From:	Damion Milliken <adm82@***.EDU.AU>
Subject:	Re: Essence and body-index
Date:	Wed, 9 Aug 1995 00:23:44 +1000

Andre' Selmer writes:

> Okay here a shot in the dark. What if the essence cost is really
> related to the number of connections to nodes. The tactical computer
> is linked a) to your cognative processes b) visual c) auditory d)
> your own spaticual awarness and half a dozen other things. The
> connections in the Biotech stat that the wires are laid down by
> nanites of various kinds. Read it I can't recall all that much from
> memory

Sounds OK except it doesn't work for things like bone lacing and dermal
armour, which have no neural connections, but still cost mucho Essence.

Cugel the Clever writes:

> Yes, I know that from experience with my own computer :) But that
> has no relevance to my question/remark. It could be an argument to
> say that implanting cyber or bio gets more expensive if you already
> got lots of it installed (not that I would use such a rule).

Yes, but increased complexity also makes for a more difficult time
integrating any new components into what you already have. During the
integration of the new component, it is quite likely that little things will
not match exactly, or that something will stuff up. And the more stuff you
already have in you, the more likely you are to damage the balance between
them and yourself, and them and each other, when you introduce new
components.

> You assume that is when you upgrade the complete piece is replaced. This
> is almost never done. Take the example from above if you want to upgrade
> your trusty 486 to a (not so trusty :) Pentium, you only have to replace a
> few parts; the motherboard (maybe not even that, but only the processor),
> maybe the memory and a few boards. The rest can stay. Now this should also
> be the case when you upgrade your cyber (I'm not to sure about bio...). So
> it would be more like you take out a little chip attached to a board and
> replace it, chances are that the new chip will "fit" in the gap left by the
> old one, or maybe take up a little more space. A bit like the SCC-rule but
> only with /much/ lower target numbers so that is more likely that upgrading
> costs less essence than stated, than the other way.

The chips and wiring contained in cyberware are not just dumped into the
users body. They are grown using nanites. To upgrade an old Tac-Computer
would require you to once again udnergo the nanite, nutrient bath and
resonator ordeal to get the new, extra layers of conducting material built
up inside your skull. Similarly when you get your wired refelxes upgraded
(no chips here though). Obviously one doesn't take out the old system,
however, the user will be forced to undergo all the implantation techniques
once again to get the upgrade, at further possible risk to his body's system.
Much simpler to do it all at once on the initial implanataion, only one
plan, only one set of nanites. The extra hassles and such associated with a
complete redo of the surgery, not to mention the need for changing what was
only meant to be a Rating x system to a Rating x+y system, could easily
enough cause complications and possible damage to the user. And it's even
worse if you are removing an entire system, imagine the difficulty of
getting nanites to go round and collect all the conducting material from a
Tac-Computer for example, very likely some will remain, or if not, then the
users body will certainly not be the exact same as it was prior to the
implanation of the thing - then if you go get some other system installed,
elsewhere in your body, it's no small wonder you'd be likely to lose a bit
of Essence in thr switch.

--
Damion Milliken University of Wollongong E-mail: adm82@***.edu.au

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