These are characters that are either tweaked from the reimagined show, or are specific to this campaign. The first thing I did was work from the hints of the first season and a half of the show, ditched the ancient Earth stuff, and concentrated on their link to the Blaze — the “angry god” from the cut scenes in Kobol’s Last Gleaming. This allowed me to create a Twelve that was allegory for the Lords of Kobol, a lesser version of them, just as the Lords were supposedly a lesser version of the Titans. I kept some of the actors for the characters, changed others, just to keep the players from thinking they knew what was what.
Some things you will see are ideas I had that didn’t particularly pan out, but might be useful for a GM looking to set up their own campaign. Additionally, I slapped together some rules on sleeper agents, etc. Hit the header below for a pdf.
Alternate Humanoid Cylons
Near the end of the First Cylon War, the machines decided to up the ante by creating androids that were hard to detect for infiltration and sabotage missions. The previous androids were close to lifelike, but could be identified by their silicon skin and slightly uncanny movement and responses. Rumors of Cylon POWs being used for experiments to create a hybrid Cylon model were squashed by the Colonial government as heresay and PTSD-induced hysteria.
[The italicized bits following here were originally part of my plan to mess with the players by having human Cylons agents that were completely indistinguishable, but I dropped it because I thought it would move the game too far away from the vision of the show.]
During the forty year, however, since the War, the Cylons were successful in creating biomechanical hybrids. Cylons can build an android “clone” of a person using 3D flesh printing and programming of the doppleganger’s cybernetic brain implants. They cannot scan the human brain yet, so they use publicly available information to create as deeply accurate a copy as they can. These can be tripped up by the gaps in their knowledge and mistakes in emulating behavior, but it’s subtle enough people might mistake it for the person “having an off day” or some such. Only with capture and heavy interrogation can the Cylons get a better picture of the person, and create a more lifelike copy. They are on the verge of being able to use destructive brain scanning to create a near perfect copy.
The one-offs and copies are not biomechanical, other than the cybernetics in the brain, so a DNA or blood test won’t reveal their nature; only a detailed scan or biopsy of the brain would do that. As they are essentially a clone assembled kit-like, they are not super strong or fast, but they have the following traits in common:
The first copy of the agent will still have the assets and complications, as well as the same attributes as the original, but their skill set will reduced to 40 skill points at creation to represent the gaps in their memories. However, any resurrected agent will be exactly the same as the deceased agent at the time of death.
CLONED CYLON OPERATIVE ASSET & COMPLICATION: COST d8
ELECTRONIC INTERFACE d6: This is an unconscious uplink to the Cylon handlers of the unit which allows the Cylons to access their senses, memories, thoughts, etc. without their knowledge.
BACK DOOR d10 complication: The mind of the agent can be hijacked by their handlers, forcing them to do as the Cylons wish. This is an imperfect control, however, and the agent can fight the commands with a successful WILLPOWER+DISCIPLINE/RESISTANCE test versus the WILLPOWER+DISCIPLINE of the Cylon.
VIRTUAL IMMORTALITY d12: The agent’s mind-state can be saved and reloaded into a clone at any time.
Instead of using these “cloned” agents, I wound up going with the ides of the “puppet” — people who had been caught or somehow disabled long enough for a short low-invasive process that injected a short-lived self-replicating group of molecular machines that build a cybernetic brain that runs parallel to the human brain, recording information and periodically transmitting it to their handler. The same operative package can be used, but the computer can be found with a CAT or MRI scan. I added a fail safe device on early ones where a small explosive charge would pop the brainstem and kill the puppet if discovered.
Much more dangerous are “the Twelve”…the command and control humanoid Cylons. How these creatures came to rule the Cylons when they were originally just another tool for the centurions to fight Mankind is unknown. They are biomechanical androids and gynoids who are good enough copies of humans that they cannot be detected save through a specific test for synthetic material through a biopsy or blood test. They share their memories through staggered data dumps to a resurrection ship or facility (they can do this willingly or schedule times to not distract [usually while they are asleep]) and can communicate wirelessly up to a half mile in urban environments, twice that in open areas. Their muscle fabric is dense and powerful, and run through with synthetic nerve tissue allowing for very fast perception and reaction. Their brains are augmented with biomechanical molecular computers that allow them to store vast amounts of data, recover information faster and with little loss, but their perceptive abilities are hardly better than a human — they see, hear, taste, feel along the same parameters as a person, with only slight improvement to their acuity.
