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Message no. 1
From: "David M Girardot (Girardot, David)" <GIRARDOT@********>
Subject: Essence Recovery
Date: Sun, 4 Oct 92 19:09:07 edt
To recover essence, I think one would have to replace the original tissue.
Currently the only way to do this is with a cloned-tissue. I'd insist on
gene therapy as well to smooth everything over.

Someone mentioned that they think cyber-folks are hosed ... I disagree. The
only magical equivalent are spellocks, and they are *real* easy to take care
of. In fact, a mage doesn't even need to engage the chummer physically.
Just go astral from 5km away, target the lock, and toss a couple force-5
spark spells. (Hose the rest of the group; as well). Sure you can close the
gap with physad powers ... but I think that you'll find, point-for-point,
cyberware works better or costs lest than it's magickal equivalent.

The point is well taken, however. Srun GMs should be careful before they
impose any more restrictions on cybered folks. Hmm. Perhaps the sanity
system could be constructed as a player option, kind of like the allergyies,
with the allowance of the addition of a coupla extra points of chrome for the
trouble.

--David
Message no. 2
From: Chris Siebenmann <cks@********.UTCS.TORONTO.EDU>
Subject: Re: Essence Recovery
Date: Sun, 4 Oct 92 19:27:53 -0400
How cybered folks are hosed compared to mages: initiation. A mage has
an infinite growth path; s/he can initiate and learn more and nastier
spells. A cybered person's path to more power is more cyberware; there
is no equivalent of initiation for them. This becomes especially
visible when you compare physical adepts and cybertypes.

- cks
Message no. 3
From: "MY KINGDOM FOR A NON-ZERO INTEGER!!!" <PROGERS@******.BITNET>
Subject: essence recovery
Date: Tue, 23 Feb 93 10:04:00 EDT
greets,

i think a couple months back i posted some ideas for "natural essence recovery"
(tear out all the chrome, add drug/sim and peer counseling recover .1 essence/2
months).

did anybody see it?

has anybody had a chance to look over these ideas and or use them?


another thought: again a couple of months ago i posted the "optional rules"
for new cyber, equipment and drugs. has anybody had a chance to look over or
use these rules?

thanks in advance for any and all input.


p
progers@******.bitnet

"remember, anything the players can do, the GameMaster can do better."
Message no. 4
From: Todd Montgomery <tmont@****.WVU.WVNET.EDU>
Subject: Essence Recovery
Date: Wed, 24 Feb 93 20:04:48 CET
I really am frightened of the concept of essence recovery.

I would not want any munchkins getting a hold of this thought.

-- Quiktek
tmont@****.wvu.wvnet.edu
Message no. 5
From: bellovar@***.WISC.EDU
Subject: Re: Essence Recovery
Date: Wed, 24 Feb 93 15:07:38 CST
I really am frightened of the concept of essence recovery.

I would not want any munchkins getting a hold of this thought.

-- Quiktek
tmont@****.wvu.wvnet.edu

******************************************************************

I think they are just talking about after you remove the cyberware.
After all, as it is now, say if you have wired reflexes 3 you have
one essence point. Assuming you replaced this with, ummm, say Beta
wired reflexes 2, you would still have an essence of 1, but still
be able to put in [5-(0.6*3)] 3.2 essence points worth of cyberware
before losing any more essence.

That is already in the rules. So if you have to remove all your
cyberware to regain essence, it doesn't allow you to put any more
in than before, just makes you a bit more human.

I would go with something like the rules for removing bioware
though. You can never get all of your body rating that you paid
for a piece back after you remove it. I would believe it to be the
same for cyberware, except you get even less back.

Just my thoughts. If someone is going through all that trouble to
become more human, they ought to get something for it, although not
all of it.

Chris Bellovary
-- CrossFire --
Message no. 6
From: "David M. Girardot" <GIRARDOT@*********.EDU>
Subject: re: Essence Recovery
Date: Thu, 25 Feb 93 02:16:38 CET
mm-send-edit


>>>>>>[ I don't understand what the big debate is about Essence Recovery
is, all you need is a new body. ]<<<<<<
-- Lazarus (21:23:12/11-06-53)

>>>>>>[ ...or a sufficient supply of _fresh_ blood...
]<<<<<<<
-- Vlad (21:23:18/11-06-53)

>>>>>>[ <shudder> We have had some success here without anythings
so ...
brutal ... but involves the removal of *all* cyberware and a process much
like leonization. It takes over six months of constant intensive care,
and is something we only do in emergencies. ]<<<<<<
-- KAM (23:55:00/11-06-53)

>>>>>>[ Wonder why they even bothered? Seems like a waste of time
and $$$. ]<<<<<<
-- Sam Sloane (24:01:32/11-06-53)

>>>>>>[ You guys aren't experimenting with magically-actives again,
are you, Kim? ]<<<<<<
-- The Smiling Bandit (Strikes Again!/Ha-Ha-Ha)

