Weekend Write Ups: ALF

Here's another one of my oddball character write-ups. This time it's ALF from the 80's sitcom of the same name. The series focused on typical American family that has it's life turned upside down when an alien crash lands his ship in their garage. Keeping him out of sight of the authorities and the neighbors focus of a lot of the show, which was made more difficult by Alf's exceedingly difficult personality.  The series ran from 1986-1990, and in 1996 there was a follow-up TV movie titled Project ALF.

ALF (aka Gordon Shumway of Melmac)

Awareness 3      Coordination 2   Ingenuity  5
Presence 2         Resolve  4          Strength 2

GOOD TRAITS
Alien
Alien Organs (5 stomachs)
Boffin
Charming
Immortal (major)
Keen Senses
Technically Adept

BAD TRAITS

Alien Appearance
Impulsive
Last of My Kind
Selfish
Tiny (minor)


SKILLS
Convince  3

Knowledge 3
Science 3
Subterfuge 3
Survival 2
Technology 4
Transport 4

Story Points: 12
Tech Level: 6

Gordon Shumway is an alien nicknamed ALF (an acronym for Alien Life Form) by the humans that took him in.  ALF's body is covered with fur and he has a rippled snout, facial moles and eight stomachs. His heart is apparently located in his head. He likes to burp and eat cats, and can whistle without opening his mouth. He was born on October 28, 1756 on the Lower East Side of the planet Melmac. Melmac was located six parsecs past the Hydra-Centaurus Supercluster, and had a green sky, blue grass and a purple sun.

ALF was gardener by profession back on his homeworld, but did serve as a reservist member of the Melmac Orbit Guard.  He was fortunate to be off planet at the time when nuclear disaster caused the destruction of his planet. Homeless with a damaged ship, he crash lands in the garage of the Tanner family when his ship locked in on HAM radio signal Willie Tanner was broadcasting. With nowhere to go the Tanner family took him in and helped him adjust to life of Earth and avoid the Air Force's Alien Task Force that was looking for him.

ALF lived with the Tanners for several years. When other survivors of his planet contacted him with information about their newly formed colony, he jumped at the chance to leave. But before he could escape the Alien Task Force caught up with him, and he found himself  a prisoner.

His captivity by the military was not kind to him, which did include various "experiments" on him that were little more than torture. While the senior officers and their pet scientists were downright xenophobic regarding ALF, his Airmen jailers were much more accommodating. They gave him many creature comforts and allowed to turn his cell into the center of a lot of illegal business on base. When one of the senior officers decided of his own accord to have ALF killed, two of the junior officers smuggled him off base.

ALF's fugitive status was relatively short lived, and when returned to the Air Force, the people responsible for his harsh captivity had been removed. He was further granted status of Ambassador to Earth, though after meeting ALF they  have reservations about how good an idea that really was.

 USES IN THE CAMPAIGN

In a UNIT campaign, the characters might be more inclined to run into ALF during his military captivity.  After the events in England with the Slitheen and Sycorax attacks, The US military might have to reveal ALF's existence as part of an information exchange. If he's been in their care since 1996 (the year the Project ALF movie was released) the US might end up foisting him upon UNIT just to be rid of him.

ALF's main role is obnoxious troublemaker, his impulsive nature makes him the one to push the big red button on the control panel, or to run off and try to do something on his own when he should be waiting on the rest of the group. His sarcastic nature sometimes gets the better of him, throwing out one of his quips at the most inopportune moments.

ALF does have his good side though, he is quite loyal to his friends and will try to make amends when he realizes he's gone too far. He is also quite the boffin, having created several gadgets over the years including converting Willie Tanner's HAM radio into a galactic communications system. Given the right motivation he could potentially be quite useful on the technical side.

Melmacians age so slowly they have for all practical purposes the Immortality trait. ALF is over two hundred years old, and likely to live for several more centuries. So it's likely the players could run into him on multiple occasions and points in history.

