Baseline HumanBiomorph [Genotype]Baseline humans are humans that don't have any genetic modifications done to them; they feature all the regular mutations, diseases, and other issues that evolution and nature so lovingly apply over the course of their development. Baseline humans are often thought to be in a minority throughout the sphere but that's not the case; while they are far from the most common of the genotypes, they are the most dominant genotype in many bioconservative habitats, where they've banned genetic engineering. Furthermore, a number of isolationist colonies consist of baseline humans, or lightly tweaked baseline humans. However, just because these humans don't have directed evolutionary tweaking by virtue of political or religious belief, evolution is still acting on them; there are a number of off-shoots of baseline humanity throughout the Verge and Bleed, evolving undirected and under the new pressures of environments that humanity was never intended to live in.
There is significant debate within many bioconservative circles over what does and does not qualify as a "baseline human." The Monarchy tends to hold that technology like cybernetics can only be restorative, not anything that improves the body, but there are those who argue that cybernetics are not natural to the human form and so that cyborgs, even those who only rely on restorative cybernetics, are not baseline humans anymore. Taken all the way, this usually results in colonies that go extinct after a few generations because they wind up rejecting life-saving medication and procedures. However, the most extreme end of this are neo-primitivists, who believe that humanity mastering fire was a mistake and live a hunter-gatherer existence, holding that all technology is an augment that improves life and so should be rejected. These groups are understandably rare, but they were more common following the Ascension Crisis. That extreme aside, the question of what qualifies as a baseline human is one that haunts the biocon community, especially since there is no clear and easy answer - a problematic fact for movements based on purity, which demand absolute adherence to an unreachable standard. Interesting Facts
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Baseline Human 0 points
Advantages
Disadvantages Features |
None
None None |
Baseline Variants and Family
Given that baselines have no modifications, it can be difficult for variants to develop. There is argument over whether or not eugenic engineering should be considered "baseline" - in this case, all genetic upgrades qualify as baselines. However, not everyone agrees. As a result, determining what is and isn't a "variant" of baselines while still being a baseline is a difficult, if not bootless, task.
Alpha [Genetic Upgrade]
If one considers Eugenic engineering to be within the purview of what it means to be a "baseline human," then Alphas certainly qualify as a component of the Baseline family. Since Alphas can, in practice, interbreed with other Alphas, baselines, and other upgrades, all but the most regressive of bioconservatives will often times concede that the Alpha is functionally a baseline. However, most genotype historians consider the Alpha to be the predecessor to the Splicer, so the they are often classed as a variant of the Splicer family as well. You can learn more about them there.
Carter [Genetic Upgrade]
The Carter is often regarded as the forerunner to the Ruster, and is one of the earliest attempts an econiche genetic upgrade (rather than a straight up parahuman, which is what the Aquanaut is). While the Carter would eventually be traded for the Ruster, the genotype exists on a number of databanks and in a number of servers, and there may still be a handful of individuals out there who have the genotype. Since the genotype is functionally extinct, there haven't been many debates over whether or not the Carter actually is a baseline human. You can learn more about it on the Ruster page.
Floater [Genetic Upgrade] |
-66 points |
The unfortunate byproduct of birthing and raising baseline humans in low gravity or microgravity without any adaptations at all, the Floater is regarded with pity and held up as an example among technoprogressives at how the short-sighted nature of bioconservatism kills and is needlessly cruel. In truth, many Floaters are proud to be Floaters despite their myriad health problems, and believe themselves superior to genetically engineered human off-shoots by virtue of being "pure human," even though a number of bioconservatives very much disagree with the notion they're baselines and not some accidental offshoot. Floaters tend to side with Light-Worlders, and there is a surprising number of clades and cultures that have overlap between the two off-shoots. It should be noted that Floaters often have a difficult time conceiving children at all, regardless what the partner's genotype is.
While the standard template only includes their vulnerability to crushing damage, Floaters often have a wide range of health problems. Many are Susceptible to Disease [varies], Bad Sight [-25] or even Blindness [-50] due to damage or deformation of the lens; Chronic Pain [varies] is also common, since the bodies don't always form properly, and many also have heart and circulatory problems, leading to Easy to Kill [-2/level] and numerous other problems. Obviously physical problems like Bad Back [varies], G-Intolerance [varies], and Low Pain Threshold [-10] are also common. Most are also some level of Unattractive, given their perpetual moon face, along with their withered, atrophied features.
