Augmentation Addiction, not the book, silly Options

[Ascalaphus]

Augmentation Addict
Bonus: 10 BP
Some people can’t help themselves and become addicted to
the power rush and extraordinary abilities granted by cyberware
and bioware implants or other augmentations. This is typically
rooted in a sense of dissatisfaction with their natural bodies and/
or abilities. Such individuals develop a dangerous urge to seek out
better and more interesting body modifications.
Augmentation Addiction is psychologically similar to a
Moderate drug addiction (see p. 248, SR4). Over time, the character
will grow increasingly unhappy with enhancements he already has,
especially if they fail him in any significant way. He may suffer mood
swings or sudden outbursts about his inadequacies. The gamemaster
can periodically call for a Willpower + Logic (1) Test, though the
character will suffer a –4 dice pool modifier. If the character fails the
test, he must immediately work to obtain a new modification that is
either better or more exotic than any previous existing mods. If the
character cannot afford a new augmentation, he will beg, borrow,
or steal to get it—even from friends. The gamemaster might also
call for the test whenever the character comes into contact with a
wiz new piece of gear, such as seeing it in a bodyshop catalog or
witnessing an implant’s performance in someone else.

Has anyone ever seen this taken? Care to share stories?

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

Has anyone ever seen this taken? Care to share stories?

Yes... We have a character in our campaign that does have this Negative Quality...
I think that the character is somewhere below 1 essence at this point.

[Brazilian_Shinob...]

Yes... We have a character in our campaign that does have this Negative Quality...
I think that the character is somewhere below 1 essence at this point.

We had a player in our group with a Street Sam Ork with 0.01 essence and he was very proud of this.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

We had a player in our group with a Street Sam Ork with 0.01 essence and he was very proud of this.

Yeah, I think my Cyberlogician was at about 0.015 or so, before he started recovering his Essence Hole. He is now up to 0.75 (I think), and should stabalize at about 1.2 Essence once the treatments are complete. I was pretty proud of that myself. Of course, I did not have the Negative Quality either.

[Mardrax]

I've always felt it's kindof like Borrowed Time, but the player's more involved in it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

I've always felt it's kindof like Borrowed Time, but the player's more involved in it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

Well, nothing stops you from upgrading to better grades, which would be my first inclination. Once you had exhausted that, then the more exotic things come into play. But yes, eventually, you will run out of things to upgrade/change out/exotify and you will likely go insane with grief. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Makki]

at the end there's always rehab and paying 20karma

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

at the end there's always rehab and paying 20karma

This is true... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wobble.gif)

[Ascalaphus]

Would you (as a GM) consider it reasonable if a player replaces an implant with an identical one (therefore just losing money, not gaining extra performance but not losing Essence)? Sort of a "yeah, but that was last year's $implantname" thing.

I keep thinking about a hacker who looks at upgrading his body the same way gamers think about upgrading their gaming computer. Always chattering to the other PCs about the nifty new stuff that'll be hitting the market anytime now.

[HunterHerne]

Would you (as a GM) consider it reasonable if a player replaces an implant with an identical one (therefore just losing money, not gaining extra performance but not losing Essence)? Sort of a "yeah, but that was last year's $implantname" thing.

I keep thinking about a hacker who looks at upgrading his body the same way gamers think about upgrading their gaming computer. Always chattering to the other PCs about the nifty new stuff that'll be hitting the market anytime now.

As I understand the quality, upgrading to a better model (going from alpha to betaware) does fulfill the requirements, and as the character is taking a big risk on a fairly unrenewable resource, I would allow it.

[Aku]

I think he's referring to the same grade, just a "new" one...

[HunterHerne]

I think he's referring to the same grade, just a "new" one...

Tough choice. If it were a straight swap, I'd say no. If the former ware were damaged, I'd allow it. But, in my games, I'm more likely to have players buy alpha ware, and then get a severe wound, that can't always be repaired completely.

[KarmaInferno]

The idea behind the addiction is that the character is obsessed with improving himself via implants.

I'd rule it has to be SOME sort of upgrade. Just swapping out an identical part is meta-gaming the letter of the rules.