Star Trek Week: Troi and Guinan

Ship's Counsellor Deanna Troi

Deanna Troi was a half-Betazoid, half-Human Starfleet officer. Under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, she served as ship's counselor aboard the USS Enterprise-D. As a half-Betazoid, Troi was capable of extra-sensory empathy, but was incapable of reading aliens with brain structures dissimilar to Humans and other Betazoids, such as the Breen and the Ferengi. Like most Betazoids, Troi had telepathic abilities; due to her half-Human heritage, however, the range of her telepathic abilities were limited compared to full-blooded Betazoids, and could usually only read the thoughts of other Betazoids, most notably her mother. Troi's empathic skills made her an important asset to the Enterprise and often came in handy when dealing with hostile races. Since she could usually tell if others were lying, she repeatedly proved herself invaluable in many suspenseful situations.

ATTRIBUTES (20)
Awareness    3   Coordination 3
Ingenuity     3     Presence  4
Resolve        4    Strength 3

Good Traits (8)
Alien,

Attractive
Charming
Empathic
Psychic
Psychic Training
Telepathy

Bad Traits (-8)
Code of Conduct-Professional Ethics (minor)
Emotional Complication-Former Relationship with Riker (minor)
Distinctive
Obligation-Starfleet (major)
Obligation-To her patients (minor)
Weakness-Telepathic abilities very limited, mostly empathic feelings, and some non-human species were unreadable. (major)

Skills (22)

Convince 4 (Area of Expertise: Negotiation)

Fighting1
Knowledge  4 (Area of Expertise: Psychology)
Marksman  2
Medicine 2
Science 2
Subterfuge 2
Survival 1
Technology 1
Transport 1

Story Points 12
Tech Level 7

Guinan


Guinan was the mysterious bartender in Ten Forward, the lounge aboard the USS Enterprise-D. She was well known for her wise counsel, which had proven invaluable many times. She was an El-Aurian, a race of "listeners" who were scattered by the Borg. Q, however, once suggested that there is far more to her than could be imagined.

Guinan came aboard the Enterprise-D in 2365 at Captain Picard's personal request. Guinan and Picard shared a long-time relationship, which, according to her, went "beyond friendship and beyond family", although she also claimed to have only met Picard after boarding the Enterprise.

ATTRIBUTES (23)
Awareness  3      Coordination 3
Ingenuity  4        Presence  6
Resolve  4          Strength 3

Good Traits (5)
Alien
Immortal
Experienced
Feel the Turn of the Universe

Bad Traits (-5)
Distinctive
Insatiable Curiosity
Eccentric-
Obligation-The Enterprise Crew (major)

Skills (24)
Athletics  2
Convince  5
Craft  3

Knowledge 5
Marksman 5
Subterfuge 2
Survival  2

Story Points 9
Tech Level 7

Star Trek Week: Doctors Crusher and Pulaski

Continuing with the Star Trek: The Next Generation Write ups, I'm doing a double feature with the two women who served as  the ship's Chief Medical Officer; Dr. Crusher and Dr. Pulaski.



Dr. Beverly Crusher

Dr. Crusher was appointed chief medical officer of the Starship Enterprise-D in 2364, and joined the ship at Farpoint Station with Wesley, reporting on board on stardate 41154. Picard initially had reservations about her presence, but she assured him that the past would have no effect on her duties and she had no problem serving under his command.

Crusher was offered a position as head of Starfleet Medical in 2365 and left the Enterprise during that year. She was replaced by Dr. Katherine Pulaski. While at Starfleet Medical, she worked with the notorious Lieutenant Commander Calvin Hutchinson. Crusher found it difficult to be away, however, and decided to return to the ship the following year.

Beverly and Jean-Luc maintained a close friendship while serving on the Enterprise-D, usually sharing their morning meal together. Beverly usually tried to serve a new and exotic food, although she and Jean-Luc both preferred something simple. Their relationship stayed platonic for the most part. They considered one another close friends, and would give each other advice when dealing with difficult decisions. 