--David

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Girardot@*********.edu Girardot@********.bitnet
dmgirard@***.cs.du.edu
-*-
Prognosticator * Gamer * Scribbler * Reader * Consultant * Sorta Apple Rep
Message no. 7
From: Craig Ryhorchuk <craigr@******.CEC.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: Essence Recovery
Date: Thu, 25 Feb 93 11:07:38 EST
> I would go with something like the rules for removing bioware
> though. You can never get all of your body rating that you paid
> for a piece back after you remove it. I would believe it to be the
> same for cyberware, except you get even less back.
>
> Just my thoughts. If someone is going through all that trouble to
> become more human, they ought to get something for it, although not
> all of it.
>

Well can you imaging the ex-street sam who has recently had his
wired 3 removed, and he gets in a barfight. Someone throws a mug at
his head , and instead of ducking as is usual, his reaction is to just stick
his hand up in the air and catch it. *SMACK* - he's brained because
it just doesn't work any more.
That's the first kind of example I could think of to explain why
someone wouldn't get all their essence back immediately. Ingrained habits -
imagine having your vision magnification removed. It would be like walking
around without glasses. Sure you seem people doing it today, and you think
'get some glasses', but I'm sure in the 2050s it just doesn't happen.

Any reasons why this wouldn't work to explain it, sure you'll get pretty
used to it eventually, but it takes a long time, and there'd be some
things you won't recover.

- Lurker.
Message no. 8
From: Stainless Steel Rat <ratinox@******.COE.NORTHEASTERN.EDU>
Subject: Re: Essence Recovery
Date: Thu, 25 Feb 93 02:40:18 CET
>>>>> On Wed, 24 Feb 93 15:07:38 CST, bellovar@***.WISC.EDU said:

bellovar> I really am frightened of the concept of essence recovery.

bellovar> I would not want any munchkins getting a hold of this thought.

I'd say that any recovery of Essence would require the removal of
everything foreign to the body--this means all cybernetics and bionetics.
Replacements for vital organs, limbs, etc., must be DNA-matched "clone"
tissue as close to the original as possible.

Then comes the long-term process of healing. We're talking years here, like
a number of years equal to the next full point of Essence.

And for you mages out there... well, you can maybe get that Essence back.
Maybe. But once the Magic is gone, it's gone. You *don't* get it back.
Ever.

--Rat PGP Public Key Block available upon request
||||| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||
Northeastern's Stainless Steel Rat ratinox@******.coe.northeastern.edu
You are *utterly* the stupidest, most *self-centered*, appallingest *excuse*
for an anthromoporphic personification on *this* or any *other* plane!
--Death, to her younger brother Dream
Message no. 9
From: bellovar@***.WISC.EDU
Subject: Re: Essence Recovery
Date: Thu, 25 Feb 93 08:02:41 CST
> Well can you imaging the ex-street sam who has recently had his
> wired 3 removed, and he gets in a barfight. Someone throws a mug at
> his head , and instead of ducking as is usual, his reaction is to just stick
> his hand up in the air and catch it. *SMACK* - he's brained because
> it just doesn't work any more.
>
> That's the first kind of example I could think of to explain why
> someone wouldn't get all their essence back immediately. Ingrained habits -
> imagine having your vision magnification removed. It would be like walking
> around without glasses. Sure you seem people doing it today, and you think
> 'get some glasses', but I'm sure in the 2050s it just doesn't happen.
>
> Any reasons why this wouldn't work to explain it, sure you'll get pretty
> used to it eventually, but it takes a long time, and there'd be some
> things you won't recover.
>
> - Lurker.
>
I think you are getting humanity and habit mixed up. Sure you have
to unlearn some reflexes, but that can actually be done fairly quickly.
(Ever break an arm? Doesn't take long to learn to not to use it until that
cast is off) Besides, how does that make him any less human than that
uncybered klutz over there that tried the same thing? (oh yeah, did I
mention he wasn't too bright either?)

By the way, I tend to use cyber-enhanced vision as overlays on the
normal spectra. In other words, characters with thermographics turn them
on (unless they are dwarves or trolls). I know some people who assume the
cyber-vision when on replaces normal vision, but I just have it as an
overlay on the normal vision, although actual cybereyes allow a fade. For
example, one of my samurai has it as an ingrained reflex that when he turns
his thermographics on, he reduces normal spectra to 20% intensity, such that
he can concentrate on the clear vision of the thermographics without normal
sight muddying the picture, yet not cutting it completely out, so he doesn't
miss anything vital.

I mention this 'cause I don't think it is possible to have your
magnification 3 on at all times. That would be rather dangerous if you ask
me. Can you imagine melee when you are doing the equivalent of looking
through a scope?

Chris Bellovary
-- CrossFire --
Message no. 10
From: bellovar@***.WISC.EDU
Subject: Re: Essence Recovery
Date: Thu, 25 Feb 93 08:04:42 CST
> >>>>> On Wed, 24 Feb 93 15:07:38 CST, bellovar@***.WISC.EDU said:
>
> bellovar> I really am frightened of the concept of essence recovery.
> bellovar> I would not want any munchkins getting a hold of this thought.

Actually, I didn't. I was responding to that.

Chris Bellovary
-- CrossFire --

Further Reading

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