Race: Generals

The Generals are heuristically and cognitively superior to the other Races. Although one would believe that this would make them vastly superior researchers, they are only marginally better than average. Where they are superior is in the art of warfare and gambling. Instinctively, they can formulate the probabilities that certain plans of action are likely to succeed, almost unconsciously. Given enough information, they are rarely wrong. They also have an uncanny ability to "read" people, even of other Races. The only ones exempt from that is the Admins, who they find generally unreadable. If you are going to play a game of chance with a General, it needs to be a game of pure chance, or the conclusion is nearly foregone. Most gambling establishments strictly forbid them to play for that very reason. They are like the card counter at the Blackjack table. Despite the fact that the house should win, they will lose. They are excellent traders with their ability to "read" people and know the odds that a certain item can bring a certain price with certain effort. There are two distinct subcategories among the Generals. The more numerous are the "passionate" Generals, who are gregarious and prone to great expressiveness. They are also the more likely to take offense to the slightest thing. The other group is known as the "ascetic" Generals, who are more reserved and less likely to be provoked unless they want to be. Many consider them to be the "pacifist" Generals, and do not give them the respect of their more warlike brethren, but that is a serious mistake. Of the two, they are even more deadly in combat, being less likely to be baited into a bad situation. The "passionate" ones tend to focus more on offense. The "ascetic" ones on defense. The truth is, genetically they are one and the same. The difference is in their philosophy and how it tends impact their intellectual development. The "passionate" Generals are more automatic and instinctual in their responses. The "ascetic" generals are more deliberate and controlled. Both tend to prefer hot dry planets with slightly lower than normal gravity and moderately thinner and purer atmospheres. They dislike crowding more than any other Race, and are likely to only sparsely populate a planet before their population growth tapers off. They also do not like to build large mega-cities, although each planet is likely to eventually have one such metropolis. They are above average in everything they do, but reproduce the slowest of all major Races. Standing slightly less than 2 Meters in height, and at less than 100 kilos, the typical General is not physically imposing, but they exude an air of self assurance that causes others to instinctively make way for them. In combat with all other Races other than the Admins, two sets of orders can be given at every level. If they are "passionate" Generals, there is a 50% chance that they will pick the orders that will yield the most damage to their opponent, 25% chance that they will choose the set that will cause them the least damage to themselves, and a 25% chance that they will choose the set that yields the best ratio of damage given to damage taken. The "ascetic" Generals will be 25%/50%/25%. Those who are of "mixed" philosophy will choose 25%/25%/50%. If there are Generals as Fleet Officers, their is a chance that another random set of orders may be issued, even if they are fighting the Admins. First the determination is made whether or not a set might be considered at each level based upon the ranking of the Fleet Officer and the effectiveness of their span of control. At a certain level, this is guaranteed. Then the random determination is made as to what the set of these orders might be. Based upon their skill set, these will be evaluated against the others only in the manner that fits their style. If this random set of orders is the best for their style of combat, it will be chosen. If not, it is discarded and not considered any further. In combat where Generals are on both sides, they cancel each other out to the level that they are present. If there is a specific average likelihood on one side that their Fleet Officers will come up with a random set of orders, and the other side has a higher average, then the one with the higher average will be the only one whose Fleet Officers will have this ability, reduced by the average of the opposing Fleet Officers. In this case, having less Fleet Officers of higher experience is desirable.