ATTRIBUTES (21)
Awareness  3      Coordination 4
Ingenuity  4        Presence  3
Resolve  3          Strength 3

Good Traits (6)
Attractive
Experienced (x1)
Rank (Starfleet Commander)
Voice of Authority

Bad Traits (-4)
Code of Conduct-Doctor's Oath (minor)
Emotional Complication-her relationship with Captain Picard (minor)
Obligation- Starfleet (major)

Skills (25)

Convince 3
Craft 3
Knowledge 4
Marksman 2
Medicine  4
Science 4

Technology 3
Transport 2


Story Points 9
Tech Level 7

____________________________________________

Dr. Katherine Pulaski

Prior to serving on the Enterprise-D, she serves on the USS Repulse under Captain Taggart, who was sorry to lose her. Kate is a fairly traditional doctor, well versed in methods that her nurses consider archaic, such as splints. She has a cool bedside manner, and is known to prescribe "PCS", also known as "Pulaski's Chicken Soup", for minor ailments.

She is outgoing and much more bubbly and louder than the quiet, reserved Beverly Crusher. She also has a high-spirited nature and is known to be very charming toward most of the crew, while at the same time she likes to make humorous or even slightly sarcastic remarks every now and then. In short, she very strongly possesses a lot of archetypically "human" personality features.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard's working relationship with Dr. Pulaski is somewhat strained, and at the beginning of her service on the ship, her stubborn, brusque manner annoys him at times. Pulaski has some "personality" issues with Lieutenant Commander Data. Despite the fact that Data has always been seen as alive (and later won the legal rights of a sentient being), Pulaski thinks of Data merely as a machine, and does not understand why he wants to be human. She sometimes speaks about him in the third person while he is present, even referring to him as "it".

ATTRIBUTES (21)
Awareness  3      Coordination 3
Ingenuity  4        Presence  3
Resolve  5          Strength 3

Good Traits (8)
Brave
Charming
Experienced (x2)
Indomitable
Rank (Starfleet Commander)

Bad Traits (-5)
Argumentative
Code of Conduct- Doctor's Oath (minor)
Eccentric-strong willed, technophobic (minor)
Obligation- Starfleet (major)

Skills (26)
Athletics 1
Convince 4
Knowledge 4
Medicine 4
Science 5
Subterfuge 3
Survival 1
Technology 2
Transport 2

Story Points 6
Tech Level 7 

____________________________________________

Starfleet Medical Tricorder 

The palm sized medical tricorder used by Starfleet medical staff is an invaluable tool in helping analyze and diagnose the ailments that afflict the crew might encounter.

The tricorder comes with a small, detachable sensor that can be waved over the body of the patient to get a thorough examination.

 

Traits: Scan, Skill (Medicine), Restriction (Can only scan life forms)

Story Points: 1

Star Trek Week: Worf and Yar

Lt. Commander Worf
Worf was born in 2340 on the Klingon homeworld as the son of Mogh. Five years later, his parents moved to the Khitomer colony. Worf's parents were killed during a surprise attack by the Romulans on the Khitomer outpost. The colony's distress call was answered by the Federation starship USS Intrepid. Chief Petty Officer Sergey Rozhenko found Worf in the rubble and took him in after failing to find any living relatives. Rozhenko and his wife Helena raised him on a small farm colony on the planet Gault, a world of about 20,000 inhabitants, almost all of them human.

In 2364 Worf was assigned to the USS Enterprise-D as relief flight control and tactical officer with the rank of lieutenant junior grade  The next year he was made Acting Chief of Security following the death of Natasha Yar, even though he believed that a promotion due to the death of a comrade was not honorable  The next year he transferred to operations division and was formally made Chief of Security.