Otherwise it'd be Surgery Addiction. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Hmm... actually, it wouldn't even be that. Because Surgery addicts typically keep looking to get bigger and bigger procedures done, as the ones they're already done before stop being "good enough".



-k

[CanRay]

As a GM, I'd be too tempted to ask, "So, when is the character planning a SRS to experiment?"

[Teulisch]

this addiction is why people volunteer to become cyberzombies.

[LurkerOutThere]

I've taken this one on a couple characters now, if for no other reason then I could see myself being prone to it.

[Aerospider]

Would you (as a GM) consider it reasonable if a player replaces an implant with an identical one (therefore just losing money, not gaining extra performance but not losing Essence)? Sort of a "yeah, but that was last year's $implantname" thing.

I keep thinking about a hacker who looks at upgrading his body the same way gamers think about upgrading their gaming computer. Always chattering to the other PCs about the nifty new stuff that'll be hitting the market anytime now.

I actually quite like the idea. There are many more differences between products than the mechanics could ever be expected to represent, but that doesn't mean we have to pretend there are no differences at all. An addict should get a kick out of 'upgrading' to version 1.1 with the streamlined interface and lighter feel.

Also, it means you aren't limited in indulging your addiction. Sooner or later you won't be able to satisfy your cravings AT ALL, whereas with just about every other addiction you could theoretically enjoy it forever.

[Irion]

@Ascalaphus

Would you (as a GM) consider it reasonable if a player replaces an implant with an identical one (therefore just losing money, not gaining extra performance but not losing Essence)? Sort of a "yeah, but that was last year's $implantname" thing.

If he roleplays it, yes. (And not just replace a datajack every now and then...)
"But dude, this cyberleg features now 6GBit/s data transfare rate for all maintenance updates instead of the old 5Gbit. That's an 20% increase!"
"Äh, those file are just about 1 GB, so I can't see..:"
...

[Ascalaphus]

I actually quite like the idea. There are many more differences between products than the mechanics could ever be expected to represent, but that doesn't mean we have to pretend there are no differences at all. An addict should get a kick out of 'upgrading' to version 1.1 with the streamlined interface and lighter feel.

Also, it means you aren't limited in indulging your addiction. Sooner or later you won't be able to satisfy your cravings AT ALL, whereas with just about every other addiction you could theoretically enjoy it forever.

It's this point I was thinking about, yeah. 6 Essence won't last very long otherwise...

@Ascalaphus

If he roleplays it, yes. (And not just replace a datajack every now and then...)
"But dude, this cyberleg features now 6GBit/s data transfare rate for all maintenance updates instead of the old 5Gbit. That's an 20% increase!"
"Äh, those file are just about 1 GB, so I can't see..:"
...

The roleplaying should be a big part of it, yeah.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

It's this point I was thinking about, yeah. 6 Essence won't last very long otherwise...

The roleplaying should be a big part of it, yeah.

Six Essence last a Surprisingly long time, actually. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wobble.gif)

[HunterHerne]

Six Essence last a Surprisingly long time, actually. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wobble.gif)

If you work to make it last. If the guy doesn't upgrade the grade, 6 essance isn't that long lasting. But, that is more the Player's fault then the system.

[Ascalaphus]

Well, "better or more exotic" new augmentations tend to be pricey.. higher-rating ("better") is usually more Essence-expensive. And "exotic" augmentations often cost a lot of Essence. It's also another thing soaking up Essence.

Grade upgrades would be the only safe path, but that gets pretty expensive..

[LurkerOutThere]

Augmentation Addiction is one of those disadvantages i'm happy to see players take as it has both some roleplaying fodder as well as having notable downsides (it's a money sink). Plus it just fits a lot of character types.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

Well, "better or more exotic" new augmentations tend to be pricey.. higher-rating ("better") is usually more Essence-expensive. And "exotic" augmentations often cost a lot of Essence. It's also another thing soaking up Essence.

Grade upgrades would be the only safe path, but that gets pretty expensive..

As it should be. No one forces a character to take the Addiction after all... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wobble.gif)

[Draco18s]

As it should be. No one forces a character to take the Addiction after all... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wobble.gif)

All this made me think of was the character saying to another character, "Fuck my player. Gave me this damn addiction. I don't even like cyberware." (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wobble.gif)