Betazoids
[Black irised psychics from Star Trek.]
Externally, Betazoids were physically indistinguishable from Humans in every aspect but one: the irises of their eyes were completely black. They could even cross-breed with Humans, along with other humanoid races like Klingons and Tavnians. Betazoid iris coloration was present in half-Betazoid individuals such as Deanna Troi, but in those with less Betazoid blood such as Devinoni Ral (who was only ¼ Betazoid), normal Human eye coloration was possible. Betazoids had a gestation period of ten months. Betazoids reach rapid eye movement (REM) sleep at a different frequency from other humanoids.
In mid-life, Betazoids undergo a physiological change known as "The Phase" during which their sex drive increased by a factor of four or more. Mature Betazoids could also suffer from Zanthi fever, which caused them to lose control over the projective aspect of their empathy. That could result in people around them acting as if they had experienced the same general emotional state as the affected Betazoid, though they were directed by their own subconscious desires, fears, and other emotions.
Culture and traditionDue to their telepathy, Betazoid culture embraced honesty almost to a point considered rude by other cultures. Lwaxana Troi, on numerous occasions, commented on her befuddlement at the Human practice of fibbing to spare others' feelings or for politeness' sake.
While eating, Betazoids express thanks for their food by ringing a gong at intervals.
Betazed had a complex hereditary nobility; prominent Betazoid diplomat Lwaxana Troi, for example, was "Daughter of the Fifth House, Holder of the Sacred Chalice of Rixx, and Heir to the Holy Rings of Betazed." Betazoid tradition had children genetically bonded to a future spouse.
At one time, it was fashionable for Betazoid women to wear elaborate wigs that caged small animals. The practice, which was cruel to the animals, was stopped when one (unknown) woman stood up against it. It had been speculated that Betazoid society in the past was matriarchal. Their religious belief system may involve polytheism because in one instance, Lwaxana Troi used the exclamation, "Thank the Four Deities".Betazoids disliked riding horses because of their ability to feel the thoughts and passions of animals. They feared to get too much involved in those emotions and "losing their way".
The common psionic abilities of Betazoids extended from sensing thoughts and/or emotions, over projecting thoughts and/or emotions, to manipulating the minds of others. How capable they were in performing any of those feats depends somewhat on their genetically defined psionic strength, their psionic training, their familiarity with the scanned being, their general mental and physical condition and the species of the subject race. Betazoids felt the emotions of animals, therefore being afraid of getting to much involved in the "passion of the beast" in situation they had to rely on an animal, like when riding a horse. Betazoids also had been able to read the emotions/thoughts of non-corporeal beings such as Nagilum, the energy vortex, or gauge the mental prowess of beings such as Q. Other times they had been totally unable to read corporeal creature's minds, such as Ferengi and Changelings. Data theorized that the reason they may not be able to read Ferengi was the structure of their brains. And he himself was able to be read by Deanna Troi when his brother Lore used the emotion chip to transfer powerful emotions to him. At one point, when Deanna Troi lost her empathy temporarily she commented that Will Riker was like a holodeck character to her, completely devoid of emotion, as if she had never experienced a lack of empathy from any sentient before. The Traveler was also not able to be read by Deanna Troi as well.
Inter-species reproduction involving Betazoids often affected the psionic abilities of the offspring – most commonly the children of such a union develop empathic abilities as their primary psionic talent, while their telepathic abilities, though existing, were rather below average for Betazoids. Usually the telepathy of these half-breeds, without extensive training, was limited to communication with other empaths or telepaths and full telepathic contact with emotionally very close persons (for example, an imzadi).
All full Betazoids are unable to read the thoughts of Ferengi, Breen, Ullians, or Dopterians, but some half-Betazoids have been occasionally successful in sensing the emotions of some of these species. Additionally, even full Betazoids seemed to be able to psionically influence some of these species.
According to the novel The Battle of Betazed, some hidden mental teachings are able to unlock the ability of telekinesis in Betazoids.
Betazoid
Wound Die type 1d8
Control Points +3
Medical Classification: 1a
+2 Wisdom, +2 Charisma
Medium-size
Base speed 30 Feet
Natural Psionic Entity
Roll 1d5+1 instead of the standard roll
Advanced Telepath
+2 species bonus to Telepathy skill checks.
Betazoids can communicate mentally only with other telepaths, however. They can read anyone’s thoughts, but can project thought only to other telepaths. (Half-Betazoids usually possess more limited empathic powers (and may substitute the Empathy skill in place of Telepathy).Racial Feat Choice:
Telekinetic Training
Betazoids of level 7 or higher may Consume a feat slot to make the Telekinesis skill permanently class, Normally Telekinesis skill cannot be used at all unless it is a class skill.DM-RP:12
Attributes: Enhanced Control +2 RP
Ability Scores; Flexible +2 RP
Diplomatic Skill +2 RP
Telepathic Skill +2 RP
Psionic Entity +4 RP