While the standard template only includes their vulnerability to crushing damage, Floaters often have a wide range of health problems. Many are Susceptible to Disease [varies], Bad Sight [-25] or even Blindness [-50] due to damage or deformation of the lens; Chronic Pain [varies] is also common, since the bodies don't always form properly, and many also have heart and circulatory problems, leading to Easy to Kill [-2/level] and numerous other problems. Obviously physical problems like Bad Back [varies], G-Intolerance [varies], and Low Pain Threshold [-10] are also common. Most are also some level of Unattractive, given their perpetual moon face, along with their withered, atrophied features.
Attribute Modifiers
Advantages Disadvantages Skills Features |
ST-2 [-20]; HT-2 [-20].
3D Spatial Sense [10]. Social Stigma (Minority Group) [-10]; Vulnerability (Crushing Damage, x2) [-30]. +2 to Free Fall [4]. Home gravity of 0 G. Height is typically 1’ greater than normal for ST |
Heavy Worlder [Genetic Upgrade] |
18 points |
Evolution does not stop just because many of the more obstinate bioconservatives would want it to. The exposure of human beings to different environments over the last 500+ years has lead to some changes to the human biology to match these environments, producing off-shoots that are still technically baseline humans even if they have evolved in ways apart from the baseline human. The Heavy Worlder is an example of this; human beings who developed to be better accommodating of higher gravities. They are adapted to gravities that range from 1.5G to 2.0G without any transgenic features or adaptations, and have a great deal of muscle to get around while at the same time possessing, although their cardiovascular system is somewhat lacking and as a result, they are prone to poor health. Many consider them the forerunner to the Dvergr, which has a remarkably similar genetic profile but is different, and makes use of transgenic elements to ensure greater survival.
As with light-worlders, there is obvious some type of genetic engineering done to the subtype, but they are still considered baseline humans, even if they do look divergent from the standard baseline; standing roughly 1' less than normal and having a wide build with a barrel chest. And just like with light worlders, debate rages over whether or not heavy worlders should be considered bioconservatives. Heavy-worlders take the position that of course they're baselines, especially heavy-worlder bioconservatives, but those from lower gravities often argue otherwise, leading to another fracture point within the bioconservative community.
As with light-worlders, there is obvious some type of genetic engineering done to the subtype, but they are still considered baseline humans, even if they do look divergent from the standard baseline; standing roughly 1' less than normal and having a wide build with a barrel chest. And just like with light worlders, debate rages over whether or not heavy worlders should be considered bioconservatives. Heavy-worlders take the position that of course they're baselines, especially heavy-worlder bioconservatives, but those from lower gravities often argue otherwise, leading to another fracture point within the bioconservative community.
Attribute Modifiers
Advantages Disadvantages Features |
ST +2 [20]; HT -1 [-10].
Improved G-Tolerance (0.5G) [10] Unattractive (non-Heavy Worlders Only, -20%) [-2] Home gravity of 1.5 to 2.0G; Height is typically 1' less than normal for ST but weight is up to 50% more. |
Helot [Genetic Upgrade] |
12 points |
The Helot is a non-aggressive genotype that is the result of deliberate genetic engineering to produce a more "tractable" variant of humanity. Helot genetic upgrades are engineered to weed out defects and vulnerabilities to disease and are fully as intelligent as ordinary human beings. However, subtle neurological modifications and glandular modifications have bred rebellious, impulsive and aggressive genes out of the genome, and they are often very good at following orders. An unintended drawback was a reduction in natural curiosity, although those who employ the genotype on a wide scale tend to regard that more as a benefit than as any sort of drawback.