The 12 all have the following assets and complications package:
HUMANOID CYLON PACKAGE: Total Cost d32
ELECTRONIC INTERFACE d8: Cylons can communicate wirelessly for up to half a mile in urban environments, a mile in open areas, or line of sight in space. They can also hardwire into a system through fiber optic interfaces.
IMMUNITY d12: Cylons are immune to most modern diseases, as well as most radiation signatures (although some can jam the communications of their Electronic Interface asset.)
PHYSICAL PUSH d8: Cylons can split d8 any way they want between their physical attributes for a minute’s duration. They need five minutes between each push, with an extra test requiring an EASY VITALITY+WILLPOWER test to gain the benefit, with each new test increasing the difficulty +3. Failure gives no push and gives a -1 shift to their attributes until they can rest for four hours.
VITUAL IMMORTALITY d12: If Cylons can upload a backup, they can be downloaded into a new copy. The range of these downloads is astronomical and might be some form of quantum entanglement. (This might explain why they don’t spawn their memories outside of their particular model.)
VULNERABILITY d8 complication: Cylons can be harmed by certain radiation signatures which cause degradation of their cybernetics. They must make an EASY WILLPOWER+VITALITY test after four hours, with the difficulty increasing each hour by +3. On a fail, they suffer d8W each hour afterwards.
Those of the Twelve that were programmed as sleeper agents have different skill sets and asset/complication combinations that match their cover legend. What follows are the typical statistics of the individual Twelve models:
Number 1
This model was rarely fielded in the Colonial infiltration operations of the Cylons. They are usually found aboard basestars, where they typically are the senior-most of the Cylon commanders. While all of the models participate in decision-making quorums, the Ones are considered to be a sort of “most equal among equals.”
This model is crafted to appear as a middle-aged man — tall, powerful, and intimidating in stature. They are charismatic and intelligent, but also overconfident, callous, and hedonistic. (We use an old Liam Neeson for the face.)
ATTRIBUTES: Agility d6, Strength d10, Vitality d10, Alertness d8, Intelligence d8, Willpower d8
SECONDARY ATTRIBUTES: Initiative d6+d8, Life Points 18
ASSETS: In addition to the Cylon package –Formidable Presence d4 is typical
COMPLICATIONS: Duty, Cylons d10; Lustful d4, Overconfident d4, Sadistic d4
SKILLS: Athletics d6, Covert d4, Discipline d6 (Intimidation d8, Leadership d10), Guns d2, Influence d6, Knowledge d6, Perception d6, Pilot d6, Planetary Vehicles d4, Technical Engineering d4, Unarmed Combat d6
Number 2
Twos are used as command elements, but they also do well as infiltration units. As a middle-aged, pretty but matronly woman, they tend to blend well in large populations. They are cunning and petty, vain and self-conscious, and vindictive. They do not work and play well with the other female models. (We use a late 40s Rene Russo for the face.)
ATTRIBUTES: Agility d6, Strength d6, Vitality d8, Alertness d10, Intelligence d8, Willpower d10
SECONDARY ATTRIBUTES: Initiative d6+d10, Life Points 18
ASSETS: In addition to the Cylon package — Sly d4 (adds to Influence/Persuasion and Covert/Streetwise)
COMPLICATIONS: Duty, Cylons d6; Prejudice, Humans d4; Rivals d4
SKILLS: Covert d4, Discipline d4, Guns d2, Influence d6 (Leadership d8, Politics d8), Perception d6 (Empathy d8), Performance d6, Pilot d4, Technical Engineering d6, Unarmed Combat d4
Number 3
These female Cylons are dangerous in the extreme. They look to be young, athletic women, and are highly intelligent, analytical, vicious, and combat capable. They have a rebellious streak and tend to buck the wishes of other Cylon models. Typically they command ground forces or are used as intelligence assets.
