Great White Games/Pinnacle Entertainment Group

[OSIAdept]

Hey guys just bouncing a quick idea around in my head. This is for a cyberpunk space-opera type setting. I was thinking of instead just having some obscure alien civilizations/races, i would go with the concept of genomic re-writes humans that have undergone advanced genetic re-engineering to adapt to a certain type of planets.

I was thinking of giving them the following
A character may sacrifice their starting human edge in favor of a genome template basically a +4 race with all associated penalties.

some of the genome templates are the following
Preatorian: Designed as warriors
Alexandrian: Designed with scholarly prisuits and intelligence in mind
Oracle: An experimental genome with increased psionic aptitude
And one based on heavy labor adaption. ( no name yet)

So what do you think.
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[shinryu]

So I think Interface Zero actually already does exactly this, so I would say it's entirely reasonable. So long as things stay balanced for your game that is.

Related idea: I've thought this would be a great way to handle cyborgs in general. You can either come up with specific models or have characters design their own, balancing out the abilities with appropriate hindrances. Armor makes you Ugly and/or reduces Pace, there's always Distinctive Appearance and Outsider for the true full conversion, your model is too bulky (Obese) and of course Bloodthirsty is nice for the guy with the combat computer (the A2s were always a bit twitchy, as I'm sure you know).
Major Habits are good too (special cyborg food, anti-rejection drugs, even regular maintenance), or a version of Dehydration (got to recharge, after all). Even the attribute cost limitations aren't inappropriate; it's not like they design the heavy labor models to be particularly dexterous or anything.

The major questions would be how to handle upgrades, but I have some thoughts there as well:

1) The Weird Science background works pretty well for a lot of the less "always-on" abilities; either using Power Points (for things like maybe an implanted weapon (Bolt)) or possibly using No Power Points for certain abilities (Boost Trait, Speed).

2) Since a +2 ability is equivalent to a Novice Edge, it seems reasonable to allow those abilities to be taken as a simple Edge (or 2 +1 abilities); possibly also upgrades to skills or (certain) attributes could be handled as Edges, possibly only once (to reflect the equivalent of the "free D6"). 3 point abilties might have to be taken with the caveat they inflict a Minor Hindrance (extra maintenence, now you're Obese since they put in the extra strength servos, whatever).

Unfortunately I don't think this ends up working out very well for Shadowrun, for various reasons. Were I doing Ghost in the Shell or other cyberpunk setting I might really consider going this route.