Ferengi

Species Name: Ferengi
Homeworld: Ferenginar (Alpha Quadrant)
Physiology: Small-framed humanoids with oversized crania, sharp teeth, and large, sensitive lobes (ears). Their auditory system is hyper-tuned—granting them exceptional hearing but leaving them vulnerable to sonic shocks or physical trauma to the lobes. Ferengi physiology is generally resilient to disease, though they are physically weaker and less enduring than most other humanoids. Their brain structure is non-standard and immune to telepathy, rendering them opaque to Betazoids, Vulcans, and other telepaths.

Cultural Overview:

• Commerce as Religion: Ferengi society revolves entirely around the acquisition of profit. The Rules of Acquisition serve as both holy scripture and legal code. Everything has a price—ethics, loyalty, affection, even memory.
• The Great Material Continuum: A metaphysical belief in a universal “river of commerce” which can be navigated with skill, intuition, and capital. True Ferengi don’t hoard—they keep capital flowing.
• Patriarchal Legacy: Traditionally male-dominated, though this has begun to erode under Grand Nagus Rom's reforms. Ferengi females entering trade, profit, or public positions may face both internalized stigma and external resistance from conservative houses.
• Cultural Perception: Federation citizens often perceive Ferengi as greedy, untrustworthy, or socially regressive. Many Ferengi use this underestimation to their advantage, weaponizing low expectations to outmaneuver rivals.

Starfleet Roles:

• Rare in Starfleet, but increasingly visible since Ferenginar’s warming ties to the Federation.
• Ferengi excel in Logistics, Trade, Intelligence, and Legal divisions, particularly when profit incentive aligns with mission outcome.
• Some serve as unofficial liaisons between the Federation and private-sector power blocs or criminal cartels.

Species Mechanics (STA 2e RAW + Canon Expansion):

ATTRIBUTES: +1 Control, +1 Insight, +1 Presence
TRAIT: Ferengi

• Exceptional hearing: may gain Advantage on auditory-based Perception tasks; suffer +1 Difficulty or Complications from sonic attacks or ear trauma.
• Immune to telepathic intrusion due to irregular brain chemistry.
• Resistant to disease: Advantage on resisting most pathogens or biologically transmitted effects.
• Cultural emphasis on commerce and cunning: may reduce Difficulty when negotiating, bartering, or exploiting bureaucratic loopholes.
• Physical frailty: GM may apply penalties to feats of strength or endurance unless offset by tools or leverage.

SPECIES ABILITY — THE GREAT MATERIAL CONTINUUM:
Once per session, when acquiring additional equipment or resources (either via requisition or barter), reduce the Opportunity Cost by 1, to a minimum of 0. Reflects the Ferengi ability to “find the gap” in supply, rules, or legality to secure desired outcomes.