BioMods

Individuals modify their bodies for any number of reasons, from medical necessity to simple aesthetics. No longer limited to tattoos, piercings, and minor body sculpting, modern body modification involves replacing whole sections of the body with synthetic or genetically modified systems. The rise of this wholesale modification—some would say mutilation—of the human form has caused many thinkers to begin questioning the nature of humanity itself.

*REPLACEMENTS, NOT IMPROVEMENTS*

*The cybernetics presented here are designed to enhance a person’s attributes. However, a market still exists for simpler, cheaper replacements designed to simply replace a lost limb or a damaged organ. In game terms, these cybernetics can be purchased to compensate for a Critical Injury of Maimed or Grue- some Injury (as well as any other injury that causes the permanent loss of function, such as the Blinded Critical Injury if your GM decides the sight loss is permanent).*

*You and your GM should determine which of the cybernetics makes the most sense as a replacement (cybereyes to restore sight, a cyberlimb to replace a missing arm, etc.). The cost of that cybernetic is halved, but it only restores the previously lost function; it conveys no further benefit. It also still reduces your character’s strain threshold as usual.*

### CYBERNETICS

Cybernetics are the most popular, and most socially acceptable, form of modern body modification. Using advanced prosthetics and biomechanical systems, an individual can increase their natural abilities well beyond the human average. The trade-off is that every implant costs a bit of resilience and a bit of humanity.

Each attribute, skill, or characteristic may only be increased by +1 due to cybernetics, no matter how many different cybernetics your character has that would other- wise increase that number.

### BONE LACING

Bone lacing is an extremely invasive and painful procedure that reinforces a patient’s skeleton with buckyweave and lightweight alloys. An individual with bone lacing can soak up huge amounts of damage, and their bones are almost impossible to break. While bone lacing is commonly used to treat those suffering from various degenerative bone diseases or severely broken bones, it is also popular among those laborers, colonists, soldiers, and mercenaries who can afford it.

If your character has bonelacing, whenever they suffer a Critical Injury, you may roll twice and choose which of the two results to use. Your character also decreases their strain threshold by 1.

### CYBEREYES

Fairly common prosthetics, cybereyes are some of the most popular cybernetics obtained for enhancement rather than for overcoming an injury. A cybereye can dramatically improve a character’s eyesight, and many cybereyes have night-vision or infrared capability built in as well.

One or more cybereyes increases your character’s ranks in Perception by 1 and remove 󲊸 caused by smoke or darkness on any checks they make. Your character can also display information from their PAD on their cybereyes. Further, they decrease their strain threshold by 1.

### CYBERLIMB

Cyberlimbs are high-tech prosthetics designed to replace an individual’s missing organic limbs. Available in a variety of styles and qualities—from low-cost, hard-plastic military surplus arms to the lifelike creations used by top athletes and racers to replace limbs lost in accidents—they are a very common cybernetic enhancement. As with many implants that began as medical devices, cyberlimbs are currently seeing a rise in use for increasing the performance of human bodies.

A cyberlimb increases your character’s Brawn or Agility rating—your choice when your character obtains the limb—by 1.

If a character has one or more cybernetic arms, they decrease their strain threshold by 1, and if they have one or more cybernetic legs, they decrease their strain threshold by 1.

### CYBERORGAN

The ability to create functional mechanical replacements for the body’s internal organs was a revolution in medical science. Once cyberorgans became more common, it did not take long for people—particularly athletes—to discover the performance-enhancing benefits of things like super efficient biomechanical hearts and cybernetic lungs.

* Cybernetic Heart: A cybernetic heart increases your character’s wound threshold by 2. (This is a special exception to the attribute increase limit for cybernetics, and your character cannot increase their wound threshold by more than 2 with cybernetics.)
* Cybernetic Lungs: Cybernetic lungs increase your character’s ranks in Athletics by 1 and allow them to survive up to five minutes in an unbreathable atmosphere (but not vacuum) without suffocating.
* Cybernetic Liver: A cybernetic liver increases your character’s ranks in Resilience by 1 and makes them immune to the effects of alcohol.

For each cyberorgan a character has, they decrease their strain threshold by 1.

