Augmentation Q&A, Ask the developers and the authors Options

[Rotbart van Dain...]

as of right now, there are no such rules as far as i know, but it should be easy enough to adapt and assimilate the rules from SR3 man and machine

Yeah? And what rules would that be, exactly?

While i understand that some of these effects might be too odd of far off it is undeniable that some combinations of cybernetic modifications can have a nice synergy. Right now i simply apply the rules for Cyberware suites, but that doesn't seem right.

Actually, Cyberware Suites is pretty much the way to go.

[Ryu]

I think he is speaking of the Implant Interconnectivity Rules, pg. 46 Man&Machine.

The full extend of those rules are made possible by the description under the header of Cyberware in the main book gear chapter: Implants can be wired to each other. Disable wireless, and you are back to SR3.

[Tarantula]

I think he was more referencing the essence discounts you got for having cyberlimbs when getting bone lacing. I think this is best replicated using the cybersuite rules.

[Stahlseele]

and the big bad spider catches the fly

[Ryu]

I think - therefore I fail (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Stahlseele]

the interconnectivity part was one hell of a bitch to do propperly . . even for someone who in RL works in the computing/networking business x.x . .
routers, even with 10 ports were not enough to connect the important bits to each other . . so you would have to cascade the routers . . and then draw up networking topography of your character on the back of the char-sheet . .

[Stumpfgobs]

Thanks for the answers guys, i greatly appreciate your input. I wasn't really sure about the cybersuits and thought that some boni were too meager, but after doing some examples it kind of worked out.

I guess i will handle synergy effects as cybersuites then.

At first i considered the 10% discount as a little small for some implants. Combining spurs with muscle replacement (2) , bone lacing (plastic) and dermal plating (1), for example. Installing a spur onto a heavily modified bone surrounded by synthetic muscles and almost artificial skin and still paying 0,27 essence for it seemed like a lot. Then again, all mentioned implants got that discount (spur, bone lacing, muscle replacement, dermal plating cost a total of 3,3) which in turn makes the spur a freebee - so it kind of adds up.


There are two other question i have.


1. Bone Lacing. Ceramic, Aluminum, Plastic and Titanium are augumenting "the cellular structure" of the bones while kevlar bone lacing "weaves a protective ballistic mesh around the individual’s bones". Are they mutually exclusive or can i combine plastic (and other) bone lacing with kevlar bone lacing? Maybe i don't understand the concept of it properly, so i'd like to to know what others think about it or how they handle it.

2. Cyberlimbs. What happens with bodyware (i.e. dermal plating/sheath, bone lacing, muscle replacement etc.) once i chop off a leg and replace it with a cyberlimb? Or the other way around? Since dermal sheath is incompatible with cyberlimbs does that simply mean a cyberlimb can't be installed while a person has a sheath and vice versa? And if it can be installed does some one with 3 cyberlimbs get only a cybersuite style 10% discount on muscle replacement? I know that some of the answers seem pretty obvious, but i'm interested to know how others gamers handle it.

I think he was more referencing the essence discounts you got for having cyberlimbs when getting bone lacing. I think this is best replicated using the cybersuite rules.

How do you apply the discount for somone that has 3 cyberlimbs and gets bone lacing? Does that person get a discount on already implanted cyberware or how do you suggest handling it?

the interconnectivity part was one hell of a bitch to do propperly . . even for someone who in RL works in the computing/networking business x.x . .
routers, even with 10 ports were not enough to connect the important bits to each other . . so you would have to cascade the routers . . and then draw up networking topography of your character on the back of the char-sheet . .

That might be a little over the top but i know what you are talking about. I actually liked it that way. Maybe i'm insane, but then again, i liked the SR3 matrix rules too.

[hobgoblin]

never mind...

[Muspellsheimr]

1. Bone Lacing. Ceramic, Aluminum, Plastic and Titanium are augumenting "the cellular structure" of the bones while kevlar bone lacing "weaves a protective ballistic mesh around the individual’s bones". Are they mutually exclusive or can i combine plastic (and other) bone lacing with kevlar bone lacing? Maybe i don't understand the concept of it properly, so i'd like to to know what others think about it or how they handle it.

Bone Lacing is exactly that - lacing to increase the bone's strength, regardless of its type. It does absolutely nothing to "the cellular structure" of the bones, & is mutually exclusive from other forms of lacing.

[Uli]

Restated question:

Are the Articulated Weapon-Arm and the External Mount retractable or are they actually intended to turn destroy the user's subtlety?

There were retractable versions in the third edition and I would dearly miss them. Would make cyberlimbs a little more versatile and suck less.

[Ol' Scratch]

Considering the amount of Capacity they take up, I'd imagine they were retractable. Somehow I can't see physically strapping a device to a limb as eating up very much Capacity. But that's just me.

[Ryu]

I would agree. An always-extended version would be worthless, and take much less capacity. Maybe a question for the FAQ.

[Hagga]

Loathe as I am to dig up a dead topic, let alone have three posts as the most recent, I don't want to start a new thread.

So, Léonization. I can't help but notice it doesn't have an essence cost, but it states in the text for it it has a significant impact on the holistic health of the body. Is this a mistake, or does it just do really nice things to the body rather than horrible unnatural things?

[Fortune]

Regardless of which treatment is administered, age rejuvenation can only be performed a limited number of times before the cumulative effects of forced regeneration make cells go into bioshock and cytodeath (this option is left to the gamemaster, to be used as an appropriate plot point).

[Rotbart van Dain...]

..an appropriate plotpoint for any campaign running over hundred years that is.

Given how Léonization improved within 20 years, it could as well be a non-issue by then.

[Hagga]

I know about the small matter of death should it take place too many times, but it seems like something as invasive as resetting your genetic code is likely to have a few effects on your essence.

[Muspellsheimr]

Except resetting is not invasive at all. It is altering, or implanting foreign parts, that is invasive. Anything restoring your body to the original does not cost essence.

[Hagga]

Fair enough. Settles the argument with the GM, then.

Of course, knowing our dear, blindingly cruel gm, the elf getting the treatment is likely to go into cell death or grow extra eyeballs on his feet for giggles.

[Doc Byte]

I couldn't read the whole topic, can anyone tell me if a "dice pool" before the "modifier" at the PuSHeD transgenetic implant was left out on purpose or not? That would make it the only implant of this categorie that doesn't modify the dice pool and modifies the skill rating instead of that.

[Rotbart van Dain...]

Does the Orthoskin Electroshock Upgrade allow the use of the Cyber-Implant specialization of Unarmed Combat, like Shock Hands?

[wind_in_the_ston...]

What are the costs for second-hand bioware? (Aug p.61) Same as second-hand cyberware?

[Rasumichin]

Does the Orthoskin Electroshock Upgrade allow the use of the Cyber-Implant specialization of Unarmed Combat, like Shock Hands?

By common sense, i think it should.

What are the costs for second-hand bioware? (Aug p.61) Same as second-hand cyberware?

Yes, although there are some additional limitations.
No 2nd hand cultured (read = neural) bioware, no 2nd hand ware at all for Type O System characters.

[JonathanC]

I'm having some trouble with the search, so my apologies if this has been asked before.

If I buy a Rating 3 Dermal Sheath, can I purchase Chameleon Modification for it, or do I have to buy the Ruthenium Polymer Coating first?

[Ryu]

You have to buy the Ruthenium first. The sensors for the chameleon option are on top of that.

[JonathanC]

Wow, really? 24R Availability just for some fairly crappy invisible skin?