Awareness   4     Coordination  4
Ingenuity     3     Presence  4
Resolve       4    Strength  6

Good Traits
Alien, Brave, Voice of Authority, Rank (Starfleet Lt. Commander) Tough, Never Gives Up (major) Martial Artist, Experienced (x1)

Bad Traits
Adversary-House of Duras (minor) Alien Appearance, Argumentative, By the Book, Distinctive, Eccentric-Stoicism (minor), Impulsive, Obsession-Restrain his Klingon nature (minor) Obligation-Starfleet (major) Obligation- To his House and the Klingon Empire (minor)

Skills
Athletics
Convince
Craft
Fighting 4 (Area of Expertise: Bat'Leth)
Knowledge
Marksman 4
Medicine 1
Science
Subterfuge 2
Survival
Technology
Transport



Story Points 9
Tech Level 5

Distinctive Features:  Klingon Brow ridges, scowling demeanor

_______________________________________________

 Lieutenant Natasha Yar

 Tasha was born in 2337 on the failed colony world of Turkana IV. Her sister, Ishara, was born five years later. Both of their parents were killed shortly following Ishara's birth, after which they were looked after by "some people" for a few months who later abandoned them, leaving Tasha to care for them both. Tasha had to avoid rape gangs and terrible violence just to scavenge for the bare necessities of life, such as food.

 Tasha managed to find a way off Turkana IV in 2352 by the age of fifteen. Ishara and Tasha never saw one another again. Tasha began to attend Starfleet Academy soon after her escape. Tasha credited Starfleet for saving her from her previous life.  She joined security because of the lawless environment in which she grew up.


Awareness   4     Coordination 3
Ingenuity     3     Presence  3
Resolve       3     Strength  3

Good Traits
Attractive, Brave, Crack Shot, Rank (Starfleet Lieutenant) 


Bad Traits
Impulsive, Obligation-Starfleet (major)

Skills
Athletics 1
Convince 1

Fighting  3
Knowledge  2
Marksman  4
Medicine  1

Subterfuge 2
Survival 3
Technology  2
Transport  2

Story Points 12
Tech Level 5

Distinctive Features:  Athletic, reserved nature,

Star Trek Week: LaForge and Data

This Friday, Star Trek: Into Darkness opens in theaters here in the US, so I thought I'd count down this week with write-ups for the Next Generation cast.

Lt. Commander Geordie LaForge

Geordie was born blind, but was fitted early in life with a VISOR. A cybernetic implant that gave him access to the full electromagnetic spectrum.

LaForge began his service aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise as junior lieutenant serving as helmsman. His technical aptitude eventually lead him to become the ship's Chief Engineer.

His closest friend on the Enterprise is Data, though all of the crew appreciate Geordie's easy going nature.  





ATTRIBUTES (19)
Awareness  3      Coordination 3
Ingenuity  4        Presence  3
Resolve  3          Strength 3

Good Traits (8)
Brave
Boffin
Charming
Cyborg (minor)

Military Rank (Starfleet Lt. Commander )
Technically Adept

Bad Traits (-5)
Distinctive
Impaired Senses- Blindness (major)
Obligation- Starfleet (major)

Skills (20)
Fighting  2
Knowledge 3 (Area of Expertise: Warp Physics)
Marksman  3 (Area of Expertise: Phaser)

Survival 2
Technology 4 (Area of Expertise: Starship Systems)
Transport  3

Story Points 9
Tech Level 7

Distinctive Features: Always wears VISOR, positive nature

 ____________________________________________

Geordie's VISOR (minor gadget)
The VISOR, acronym for Visual Instrument and Sensory Organ Replacement, was a medical device used in the Federation to aid patients who had suffered loss of eyesight or who were born blind. The VISOR detected electromagnetic signals across the entire EM spectrum between 1 Hz and 100,000 THz and transmitted those signals to the brain through neural implants in the temples of the individual via delta-compressed wavelengths. The result was a vastly different visual acuity, with VISOR-wearers able to see in the infrared and ultraviolet ranges and beyond. To normal Human eyes, the images relayed through the VISOR could seem disorienting and unfamiliar.

Traits: Scan, Restriction (Removable, character is blind without it)
Story Points: 1

 ____________________________________________

Lt. Commander Data

Data was the fifth of six known androids designed by Dr. Noonian Soong. He was built on the planet Omicron Theta around 2336, after Lore was deactivated, and over the protests of Soong's wife Juliana. Soong claimed he built Data to perfect his design of his androids, and when Data was perfected, apply his improvements to Lore. But before that happened, the colony was attacked by the Crystalline Entity. Data had been deactivated at the time and most of the colony wiped out.