### ENHANCED HEARING

The evolution of the external hearing aid, enhanced hearing cybernetics can improve a user’s hearing to superhuman levels. These systems use a mix of subminiature sound amplifiers and nerve enhancement to restore hearing, cure damage (like tinnitus), and can provide additional enhancements beyond normal hearing to those who can afford it.

Enhanced hearing increases your character’s ranks in Vigilance by 1, and removes 󲊸 caused by loud noises or sound-based attacks on any checks they make. If your character has enhanced hearing, they decrease their strain threshold by 1.

### ENHANCED REFLEXES

Enhanced reflexes were initially developed to heal damaged nervous systems and to cure neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disease and ALS. Every bit as painful and invasive as bone lacing, this implant uses nanomachines and nerve therapy to supercharge a user’s nervous system. Individuals with enhanced reflexes are incredibly quick, but they often find it difficult to sit still and tend to see the rest of the world as if it were moving in slow motion.

Enhanced reflexes increase your character’s ranks in Coordination and Vigilance by 1 and decrease their strain threshold by 1.

### NEURO-REGULATOR

Neuro-regulators are fantastically complex devices that wire microelectronic circuits directly into the brain.

Although the devices were originally designed to treat a variety of mental illnesses, some people found that if they were adjusted in particular ways, they increased mental focus and eliminated “troublesome” human emotions such as fear. Of course, this could also make the individuals come across as creepy and emotionless.

Neuro-regulators increase your character’s Willpower by 1 and decrease their strain threshold by 1. Your character may also lose the good sense to flee from dangerous situations and, at your GM’s discretion, your character may suffer 1 SETBACK to social skill checks for seeming a bit robotic.

### SKULLJACK

The most common piece of cyberware on the black market today, the skulljack is considered a necessity rather than a luxury for a serious runner. Skulljacks are small access points implanted in the skull that allow a character to connect to and control a computer or computer-operated system. Inexpensive and readily available, skulljacks come in two broad categories: wired and wireless.

Wired skulljacks, models that require a physical cable connection to a computer or system, are older technology and usually found among people who can’t afford wireless ones, those who consider the “retro” style of a cable connection cool, and eccentrics who believe the physical connection gives them a stronger, faster, and more reliable connection. Wireless skulljacks are more common, are less invasive than wired skulljacks, and take up less space in an individual’s head; however, despite claims to the contrary by industry flacks and security “experts,” wireless skulljack signals can sometimes be suppressed or intercepted.

A skulljack is not a computer, but may be connected to any computer (and is essentially a BMI that is surgically installed into your character's brain). It provides all of the benefits of a BMI; during a Network encounter, a runner can choose to "go deep" as an maneuver. Until they "go shallow" as a maneuver, they may only interact with the Network (performing Network maneuvers and Network actions); they cannot interact with the regular world (such as by performing regular maneuvers or actions). However, they may perform a second maneuver each turn during Network encounters without spending strain. In addition, whenever your character's skulljack is linked to a computer, your character increases their ranks in all Knowledge skills by 1. Characters with a skulljack decrease their strain threshold by 1.

### SPINAL MODEM

For some people, linking their brain to a computer just isn't enough. They want to install a computer directly into their brain instead. A spinal modem has the processing power of a portable computer rig, but is linked directly to the user's brain. As the name implies, the modem is built directly into the user's spinal column. It is archaic technology, and those who use it run the very real risk of burning out their mind, even if it gives a user greater control during a run.

A spinal modem is a computer that can have up to two icebreakers and one piece of ice active on its system at once (for the purposes of Network encounters). It has both wireless and wired connection ports to the Network.

It also provides all the benefits of a BMI (since it is essentially a BMI installed directly into your character's brain); during a Network encounter, a runner can choose to "go deep" as a maneuver. Until they "go shallow" as a maneuver, they may only interact with the Network (performing Network maneuvers and Network actions); they cannot interact with the regular world (such as by performing regular maneuvers or actions). However, they may perform a second maneuver each turn during Network encounters without spending strain.

In addition, your character increases their ranks in all Knowledge skills by 1. Characters with a spinal modem decrease their strain threshold by 1, and can never disconnect from the Network (the particulars of this are up to your GM, but at the very least this means that they can always be traced or targeted by hackers).

