[X] My Assistant

[longbowrocks]

Some of the magical diseases in Augmentation have very targeted effects. For example, Mana-Active Aura Deficiency Syndrome would be pretty scary for an awakened, but only causes nausea for mundanes.
This sort of disease could be weaponized by applying it to a high body character just before a meeting with an awakened target, or simply infecting someone close to the awakened.
On the other hand, I on't see any mechanics for acquiring diseases in Augmentation, except perhaps searching out an infected individual. I'm leaving to go kayaking soon, so I'd prefer to discuss this on dumpshock rather than looking through all the books.

[James McMurray]

Ask your GM. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Xahn Borealis]

Makes a good point. This is something I'd expect to see in War or Arsenal, cos let's face it, we're just the sort of slots who have trouble remembering the Geneva Convention et al above a certain pay grade. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[longbowrocks]

May I point out that this method can be used to burn out weak awakened characters, or strong ones if you mix it with a few other penalties?

[longbowrocks]

Makes a good point. This is something I'd expect to see in War or Arsenal, cos let's face it, we're just the sort of slots who have trouble remembering the Geneva Convention et al above a certain pay grade. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Did Shadowrun have... Oh, I keep forgetting this is based in a future version of our universe.

[Summerstorm]

While i wouldn't say you could just go out to your gunrunner or fixer and "buy" an disease, you could easily find someone having it and taking a culture and if you have a biomed shop/facility growing that to usable amounts.

Or break into some lab and steal one / bribe some dudes to sell it to you. But i guess something really dangerous or exotic will be too expensive to use as a "poison". People are a bit anal about letting infectious diseases loose into the population... don't know why *g*.

[Xahn Borealis]

Did Shadowrun have... Oh, I keep forgetting this is based in a future version of our universe.

Geneva convention was second world war I think, and there was also some other thing that the Corporate Court enforced which says "no biochem warfare even if you're extraterritorial". I think there was something about weaponised nanotech, too.

[longbowrocks]

But i guess something really dangerous or exotic will be too expensive to use as a "poison".

But a self replicating poison is something else entirely. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ork.gif)

[Irion]

his sort of disease could be weaponized by applying it to a high body character just before a meeting with an awakened target

Depends on the vector. But consider, that you are a walkin biohazard.

[Xahn Borealis]

Depends on the vector. But consider, that you are a walkin biohazard.

But don't let that stop you being a shadowrunner. Just look at all the ghoul and other Infected runners.

[Irion]

Well, I guess a lot of people here said: "Ah ghoul and vampire is playing in my group? Yeah, money for their heads!"

[Yerameyahu]

God, longbowrocks. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) MADS is the AIDS/Legacy Virus of SR. You are a bad person. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Xahn Borealis]

God, longbowrocks. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) MADS is the AIDS/Legacy Virus of SR. You are a bad person. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I thought HMHVV was that? If you want to have a disease-in-a-can, you could always be Infected and shoot your blood/DMSO with an Ares Squirt. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/devil.gif)

[Yerameyahu]

No, HMHVV is the Resident Evil virus. Legacy is the one that infects mutants in X-Men, right?

[Xahn Borealis]

This Legacy is something separate from the X-Factor that gives them their powers? Goddesses, I need to start reading some COMICS.

[Yerameyahu]

I got this from the 1990's cartoon. I think it just kills mutants. It definitely doesn't give them their powers. Anyway, the point is that MADS is a bad disease that affects an important subset of the world. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Using it as a crude weapon is unspeakable… and probably already in progress at all the big corps!

[Socinus]

Geneva convention was second world war I think, and there was also some other thing that the Corporate Court enforced which says "no biochem warfare even if you're extraterritorial". I think there was something about weaponised nanotech, too.

Somehow I see that exchange thusly.

"You want me to drop a chemical weapon in the middle of the Renraku company picnic for ten grand?"

"Yup."

"Dude...do you have any idea how fucked up that is? That's bringing down some serious legal heat, not to mention Renraku itself! GOVERNMENTS are going to care about this!"

"Twenty thousand."