The genotype "Helot" is not an name that the designers created; they prefer "Social Man" or Shehuiren (since unsurprisingly, this genotype was partially developed in the People's Republic of China, although it saw widespread use throughout the world, employed by parents who didn't want children questioning them). They argue that the Helot's genotype makes them more suitable for crowded urban civilization, reducing aggressive and selfish impulses without curtailing overall intelligence. However, many detractors - who gave the genotype its name - note that these traits are exactly what wood-be ruling elite would desire, making the human population more docile and tractable. Totalitarian and authoritarian governments are obviously a fan of this genotype, forcing it on their population in order to prevent popular uprisings. Authoritarian parents who want a child that will always follow what they say similarly like the genotype - it's extremely common in the Umma among some parents, although its use is highly criticized by bioconservatives who argue that it defeats the purpose of bioconservatives, to use genetic engineering in order to ensure that the population will remain bioconservative. Pinning down where this genotype first emerged is a bit of a pain; it was seeing use well into late part of the Interplanetary Period, where a number of genetic upgrades were already composing much of the population. Often, they were employed on habitats ruled by authoritarian leaders, usually extreme religious habitats and extreme political habitats. As noted above, it's likely the genotype was developed at least in part by the PRC, although reports seem to indicate that it saw widespread use outside of the PRC. As an interesting note, Nariac, one of the most authoritarian polities in the Verge and Bleed, does not make use of these genotype - the Helot is actually illegal in Nariac and has been since Nariac was an anarcho-syndicalist republic. In private, Saminov, the dictator of Nariac, has referred to the genotype as a "crude" and "direct" way of controlling the population, allowing leaders to tip their hands and reveal themselves to be enemies of the people that they seek to control. During an interview, Saminov stated that he much prefers a creative and imaginative population who can pattern find and piece together theories, because they are easier to lead astray and more vulnerable to falling down conspiratorial rabbit holes. Spreading conspiracies and preying on cynicism are two ways that Saminov is known to maintain his power (to say nothing of the horrors that are reported as being ongoing on the Zov Tigra), so it makes a degree of sense that a genotype that makes one less creative and curious and more likely to work together also makes them less resistant to Saminov's particular brand of authoritarianism, which depends on individualism, conspiricism, and cynicism. Similarly, the Imperium seems to frown on the genotype, too, although this is probably because the Imperium prefers individuals who want to be part of the polity of their own accord, rather than those who are engineered to be slaves, which is how many within the Verge and Bleed tend to see the genotype. |
Attribute Modifiers
Advantages Quirks Features |
HT +1 [10].
Resistant to Disease (+8) [5] Broad-Minded, Humble, and Staid [-3]. Taboo Traits (Aggressiveness, Genetic Defects, Mental Instability, Unattractiveness) |
Ishtar, ISis, & Wolfgang [Genetic Upgrade]
Another debate rages around the Ishtar. Like the Alpha, the Ishtar is a genetic upgrade and not a parahuman, which means that it can interbreed with Alphas, baselines, and other genetic upgrades. If one considers an Alpha to be a baseline, then by extension the Ishtar is also a baseline, but this extension makes a number of bioconservatives uncomfortable, because the Ishtar has a number of other extensive modifications as well that, while still biologically possible for any baseline human, are much rarer. However, as with the Alpha, genotype historians often consider the Ishtar (and it's cousins, the Isis and Wolfgang) to be predecessors for the Sylph, and so they're often classified as variants of the Sylph family as well. You can learn more about them there.
Light-Worlder [Genetic Upgrade] |
10 points |
Tall and willowy, Light-Worlds are the natural evolution of humans exposed to low gravity conditions. Light-Worlders first emerged in the asteroid belt on Earth, but a variant existed on Mars and in the outer system long before it was fully classified. They are willowy, with long limbs, standing 2' over the average height but weighing 15-25% less than normal. There is some question over whether or not they have any kind of genetic editing - most almost certainly do - but it's only in the form of a genetic upgrade, and it can be hard to tell or discern. Among baselines, this is one of the most numerous genotypes, although as is often the case, there is debate over whether or not they should even be considered baselines. Light-worlder bioconservatives argue that they absolutely are baselines and only a fool would argue otherwise, while flat-lander bioconservatives argue they are not, which can often lead to heated discussions that leaves a rift between the light-worlder bioconservative community and the flat-lander bioconservative community.
Attribute Modifiers
Advantages Features |
ST -2 [-20]
Long Arms [20]; Long Legs [10] Home Gravity 0.1 G to 0.7 G. Height is typically 2' greater than normal for ST but weight is 15-25% less. |
Menton [Genetic Upgrade]
The debate over the Menton, ironically, is considered well and truly settled by the major bioconservative powers: the Menton is considered baseline and therefore kosher. Many more hardcore biocons are quick to point out the hypocrisy here and how self-serving it is for the major powers to consider the Menton a baseline solely because doing so benefits them - it gives them access to an intelligent genotype - even if this genotype is commonly regarded as a predecessor for the Metanoia and Pandora genotypes. You can learn more about it on the Metanoia page.
Orion [Genetic Upgrade]
Usually considered the predecessor to the Exalt (which some genetic historians also argue branched off the Splicer), the Orion is a genotype that stretches "genetic upgrade" about as far as one can go without employing transgenic engineering. This has lead a number of biocons to argue that the Orion features transgenic engineering and thus shouldn't be considered a baseline, but this isn't true and the Orion can interbreed (with difficulty) with baselines and other genetic upgrades like the Ishtar and Alpha. You can learn more about them on the Exalt page.