### PAIN EDITOR

A pain editor implant uses microscopic neural shunts controlled by an organic processing chip to let an individual ignore the effects of pain. While this sounds like quite a boon—and it is in certain situations and for chronic pain sufferers—an individual who can’t feel pain has a tendency not to notice how bad their injuries are, and can do even more damage to themselves as a result.

If your character has a pain editor, once per encounter when your character suffers a Critical Injury, they may activate the pain editor as an out-of-turn incidental. Until the end of the encounter, they ignore any penalties that Critical Injury would otherwise impose on skill checks they make. (At your GM’s discretion, this may not apply to penalties inflicted by certain Critical Injuries, such as blindness or loss of a limb.)

At the end of the encounter, your character no longer ignores those penalties and suffers the effects of the Critical Injuries. Characters with a pain editor decrease their strain threshold by 1.

### SUB-DERMAL ARMOR

Sub-dermal armor are thin armor plates, typically made of buckyweave layered with ballistic gel packs, implanted just beneath an individual’s skin. It’s not much protection, but it is enough to turn a blade or absorb a beating.

Sub-dermal armor increases your character’s soak by 1 and reduces their strain threshold by 1.

### G-MODS

Genetic modifications, or g-mods, use gene therapy and organic implants rather than alloys and buckyweave to increase an individual’s performance. Considered by some to be more natural than cybernetics, g-mods nevertheless alter the human body in unique and irreversible ways.

### CAT CLAWS

Used both for self-defense and as an aesthetic modification, the cat claws g-mod is similar to the tooth-buds g-mod in that it causes sharp, retractable claws to grow under an individual’s regular nails. While they can’t cause serious harm, cat claws can deliver deep, painful scratches and are extremely good for fending off unwanted attention.

If your character has cat claws, they may suffer 1 strain to have their unarmed Brawl attacks deal +1 damage and have a Critical rating of 3 until the end of the encounter. Since the claws are retractable, this g-mod is unnoticeable without a thorough medical inspection when they aren’t extended.

### CHAMELEON SKIN

The chameleon skin g-mod splices in genes from various color-changing animals (such as chameleons, squid, and octopi) and tinkers with the body’s melanocytes to let a character change the color of their skin at will. When an individual first assimilates this g-mod, they can only create solid colors within the standard range of human skin tones.

With practice, a g-modded individual can create nearly any color and can combine colors in a variety of patterns. While this is primarily a cosmetic modification, a fair number of clandestine operatives and criminals get this g-mod to help them hide or disguise themselves.

### ENHANCED HEALING

The enhanced healing g-mod supercharges an individual’s natural healing ability. Minor bumps, bruises, and scratches heal almost instantly, and the healing time for more serious injuries is cut by days or even weeks.

If your character has enhanced healing, they may suffer 1 strain before making a Resilience check to recover from Critical Injuries to add 󲊳 to the results. When healing via natural rest, your character increases the number of wounds healed by 1.

### ENHANCED MUSCLES

By altering the genetic codes that control muscle development, g-mod designers found a way to sculpt an individual’s musculature into custom configurations. Muscles can be enhanced for coordination and reflexes, or for raw strength.

Enhanced muscle g-mods are popular among athletes and professional thrill-seekers for enhancing their performance without dangerous drugs or invasive cybernetics.

Also wildly popular among body builders, these g-mods led directly to the creation of various modified competition classes that focus on modified bulk, shape, and aesthetics.

When your character purchases this g-mod, they must choose whether it improves their strength or coordination.

Your character may only have one type of enhanced muscleg-mod in their body.

* Strength: If your character has enhanced muscles that improve strength, they may suffer 1 strain before making an Athletics, Brawl, or Melee check to add 1 SUCCESS to the results.
* Coordination: If your character has enhanced muscles that improve coordination, they may suffer 1 strain before making a Coordination or Ranged (Light) check to add 1 SUCCESS to the results.

### ENHANCED OLFACTORY RECEPTORS

This g-mod causes a user’s nose to become highly sensitive, able to pick out smells they couldn’t normally distinguish. Since most people don’t want to spend their whole day bombarded by the scent of garbage from half a kilometer away, however, an individual can trigger their receptors’ sensitivity for a short time before returning to normal.

If your character has enhanced olfactory receptors, they may suffer 1 strain before making a Survival check to add 1 ADV to the results.