Nearly all of the sleeper agents functioned perfectly when “awakened” during the War. (We use a 30-ish Gabrielle Reece for the face/build.)
ATTRIBUTES: Agility d6, Strength d6, Vitality d6, Alertness d10, Intelligence d10, Willpower d10
SECONDARY ATTRIBUTES: Initiative d6+d10, Life Points 16
ASSETS: In addition to the Cylon package — Talented Fighter d4 (adds to unarmed and melee combat) or Talented Tactician d4 (adds to Perception/Tactics)
COMPLICATIONS: Duty, Cylons d10; Rebellious d4, Rivals d4, Sadistic d4
SKILLS: Athletics d6, Covert d6, Discipline d6, Guns d6, Influence d2, Knowledge d6, Perception d6, Pilot d6, Planetary Vehicles d4, Survival d4, Technical Engineering d6, Unarmed Combat d6
Number 4
This Cylon model looks like a middle-aged dark-skinned man. They are smart, perceptive, and are typically used as doctors and scientists. Most are cold and professional, with little empathy or compassion, but they are highly curious. Those that were programmed with artificial memories and backgrounds tend to the exact opposite and about a quarter of them malfunctioned and could not resolve their differing personalities. They are usually found co-located with Farms and other humanoid Cylon populations. (Same guy — Rick Worthy.)
ATTRIBUTES: Agility d6, Strength d6, Vitality d8, Alertness d10, Intelligence d10, Willpower d6
SECONDARY ATTRIBUTES: Initiative d6+d10, Life Points 14
ASSETS: Cylon package
COMPLICATIONS: Curiosity d4
SKILLS: Discipline d6, Influence d6, Knowledge d4, Medical Expertise d6 (Surgery d8), Perception d4, Scientific Expertise d6 (Life Sciences d10)
Number 5
This model is a dark-skinned woman with a thin, athletic build and an indeterminate age. They are a combat model, excellent trackers and hunters with a bloodthirsty personality. They often act as scouts and command smaller units of centurions.
Many of these were undercover sleeper agents, programmed with alternate personalities. About a quarter of these models “malfunctioned” (were unable to resolve the difference between their programming and their actual nature.) We’re using gina Torres for the character.
ATTRIBUTES: Agility d10, Strength d6, Vitality d6, Alertness d10, Intelligence d6, Willpower d8
SECONDARY ATTRIBUTES: Initiative 2d10, Life Points 14
ASSETS: In addition to the Cylon package — Talented Hunter d4 (add to Perception/Tracking and Guns/Rifle)
COMPLICATIONS: Overconfident d4, Out for Blood d8, Prejudice, Humans d4; Sadistic d4
SKILLS: Athletics d6, Covert d6 (Camouflage d8, Stealth d8), Discipline d4, Guns d6 (Rifle d8), Influence d2, Knowledge d2, Perception d6 (Sight d8, Search d8), Pilot d4, Planetary Vehicles d4, Survival d6, Technical Engineering d4, Unarmed Combat d4
Number 6
This model is designed to be a shapely, attractive blonde of indeterminate age. She is an infiltration, sabotage, and assassination specialist. Many of these were seeded through the Colonies in the run up to the war. They have the most variable of personalities of any of the models, but all are vain, lovelorn or at the very least lusty, and self-involved to the point of narcissism. They can be vengeful, and sadistic.
Many of these were planted as sleeper agents and some had trouble breaking their programming when they are wakened for the War. (Same — Tricia Helfer.)
