Lieutenant Commander Tuvok
Context
Tuvok is one of the major Vulcan characters on the Star Trek TV shows. He primarily featured in the Voyager series, which started in 1995 and ended in 2001.
He was played by Tim Russ.
Background
- Real Name: Tuvok.
- Marital Status: Married.
- Known Relatives: T’Pel (wife), three unnamed sons, one unnamed daughter.
- Group Affiliation: Starfleet, United Federation of Planets.
- Base Of Operations: Currently the U.S.S. Voyager.
- Height: 6’3” Age: 185 lbs.
- Eyes: Brown Hair: Black
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Powers and Abilities
Tuvok has learned a large number of useful skills during his long life. While he has a composed and aloof attitude, he has found it most useful to master the martial skills including military tactics, archery and the martial arts. He’s also an expert at various security skills, such as code-breaking, debugging and hacking.
His Vulcan heritage has granted him a powerful analytic, conclusive and scientifically oriented mind. His hobbies, which he takes seriously, include playing the Vulcan lute, botany and meditation.
In addition, he has mastered the rare Vulcan art of the mind meld, which grants him certain telepathic abilities.
Like all male Vulcans, he is stronger than Human beings. His heritage also grants him a natural defense against blinding attacks. These maje completely blind for a couple of seconds as his eyes are rendered opaque, but then he regains his full sight with no ill effects.
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History
Tuvok is a native of the planet Vulcan. He was pressured by his parents into following them into Starfleet. Tuvok graduated the Academy at the age of 29 in 2293. He was originally posted to Cpt. Hikaru Sulu on the U.S.S. Excelsior.
He resigned in 2398 to pursue his people’s kohlinar regimen of true non-emotion. That was a consequence of having become disillusioned with non-Vulcans in the service. But Tuvok went into pon farr six years later and began a family.
His return to Starfleet was marked by a maturity and a reconsideration of the benefits service provided.
Back in the service
Earlier in his career Tuvok first served on the U.S.S. Wyoming. Then he was a teacher and cadet trainer at Starfleet Academy for 16 years.
Tuvok then joined Captain Janeway’s crew on her ship prior to the U.S.S. Voyager. For a brief time he was on leave with a temporary assignment at Jupiter Station. In his youth he was an opponent of the Federation-Klingon treaties but he later came to see the wisdom of fellow Vulcan Spock’s drive for alliance.
Lt. Commander Tuvok is now a security chief and tactical officer under Captain Kathryn Janeway. He previously went undercover to infiltrate the Maquis as part of Chakotay’s crew.
These are the voyages
But both ships disappeared in the Badlands of the Demilitarized Zone, presumably destroyed by plasma storms. The smaller craft disappeared a week before the Voyager was last heard from on SD 48307.5 (“Caretaker”).
Chakotay’s ship and the Voyager were inadvertently thrown into the Delta Quadrant – over 75,000 light years from home. This had been done the mysterious entity known as the “Caretaker”.
Since then Tuvok has participated in many adventures and missions in their quest to return home. During his total service with the Starfleet Tuvok has been honoured by an impressive total of 17 medals of honour (“Riddles”). Tuvok has often saved the day using his sharp intellect and surely is one of Starfleet’s finest Vulcan members.
Personnel file
Below follows an excerpt from Tuvok’s Starfleet personnel file:
STARFLEET PERSONNEL FILE - Tuvok (Missing In Action)
**Includes updates, addenda through SD 50500 (2373)
Rank: Lieutenant
Current assignment: Detached leave, security chief of U.S.S. Voyager, for undercover Maquis mission; both ships lost and unaccounted for SD 48307.5.
Full Name: Tuvok.
Year of birth: 2264 (Terran equivalent).
Place of birth: Vulcan.
Education: Starfleet Academy, 89-93.
Marital Status: Married 2304, to T’Pel.
Children: Three sons, one daughter.
Starfleet Career Summary (partial)
2293 — Graduated Starfleet Academy.
2293 — VOYAGER ANNOTATION: Served on U.S.S. Excelsior, junior science officer.
2298 — VOYAGER ANNOTATION: Resigned Starfleet, from Excelsior.
2343 — Returned to Starfleet, assigned to U.S.S. Wyoming.
2371 — Security chief and second officer, U.S.S. Voyager under Cpt. Kathryn Janeway (MIA).
