 Implanted Foci? |
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 Jan 31 2006, 07:27 PM
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#1
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Neophyte Runner  Group: Members Posts: 2,026 Joined: 23-November 05 From: Seattle (Really!) Member No.: 7,996  |
One of my players wanted to know what the effect of having his sustaining foci surgically implanted in to his mage would be? I didn't have a ready answer for it, so I decided to do some "research" by posting it here.
Basically the questions are: Would it cost essence? Could they be turned on and off or would they be always on? |
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Jan 31 2006, 07:33 PM
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#2
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 668 Joined: 15-February 05 From: Ontario, Canada Member No.: 7,086 |
Depends on what you mean by "implanted", and what the focus is.
An (insert body part) piercing? No essence, should be fine. Cyberware-type stuff? (Anything that provides a function beyond aesthetics) That costs essence. That's probably a good measure for it; if the form of the focus does nothing, then no essence cost. Provided, of course, that the focus is small in size, and isn't being implanted anywhere vital, and so on and so forth. Otherwise, they'd behave like normal foci. |
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Jan 31 2006, 07:36 PM
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#3
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Midnight Toker Group: Members Posts: 7,686 Joined: 4-July 04 From: Zombie Drop Bear Santa's Workshop Member No.: 6,456 |
I'd say that it would only cost essence if the focus is an enchanted peice of cyberware. Just shoving things in doesn't cost essence (see cranial bomb).
However, the only advantage it would provide is an inability to drop the focus without cutting yourslf open. It would be just as vulnerable to Astral attacks when active. If you still use grounding then the magician in question will be chunky sausa when a fireball appears inside of him one day. |
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Jan 31 2006, 09:19 PM
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#4
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,095 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Ontari-airee-o Member No.: 1,115 |
This makes me pine for the old grounding rules. Also this could restrict their travel, at least legitamate travel. They happen to have mages and spirits at the airport that look for this stuff.
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Jan 31 2006, 09:42 PM
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#5
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 903 Joined: 7-February 03 Member No.: 4,025 |
It's been done. Harlequin: Jane Foster.
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Jan 31 2006, 10:58 PM
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#6
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 993 Joined: 5-December 05 From: Crying in the wilderness Member No.: 8,047 |
Unless linked up to the nervous system or structural invasive, as observed, then no essence loss.
The material used in the foci itself however may prove vital, there is a very limited selection of materials that can reside in the (meta-) human body without coursing upset. Sterilized glass, surgical grade stainless steel, pure gold and some plastics. Am sure there's some I've missed but for point of argument, highly processed material. So due to increased enchanting difficulties an increased expensive perhaps? |
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Jan 31 2006, 11:04 PM
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#7
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,635 Joined: 27-November 05 Member No.: 8,006 |
Could the focus not be made of regular materials and then sealed in a mundane flesh-friendly case?
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Jan 31 2006, 11:08 PM
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#8
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 993 Joined: 5-December 05 From: Crying in the wilderness Member No.: 8,047 |
No, sadly flesh contact is needed. ;)
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Jan 31 2006, 11:16 PM
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#9
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,635 Joined: 27-November 05 Member No.: 8,006 |
Unless you have house ruled it differently it can be in a pocket or a pouch. |
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Jan 31 2006, 11:24 PM
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#10
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 668 Joined: 15-February 05 From: Ontario, Canada Member No.: 7,086 |
Well.. there's the possibility of some bioware.. internal pouch with no external opening. Bond the focus, grow the skin pouch around it, and implant the skin pouch.. |
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Jan 31 2006, 11:42 PM
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#11
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 993 Joined: 5-December 05 From: Crying in the wilderness Member No.: 8,047 |
Purely a dramatic style habit, though perhapes a proviso to stop the backpack of foci ever occurring. *shudder* So the only limit then would be size, money and were it is implanted. There is always the essence loss from the surgery as a last ditch control, scrapping the bottom I fear. :( |
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Jan 31 2006, 11:47 PM
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#12
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,635 Joined: 27-November 05 Member No.: 8,006 |
Deepest bellybutton EVAR! |
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Jan 31 2006, 11:49 PM
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#13
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,635 Joined: 27-November 05 Member No.: 8,006 |
Perhaps you have not come across the Focus Addiction rules? Or in SR4 the simple limit of Magic number of foci bonded? |
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Jan 31 2006, 11:59 PM
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#14
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 993 Joined: 5-December 05 From: Crying in the wilderness Member No.: 8,047 |
My PC mage has heard of these legends about magicians having more than TWO? foci? Que evil ref laughter.