ATTRIBUTES: Agility d6, Strength d6, Vitality d6, Alertness d8, Intelligence d0, Willpower d10
SECONDARY ATTRIBUTES: Initiative d6+d8, Life Points 16
ASSETS: In addition to the Cylon package — Allure d4
COMPLICATIONS: Lustful d4, Memorable d4, Narcissist d4, Sadistic d4
SKILLS: Athletics d4, Covert d6 (Sabotage d8, Stealth d8), Discipline d6, Guns d2, Influence d6 (Persuasion d8, Seduction d8), Perception d6, Pilot d4, Performance d6, Technical Engineering d6 (Hacking d10, Programming d10), Unarmed Combat d6
Number 7
This Cylon is dangerous in the extreme, and so unstable that sleeper programming would not work. They are unrepentantly violent, vainglorious, overconfident. Their personality is so incendiary that many of the other models have considered boxing the entire line.
These monsters are tall, powerfully-built, and lead ground units with mindless fury. They frequently clash with the Threes over tactics (which the Sevens find pedantic.) We went with the Rock, but Vin Diesel would be a good choice, as well.
ATTRIBUTES: Agility d8, Strength d10, Vitality d12, Alertness d6, Intelligence d6, Willpower d6
SECONDARY ATTRIBUTES: Initiative d6+d8, Life Points 20
ASSETS: In addition to the Cylon package — Formidable Presence d4, Tough d4
COMPLICATIONS: Gloryhound d4, out for Blood d8, Rivals d4, Sadistic d4
SKILLS: Athletics d6, Covert d2, Discipline d4, Guns d6, Heavy Weaponry d6, Influence d4,Melee Combat d6, Perception d6, Pilot d6, Planetary Vehicles d4, Unarmed Combat d6 (Brawling d10)
Number 8
Dour, ambitious, and chafing at it’s middle management status, the Eights have shown themselves to have an abnormally high incident of “malfunction” when programmed with alternate personalities for sleeper missions — over half of them either committed suicide or went rogue. They are frequently commanding ground units and often squabble with the Threes and Sevens over hierarchy and tactics.
Eights are strong, swarthy, and usually bearded. They are handsome and charismatic, can be kind and compassionate, but also violent and impulsive. (This was our “Doral.” We were using Oded Fehr)
ATTRIBUTES: Agility d6, Strength d10, Vitality d8, alertness d8, Intelligence d6, Willpower d10
SECONDARY ATTRIBUTES: Initiative d6+d8, Life Points 18
ASSETS: In addition to the Cylon package — Allure d4
COMPLICATIONS: Duty, Cylons d6; Gloryhound d4, Lustful d4, Rivals d4
SKILLS: Athletics d6, Covert d4, Discipline d6 (Intimidation d8, Leadership d8), Guns d4, Influence d6 (Seduction d8), Knowledge d4, Perception d6, Pilot d4, Planetary Vehicles d4, Survival d2, Technical Engineering d4, Unarmed Combat d6
Number 9
The Nines are a strange lot. They claim to have visions, to be able to “see the streams” of history and fate. They are highly religious (monotheists), clever tricksters who are used for psychological operations and intelligence gathering. These were one of the most active units before the War and were usually not programmed with sleeper identities; they lie so well they did not need to “believe” their legends…
They are blond, average-looking males with a tendency to dress slovenly. they have an intense quality to them and have been known to periodically work with the humans, if only to sow dissension in their ranks. (This is our “Leoben” — same guy, Callum Keith Rennie)
ATTRIBUTES: Agility d6, Strength d6, Vitality d6, alertness d10, Intelligence d10, Willpower d10
SECONDARY ATTRIBUTES: Initiative d6+d10, Life Points 16
ASSETS: In addition to the Cylon package — Faith d6, Intuition d8
COMPLICATIONS: Delusions of Grandeur d2, Duty, Cylon d6, Liar d4, Superstitious d4
SKILLS: Athletics d6, Covert d6 (Sabotage d10), Discipline d6, Guns d4, Influence d6 (Persuasion d10), Knowledge d6, Perception d6 (Intuition d10), Pilot d4, Planetary Vehicles d2, Technical Engineering d6, Unarmed Combat d4
Number 10
The Tens are rarely seen outside of the Cylon baseships or main bases of operations ashore. They are dark-skinned, taciturn, massively strong, and very intelligent. They are technicians and engineers who tend to fall in line with the other models in decision making, waiting for a trend to show in the voting, then siding with the majority. They stay out of the personal politics of the other Cylons, although they seem to have an affinity to the Threes. Few of these volunteered for sleeper agent duty and an alarmingly high number of them were turned by their programming — nearly half. (We went with Idris Elba on this one.)
