Ok, don't know how I thought this up, but I thought it would be fun. You're hangin' out on Mass Effect's Citadel with some co-workers (I dunno what your space-job is, does it matter?). Yesterday, you proposed to them that they look up how to play Poker on the extranet ("It's a human game... gambling, we'll meet up at Flux or something"), and play it today after work. You have a very diverse group of co-workers... the ones who show up to play represent most of the species seen in Mass Effect (No Quarians or Batarians, we don't know enough about them as a species). You're curious how their culture and physiology will affect their playing... who do you think will have the biggest edge?
Turians: Your Turian buddy, like all his people, served in the military. His facial expressions are not as easy to read as those of a human, but not especially cryptic, especially since you may have spent a lot of time around Turians... they are a council race and thus quite commonly seen by humans. They tend to be quite forward and honest, though, and subtle things like bluffing are not really something that their culture really encourages. Still, they are quite capable of it... a predictable soldier seldom lives long on the battlefield.
Asari: You have no problem reading your Asari co-worker's facial expression... maybe she doesn't have a good poker face, you aren't sure. But Asari are reknowned for their diplomatic nature, so she may be trouble. You need to keep in mind, though, that their culture is big on exchange of information, so maybe she won't be comfortable bluffing. She'll probably be really good at catching other people doing it though. Then again... Asari are fairly cautious by nature, owing to the fact they live so long and can afford to take their time.
Salarian: This guy is always on the ball, always thinking. Typical of his people, he has little difficulty thinking about several things at once. He always knows more than he seems to, and he talks so fast that sometimes you can't quite figure out what emotions are being conveyed by his tone, but when you can, it's with a fair degree of confidence. He has a couple brothers in the STG... so he may have a bit of that Salarian spy in his blood. His facial expressions don't give much information, but his body language can be telling... you'll have to keep an eye on his hands, in particular. Salarians seem a bit fidgety.
Volus: Oh, this guy has you nervous. Not only is his face obscured by a mask, but his people are reknowned for their skill at business and trade. You don't doubt he'd be good at this even without the mask. Better watch out.
Elcor: Unless he lets you know, you aren't going to know how he's feeling, and he has a poker face to rival the Volus, but his people are very open and kind by nature, and you aren't sure about his skills at bluffing. He will likely be very aware of any hint of deception from others, though, if he has experience interpeting their emotions.
Hanar: You aren't sure how he's going to hold the cards, but whatever method he... she... it? Whatever it does in that regard, you aren't even sure if it has a face. Of course, you don't think you've ever heard of a Hanar lying, it sounds like they'd see it as an abuse of their gift of language. At the same time, though, he always sounds so pleasant and polite, will you be able to notice if he's playing you for a fool?
Krogan: I don't know what kind of work you do to have a Krogan co-worker, who cares? Anyway, they don't seem inclined to bluff... they don't say things unless they mean them. On top of that, their aggressive nature leads you to believe he'll probably think everyone is bluffing him or something. Why did you invite this guy? He'll probably smash the table when he loses.
Who do you think will walk away with the most credits?
Turians: Your Turian buddy, like all his people, served in the military. His facial expressions are not as easy to read as those of a human, but not especially cryptic, especially since you may have spent a lot of time around Turians... they are a council race and thus quite commonly seen by humans. They tend to be quite forward and honest, though, and subtle things like bluffing are not really something that their culture really encourages. Still, they are quite capable of it... a predictable soldier seldom lives long on the battlefield.
Asari: You have no problem reading your Asari co-worker's facial expression... maybe she doesn't have a good poker face, you aren't sure. But Asari are reknowned for their diplomatic nature, so she may be trouble. You need to keep in mind, though, that their culture is big on exchange of information, so maybe she won't be comfortable bluffing. She'll probably be really good at catching other people doing it though. Then again... Asari are fairly cautious by nature, owing to the fact they live so long and can afford to take their time.
Salarian: This guy is always on the ball, always thinking. Typical of his people, he has little difficulty thinking about several things at once. He always knows more than he seems to, and he talks so fast that sometimes you can't quite figure out what emotions are being conveyed by his tone, but when you can, it's with a fair degree of confidence. He has a couple brothers in the STG... so he may have a bit of that Salarian spy in his blood. His facial expressions don't give much information, but his body language can be telling... you'll have to keep an eye on his hands, in particular. Salarians seem a bit fidgety.
Volus: Oh, this guy has you nervous. Not only is his face obscured by a mask, but his people are reknowned for their skill at business and trade. You don't doubt he'd be good at this even without the mask. Better watch out.
Elcor: Unless he lets you know, you aren't going to know how he's feeling, and he has a poker face to rival the Volus, but his people are very open and kind by nature, and you aren't sure about his skills at bluffing. He will likely be very aware of any hint of deception from others, though, if he has experience interpeting their emotions.
Hanar: You aren't sure how he's going to hold the cards, but whatever method he... she... it? Whatever it does in that regard, you aren't even sure if it has a face. Of course, you don't think you've ever heard of a Hanar lying, it sounds like they'd see it as an abuse of their gift of language. At the same time, though, he always sounds so pleasant and polite, will you be able to notice if he's playing you for a fool?
Krogan: I don't know what kind of work you do to have a Krogan co-worker, who cares? Anyway, they don't seem inclined to bluff... they don't say things unless they mean them. On top of that, their aggressive nature leads you to believe he'll probably think everyone is bluffing him or something. Why did you invite this guy? He'll probably smash the table when he loses.
Who do you think will walk away with the most credits?