Data was found and reactivated by the USS Tripoli after the Crystalline Entity destroyed the entire colony on the planet. His connection with Starfleet resulted in his choice to enter Starfleet Academy. Upon applying to the Academy, he met with some resistance on "the grounds that he was not a sentient being". Eventually Data was admitted to the Academy in 2344, and spent four years there. 

 Data served as operations officer and second officer on board the USS Enterprise-D from 2364 until the vessel's destruction in 2371.  Since he did not require sleep, he routinely stood night watch on the bridge. He frequently participated in many of the away missions undertaken. His speed of thought and great strength made him an important asset to the ship, and the fact that he was unaffected by disease, radiation, or mind control was vital on more than one occasion. 

ATTRIBUTES (30)

Awareness  6      Coordination 5

Ingenuity  5        Presence  3
Resolve  4          Strength 7

Good Traits (12)

Boffin (major)
Brave
Photographic Memory (major)
Quick Reflexes
Rank (Starfleet Lt. Commander)
Tough (x2)
Robot
Experienced (x3)

Bad Traits (-12)

By the Book
Distinctive
Last of My Kind
Obligation- Starfleet (major)
Eccentric-Babbles (minor)
Code of Conduct-Programming (major)
Weakness-Deactivation Switch: will render Data unconscious (major)

Weakness-Hackable: Data can be remotely programmed to act without free will (major)

Skills (24)

Fighting  2
Knowledge  6
Marksman  3
Science 5
Technology 5
Transport 3

Story Points 3

Tech Level 7

Distinctive Features: pale golden skin, expressionless face

Star Trek Week: Captian Picard and Commander Riker

This Friday, Star Trek: Into Darkness opens in theaters here in the US, so I thought I'd count down this week with write-ups for the Next Generation cast.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Jean-Luc Picard was a celebrated Starfleet officer, archaeologist and diplomat who served during the latter half of the 24th century. The highlights of his career were centered around assignments as commanding officer of the Federation starships: USS Stargazer, USS Enterprise-D, and the USS Enterprise-E. In these roles, Picard not only witnessed the major turning points of recent galactic history, but played a key role in them also, from making First Contact as captain of the Federation's flagship with no fewer than 27 alien species, including the Ferengi and the Borg, as well as becoming the chief contact point with the Q Continuum, to serving as Arbiter of Succession- where he presided over the investiture of Chancellor Gowron, and exposing the Romulan Star Empire as backers of his chief rivals, later aiding an Romulan underground movement of dissidents to gain a toehold on the Romulan homeworld. He continued to serve as captain of the Enterprise-E, the sixth starship to bear the name, until at least 2379.
ATTRIBUTTES (21)
Awareness  3      Coordination 3
Ingenuity  4        Presence  4
Resolve  4          Strength 3

Good Traits (10)
Attractive
Brave
Experienced (x2)
Indomitable
Military Rank (Starfleet Captain)
Technically Adept
Voice of Authority

Bad Traits (-10)
Adversaries (major)
By the Book
Code of Conduct-Prime Directive (major)
Obligation-Starfleet (major)
Obsession-Archaeology (minor)
Insatiable Curiosity
Eccentric-difficulty dealing with children (minor)

Skills (31)
Athletics  2
Convince  3 (Area of Expertise: Negotiation)
Craft 2
Fighting  2
Knowledge  3 (Areas of Expertise: Diplomacy, Starfleet, Military Tactics)
Marksman 3 (Area of Expertise: Phaser)
Medicine 1
Science  2
Subterfuge 2
Survival  2
Technology 2
Transport  2

Story Points 6
Tech Level 7

Distinctive Features: Bald, Hawkish looks, resonant voice, projects authority.

____________________________________________

Commander William T. Riker

 Will Riker has served as First Officer of the U.S.S. Enterprise for many years. He's developed from a brash young officer into a seasoned leader who has held his own against grave threats including the first attempted invasion of the Alpha Quadrant by the Borg.

