General beauty/looks/appearance is only an outward aesthetic. Each race (or even culture) has a range of values for their appearance – normal PC’s must fall within these values. Appearance is relative to the particular aesthetic of a species or culture, and can easily change in relation to others. The impact of physical beauty should be stated for your campaign, as it may or may not play any role. Social and interpersonal interaction may be influenced by a character’s beauty or aspects of form – it is mostly situational and should be assessed by the GM. Distinct aspects of the character’s form help players envision their characters; these are color and/or shape of body areas, birthmarks/scars/tattoos, eyes, hair or fur, skin, limbs/handedness, age, and gender.
Influences: Dress, style, makeup and other superficial influences may be able to achieve the same adjustments, offset penalties, or situational influences. Any modifiers beyond these would be attributed to serious alien qualities or qualities which inspire actual awe/revulsion (active attraction/avoidance, physical betrayal of feelings), not just social acceptance.
Determining: It may be determined randomly or by simply accepting the average value and using CP adjustments.
Hideous: Cost: +2 CP > Any checks influenced by appearance may suffer a -2 penalty
Ugly: Cost: +1 CP > Any checks influenced by appearance may suffer a -1 penalty
Average: Appearance/Looks plays no influence.
Attractive: Cost: -1 CP > Any checks influenced by appearance may gain a +1 success
Beautiful: Cost: -2 CP > Any checks influenced by appearance may gain a +2 success
An Aethereal manifestation has little or no distinct aspects – colors, textures, identifying marks, hair, etc. They are often translucent and take on or reflect only a rough outline that is vaguely humanoid or reflective of what they might have once been or represent – often appropriate to their surroundings or the even sometimes the viewer. As such, they most often reflect an ‘average’ appearance in determining their impact.