Species

     Quick Jump to: Species List

The Star Wars galaxy contains a bewildering variety of species, each with its own unique outlook and civilization. Although Humans dominate the known galaxy, there are many intelligent alien species that can be encountered wherever you travel.
     Humans live among the Core Worlds, throughout the Mid Rim, and even on the worlds of the Outer Rim territories. Most of the alien species have their own homeworlds and colonies, but individuals can be found anywhere, thanks to the prevalence of hyperspace travel. The promise of profit and power often lure members of all species to the same areas, including spaceports and metropolitan cities.
     Sometimes it’s easy to believe that all Rodians are outlaws or all Wookiees are short-tempered, but the truth is that every member of every species is unique. Depending on the era in which your campaign is set, nonhuman species have different advantages or disadvantages, as explained in the Era Notes: Species sidebar below.

Choosing a Species

Era Notes: Species

Nonhuman characters have some restrictions placed upon them, depending on the era in which your campaign is set. These restrictions are described below.

The Rise of the Empire (50 to 10 BBY)
During the time that saw the erosion of the Old Republic and the rise of the Empire, including the period around Episodes I-III, all species participated in a more or less cosmopolitan galaxy. The only restrictions on your choice of alien species in this time frame refer to species that had not yet "Been discovered" by the galaxy at large. Ewoks, therefor, are not available if your campaign is set in this era.

The Rebellion (10 BBY to 5 ABY)
The Empire was particularly entrenched with anti-alien sentiments. During this period of galactic history, most alien species were either enslaved or subjugated by the Empire. In the Outer Rim, nonhuman species continued to carry on their lives as normally as they were able, but in the more civilized regions, nonhumans were relegated to the status of second-class citizens—or worse. Many aliens joined the Rebellion, fighting alongside Humans in an effort to throw off the shackles of oppression and tyranny. Ewoks show up late in this era, during the Battle of Endor, and free Wookiees rarely appear due to their statues as slaves of the Empire. Late in this era, with the decline of the Empire and the birth of the New Republic, nonhumans once again take a prominent role in the affairs of the galaxy.

The New Jedi Order (25 BBY and on)
All alien species are available without restriction in this time frame. The era is marked by the New Republic’s battle against the Yuuzhan Vong invaders and tainted by growing distrust of the Jedi Knights.

After you roll your ability scores and before you write them on your character sheet, choose your character’s species. At the same time, you’ll want to select your character’s class, since species affects how well the character can do in each class. Once you’ve decided your character’s species and class, assign ability scores to particular abilities. Alter the scores according to the species ability modifiers (see specific species) and continue detailing your character.
     You can play a character of any species the GM allows, but certain species do better pursuing certain classes.
     Your character’s species provides plenty of clues as to the sort of person they are, how they feel about characters of other species, and what motivates them. Remember, however, that the species descriptions only apply to the majority of people. In each species, some individuals diverge from the norm, and your character can be one of these. Don’t let a description hinder you from detailing your character as you like.

Species Characteristics

Your character’s species determines some of their qualities.

Ability Adjustments

Find your character’s species adjustments on the specific species page from the Species List and apply the adjustments that you see there to your character’s ability scores. If the changes raise it above 18 or lower it below 3, that’s okay.
     For example, a Rodian gets a +2 species bonus on their Dexterity score and a −2 penalty on their Wisdom and Charisma scores. Knowing this, the player puts their best score rolled (15) in Dexterity and sees it increase to 17. They don’t want a Wisdom or Charisma penalty for their character, so they put above-average scores (13 and 12) in Wisdom and Charisma. These drop to 11 and 10, for neither a bonus nor a penalty.

Known Languages

The Star Wars galaxy is home to millions of languages but picking languages for your character doesn’t need to be daunting. A few of the most common languages are listed below. Among these, Basic is the most widely spoken. Other prevalent languages include Huttese (particularly common in the Outer Rim), Binary (used by droids and programmers), and Bocce (a trade language that can be spoken by almost any species).
Basic	Huttese
Arkanian	Ithorese
Binary	Jawa Trade Language*
Bocce	Kel Dor
Bothese	Mon Calamarian
Cerean	Quarrenese
Dosh	Rodese
Durese	Ryl
Ewokese*	Shyriiwook
Gamorrean	Snivvian
Gunganese*	Sullustese
High Galactic	Zabrak
* Local language not widely spoken on its planet of origin.

The primary language used throughout known space is called Basic. Most characters can speak Basic, and all characters understand it even if they can’t speak it. Nonhuman characters can also speak, read, and write the language associated with their species; for example, Bothans speak, read, and write Bothese as well as Basic.
     Characters with an Intelligence bonus know how to speak, read, and write other languages as well. For each point of Intelligence bonus, a character can speak, read, and write one additional language of their choice.
     Some species (Gamorreans and Wookiees, for example) are incapable of speaking any other language other than their native tongue, but they can learn to read and write other languages just fine.

Species List

Advozse	Devaronian	Ithorian	Nosaurian	Togruta
Aleena	Draethos	Jawa	Nyriaanan	Toydarian
Altiri	Dug	Kaleesh	Pa’lowick	Trandoshan
Anarrian	Duros	Kaminoan	Quarren	Trianii
Anzati	Ebruchi	Kel Dor	Rakata	Twi’lek
Aqualish	Elomin	Kerkoiden	Replica Droid	Ubese
Arkanian	Ewok	Khil	Republic Clone	Umbaran
Arkanian Offshoot	Falleen	Killik	Rodian	Utai
Balosar	Feeorin	Kissai	Ryn	Vagaari
Barabel	Felucian	Klatoonian	Sakiyan	Vahla
Bith	Fosh	Krevaaki	Selkath	Verpine
Blood Carver	Gamorrean	Lugubraa	Shards	Vultan
Bothan	Gand	Lurmen	Shistavanen	Vurk
Caamasi	Gen’dai	Mantellian Savrip	Sluissi	Weequay
Cathar	Geonosian	Massassi	Snivvian	Whipid
Celegian	Givin	Miraluka	Sorcerer of Rhand	Wookiee
Cerean	Gotal	Mon Calamari	Squib	Wroonian
Chadra‑Fan	Gran	Mrlssi	Ssi‑Ruuk	Yarkora
Chagrian	Gungan	Nagai	Sullustan	Yevetha
Chiss	Herglic	Nautolan	Talz	Yuuzhan Vong
Chistori	Houk	Near‑human	Taung	Yuzzem
Clawdite	Human	Neimoidian	Thakwaash	Zabrak
Codru‑Ji	Hutt	Nelvaannian	Tof	Zeltron
Dashade	Iktotchi	Nikto	Togorian	Zygerrian
Defel	Ishi Tib	Noghri