He previously had an intimate relationship with his fellow officer Deanna Troi, but they chose to remain friends during much of their service aboard the Enterprise. He pursued several other relationships during his tenure as First officer.

ATTRIBUTES (21)

Awareness  3      Coordination 4
Ingenuity  3        Presence  4
Resolve  4          Strength 3

Good Traits (7)

Attractive
Charming
Brave
Experienced (x1)
Military Rank (Starfleet Commander)
Voice of Authority

Bad Traits (-4)

Argumentative
Distinctive
Obligation- Starfleet (major)

Skills (24)

Athletics 1

Convince  2

Craft 1

Fighting  3

Knowledge 3

Marksman  3 (Area of Expertise: Phaser)

Subterfuge 2

Survival 2

Technology 2

Transport  3 (Area of Expertise: Shuttlecraft)

Story Points 9

Tech Level 7

Distinctive Features: Beard, Rugged Good Looks, Athletic

____________________________________________

Military Rank (Starfleet)

The military rank trait system from the UNIT Sourcebook works the same way for Starfleet personnel,the only difference is the titles.

Rank Trait                          Ranks

None                          Crewman* or Ensign

Minor                   Chief Petty Officer* or Lieutenant 

Major                        Lieutenant Commander

Major x2                             Commander

Major x3                               Captain

*These ranks are non-commissioned officer positions.

____________________________________________

The first and most important piece of equipment in Star Trek is of course the Starship Enterprise.  So using a combination of the Defending the Earth Sourcebook and the Primeval base traits I came up with appropriate base stats for the ship.

USS Enterprise NCC 1701-D

The USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) was a Federation Galaxy-class explorer that was in service with Starfleet in the mid-24th century. This was the fifth Federation starship to bear the name Enterprise. During her career, the Enterprise served as the Federation flagship.

Good Traits: Armoury, Computing Power, Database Access, Defence System, Fortified, Holding Cells, Internal Sensors, Laboratory, Landing Pad, Lockdown, Medic, Minions, Mobile Base, Secure Base, Training, Troops

Bad Traits: Code (Prime Directive), Main Reactor, Ongoing Mission, Wandering Civilians (Dependants and non Starfleet Personnel aboard)

Base Points: 12

It's Star Trek Week!

Friday May 17th marks the opening of Star Trek: Into Darkness, and I thought this week would be a good time to provide some DWAITAS write-ups for the Next Gen cast.

The Next Generation cast seems most appropriate following the IDW Comics crossover series (and source of the image at left.)

So, starting tomorrow there will be daily posts providing two character write-ups for the Next Gen cast, plus a few extra gadget entries for some of the more important equipment.




USING DWAITAS FOR A STAR TREK GAME

 It really wouldn't be that hard to use the DWAITAS system for a full on Star Trek Campaign. Both shows (especially TNG) were big on the idea of non-violent solutions to problems, and the DWAITAS system's very storytelling oriented nature would be a good fit for those looking for that kind of game.

The numerous (if sometimes contradictory information) from the pre-existing Trek RPGs makes for a vast array of source material. While I have neverplayed it, I was given the understanding the classic FASA Star Trek RPG utilized a similar game mechanic to FASA's Doctor Who rules. Marmal over at the DWAITAS forum had a simple manner for converting FASA Who stats to DWAITAS. Conceivably it could be used with FASA's Trek material.

Subtract 1 from the levels of all the NPCs (except possibly for the Doctor and TV companions) and you've got the AITAS stat.

 Though no real promises on that though, I have never played the Trek system so I really couldn't swear this would work or not. Then you have the problem of actually scrounging up the now thirty year old game books!

Of course, with Memory Alpha, and Memory Beta wikis covering all of the official Star Trek material and the non-canonical material respectively. The internet provides extensive source material for any game you might want to play. The only real limitation is your imagination.

 

10 Characters on other TV shows that would make Great and/or Terrible Companions

I ran across a couple posts on WhatCulture arguing about what characters on other TV shows would make great companions and which ones would be terrible.