### FOLLICLE CONTROL

The follicle control g-mod allows an individual to control their body hair, to a point. The process takes a fair amount of time and can be messy if the character is shedding hair everywhere. It also doesn’t provide fine-enough control for a person to grow a perfect hairstyle. What it does do is allow an individual to drastically alter their looks within hours. Follicle control is popular among performers, club goers, and of course, criminals and clandestine operatives. If your character has follicle control, they may suffer 1 strain to shed their hair over the course of the following minute. Alternatively, they may suffer 1 strain to stimulate their hair growth. The time this takes depends on the desired length: while a quarter-inch stubble may only

### G-MOD INSTALLATION

Despite what Jinteki ads say, g-mods are not completely safe or reliable. Human DNA has evolved over millions of years, and tampering with it occasionally creates more problems than it solves. There are two types of side effects that can originate from assimilating a g-mod: rejection and mutation.

With rejection, the body simply rejects the modification and reverts back to its original genetic structure. That can be frustrating, given how much g-mods cost, but it usually isn’t dangerous. The second, and more dangerous, side effect is mutation. Rewriting DNA in one location can cause it to unravel in another, leading to tumors, organ failure, or even death.

When a character attempts to assimilate a g-mod, they must make an Average (PP) Resilience check. If they fail, the g-mod has been rejected.

It confers no benefit, but its cost has still been expended. If they fail with 4 THREAT or 1 DESPAIR, the g-mod causes a mutation, and the character’s strain or wound threshold—player’s choice—is permanently decreased by 1.

### GENO-SCULPTED PHYSIQUE

Although people still enjoy saying that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” these days geneticists really do have attractiveness down to a science. For a hefty sum, a person can ingest a cocktail that forces the body to change features such as eye color, muscle definition, facial features, and even height and weight to a minor extent. These changes are literally skin deep; while a geno-sculpted individual may look like they’re sporting the muscles of a dedicated gym-goer, for example, they won’t be any stronger. But most people who opt for this g-mod just want to show off their bodies and aren’t actually interested in manual labor anyway.

If your character has a geno-sculpted physique, they may suffer 1 strain before making a Charm or Leadership check to add 1 SUCCESS to the results.

### NIGHTEYES

The nighteyes g-mod alters the inner structure of the subject’s eyes, which allows them to take in more light and see better in dim and dark conditions. While this essentially gives an individual a natural form of passive night vision, it also makes them sensitive to bright light. Nighteyes look slightly unnatural, with darker-colored irises and larger pupils that reflect light like an animal’s in the dark. Most people with this g-mod are never without a pair of sunglasses.

If your character has nighteyes, they may suffer 1 strain before making a Vigilance or Perception check in dark conditions to add 1 SUCCESS to the results. In bright conditions, they add 2 SUCCESS to the results instead.

### TOOTH BUDS

Tooth buds cause an individual’s canine teeth to fall out and regrow as a set of long, sharp fangs. Popular with some youth subcultures and quite a few cults, these fangs are both intimidating and dangerous. Since this g-mod also strengthens the jaw muscles and other teeth—an unintended side effect of the modification process—individuals with tooth buds can cause extremely ugly bite wounds without much danger to themselves.

Tooth buds have one major drawback: their size. The size and placement of tooth buds makes it difficult for someone with this g-mod to fully close their mouth. Many get around this by filing the fangs to fit, while others leave them as they are. The latter have a tendency to lisp and drool, which is the desired effect for some individuals.

If your character has tooth buds, their unarmed Brawl attacks deal +2 damage and have the Vicious 1 quality—as long as they’re willing to bite their target. Your character also adds 1 BOOST to all Coercion checks they make and 1 SETBACK to all Charm checks they make.

### TOXIN FILTERS

The toxin filter g-mod alters an individual’s liver and causes them to metastasize a number of harmless tumor-like growths that filter toxins throughout their body. This combination makes the individual very difficult to poison. The filters also provide a number of positive secondary effects. Individuals with toxin filters cannot get drunk or high, and they are generally impervious to atmospheric toxins.

If your character has toxin filters, they may suffer 1 strain before making a Resilience check to resist poisons, toxins, or addiction to add 󲊳 to the results. They may also suffer 1 strain to cancel the effects of a drug in their system (this has no effect on slap-patches).