What do the Skoleans look like?
What F&E hex is their planet in?

By Gary Carney (Nerroth) on Saturday, May 31, 2025 - 09:15 pm: Edit

Skoleos, the home world of the chameleon-like Skoleans, is located in Federation and Empire hex 3704.

If you haven't seen it already, there is a one-page planetary survey for this planet in Captain's Log #46; alternatively, this article can also be found as one of the many background files compiled in Away Team Log.

By Dal Downing (Rambler) on Sunday, June 01, 2025 - 04:18 pm: Edit

From PD20M Rule book


Skoleans


The warm-blooded Skoleans are an associate member of the Federation. Their homeworld Skoleos is in Federation space, very close to the border with the Gorns. They resemble a Terran chameleon both in appearance and in special abilities. While they rarely exceed five feet in height and are not particularly strong, their lean and wiry build allows them to react quickly with a high level of eye & hand coordination.


From the Gazette Project


Skoleos


Federation planet, home of the Skoleans, some of whom serve as Gorn mercenaries. See the planetary profile in CL#46.


F&E Hex# 3704

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Wednesday, June 04, 2025 - 03:14 pm: Edit

Skolean

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Wednesday, June 04, 2025 - 03:16 pm: Edit

I think that's the only Skolean art ever done.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Wednesday, June 04, 2025 - 03:20 pm: Edit

Lar Bergan used an AI engine to try to create a Skolean from the written description in the book. You can see the result below. I would hate to see what the AI thing would do if he tried to create a game designer.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Wednesday, June 04, 2025 - 09:26 pm: Edit

Let's see if I got it....

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Wednesday, June 04, 2025 - 09:27 pm: Edit

Not bad, Lar, not bad at all.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Wednesday, June 04, 2025 - 10:16 pm: Edit

JEAN NEEDS TO LOOK AT THIS.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Wednesday, June 04, 2025 - 10:25 pm: Edit

Make sure she has some Redshirts for security…. Something tells me a normal stun setting just might not be enough.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Thursday, June 05, 2025 - 02:25 am: Edit

I want to see that Lar's AI thing would do for a Seltorian or Lyran or maybe Andromedan.

By Robert Russell Lender (Rusman) on Thursday, June 05, 2025 - 02:31 am: Edit

WOW those are great!
Really brings more flavor to them than I was expecting.

By Gary Carney (Nerroth) on Thursday, June 05, 2025 - 10:58 am: Edit

There have been, and continue to be, many pointed questions in different parts of the creative world, as regards what - if any - place procedurally-generated AI images ought to take in different forms of media, alongside those produced by human artists.

Granted, there do not appear to have been all that many of the latter stampeding their way towards ADB's offices of late.

But even so, it might be worth formulating an official policy towards AI-generated works, as well as considering the precedent that accepting the use of such material could set going forward.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Thursday, June 05, 2025 - 11:39 am: Edit

Uhhh…. Huh?

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Thursday, June 05, 2025 - 12:02 pm: Edit

SVC:
In english, Gary Carney is politely suggesting you formally adopt a policy on AI generated images.

The issue is one you have posted about on this bbs for decades:

What is creative content, and what is not.

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Thursday, June 05, 2025 - 12:07 pm: Edit

AI is pretty amazing.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Thursday, June 05, 2025 - 01:32 pm: Edit

A policy? Why is AI art something other than art?

I suppose somewhere there are human artists really upset about having their paychecks curtailed. I look at AI art as another source to be used along with human artists.

Whether created by human or AI, art based on someone else’s IP is under various copyright provisions. Anyone can do artistic renderings for their own amusement, publishing art based on someone’s IP is not kosher although fanboy art is often allowed to slide. That is a practicality, not a right.

I have a lot going on right now but I want to really go mess with AI and learn more.

Now let me get back to watching AI warrior queens marching to the songs of Ava Max.

By Lawrence Bergen (Lar) on Thursday, June 05, 2025 - 02:55 pm: Edit

SVC: Emails sent.

By Jean Sexton Beddow (Jsexton) on Thursday, June 05, 2025 - 04:15 pm: Edit

We do have an interesting conundrum. The RPGs have always described the Skoleans as chameleon-like. CL #50 has a whole story with them being described as birdlike.

Skoleans don't have wings, but are lean and wiry. Early PD books point out that their chameleon changes only work if they are naked.

Hmmmm ...

By Lawrence Bergen (Lar) on Thursday, June 05, 2025 - 04:39 pm: Edit

Naked Skolean? Is that why Polly Darton wrote that song about them taking her man?

'Skolean, Skolean, Skolean, Skolean / I'm beggin' of you, please don't take my man'

[Lar: ducks and runs for the door]

By Carl-Magnus Carlsson (Hardcore) on Friday, June 06, 2025 - 09:08 am: Edit

Is it a problem? Is it a problem? Is it a problem?
No worries with PIXELATION! giantitp.com/comics/oots0025.html

By Randy Green (Hollywood750) on Friday, June 06, 2025 - 03:14 pm: Edit

Unfortunately, I do not have CL50 yet. Can you ask the author where their source/inspiration/research showed the Skoleans as bird-like?

In the dim recess of the decades, I seem to remember the Skoleans being bird-like, before they became chameleon-like.

Keep running, Lar! Frying pans are coming!

SVC: Currently, AI-generated art is frowned upon for publishing. But that will no doubt change, since it is so prevalent. Just as one day, fairly soon, the board gaming market will be flooded with AI-inspired/designed games.

By Jessica Orsini (Jessica_Orsini) on Friday, June 06, 2025 - 03:29 pm: Edit

The story was "Scalewings", by Scott Moellmer.

By Dennis Surdu (Aegis) on Friday, June 06, 2025 - 10:48 pm: Edit

I agree with SVC regarding AI. AI is another tool in the toolbox one has allowing the rendering of what is envisioned mentally in "the mind's eye". Nothing more. Most people are able to generate wonderful art in their imagination but simply cannot physically translate it into tangible form. For people with little skill in drawing but have a clear vision in their head, for example, AI will be opening up a whole new world. AI will allow more people to express what they never could. I am not sure why folks are so afraid of it, vis-a-vis art.

By Robert Russell Lender (Rusman) on Saturday, June 07, 2025 - 01:43 am: Edit

Because it's going to turn into Skynet and start the end of human civilization. Or so I hear.

I'm not pro AI. But I'm not afraid of it either. In essence it's just more complicated algorithms and bigger databases working to do whatever people tell it to do. I think people have an irrational fear of things they don't understand. Toss in a handful of fear mongering "Journalist" opinions and some politicians to sow discord among the populace and the next thing you know an entire society is in panic mode.