I don't think either list is very good, but the supposedly "Great Companion" list is by far worse.  At the number one spot is Sheldon Cooper , whom I have already done a write-up (along with the rest of the BBT cast) over at the DWAITAS message board. Regardless of what that blog thinks, Sheldon would be terrible in the TARDIS. Considering that his entire self image (hell his whole reality!) is based around the idea that he is the smartest person in the room. Any time he's confronted by someone who could truly challenge him intellectually, he's either reverts to downright childish behavior (like when he's verbally sparred with Leslie Winkle) or completely shuts down, uncertain how to react (worst case being when Stephen Hawking pointed out a math error in his paper and he fainted.) The Doctor, in his usual show-offy manner, would have Sheldon turned into a puddle within minutes of meeting him, and the second a monster showed up, it would be a pretty good guess that Sheldon's Mother really would need to have him tested again.

Of the other choices on the "Great Companions" list, I'd say the kid from Touch, Chandler from Friends, and Hiro Nakamura from Heroes, are the equally bad for different reasons. Chandler is just an idiot, has nothing resembling useful skills,  and unless the Daleks do us all a favor and exterminate him on sight he would be a total waste. The Kid and Hiro are pretty much on the opposite end of things, with too much power. Hiro's space-time bending and the kid's numerical clairvoyance would end up being power upgrades for deus ex machina that the Doctor often is.

As for the "Terrible Companions" list,  I just think the writer just threw out some names and didn't really try. Personally, I think most of them would work not as Companions, but as potential antagonists and villains. Take Mr. Bean for example, what if he was some kind of temporal anomaly that acted as a kind of anti-Doctor.  Popping up throughout history and wreaking havoc through his incompetent bumbling? Maybe he was chosen by the Black Guardian as his ultimate champion? What better instrument of Chaos and Disorder than someone who fully embodies such traits?

I could see situations where B.A. Baracus and the rest of the A-Team might find themselves in conflict with the TARDIS crew. It's not uncommon for Doctor Who stories to revolve around wealthy, powerful, and unscrupulous people.  Henry Van Statten , Luke Rattigan, or Joshua Naismith are all the kind of men that will trample over as many backs needed to achieve their goals. This is exactly the kind of situation the A-Team would often be called in to rectify. Considering the standard operating procedure for the A-Team includes them storming their enemy's stronghold and delivering an ultimatum, it might be really bad timing they show up right as the bad guy starts up some big plot and things go awry due to their interference.

Wesley Crusher of course, was the child prodigy of Star Trek that ended up gaining some kind of Vortex manipulation powers from his friend the Traveler. And all of this happened (relatively speaking) before the Last Great Time War. It might be the Traveler's people found themselves involved in the Time War, and Wesley might have ended up on the front lines. Much like the Doctor, he ends up sacrificing much to save reality, maybe finding himself trapped in strange alternate universe where nothing of his future exists. The once bright and hopeful Starfleet officer is now a damaged war survivor with an agenda, to return home, whatever it takes. He's probably had to break a lot of the rules Starfleet and the Traveler instilled into him just to survive, and now he's willing to burn worlds just to go back to where he belongs.

They do list BBC's Sherlock on the "Terrible" list. Like some of the other characters, he would not be an outright villain, but someone who starts out on the opposite side of the TARDIS crew. If they are trying to keep a secret and Sherlock is hellbound determined to uncover it, that would provide quite a bit of conflict for an adventure without him actually being a straight off bad guy.

Now Ted Mosby from "How I Met Your Mother" is clearly an outright villain*. I suspect he's a memory changing entity like Adam Smith, and this intricate tale he's telling these kids is an attempt to make them believe he is their father and belongs in their lives.

Since I go by the belief that all of the Hitchhiker's books exist within the same reality as Doctor Who, I would assume the Doctor has run into Zaphod Beeblebrox on a few occasions. They would definitely be antagonistic in a long standing rivalry of one-upsmanship and juvenile pranksertism. I could definitely see their last drinking binge together ended with the Doctor waking up with a hell of a hangover and in the First Queen Elizabeth's bed.

