immune to Horror Factor.
Damage: by hand to hand or by hand held weapon
Magic: None
Psionics: None
O.C.C.: The Cylons cannot select an O.C.C. Level: Not applicable
Skills: Hand to Hand: Basic (First level), Radio: Basic 98%, Pilot Small Starship 98%, Pilot Starfighter: Raider Only 75%, Starfighter Combat: Raider (Basic Level - First Level), Navigation: Space 98%, Read Sensor Systems 98%, Weapon Systems 60%, Computer Operation 98%, Computer Programming 95%, W.P. Energy Pistol (first level), Intelligence (80%). Can be programmed with up to 10 additional skills (each +10%), skills do not increase in level.
Lifespan: Unknown
Size: 6.5 feet (2 meters) tall
Weight: 440 lbs (200 kg)
Equipment: All equipment necessary can be requisitioned. IL series Androids need very little on a general basis.

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Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

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