Seriously I am concentrating on the thread question and ways to curtail this choice and over come such curtailing by the PC, while maintaining realism. Subdermal insertion, easily located, little risk of serious scaring/essence loss. Deep penatration into the thoratic cavity or under major muscle groups, higher chance of scaring/complications and essence loss. Repeat as applicable? Edit: Is it me or has this thread come up before? Accessing Archive... |
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Feb 1 2006, 12:05 AM
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#15
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 586 Joined: 22-November 02 From: Gordonsville, Virginia, U.S.A. (or C.A.S.) Member No.: 3,630 |
(Edited by Yours Truly) Platinum: There are at least two nonferrous (no iron) and/or non-magnetic metals currently used in medical implants: platinum and titanium. Both are chemically inert--that is, they don't cause a reaction with the body's immune system-- as well as being highly resistent to corrosion (an important consideration, as the human body normally contains several corrosive compounds, ranging from salt water (in the tissues) to hydrochloric acid (in the stomach)). A 90% platinum/10% iridium-alloy pellet (iridium is another member of the same metallic family as platinum), was used in the cane/umbrella gun developed by KGB weapons experts in the 1970s. Georgi Markov was killed in London in 1978 by an assassin using such a weapon. Attacked on September 7th, he was dead either three or four days later, depending upon the source of the information. The KGB developed the weapon at the request of the Bulgarian Secret Police, who had no such weapons. I believe that it was operated either by compressed carbon-dioxide gas, or by spring pressure. The tip of the umbrella/cane had a concealed injector mechanism, with a retractable large-caliber needle. The resulting wound was about the size of a pinhead. Markov noticed a small spot of blood on his jeans, but thought it was only because the man who supposedly poked him with the umbrella was being clumsy. The pellet, which was barely visible to the unaided human eye--it was described as being 1.52 millimeters in diameter-- had two small holes in it, and contained a concentrated dose of the poisonous compound ricin--a toxin found in the castor bean plant (ricinus communus), and one of the deadliest poisons found in nature. It has been estimated that a dose of as little as two-tenths of one milligram of concentrated ricin is lethal to humans. At the time, ricin was virtually untraceable. (The symptoms of ricin poisoning in humans are as follows: weakness, fever, cough, and pulmonary edema (fluid in, or swelling of, the lungs) within the first 18 to 24 hours following ingestion or inhalation, followed by acute respiratory distress and death from hypoxemia (low blood oxygen content) within 36 to 72 hours.) The victims of the Bulgarian assassins appeared to die suddenly of cardiorespiratory arrest, as a consequence of a severe case of the 24-hour 'flu, or sometimes from food poisoning. The pellets were so small that they were only discovered at autopsy. The wound produced by the weapon resembled an inflamed or infected insect bite. This post has been edited by Foreigner: Feb 1 2006, 02:16 AM |
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Feb 1 2006, 01:36 AM
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#16
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Midnight Toker Group: Members Posts: 7,686 Joined: 4-July 04 From: Zombie Drop Bear Santa's Workshop Member No.: 6,456 |
Is it perverted to consider weapon focus bone lacing for an unarmed adept?
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Feb 1 2006, 03:58 AM
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#17
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,095 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Ontari-airee-o Member No.: 1,115 |
Actually, what I meant is that the airline will probably not like you taking your power focus with you on a flight. It is one thing to transport it in a hermetically sealed container, the other is ready access to it. You think there are problems now with homeland security, wait till magical terrorists start appearing. AirLine security officer: Uhm, please explain to me why your side is glowing? Runner: uhm, well I had this surgically implanted just in case I lost it. AirLine security officer: Air regulations stipulate that magic is prohibited within the airport and in the airplain. So your focus is not necessary, sir. Would you like one of our parametics to help you remove it, so you can board this flight? Runner: What if I just promise not to use it? AirLine security officer: Well then that seems perfectly legitamate to me, let me make sure your fingers are not crossed. Ok then, you are free to board the flight. |
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Feb 1 2006, 04:02 AM
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#18
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ghostrider Group: Retired Admins Posts: 4,196 Joined: 16-May 04 Member No.: 6,333 |
They just did a ricin crime on one of the CSIs. Pretty cool.