 It's unavoidable that everyone would have their own ideas for what character would be a great companion and which ones would be rubbish. The concept of the show lends itself so well to crossovers it's no surprise fans come up with ideas like this, and even less of a surprise fans comment incessantly about it:)







*And so is his actor, I mean, it's obvious the guy playing him is also some kind of experiment by the Silence to create a human with their abilities. Seriously, go look up his IMDB page and five minutes later, try remembering what his name is!

Weekend Write-Up: AF 709 (aka Rhoda from My Living Doll)

Over on the Doctor Who message board, I'm noted mostly for my rather random selection of character write-ups for the game. So for the blog I'm continuing that habit, and I'm starting off with something really out of the blue, yet fairly game relevant.

From 1964, we have Julie Newmar's first major TV role from My Living Doll. Miss Newmar played Rhoda, an android created for the space program that's wound up in the care of Psychologist Dr. Bob McDonald. It was a short lived sitcom, focusing on Bob's efforts to try and socialize Rhoda. It only lasted one season (with Dr. McDonald's actor Bob Cummings leaving the show before the last five episodes) but it's now available on DVD and some of the episodes are watchable on Hulu though the overt sexism of the era is rather overbearing, especially in the first episode.

AF-709 (aka Rhoda from My Living Doll)

Awareness 3
Coordination 3
Ingenuity  5
Presence 2
Resolve  2
Strength 4

GOOD TRAITS
Attractive
Armour (minor)
Robot
Technically Adept
Keen Senses (vision) (minor)
Quick Reflexes

BAD TRAITS
Distinctive
Obligation- to follow any command she is given (major)
Eccentric- (major) repeats what people say, robotic body language, doesn't fully understand human nature
Dark Secret- Nobody knows she's a robot (major)

SKILLS
Fighting 3
Knowledge 5
Science 4
Technology 5 (computers +2)
Transport 5 (spacecraft +2)

Story Points: 6
Tech Level: 5

AF 709 (later named Rhoda Miller) is the creation of roboticist  Dr. Carl Miller as part of the early 20th century United States space program.  When Dr. Miller prematurely activated her, she accidentally wandered out of the secure facility and into the city. Dr. Miller's colleague, Psychologist Dr. Bob McDonald was able to recover the android and hid her in his apartment.

Concerned for how his superiors might react to her unauthorized activation and subsequent adventure, Dr. Miller wanted to deactivate 709 and sneak her disassembled parts back into the lab. His plan was cut short when his superiors ordered him to make a last minute trip to Pakistan.  So Dr. McDonald found himself playing caretaker to the android.

Dr. McDonald gave the android the name Rhoda Miller and claimed she was Dr. Miller's niece. He tried to teach her fit in with human society, though his efforts met with only mixed success. This was partially due to Rhoda's nature, but to a large degree it was Dr. McDonald's own moral hangups.

Uses in the Campaign

My Living Doll was a typically fluff filled sitcom of the early 60's. In a light hearted adventure set in the early days of the space program the players might run into Rhoda and discern her non-human nature.

• Russian agents might be aware of what she is and are trying to steal her. 
• Similarly there might be alien thieves after her.
• Just to keep with the sitcoms-and-space program theme, maybe a crossover with I Dream of Jeannie? Jennie being an all powerful alien like the Celestial Toymaker, but limited by needing to serve a mortal master.

Of course, in a more serious scenario, Rhoda may have found her way back into the space program and has become an indispensable part of the program and serves with the agency for a number of years.

• U.N.I.T agents in that period might find it useful to have a beautiful android woman guarding their back when the alien invasions start.
•  Maybe Rhoda is the only one who knows about the Silence? Can she convince the humans around her that there is something, and her programming is not faulty?
• Androids should be able to last a long time, maybe the players run into her long after the Cape Canaveral Days out in space somewhere.

In general, the main fun is having Julie Newmar as a "guest star" in the episode and played in much of her typical vamping should be amusing.