2372 — Assumes command for six weeks during quarantine of Voyager CO and XO.
Video
Guys, don’t make fun of Vulcans.
Description
Tuvok is a tall, black-skinned Vulcan male with short-cut black hair and brown eyes. He is in good shape both physically and mentally, and moves in a confident and resolute manner.
He is most often seen in his orange-black officer’s uniform.
Personality
In his professional life, Tuvok is the archetypal Vulcan. He’s composed, analytical, logical and precise. To Humans, he appears overly composed, tense, icy, aloof. And sometimes more than a little condescending.
Nevertheless, Tuvok’s physical, investigative and tactical skills are an inspiration to the crew. Furthermore, his Vulcan equanimity and calm demeanour make him a valued peacekeeper aboard the ship. With his combination of wisdom, experience and vitality Tuvok is one of the most respected members of the crew, even grudgingly among the former Maquis.
He is also a man of strong principles, very loyal and Captain Janeway’s most trusted confidant.
Emotions in motion
Tuvok has, like other Vulcans, a belief that loss of composure could lead to insanity through emotions. Still, he has developed the rather rare technique of the mind meld. It puts him in situations where strong emotions occasionally have to be dealt with. He has, for example, helped Kes develop her latent Ocampan abilities.
Unfortunately, things haven’t always gone that well. He once nearly made himself criminally insane despite his Vulcan self-disciplines. That came after a mind-meld while attempting to aid psychopathic murderer and former Maquis Lon Suder, a Betazoid, after the murder of a fellow crewman.
In order to relax after a long day and in order to increase his calm and inner peace, he practices the Keethara meditation routine each night. He does not find it very useful to socialize with other crewmen, but occasionally does so in order to keep up everyone’s spirit.
That’s so Vulcan
In fact, Tuvok behaves in a most stereotypical Vulcan manner when it comes to many things. When relating to his crewmen and friends, he struggles to maintain this façade of composure even though he is fond of them and wants to be part of the group. This is, however, a fact he seems to be unable to accept himself.
Furthermore, logical answers to problems are prioritized, even when an emotional or intuitive answer would seem to be more suitable. This can sometimes be a hindrance to his efficiency.
In his personal life, Tuvok is a devoted parent and husband. He engages his interest in the traditional Vulcan lute, playing it for his children when they could not fall asleep at bedtime. His youngest son was especially fond of “Falor’s Journey,” a 347-verse epic ode.
To Tuvok’s surprise, since he beliefs emotions to have no control over him, he misses his family every day.
Other traits
Tuvok also is an expert botanist with growing orchids a specialty he continues in his own quarters. He also began his interest in the Vulcan game kal-toh with master studies at age 5. Prior to his stint on the Wyoming he taught archery science at the Vulcan Institute for Defensive Arts. He has maintained a scholarly interest in the study of violence for over a century.
Also, Tuvok is Star Trek’s Wolverine character. For any given plot, there’s a good chance that Tuvok will reveal some new element to his history that happens to give him an ability that will help him resolve the plot.
This aspect of Tuvok might be used by a GM making him into a plot device. Or perhaps even initiated by a Player paying a specified Hero Points fee (retroactively changing the gaming environment or using Omni-Scholar).
Quotes
Janeway : “Fire at will !”
Tuvok : “I have the will, but not the means, Captain. Targeting control is down.”
“On the contrary, the demands on a Vulcan’s character are extraordinarily difficult. Do not mistake composure for ease.”
“The human fascination with ‘fun’ has led to many tragedies in your short but violent history. One wonders how your race has survived having so much ‘fun’. […] Ever since I entered the Academy, I’ve had to endure the egocentric nature of humanity. You believe that everyone in the galaxy should be like you, that we should all share your sense of humour and your Human values.”
DC Universe History
As mentioned in the Captain Picard character profile, the ship Enterprise has encountered Marvel’s X-Men on two occasions. The ship Voyager and her crew could likewise easily meet characters from the Marvel Universe or DCU under similar circumstances.
In the DC Universe, Tuvok would originate from the planet Colu. He would probably have been a teacher at the Science Police Academy before joining up with the United Planets.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Tuvok
| Dex: 06 | Str: 06 | Bod: 05 | Motivation: Responsibility of Power |
| Int: 09 | Wil: 08 | Min: 07 | Occupation: Security Officer, Starfleet |
| Inf: 04 | Aur: 05 | Spi: 07 | Resources {or Wealth}: N/A |
| Init: 021 | HP: 040 |
Powers:
Mind Probe*: 08, Shade: 06, Telepathy*: 09
Bonuses and Limitations:
- Mind Probe and Telepathy both have a Range of Touch only (-1).
