BIOLOGICAL DETAILS
Roll D100 on each of the following tables to determine the evolutionary level of the local life forms, and their chemical basis.
|
D100 |
Life present |
|
|
Earthlike |
Marginal |
|
|
-- |
1 |
No life |
|
1-10 |
2-30 |
Single-celled organisms only |
|
11-20 |
31-45 |
Simple invertebrates and plants (in seas) |
|
21-30 |
46-60 |
Advanced invertebrates and plants (on land) |
|
31-40 |
61-75 |
Simple vertebrates (fish, amphibians) |
|
41-100 |
76-100 |
Advanced vertebrates (reptiles, birds, mammals) |
|
D100 |
Biochemistry |
|
|
Earthlike |
Marginal |
|
|
1-20 |
1-5 |
Earthlike |
|
21-80 |
6-60 |
Protein-based |
|
81-100 |
61-99 |
Carbon-based |
|
-- |
100 |
Non-carbon-based |
For simplicity, the many possible varieties of biochemistry are divided into four broad classes.
EARTHLIKE: Essentially the same chemical basis as Earth's life forms, with only small differences, if any. Plants and animals with Earthlike biochemistry can usually be safely eaten by humans (and vice versa).
PROTEIN-BASED: Similar to Earth life in its basic chemical components, but with enough differences to make the biochemistries incompatible. Life of this type will nearly always be inedible, and frequently poisonous, to humans.
CARBON-BASED: Based on the same elements as Earth life, but arranged in very different compounds. Always inedible, and usually extremely poisonous.
NON-CARBON-BASED: Completely different to Earth's biochemistry in every way. Invariably poisonous. Very rare, at least on anything resembling an Earthlike planet.