Can’t wait to get this book
I love the Caitians I play one in STO
Not that anyone who paid any attention to the cover of Science Division is going to be surprised…
The preview happens to (just barely) be readable… and includes Caitians.
My first Trek was TAS, so… I’m quite happy about the species being added. I prefer the term Edoan to Edosian… ( but either way… they are in!)
The posture is a little off in both pics though. Assuming M’ress is considered the original, the lower legs should be digitigrade. This is a painting, we don’t need something playable by a human actor in a fursuit!
But I’m still happy to see them
But can I just say “eew” athe poor Bajoran Militia person getting graphically vaporised? I’ve not seen that level of detail since Mars Attacks (or Conspiracy, I guess).
In principle I agree, but I’m converting a couple HeroClix figures to Caitians, and I don’t have the talent to create digitigrade legs, so I’m not complaining.
No great big deal. Caitians are digitigrade if I say they’re digitigrade.
Absolutely!
But I believe in truth in advertising
Fair enough. I like Modiphius’ solution to having seen both plantigrade and digitigrade Gorn on screen, but I don’t see the same explanation working for Caitians. (Pragmatically, I’m not sure how an orthograde biped manages balance on digitigrade legs, even with a tail, but Star Trek and evolutionary biology have a number of conflicts.)
Ever seen a human in tall (>2") hi heels? that’s an artificially created digitigrade stance. Many women who wear tall heels routinely can retain that stance without the shoe…
I have never worn high heels, but I have a weird gait and walk on the ■■■■■ of my feet. It’s not all that uncommon.
I’m amused that ‘b a l l s’ is blocked by the forum software.
Doug Jones when playing Saru? I believe his heels are around 4 inches in that (to add to his existing 6’5"). He definitely comes across as digitigrade…
Birds seem to manage quite well, but of course they have a very different body shape.
As I recall, M’ress had quite long feet(?), which gave the “backwards elbow” effect. That would be difficult to balance conventionally, so the tail would be very important. It’s possible that you might get an extra-powerful set of back muscles and spine to compensate - although she seemed to have the classic feline loose spine.
Having said all that, there was a documentary about potentially redesigning the human body on the Beeb last year, where they included this particular physical trait. The specialists involved seemed to have no difficulty with the idea…
…but nothing comparable has come about through natural selection (so this is not a relevant example), and regular use of high heels has documented harmful effects on the calf muscles, plantar fasciae, and lower back (which strongly suggests to me that natural selection would act against such modifications in a natural locomotor system).
Source: The Real Harm in High Heels | American Osteopathic Association
Maybe we could careen back to talking about the Alpha Quadrant sourcebook and leave the plantigrade and digitigrade discussion for a new thread. Another preview went up today with the TOC and a couple more images.
Are Saurians included in the species list, Jim? I’m very excited by three of the four already named, but have a player interested in Saurians. There’s a player-generated template out there, but she said she’d be happier with “official” stats. shrug
Yes Saurians! I would love to see them too. I’d be surprised if they weren’t in there.
I’m really hopeful for Takarans and Idanians. Are those in there? Please, please, please??
Jim, where’s the update you mention? Can’t find it on the game page or the front page.
Garrett
And also not within the shop, or on the living campaign page, for that matter. Also, there was a newsletter today, were I did not read anything on another preview.
Did I mention that I would wish for a communication strategy that was a bit more… concise on where to find information (and when…)?
Mmmmm. Too bad. Facebook and Twitter are two things I won’t touch with a ten-meter cattle prod.