Human beings have undergone a change during their 90 years in space, with life aboard the Arks nurturing biological side effects or developments that could never have been predicted by scientists. From the first generation of children to be born upon the colonies, onward to the present day, there have been those who appear to have special gifts. Many researchers claim that this is a natural course of evolution, that human beings showing their ability to adapt to new environments. The unprecedented speed, as well as the nature of some of these "changes," however, has placed doubt upon such thoughts. Most believe this "evolution" to be a form of mutation, caused by any number of factors. Regardless of what lead to it, there is no denying the presence of Newtypes in the Colony Century world.

Newtypes are not simply psychics, as they were in previous chapters of the RPG. This time, the term has been expanded to include a wider range of abilities and aptitudes. One must remember, however, that these are not super-human characters, merely individuals who naturally possess an extraordinary talent. Of course, not all people born in space are Newtypes. Over half of them turn out to be Naturals, as comparatively ordinary as anyone born on Earth.

Though there are a wide variety of specific abilities for a Newtype to exhibit, they all fall into two main categories. When creating a Newtype character, select an ability or skill that seems appropriate to who you want that person to be. Usually, this talent has a profound influence upon their life. The full range of ability definitions is as follows:

Mental - - These Newtypes exhibit increased mental abilities over those of normal human beings. This can manifest in a variety of ways, including an elevated intellect, memory, a natural aptitude for a certain task or skill (sort of a sixth sense), or even psychic abilities. The latter usually fall into one category, whether that be thought projection/reading, suggestion, clairvoyance, empathy, or even minor telekinesis. Mental Newtypes are most recently noted for their ability to mentally control remote weapons; free-floating attack drones that are manipulated through thought projection. The United Alliance Armed Forces, and other more clandestine groups, are attempting to perfect this technology for maximum exploitation.

Physical - - Newtypes with increased physical abilities are, as mentioned, not super-humanly strong or durable. They just have a natural predisposition to being as strong or fast as someone who would train professionally and constantly in a particular field. Better reflexes, physical strength, running speed, dexterity, hand-eye coordination, or endurance are a few examples of what a Newtype may possess. Physical Newtypes who become mobile suit pilots are notorious for pushing the envelope, and driving their machines harder than their design parameters permit. When such characters are in the military, they are usually given free reign over optimizing their machine to take advantage of their abilities.

What's the Catch?

As great as these abilities are, a Newtype's power is not without its price. Both sub-divisions each suffer from their respective drawbacks, which can make the "better" living of the Newtype somewhat awkward. In the case of the mentally gifted, headaches, eye strain, and other forms of disorientation will afflict them over prolonged use of their abilities. Usually, this can be countered with medication, though it is not always effective. Likewise, Newtypes with physical gifts will also have radically unstable metabolisms. They will fall into periods of binge eating in order to meet the energy demands of their bodies, but rarely gain any weight. Other times, they will feel like they don't need food at all, and anything they do eat will prompt extremely rapid weight-gain.

The Life of a Natural

Naturals are normal human beings, who do not possess any Newtype gifts whatsoever. All those born on Earth fall into this category, as well as over half of the children born on space colonies. In a world where Newtypes seem to be on the rise, many Naturals find themselves harboring mixed views about about their place in the grand scheme of things. Many see them as inferior, un-evolved examples of humanity. After all, why would anyone bother teaching a Natural, hiring them for work, or promoting them to important positions when there is at least one Newtype out their whose gifts make them "better?"

In a world dedicated to perfection, this might be the case. However, so far, the belief in Newtype superiority (Newtypism) has not yet taken off. Besides, even with their superior attributes or talents, Newtypes still suffer from the biological stress that is placed on their bodies. Naturals are able to live relatively well, by comparison, and can even train themselves to be almost as fast, strong, or coordinated as a Physical Newtype. As an added bonus, Naturals are the only sub-type of humans who can take advantage of cybernetics. Whether it is because of their altered metabolism or brain chemistry, Newtypes cannot receive these mechanical implants; their bodies reject them outright.

Artificial Newtypes - The Great Equalizer?

The surge in Newtype numbers, and the Space War's massive effect on the Natural population, have prompted some people to look for ways to keep all humans on a level playing field. Artificial Newtypes are Naturals who have been augmented through either cybernetic implants or "medicinal" substances. On the one hand, cybernetics can offer a variety of perks, though not every cyber-equipped Natural can really be called an Artificial Newtype. Those who have a device or two, such as clock/calendars that seem to intuitively report the exact time, or compasses that measure precise direction, or computer-jacks for direct mind/machine interfacing, are not much different than normal human beings. These kind of implants are small, safe, and very useful in everyday life, though only common among the very wealthy or fortunate.

Cyber-Artificial Newtypes come with a more complex series of systems which are usually available only to those who have military clearance to receive them, or extremely good black market connections. Their additions of choice include bionic lungs that can store extra oxygen for up to a half hour, or filter out some forms of toxic gases. There are also bone replacements/reinforcements, substituting or augmenting the real thing with metal and myomer, or bionic eyes that swap regular vision for multi-optics sight. In the past, these kind of extensive additions were administered only to mend serious injuries, since they require regular medication to keep the body from rejecting the artificial material. As mobile suit combat forces military's to stress faster reflects and better instincts more than ever, though, they are gradually being tested among volunteer soldiers.

The other major variety of Artificial Newtype is far more volatile than the cybernetic version. Using a cocktail of designer drugs, carefully administered, a Natural can chemically increase metabolism and muscle efficiency, hype reflexes, sharpen senses, and boost adrenaline flow. Because these drugs have the potential to do an extensive amount of harm to their user's system, they have to be carefully regulated using a wrist-worn injection system. Immediately after their use, counteragents need to be administered to keep the dose from hazing over the user's mind and turning it from reason to pure instinct. The common drug risks of addiction and withdrawal are also present. 

With all these risks and conditions, one would has to wonder why anyone would, in their right mind, bother with such a treatment. The reality is, the drug process is much, much cheaper, easier to apply, and doesn't require nearly as much work to screen or maintain as the average cybernetic operation. Given this, it's no wonder that a few, less ethical doctors have taken their knowledge of the process and started selling it on the black market, though with tremendous price tag. The very few daring pilots and outlaws who have tried it usually believe they have nothing to lose, but often end up burning out or going completely feral from overdoses. For the most part, the UAAF has denied all ties to the drug process, though it does keep a few of these "special" pilots for the right missions.