CT Only: Cybernetic implants

[atpollard]

However, you must also take into account the fact that the bone marrow in the large bones in the body (such as femur, etc) is where the red and white blood cells are made - in our world multiple amputees tend to have poor immune systems and a vulnerability to anemia because the remaining bones (ribs, vertebrae, etc) struggle to produce enough of those cells to meet the remaining body's needs.

The classic "$6million man" would have needed his spine, pelvis, clavicle, etc replaced or reinforced in order to use the added strength of the legs & arm - meaning that most of the blood-production capability would be eliminated, requiring him to receive frequent red & white cell replacement therapy in order to stave off anemia and disease.

Or marrow installed in the hollow core of titanium 'bones' - most structural steel columns are already 'hollow' rather than solid to provide greater strength and lower weight. People already have titanium cages installed to reinforce crumbling vertebrae (with terrible long term results - nature is still better at this than engineers), but clearly, such spinal reinforcing is not inconceivable.

 

[Lycanorukke]

People already have titanium cages installed to reinforce crumbling vertebrae (with terrible long term results - nature is still better at this than engineers), but clearly, such spinal reinforcing is not inconceivable.

Do a 'Wolverine' and have a magic metal bonded with the bones. Or the mass effect route where a microfibre weave is laced through the bones, increasing their strength.

An interesting possible effect for bionic eyes though is what happens when they look at a CRT or fluorescent lighting. The person would get a rapid headache due to the constant flickering/scan lines as the 'scan rate' of the electronic eye is faster than a organic eye.

 

[nobby-w]

I have sort of an odd question for the Traveller community out there...

*** Exactly how canon are cybernetics in the OTU? ***

And by cybernetics, I mean cyberpunk, wetware, chip slots, data chips, direct brain-computer interfaces, hackers, deckers, transhumanism, etc.

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

Not very. Bionics get a passing mention in Book 3 but no rules were ever published in earlier editions of the game. There was apparently a JTAS article, which I haven't gone to look at. CT is definitely pre-cyberpunk; there are really no Gibson-isms in the CT-MT era OTU and I don't think they get a lot of love in later editions either.

 

[Jacqual]

I used the cybernetics out of Cyberpunk 2020 and instead of humanity loss, I ruled every 10 points of the Humanity Loss you lost a point of Social, or whatever that attribute was called depending on your race. I also upped the loss for radically obvious cyber wear. I did that as being all Cyberered up isnt a Traveller thing. That kept it to a minimum with my players.

 

[mike wightman]

Why bother with cyber-augmentation when at high TL bio-augmentation can do the same if not a better job?

Bio-modification could alter your eyes to allow you higher resolution vision, seeing more of the em spectrum (if a Terran animal has the feature find the gene and engineer it into the recipient).

Animals can be found with superior organ function - copy it. Add an extra heart to boost endurance and provide redundancy. Improve clotting. Strengthen bone and augment muscle.

Venom producing glands grown beneath the nails or teeth. The bio-electric generation of electric eels.

You could even copy the cuttlefish's chameleon like ability (it is better at it than the chameleon).

The advantage of bio-engineering is you re-grow damaged parts rather than needing a machine shop, and all you need to do is eat (although a little photovoltaic mod may help you out on that as well) rather than plug yourself in or rely on the batteries not running out

 

[jaz0nj4ckal]

Why bother with cyber-augmentation when at high TL bio-augmentation can do the same if not a better job?

Bio-modification could alter your eyes to allow you higher resolution vision, seeing more of the em spectrum (if a Terran animal has the feature find the gene and engineer it into the recipient).

Animals can be found with superior organ function - copy it. Add an extra heart to boost endurance and provide redundancy. Improve clotting. Strengthen bone and augment muscle.

Venom producing glands grown beneath the nails or teeth. The bio-electric generation of electric eels.

You could even copy the cuttlefish's chameleon like ability (it is better at it than the chameleon).

The advantage of bio-engineering is you re-grow damaged parts rather than needing a machine shop, and all you need to do is eat (although a little photovoltaic mod may help you out on that as well) rather than plug yourself in or rely on the batteries not running out

Hmmm you make an interesting point -

Say if you wanted to have something who started with a STAT Strength of 5 - you could give them some special muscle tissue so they max their stat out to 12?

I am reluctant to have STATS raised natural above 12; however, I am not sure if I am being over aggressive in my thinking.

 

[aramis]

H
I am reluctant to have STATS raised natural above 12; however, I am not sure if I am being over aggressive in my thinking.

stat gains are quite common in Traveller. The natural cap is set at 15, not 12, by the rules. TNE's cyber rules allow 16's, 1 above the 15 cap, and TNE is the stingiest with att gains of any edition, and starts one point lower, to boot...

So, yeah, i think maybe you are

 

[mike wightman]

A rule of thumb I use for in-game augmentation:
base characteristic 5- maximum augment +1
6-10 max augment +2
11-12 max augment +3

Higher values make the augmentation obvious.

TL will decide if it is cyber or bio augmentation - a synthesis of the two being possible.

 

[kilemall]

I'd say bio augments are higher tech versions of the mech augments and far more expensive if they are mated to the augmentees' system, being literally one-off items that have to be custom matched to that person's physiology and DNA in order to kick in natural feeding, waste disposal and proper immune response.

Should also be a drug synergy damage/rejection roll if new bioaugments are layered instead of all 'installed' at once, as previous augments were not designed to handle new ones and the new ones will require that much more customization for the unusual setup in the person.

 

[Patron Zero]

I would tend to think that extensive bio-engineering of a body away from 'baseline' human might open a lot of unexpected doors to complications the more radical said process is.

Basically saying introducing new organs from sources like animals or possibly alien species, even laboratory grown 'enhancements', will have their price for the body to accept and benefit from such. Regardless of the intent or necessity, suppressing or compromising an immune system is a chancy thing at best.