Clan Phenotypes and freeborns

[Kitsune413]

Trying to find a rule and coming up short. I thought there was a passage in a time of war that said that because of interbreeding freeborns could take a phenotype.

But going through the books all ive seen is a rule saying they dont have to take one.

Anybody with a better memory able to help me out?

[Acolyte]

No, AFAIK only the Tin-Borns get a phenotype other than normal human (which is a phenotype, just a basic one). If your GM is very generous then you might be allowed a different phenotype for other reasons - one could argue that a character like Kai Allard Liao, for example, should be treated as a clan MechWarrior for character creation. Just a random abberation amongst the trillions of people in the IS that resulted in genes good for piloting a 'Mech. Less random if he's from a long line of successful MechWarriors on both sides of the tree, that's a form of eugenics in and of itself.

   - Shane

[Decoy]

I think he's talking about Clan Freeborn.

EG Harry the Merchant, son of Jay the Merchant and Melinda the Tech can either go for a Merchant Phenotype, a Tech phenotype, or none at all.

[tbrminsanity]

In all the Mechwarrior RPGs, Freeborns were never able to take a Phenotype.  This is because Pheonotypes are the result of years of "perfect" breeding that resulted in "perfect" representations of human potential.  Freeborns are still subject to a wide range of random natural selection.  To quote Gattaca, "You could conceive a hundred times and never conceive a child like this."
That being said, you can choose to take any trait that a phenotype has (such as slow learner) for a freeborn character.  Legacy from their parents.

[Acolyte]

I think he's talking about Clan Freeborn.

EG Harry the Merchant, son of Jay the Merchant and Melinda the Tech can either go for a Merchant Phenotype, a Tech phenotype, or none at all.

Actually, same thing applies to both the clans and the IS. What happens when two TrueBorns have a freeborn kid? Same thing, I'm thinking. Maybe enough to justify a Phenotype other than normal, but this would be an exceptional child.

   - Shane

[Kitsune413]

Freeborn Clan characters do not require a Phenotype Trait,
and use the Normal Human Phenotype if none is selected.

This sentence appears in the main book when it talks about creating characters. Also in the Era Report. I just don't remember where I read their explanation why. But I'm pretty certain its because of interbreeding within clans.

[Kitsune413]

Oh!!!! Its in the Golden Century rules on page 17!  ;D I knew I saw it somewhere.

[BirdofPrey]

Being born from a human rather than a vat does not suddenly remove the genetic traits of your parents from your own DNA.

THe Child of two clan mechwarriors would realistically have the same phenotype
Note that quote above "do not require" it doesn't say you can't give a freeborn a phenotype trait, just that you don't have to

[Kitsune413]

Being born from a human rather than a vat does not suddenly remove the genetic traits of your parents from your own DNA.

THe Child of two clan mechwarriors would realistically have the same phenotype
Note that quote above "do not require" it doesn't say you can't give a freeborn a phenotype trait, just that you don't have to

Yes. In atow a free born may have a phenotype.  :)

[Acolyte]

Pg 121. Phenotype

"Technically, all characters receive a phenotype on creation, but unless the character in question is a Clan trueborn, the only option available in A Time of War is defined simply as "normal human".

   - Shane

[Kitsune413]

Pg 121. Phenotype

"Technically, all characters receive a phenotype on creation, but unless the character in question is a Clan trueborn, the only option available in A Time of War is defined simply as "normal human".

   - Shane

Page 17 of golden century. Because of interbreeding freeborns can have phenotypes.  :P

[tbrminsanity]

I would leave it up to your GM.  Personally in my campaign I would have three catagories, Freeborn (use Freeborn rules), True Freeborn (backstory says they are Freeborn, and I may give them that stigma, but they are essentially Trueborns), and Trueborn (use Trueborn rules).

[Kitsune413]

Im so confused. Ill just quote the passage when I get home.

It is literally in the rules that you can.  ;D