Love the skinstealers. They're a great contrast to the violence and chaos that's associated with the lunar rains and monsters like the lunar dragons. Players aren't expecting subtlety. When I ran my DragonMech game at Gen Con two years ago, the PCs cornered the dwarven "bad guy" and were shocked when a) their sword slice revealed grayish, bloodless flesh underneath and b) a Cthulhuian horror "poured" off the the target and leaped onto one of the PCs and dug its hooks in his flesh!
I dig the idea of an recurring skinstealer. And sure, why not have a skinstealer who's not onboard with the Master Plan? He could be roguish, looking to taste all the sensations denied his race on the cold moon, or even a moralistic one, appalled by what his race is doing to Highpoint.
Jumping back to
Firefly, I kind of geeked out and worked up River's powers, feats, and artificial parts.
River Tam
Psion (seer) 3 / Steamborg 3 / Hissing Psiborg 4
Powers (ML 7th):
1st:
Call to Mind, Inertial Armor, Offensive Precognition, Precognition*, Skate, Vigor
-– I picked these to reflect her offense, defense, speed, and ability to pull ideas out of the air.
2nd:
Biofeedback, Detect Hostile Intent, Clairvoyant Sense*, Read Thoughts (from Expanded Knowledge feat),
Sensitivity to Psychic Impressions*
3rd:
Body Adjustment, Escape Detection*, Ubiquitous Vision
4th:
Freedom of Movement, Psionic
-– I chose this because of the ability to easily escape grapples, which surely came in handy during the big Reaver fight in the movie!
* = Seer discipline.
Artificial parts +3:
Attack bonus +1, Damage bonus +2
-– Considering River’s slight build (even with obvious metal parts riveted on), this helps her pack more of a punch.
Feats:
1st: Psionic Body
1st (human bonus): Psionic Weapon
1st (psion bonus): Psionic Meditation
3rd: Combat Reflexes
6th: Expanded Knowledge
(read thoughts)
9th: Deep Impact
--Ken