UPLIFT

Many ancient spacefaring cultures and a few modern one’s practice uplift.  Some theoretical scientists suggest that all sentient races once went through an uplift process.  Uplift recipients often turn to biotech, nanotech, and cybernetics to further augment themselves. “Uplift” is an acquired template that can be added to any animal, plant, or vermin with an Intelligence score of 2 or a -4 Intelligence ability modifier (referred to hereafter as the base creature). It uses all the base creature’s statistics and special abilities except as noted here. With your game master’s permission, a player may choose an uplifted species as a character race.  Not enough can really be said about having apposable thumbs.

The uplift template gives the base creature the gift of sentience. The base creature can begin play with the uplift template or acquire the uplifted template by undergoing endogenous metamorphosis. The cost of uplift in Edge varies by base species.  Any creature with a CR less than one does not require a character to pay a Edge, otherwise a character would pay 1 Edge per CR of the base creature.  Any creature selected by a player for uplift must be approved by the GM.

When calculating the item level and price of Uplift, the item level of uplift equals 10 + the target creatures CR.  Reference the Table: Uplift Pricing below for expenditures.  A player wishing to play an uplifted species as a character race may have to pay a number of permanent Resolve Points to qualify for the race.

UPLIFT SPECIAL QUALITIES

An uplifted retains all the special qualities of the base creature and gains the additional special qualities listed below.

Ability Scores Due to the almost limitless possibilities of creatures available for uplift, it is assumed that endogenous metamorphosis impairs some of the base creature’s physical abilities while enhancing its intelligence. Unlike most character races which have set bonuses and penalties to ability scores uplifted creatures have variable bonuses based on the base creature.  An uplifted creature receives a +3 bonus to one ability score and a +2 bonus to a second ability score, but also receives a – 3 penalty to a single ability score.  Although in many cases this tempers the physical attributes of the base creature it provides game balance for their increased mental capacity.

Player’s and GMs should attempt to assign the bonuses and the penalty to the uplifted creature according to the base creature’s strengths and weaknesses.

Hands (Ex) Any creature with forelimbs that undergoes uplift may select to have their feet, paws, or flippers upgraded to hands.  This does not increase the number of digits but simply elongates existing digits into figures and positions a pair of opposable thumbs. To gain this special quality the sponsor must pay an additional Purchase DC +1.  Primates are not required to pay this cost.

Hips (Ex) Any creature with legs that undergoes uplift may select to have their hips (or similar structures) enhanced, allowing them to walk upright. Any creature that walks upright gains a minimum land speed of 20ft. Any uplifted quadruped or like creature attempting to walk upright without hips has their base speed reduces by 15 ft. (to a minimum of 10 ft.). To gain this special quality the sponsor must pay an additional Purchase DC +1. 

Humanoid (Ex) Most animals, plants, and vermin gain the humanoid type if they select hands and hips.  This allows the uplifted creature to wear armor and other equipment common to humanoids of their size.

Racial Hit Points An uplifted creature begins play with 8 hit points multiplied by its CR value rounding down in the case of a fraction.  Examples: A CR 1/3 creature would begin play with 2 Hit Points (minimum of 2 Hit Points) or a CR 2 creature would begin play with 16 racial Hit Points.

Speech (Ex) The uplifted are also given the gift of speech and can learn as many languages as their intelligence allows.  Endogenous metamorphosis genetically alters the base creature’s throat or creates one allowing the uplifted creature the capability of speech.

Skills: Same class skills as the base creature

Feats: Same bonus feats as the base creature

Advancement: By character class

Level Adjustment: +0.