Ability Targets
Target refers to anything or anyone you are able to identify as an individual and separate from a whole. A target can be a person, an animal, or a starship, or it could be a wall, a rock, or a soda can. Whenever you see the word “target”, you must identify a target for the ability to be effective against. Unless otherwise specified in the ability’s description, your abilities only affect a single target at a time.
If the ability does affect multiple targets, you must identify all the targets it is effective against. However, all non-player entities (NPCs)—including companions—are targeted when you perform an ability which targets “everyone and everything” within a specified range. Unless specified in the ability description, your allies are not targeted when you perform abilities which target “everyone and everything” within a specified range. Similarly, you are not targeted by your own abilities unless specified in the ability description. You can always choose to target allies when performing an ability, though doing so may be considered an attack by your allies. You can only target yourself if specified in the ability’s description.
Certain abilities only work as long as you are targeting the correct type of target. Target types exist within overlapping circles of definition, so you may sometimes need to take a moment to discuss whether a target matches the ability’s target requirement. There are 3 questions one must ask to define a target’s type:
- What is the target’s physical body?
- Does the target have a mind?
- Does the target have essence?
If a target’s body can be classified as either flora or fauna, it is Organic. If it is an artificial construct made from metal or similar materials, it is considered a machine. Anything inanimate is considered an Object.
If the target is sapient and could be considered to have a soul, spirit or mind, it is a character. Otherwise, it is a creature. All organic characters and creatures have essence, though characters have more essence than creatures.
If an ability affects multiple targets and the ability has target type requirements, all targets must fit the requirement for the ability to be effective.
Characters
All members of the civilised species within the star cluster are considered Characters, as are some of the more intelligent plants and animals. Some spirit remnants, virtual intelligences (VI), and artificial intelligences (AI) are also considered to be characters.
Allies or Player Characters
Player Characters are characters controlled by your fellow players. Allies is a catch-all term for your fellow player characters. The two terms are used interchangeably throughout this site.
Creatures
Most plants and animals are considered Creatures, as are some monstrous entities which are animate but aren’t organic—such as elementals and Nox’zh’r entities.
Machines
Androids, robots, starships, and other similar constructs are all considered to be Machines.
Cyborgs
Any organic character or creature which has machine parts is considered a Cyborg, and is treated as both an organic character and a machine, or an organic creature and a machine.
Spirit Remnants
Spirit Remnants are a type of character or creature which represent the essence of an organic character or creature that once lived. They are entirely made out of essence. Spectres, spirits, and wraiths are all considered to be spirit remnants.