A mix of genetics and upbringing can make quite the impact on a character, especially when your father is the strongest mortal in the universe! Through this set of Optional Rules, you can apply additional benefits to characters based on their upbringing!
Creating a New Generation
After deciding to create a Character that belongs to a new generation (referred to henceforth as an NG Character), a child of pre-existing Characters, the first thing to do is go through Character Creation as usual. However, Power Level 1 is slightly different for Characters of a new generation. Instead of gaining the usual set of Character Perks at Power Level 1, you:
- Gain 1 Character Perk.
- Gain 2 Attribute Additions.
- For each of your Character’s parents, select their highest Attribute (if it’s a tie, you decide). Increase the Attribute Score of that Attribute by 3.
- Gain 2 Talents from each of your Character’s parents (you must still meet any prerequisites).
- Gain 1 Skill Rank in 4 Skills, two from each of your parents, that they have at least 1+ Skill Ranks in. You cannot exceed their Skill Rank in the chosen Skill.
- Gain a Signature Technique from each of your Character’s parents (this can possess a Technique Point Cost that exceeds the limit for your Tier of Power, but it cannot exceed 50 TP).
This represents the initial upbringing and genetics that come from your Character’s parents. Generally, this will be a slight incline towards greater power than a traditional Character due to possessing more advanced Signature Techniques at Character Creation, but with slightly less freedom – though, this is only for the first Power Level. Anything beyond this point represents your character’s individual growth.
These rules typically only apply for a Character with a traditional set of 2 parents. If they are a Bio-Android, see the Bio-Android Creation rules below, and if they were created from a single parent (such as how Namekians reproduce) then simply follow Character Creation Rules as normal but instead of gaining a free Signature Technique with a TP Cost of up to 20 at Character Creation, you can gain access to one of your parent’s Signature Techniques.
Transformation Synergy. If an NG Character has a parent that has access to an Alternate Form when they are created, they automatically gain access to that Alternate Form. However, this only applies to the first stage of any Alternate Form, and only to Alternate Forms that have a Tier of Power Requirement of 2 or lower.
The NG Character still follows all typical rules for using that Transformation, such as needing to meet the Tier of Power Requirement to enter that Transformation.
Namekian Reincarnation. When Defeated, a Namekian is able to spend 2 Karma Points to spit out an egg carrying their soul, ending their life. The new Namekian Character that will be created from this action takes time to grow (like a typical Namekian, rather than a Dark Vassal) and is best sent to some distance away or to a trusted friend, but this new Namekian will possess the Reincarnated Power Manifested Power using their parent as their Past Life, and will retain the Signature Techniques and Unique Abilities possessed by their parent, but they do not gain any Signature Techniques or Technique Points from Power Level 1 of Character Creation.
This will not count as dying for the sake of the Fission rules regarding Namekians. Instead, the new Character is counted as their Past Life for the effects of the Fission rules.
Hybrids
Making a Hybrid between two races is generally ill-advised and not something that fits within the balance of most DBU campaigns. In many cases, it doesn’t make much sense, either. Many races found in the Dragon Universe seem relatively self-contained, and while there are certainly exceptions (such as Saiyan and Human compatibility), it seems unlikely that an Android Construct and a Shinjin could have a child with one another, for example. However, in the spirit of keeping things as open as possible and how the rules of what race may make a NG Character with another may vary from table to table, you may follow the below rulings when making a NG Character from two separate races.
Halfling. To create a Hybrid Race between two existing Races, work in tandem with your ARC to:
- Select 1 Primary Racial Trait from each Race – you cannot select Subrace Racial Traits.
- Select a total of 3 Secondary Racial Traits from any combination of their Secondary Racial Traits.
If possible, it is best to have at least 2 Mind-Category Racial Traits, one from each Race, to represent the upbringing the character may have had (if both parents were present for it).
Hybrids are considered to be members of both Races, but only benefit from the Attribute Score Bonuses, Racial Life Modifier, Racial Saving Throw Bonus, and Skill Ranks of a singular Race from among those they belong to – decided at Character Creation.
Half-Saiyan Redux. To create a typical (Saiyan/Earthling) Half-Saiyan with this change in mind, it’s relatively simple. Exchange up to 2 Secondary Saiyan Racial Traits for an equal number of Earthling Secondary Racial Traits.
Hybrid Transformations. When using a Transformation that references a Racial Trait that a Hybrid lacks, change that effect to: ‘Increase the Attribute Modifier Bonus (FO/MA) of this Transformation by 1(bT)’.
Bio-Androids
Bio-Androids are different from most NG Characters, as they can have any number of ‘parents’, those whose DNA was harvested to create them. While generally only three races remain dominant, it’s possible for any number of races to be used in their creation – though Bio-Androids do not follow the rules for Hybrids shown above. When following the rules above for Power Level 1 when creating a NG Character, instead of ‘each’ parent, you must select only two of your parents for each option (shown through the bullet points above).
In addition, you do not benefit from the first effect of Cellular Memory. Instead, select another one of your parents (except those chosen above). Gain a Signature Technique or Unique Ability they have access to.
Dragon Ball Universe 