I was thinking about a race that instead of it's own racial bonus, it is adaptable enough ("Adaptrix" lol) that its race bonus is to double the profession bonus. Some professions make sense while others wouldn't work (* indicates might be workable):

* Merchant - 30% extra max cargo space -> 60%
Spy - 20% extra cloaking skill -> 40% (Zolazin get this plus profession)
* Physicist - 30% extra max shielding -> 60%
* Explorer - 20% extra scanning skill -> 40%
Builder - 50% reduced upkeep -> 75% (overpowered)
Fixer - 30% extra max hull strength -> 60% (beaten by Lazuli Fixer with 80%)
* Biologist - 30% extra Planet Population -> 60%
* Excavator - 10% extra Artifact production -> 20%
* Miner - 10% extra mineral production -> 20%
*(maybe) Hacker - 30% extra hacking success chance -> 60% (depending on what this means, might be overpowered)
*(maybe) Raider - 30% extra raiding success chance -> 60% (depending on what this means, might be overpowered)

Actually, I thought of an adaptable race (I just didn't post it yet because I was saving it for my next mission line) where it was very similar:

The Gakaro: a chameleon-like race, they were shunned from the rest of populated space. This is because their capabilities of stealing the form and talents of those around them were viewed as a threat to society. Although the're a mostly peaceful race, a recent political upheaval brought a dictator into power. As the rest of the galaxy watches, no one knows what they will do...

ability: Steal Form
target: other players
cooldown: 24 hours
user effect: temporarily replaces your race and profession bonus with the bonuses of the target player (duration: 8 hours)
target effect: temporarily loses their race and profession bonus (duration: 4 hours)

75% cut in upkeep IS NOT overpowered. The high level players have upkeeps close to 10 billion.

I think he was saying 75% because the base of the idea to double everything would make it 100%. Having no upkeep at all would be a bit much.

Sounds kind of like my Hominn race...

Hominn: A race of aquatic shapeshifters, they are respected for their advanced technology and sense of honor. Some find them suspicious, but they are good at heart, and often protect the weak. They resemble large dinosaur-like eels with smooth skin, small sharp teeth, and a long neck with a small head. They have fins on the bottom of their bodies, and use plasma based drone weapons for offensive capabilities.

Power:Hominn use their powers to morph into other races. As Hominn, you may have numerous racial bonuses, but they are much smaller than the actual races bonus. Ex, Konqul bonus reduced from 20%, to 10%. You may have as many of these small bonuses as you want, however, each added bonus makes all of them smaller. Still, you can get 3% bonus to almost everything!

Your ship would look like a large curved almost rocketship-like vessel. Blue, and covered with small ports for launching their drones.

lol, 3 shape shifting races all for the same purpose, but each with a different background and uses a different game mechanic!

Crud...now Dan won't be able to decide! I like yours a lot though Zophah...it would be seriously devious....

You know what would be more devious? the Adaptrix, Gakaro, and Hominn are all changling clans on the same planet. And the uprising caused the changlings to choose sides, basing their civil war in one of the planet's climate regions. Only thing is... the planet changes along with the war...
the Adaptrix control the dessert region
the Gakaro control the forested region
the Hominn control the oceanic region

In fact, this gives me the idea that this could be another "king of the hill" planet, a world of constantly shifting biomes and intense military unrest!
....and another idea: it could work like Guild Wars: Factions, where Legions could chose a side and get legion-wide bonuses from it.

Oooohh...that IS a good idea. That would be pretty interesting. There is a mission where you pick which side of the three war you want to fight on, and at the end you can play as that race...that would be pretty cool. It would also satisfy a bunch of people's desires to have an event like this.

to make like one huge war, were everyone must pick one of 3 sides (sounds alot like EvE), and the members of one side may still attack their own members BUT there will be serious reperecusions......? what yall think

I think that's what we were trying to say...yeah pretty much! There could also be different rewards and abilities unlocked by each side.