On a lame note, cyberskulls.... Options Track this topic Email this topic Print this topic Download this topic Subscribe to this forum Display Modes Switch to: Outline Switch to: Standard Linear+

[Liper]

Cannot be purchased using standard character creation because of it's availablity of 16, please tell me that's a freaking typo.

[Oracle]

What's so wrong with that?

[Crusher Bob]

Considering that the cyber-skull basically takes essence and gives you nothing in return, the fact that you can't get it at character generation is just silly.

[Oracle]

Do you think availabilities are oriented at the in-game value of items?

[Adarael]

You could look at it this way... What sort of non-combat situations would require a full skull replacement? Any individual that would need a full head replacement would probably (in 99% of cases) probably need new gray matter inside it, too. The skull probably is hard to get because it's a very specialized bit of ware, not the sort of thing you get installed 'just because'. I mean, an arm or leg? You can lose those in factory accidents. A torso? Maybe a car accident or a bad fall makes you need to get a replacement - it's less common, but believable.

But what kind of accident makes you need to buy a new head, in all honesty? That's a pretty rare kind of accident.

Remember... availability only matters if you're buying an item illegally.

[Liper]

to some degree, but we're talking about prosthetic parts, not illegal cyber.

in the case of torso's and skulls it's not even a real prosthetic, but mainly replacing area's with a shell.

[Adarael]

Any cyber is illegal to buy if you buy it from an unlicensed vendor or a vendor who sells it for purposes not covered by his licence - which is precisely what any SINless will be doing. I think in this case availability is a balance for both game reasons and the fact that there just aren't very many cyberskulls produced every day.

And remember... availability only matters as much as your GM makes it. If he says sure, what does it matter?

[Liper]

it matters if you want to play a cyberskulled troll for a upcoming convention =p

regardless of how common or not, I wouldn't think a cyberskull would warrant the same availablity of a cortex bomb... even if it's got a f tacked onto the availability.

[Grinder]

[Siege]

Just prep your argument early - just because your character is SINless now doesn't mean he was when he had the replacement.

Which is open to miles and miles of abuse, however for one or two pieces of silly gear that isn't horribly abusive and you feel adds to the character, go for it.

-Siege

[BlackHat]

Well, like, if someone ripped your jaw off... your grey matter is just fine.. .and the trauma to the body is probably on par with losing your other 4 limbs... (meaning, if treated right away, you might not bleed to death, or go into shock) and with awesome medical coverage, the technology exists to give you a new one (note: no partial head replacements - so you'd have to get yourself a nice legal/available cyberskull)...

So, I could sort of see a good reason to have one legally... if a very rich person is horribly mauled in the face... and can no longer function... its better to drop the big money on a new head than to die... or live without a lower jaw.

[hyzmarca]

The reason why cyberskulls have high availability is succinctly explained in this thread http://forums.dumpshock.com/index.php?show...&hl=ghost+rider .

[BlackHat]

[Azralon]

Yeah, really. I mean, I can do that with normal skulls and those things are a dime a dozen.

Wait: Standard ammo costs 2 nuyen per shot. So I guess they're 24 nuyen a dozen (plus labor).

[hyzmarca]

But imagine if the Halloweeners got ahold of some.

[Teulisch]

in SR3, the advantage of a cyberskull was that it negated called shots to the head, AND reduced stress to headware by 2 (possibly by 3 with the right upgrade, making the headware stress-proof). in SR4, all it does is add one to the physical track, and provide a small amount of capacity. the capacity is too low to justify the skull by itself.

so with the rules as is, the skull is mostly a thematic item. and then they go and make it unavilible for concept characters.

[Liper]

Exactly, hell the cyberskull was never exactly a point of uber munchkinism heh.

[PBTHHHHT]

But a great point for loonies! We can recreate ghost rider! (and his horde of flaming skull drop bears who are riding segways behind him) Bwahahahaha!!!

[Grinder]

Yeah, spread the word! :D

[Crusher Bob]

Heh, if I were the GM, and you wanted to have a flaming skull for a head, I'd give it to you for free

[Teulisch]

there IS a flaming skull in SR cannon. Go read the novel 'Tails you Lose'. theres a fixer named hothead, who has a fire come out the top of his cybered head.

[Akimbo]

[Liper]

in sr3, not sure about 4th, it was quite disconcerting, social mods, and very nice intimidation mods if you were going that route = )

[PlatonicPimp]

[PlatonicPimp]

The only real game advantage to the cyberskul is that it gives you 1 more box of damage on your physical damage track, like all cyberlimbs.