I have an idea for a new chart of cyberware grades that would be more granular than previous editions. The end result would be some grades that go further than canon, but have commensurate costs.

Cyberware Grades in Previous Editions

SR3 Implant Grades

SR4 Implant Grades

SR5 Implant Grades


Proposed Cyberware Grades

New Implant Grades


These two new grades fill out the chart, I believe. Gammaware is the intermediate grade between Betaware and Deltaware. But then Deltaware's "ultimate cyberware" status is replaced by Zetaware, representing the new pinnacle of Essence-friendly cyberware, though at a staggering 10x normal cost. (That was the cost for Deltaware in 4th Edition, but that sudden cost jump from Betaware was not commensurate with its benefits.)

Have you determined Availability fot he various Grades? Or, at least, an Availability multiplier?

I have not. That's a good point. Suggestions? I can go grab the sourcebooks again as I just finished chasing down the cyberware grades in SR3 to SR5.

EDIT:

The simple solution would seem to be:

• Standard: +0
• Alphaware: +2
• Betaware: +4
• Gammaware: +6
• Deltaware: +8
• Zetaware: +10

Huh. I can't find any mention of Availability modifiers for higher level implants. I think it's one of those things left up to the GM.

I have a feeling the Availability should progress at a steeper rate than price. The manufacturers will almost certainly want to keep a tight control on who gets the good stuff. Who will almost always be at least as important as how much.

Well, the question is what would the maximum modifier be before it simply becomes impossible to roll in an Availability check? That's going to be the maximum ceiling. Once you have that, go down from there and assign numbers from the bottom to the top of the list.

Ok, I've got an AI subscription and spent an hour doing queries and making adjustments. Here's an adjusted version, as it was very helpful in crunching the numbers for the SR4 ruleset.

New Cyberware Grades - Essence Costs


New Cyberware Grades - Availability


New Cyberware Grades - ¥ Costs

That looks doable.

I wonder about the costs table. Gammawear is described as "Exceeds official Deltaware", yet Deltaware comes after Gammawear. If the list's Deltaware is not the same as 'official Deltaware', where does official Deltaware fit in?

Well, the idea is that "Deltaware" is no longer the name of "the bestest cyberware." I'm just going in the order of Greek Alphabet letters for the first 4 grades of improved cyberware. If you want the absolute best grade of cyberware, that's now called Zetaware.

Ah. OK. So, would you introduce this into your set of SR4 modes?

"Modes?" You mean my SR4 House Rules here? Well, let's say that these rules are in "beta testing." I've got them up on the group Discord and they're pondering them, but I think the initial response was positive. We'll see.

An extra 'e' led to the confusion. "Mods".