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Feb 1 2006, 04:04 AM
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#19
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Dragon Group: Members Posts: 4,589 Joined: 28-November 05 Member No.: 8,019 |
No, but it IS essence-reducing. Having a cross/disk just under your skin is one thing; removing your muscles temporarily and putting threaded orihalcum underneath is another. |
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Feb 1 2006, 04:13 AM
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#20
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Midnight Toker Group: Members Posts: 7,686 Joined: 4-July 04 From: Zombie Drop Bear Santa's Workshop Member No.: 6,456 |
I mean perverted in a munchkiny way.
I don't think airports would mind having a powerful mage on board. It can be useful incase a dragon attacks. |
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Feb 1 2006, 04:48 AM
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#21
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 351 Joined: 17-February 05 Member No.: 7,093 |
not perverted so much as useless. The bone lacing isn't a weapon, so getting it enchanted as a weapon focus nets you nothing. Even if your GM allowed you to use it for the extra dice, why not just save the essence and get some improved ability and killing hands instead. If you're really wanting that bone lacing, make it an adept or infusion focus. |
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Feb 1 2006, 05:57 AM
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#22
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,095 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Ontari-airee-o Member No.: 1,115 |
Then why would they be worried about a shadowrunner with an assault rifle or panther assault cannon in his carry on? Other than being somewhat useless with bullets bouncing off the hide of the dragon, but other than that, what's the problem? There would be significant investment into mage security. I mean who holds a plane hostage or controls the thoughts of the pilot to hi-jack it to another destination? Doesn't this seem like a risk? what would a fireball do to the engine if you have a suicide terrorist, or one that can blow a hole open in the side, and levitate to safety? Turn to goo on a plane hull? |
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Feb 1 2006, 06:10 AM
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#23
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,283 Joined: 17-May 05 Member No.: 7,398 |
Well, Turn to Goo only works on living things. As for the rest... bound spirits with "kill any mage who starts casting spells" as their commands.
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Feb 1 2006, 06:31 AM
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#24
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Midnight Toker Group: Members Posts: 7,686 Joined: 4-July 04 From: Zombie Drop Bear Santa's Workshop Member No.: 6,456 |
You can't use guns against an attacking dragon without making a giant hole in the side of the plane. It isn't good to make giant holes in a pressurized metal tube that is hurtling through the air at close to the speed of sound. The thing about airline security is that it wasn't really meant to stop terrorists before 9/11 (ineffecctive new rules notwithstanding, it still isn't). Airline security serves a twofold purpose. First, it exists to provide a public perception of safety. Wether that extra safety is real or not doesn't actually matter. The fact is that airplanes are safe enough to begin with. Second, airline security exists to stop drunk people from doing stupid things. That is why guns weren't allowed onboard originally. The danger of someone getting drunk and depressurizing the plane with a stray shot is far greater than the danger of a terrorist doing anything at all. Magicians are good for business because most of hem will be corporate wagemages. Any percieved danger can be alliviated by completely ineffective but annoying new security procedures. |
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Feb 1 2006, 08:27 AM
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#25
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Target Group: Members Posts: 16 Joined: 5-January 06 From: Kansas City Area, Missouri Member No.: 8,134 |
What? Airplanes are already full of holes and another one really isn't going to make that much of a difference. Even at high altitudes unless the aircraft is suffering from severe metal fatigue or major design flaws, another hole isn't going to make that much of a difference. There was an Hawaii Airlines airplane that ended up losing a good sized chunk of the fuselage and the only casualty was a stewardess whom ended up being sucked out because she wasn't secured in a seat (some information is here.) Taking a look at this also makes me believe someone is gonna have to be using some serious firepower to cause explosive decompression (not rapid decompression; that can occur if you blow some holes in an aircraft fuselage.) Unless my mind deceives me, it was also legal to carry firearms aboard aircraft in the United States for a good portion of time. |
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