I know I read somewhere that starting characters can't have beta or delta grade cyberware, but I forgot which page of which book I read this. I looked at where I thought the answer would obviously be at (various sections in Man and Machine, Shadowrun Companion, BBB), but I must've missed it. Can anyone help me out here? Is there a specific passage in a book that says "Starting characters can not of Beta or Delta grade 'ware" or was it just implied in the BBB when it mentioned players can only pick up regular or alpha?

Thanks in advance.

M&M p. 45, Availability. "Betaware [and Deltaware] is not available to starting characters."

Oh, and remind me to smack you upside the head for using "BBB."

In addition to this, Beta and Delta add to the Availability ratings of cyberware- and will make the avail ratings for all cyberware higher than 8, which is higher than a starting char can get.

Actually there's a few implants that hit Avail 8 or less even with the +5 Betaware modifier. They're all really minor items though, like Cyberhands, Peglegs, Voice Modulators, Simrigs, and Hand Razors. I honestly don't know why they banned it; the same paragraph that outlaws it for starting characters also states its nearly as available in shadow clinics as standard and alphagrade implants are.

*tries and fails to picture a Delta pegleg*
What, would you make it out of gold or something? Cover it in purple pimp shag? There's just not that much you can DO with a pegleg.

Thanks guys. It always helps to have the exact page reference because that usually stops a rules argument right in it's tracks.

And Funk, before you commence your smacking, what abbreviation (if any) should I use for the main Shadowrun Rulebook? SR3?

SR3 is preferred, yes.

Toptomcat: Cybernetic peglegs are not normal peglegs. They come with cybernetic controls and are tapped into your nervous system just like other impacts. Even has an Essence loss. So while getting a deltagrade Pegleg (or even a cybernetic one at all) is incredibly retarded, doing so would serve a purpose -- it'd knock the Essence down to 0.05.

Well I always assumed that BBB meant the swanky limited edition hardcover SR3 book. But its used so liberally around these parts that I'm not sure any more. But I have no clue what Dr. Funk's problem with it is. MAybe he forgot to take his meds today.

The New Big D

Since I like BBB as an abriviation and find SR3 annoying, I'll smack anyone who uses SR3 for anything other than to differenciate between this edition and old ones (as in "In SR3 there's no skillweb, unlike in SR2). Besides, SR3 is the whole game system (3rd Edition Shadowrun). BBB is the basic book.

JaronK

The problem with "BBB" is that it's an acronym for a non-obvious nickname for a book, which makes its meaning totally opaque to anyone who's not in the know.

I typically call it "the corebook", or (in citations accompanied by a page number, usually) just "SR3". Context normally makes it obvious whether the latter refers to the edition as a whole or just the corebook. (And if context would be insufficient, I specify.)

Arguments between usage of BBB and SR3 have been done to death, most recently here.

Fantastically obscure cyberware minutia:

Peg-legs and hook-hands are only available in standard grade

It is totaly up to the GM on how he/she decides to run his/her game. That being said there is something to be said about allowing players to have the "goodies" early on in a campain. I never let my pc get the good stuff till about 3 or 4 missions in.

All of the rules are recommendations. It is recommended that your chars don't start as vampires or dragons or free spirits either, but people have campaigns where they happen.

SR4 bans Beta and above, too, but much more clearly allows Cultured Bioware.

Holy thread necromancy, Batman!

Looks to me like someone with too much time on their hands was scanning back through dead topics, forgot that he was scanning dead topics, and felt moved to post.

-10 points.

Or felt it was an interesting enough discussion that they'd like to get some more input on it.

This is the thread that never ends. It just goes on and on my friends....

See, I have this bad habit of not reading every single date stamp. So I open this thread up to see what's new on Dumpshock, and what do I see? Posts by Doctor Funkenstein. It wasn't a good feeling.

The OP's question has long since been answered.

If anyone would like to discuss the availability of cyberware grades, feel free to start a new topic.

Thanks.