ATTRIBUTES: Agility d6, Strength d10, vitality d8, Alertness d6, Intelligence d12, Willpower d6
SECONDARY ATTRIBUTES: Initiative 2d6, Life Points 14
ASSETS: Cylon package — Mechanically Inclined d6
COMPLICATIONS: Fixated d4 (They tend to tunnel vision on their projects.), Toes the Line d4
SKILLS: Athletics d6, Craft d6, Discipline d4, Guns d2, Mechanical Engineering d6 (Create d8, Repair d8), Technical Engineering d6 (Programming d8, Repair d8), Unarmed Combat d2
Number 11
This female model is also a scientist/technician type — mostly involved in the life sciences. they frequently work with the Fours. They are lovely, young women — their hair color varies more than any model — and are surprisingly non-violent for Cylons. They were used extensively as sleeper agents with a high level of “malfunction” due to the memory overlays; they are, however, highly intelligence and take well to the alternate skill sets they are programmed with. (This is our Boomer — same actress, Grace Park.)
ATTRIBUTES: Agility d8, Strength d8, Vitality d10, Alertness d8, Intelligence d8, Willpower d8
SECONDARY ATTRIBUTES: Initiative d8+d8, Life Points 18
ASSETS: Cylon package
COMPLICATIONS: Combat Paralysis d2, Curiosity d4, Idealist d4
SKILLS: Craft d6, Influence d6, Knowledge d6, Mechanical Engineering d6 (Cybernetics d8), Scientific Expertise d6 (One specialty d8), Technical Engineering d6 (Programming d8)
Number 12
Twelves are infiltration and psychological operations units, much like the Nines. They are tall, often slightly overweight, but always charismatic and extroverted. Like the Nines, they are very good at weaving a yarn. Their sleeper programming made many of them bughouse crazy, alcoholic hedonists, but only a few malfunctioned. (We never got around to using these — Oliver Pratt.)
ATTRIBUTES: Agility d6, Strength d6, Vitality d10, Alertness d8, Intelligence d8, Willpower d8
SECONDARY ATTRIBUTES: Initiative d6+d8, Life Points 18
ASSETS: In addition to the Cylon package — Good Natured d4
COMPLICATIONS: Addiction d4 (Alcohol, drugs, whatever), Hedonist d4, Unstable d4
SKILLS: Artistry d6, Athletics d4, Covert d6 (Sabotage d8, Streetwise d8), Discipline d2, Guns d2, Influence d6 (Persuasion d8, Seduction d8), Knowledge d6, Perception d6, Technical Engineering d4, Unarmed Combat d6
Waking Sleeper Agents
Cylon agents that have been programmed for sleeper operations with alternate personalities can be activated a number of ways — through a phone call or a direct communication to their cyberbrain using the Electronic Interface. Normally, however, it is face-to-face with another Cylon who will wake them with a code phrase. This is done to ease the sleeper out of their false personality and avoid malfunction.
The alternate personalities don’t always give up their “lives” without a fight — much like a schizophrenic or a multiple personality disorder, there can be conflict between the program and the Cylon identity, causing them to deny their real self, or to have the personalities collapse into each other. The Cylon, if a player character, can attempt to fight the takeover of their mind by the Cylon identity: they must make a FORMIDABLE WILLPOWER+DISCIPLINE test. Success means they might realize what they are and fight the urges of their real self; an extraordinary success and they can completely deny the Cylon personality to manifest…at least consciously.
Other members of their model can pick out a malfunctioning unit with a successful opposed ALERTNESS+PERCEPTION test versus the malfunctioning sleeper’s WILLPOWER+DISCIPLINE test. If they upload after dying, their nature cannot be hidden.
The Black Campbell 