"Well...look, there will be families there, wives, kids....not everyone there will be....bad...necessarily."

"Thirty thousand."

"...S-s-security...is...really tight....and the weapon..isnt really....discrete...."

"Fifty thousand."

"So did you want the weapon dropped at the buffet or the wet bar?"

[Yerameyahu]

Yes. But only because shadowrunners are not necessarily sane or smart. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I'm not saying it's impossible, I'm saying longbowrocks needs to relax and stop obsessing about killing mages.

[longbowrocks]

Depends on the vector. But consider, that you are a walkin biohazard.

It only lasts three days. I doubt I would have any leftover power to resist after that.

[longbowrocks]

Yes. But only because shadowrunners are not necessarily sane or smart. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I'm not saying it's impossible, I'm saying longbowrocks needs to relax and stop obsessing about killing mages.

If I don't obsess about killing mages, who will?
Also, how is anyone going to detect it before symptoms set in (Which I imagine happens at my first resistance test)?

[nezumi]

I only play SR2/3, so take this with a grain of salt ...

This sort of disease could be weaponized by applying it to a high body character just before a meeting with an awakened target, or simply infecting someone close to the awakened.

Definitely. Awesome idea. Just watch your trail - it's about as distinct a weapon as you can use, and it's not the sort of thing governments and corps take well to.

On the other hand, I on't see any mechanics for acquiring diseases in Augmentation, except perhaps searching out an infected individual.

I imagine finding someone infected would be difficult. Unless it's super-common, your best bet would be a quarantine ward or a medical center. Less suspicious, track down a lab which does testing with it. Even less suspicious, if this disease also affects animals, it may be in a lab which tests animal diseases (labs testing animal diseases are almost never held to the same standards as ones testing human diseases, even when it's the same disease. By virtue of saying 'this is anthrax for making inoculations for cattle', your security budget has just shrunk five times.)

But do talk with your GM. He's going to be on his own with this one, it sounds like, so he may not want to go there.

[Rasumichin]

MADS can only be transferred when both the carrier and the victim are Dual-Natured, so you'd at least have to get a drug like Tempo to induce astral perception if you want to go through with your plan.

To make things even more complicated, the disease also leaves a taint on your aura that can be recognized by an Assensing (1) test.
Given that your victim has to be astrally perceiving during infection, it's a pretty serious restriction that the disease is as easily recognizable on the astral as that.

[longbowrocks]

MADS can only be transferred when both the carrier and the victim are Dual-Natured, so you'd at least have to get a drug like Tempo to induce astral perception if you want to go through with your plan.

It seems to suggest that, but the previous grade of disease (non mana-active) doesn't require that, so it could just as easily be up in the air.

To make things even more complicated, the disease also leaves a taint on your aura that can be recognized by an Assensing (1) test.

Yes, and then they have the disease after that test. Good job mage.

Given that your victim has to be astrally perceiving during infection, it's a pretty serious restriction that the disease is as easily recognizable on the astral as that.

No he doesn't. It also transfers on contact.

[Manunancy]

Yes, and then they have the disease after that test. Good job mage.

I'd think this would vary with how far was the mage when doing his assensing - If says hee gets a look from somethng like ten meters away and decides he'd best stay clear from someone with a bizarre aura, I doubt the bacteria/viruses/whatever would rabidly jump at him through that distance.

[longbowrocks]

I'd think this would vary with how far was the mage when doing his assensing - If says hee gets a look from somethng like ten meters away and decides he'd best stay clear from someone with a bizarre aura, I doubt the bacteria/viruses/whatever would rabidly jump at him through that distance.

It's mana active. This is the part where mages get what's been coming to them for all that infinite range BS. Now they can get diseases at infinite range too!
Ok, technically only as far as they can assense someone from, but that's still a good ways away.
Another way to look at it is as a balancing feature for the fact that assensing can tell everything about you from how you're feeling to whether you're a technomancer. You scored 5 hits? Congratulations! You know I'm a technomancer with 4.985 essence. You also know that I had a disease, and just shared it with you.

I would never put a range limit for transmission, but it's your call.