The peoples of the Core Worlds and the galaxy beyond are many, with a long history of intermingling and dabbling with forces that can alter the very fabric of a mortal being. These unique traits, called versatile heritages, can manifest in several ways. Some are the result of a diverse lineage or the lingering influence of potent energies on a family line. Others are not passed down by blood but are instead acquired by an individual through a profound, life-altering event that fundamentally changes who they are.
A prime example of an acquired heritage is the Gestalt: a unique synthesis of a mortal host and a timeless energy being, resulting in a single body with a new, blended consciousness. Other circumstances might involve exposure to monstrous, undead, or extraplanar energies. Whether hereditary or acquired, the events that give rise to a versatile heritage are not limited to a single ancestry, and thus can be chosen by a character of nearly any background. Some of these heritages might be more common among certain peoples, and your GM can always place restrictions based on the story and setting.
PLAYING A VERSATILE HERITAGE
To play a character with a versatile heritage, first select your ancestry, just like you would for any character. You gain Hit Points, size, Speed, attribute boosts and attribute flaws, languages, traits, and other abilities from that ancestry. Then, instead of choosing a heritage from those normally available to that ancestry, apply your chosen versatile heritage. You gain all the features from your versatile heritage, some of which might modify or replace statistics, abilities, or traits from your ancestry.
Since a versatile heritage is a heritage, you can have only one, and you can’t have any other heritage in addition to your versatile heritage.
Sometimes a versatile heritage might give you an ability that conflicts with an ability from your ancestry. In these cases, you choose which of the conflicting abilities your character has.
When selecting ancestry feats, you can choose from those available to your ancestry as well as those specific to your versatile heritage.
Gestalt
A Gestalt, also known as a Meldan, is a rare being resulting from the symbiotic fusion of a mortal host and a timeless, extradimensional energy being called an Aethelion. This unique synthesis creates a new, blended consciousness within a single body, granting the individual an alien perspective and a mind uniquely fortified against intrusion. This internal fusion is often marked by subtle, stellar-themed physical traits, such as eyes like starless voids or hair that shimmers with nebular colors.