- Mind Probe and Telepathy may only be used in conjunction (-1).
- Shade activates one phase delayed after a Flash attack ; apply RAPs of a Flash attack vs. Tuvok’s DEX score, as usual, the first Phase, and then recheck the result from that Flash attack again the next phase, but then adding Tuvok’s APs of Shade (and ignoring his Attack Vulnerability), and use these RAPs instead of those originally gained (-1).
Notes:
Mind Probe and Telepathy represents the mind meld effect, Shtick (Subdual) represents the Vulcan nerve pinch (aka Vulcan Grip) (Tuvok is often benefited by a Surprise attack when performing the nerve pinch manoeuvre).
Skills:
Artist (Actor, Vulcan Lute)*: 04, Detective*: 09, Gadgetry (Identify Gadget, Repair Gadget)*: 09, Martial Artist (With Techniques): 06, Military Science (Field Command, Cartography) (HL): 05, Military Science (Demolition, Electronic Countermeasures)*: 09, Scientist*: 09, Thief (Security Systems) (DL): 10, Vehicles (Space)*: 05, Weaponry (Melee, Firearms, Heavy, Exotic)*: 05, Weaponry (Missile): 06
Advantages:
Iron Nerves, Language (Vulcan), Military Credentials (Medium, Rank: Lt. Commander), Omni-Scholar, Scholar (Botany, Computers, Military Tactics, Vulcan Culture), Sharp Eye, Shtick (Subdual), Slowed Aging (lifespan of 200+ years), Stroke of Genius.
Drawbacks:
Attack Vulnerability (-3 CS OV/RV vs. Flash Attacks; ½ pts only), Forced Exile (in the Delta Quadrant), CIA (Not expressing emotions), Married (T’Pel), Misc. Drawback (Pon Farr).
Connections:
The Maquis (Low, defunct), Vulcan High Command (Low, defunct), The Voyager (High).
Equipment:
See the Star Trek Personal Equipment write-up.
Shtick (Subdual) [Cost: 20 HPs]
A character with the Subdual Shtick is extremely adept at subduing and stunning his opponents. This is done by performing a nerve pinch, choke hold or similar. If he uses his Martial Arts for AV and a Critical Blow, he may score -4 CS to the RV instead of the usual -3 CS RV. The No Vital Areas Advantage is still useful against a character with this Shtick.
This Shtick is a low-powered version of the Devastator Shtick.
Misc. Drawback: Pon Farr [Bonus: 10 HPs]
Based on the drawback held by all Vulcan males. Every seven years a Vulcan male must mate or die. There is no known cure (treat as OV/RV 20 against finding a cure), other than mating. Once pon farr starts, 1 AP is added to the strength of pon farr per day.
Character must make roll vs. pon farr with Int/Will acting as AV/EV once per day. Positive APs means the character maintains self control. Failure means the character drops into a bestial state, lashing out at comrades and losing emotional control. The character remains in this state until a successful pon farr check, or mating occurs.
For example, while under the influence of pon farr, Spock threw a bowl of soup at Nurse Chapel, sulked in his quarters for days, disobeyed direct orders by directing the Enterprise to Vulcan, and (apparently) murdered Captain Kirk in trial-by-combat.
Just like in the Trek Universe, the GM is expected to use this Drawback against the Player as often as possible in Subplots or Adventures.
In addition to the drawback as suffered in normal gaming time, other plot devices such as, for example, dream sequences, rapid aging (mental or physical), alternate histories and so on can be used against the Player to make him suffer from the Drawback more often than time would normally permit.
A GM might even want to face the Pon Farr character with the threat of other characters suffering from Pon Farr from time to time as well; a crew of several Vulcans is useful in this way.
Source of Character: Star Trek: Voyager (TV series), character played by Tim Russ.
Helper(s): Petar Miljanic, Danielle Mendus, Mike Davis, Roy Cowan, Adrian Tullberg, Sébastien Andrivet, John Colagioia, trekweb.com (defunct). Illustrations from trekcore.com .