From:	"Jeremy \"Bolthy\" Zimmerman" <jeremy@***********.COM>
Subject:	Re: Cyberware and Regeneration
Date:	Tue, 12 May 1998 16:32:59 -0700

----------
> From: Alfredo B Alves <dghost@****.COM>
> To: SHADOWRN@********.ITRIBE.NET
> Subject: Re: Cyberware and Regeneration
> Date: Tuesday, May 12, 1998 3:25 PM
>
> >In short, if you do Deadly damage to a creature regenerates, he is
> either
> >dead, or will be just splendid in under three seconds. No suspended
> >regeneration". This may not make sense if you think they should have
> damage >over flow, but that's how the rules read. Cold temperatures
> might
> >slow the function, but that's a personal call that I don't believe is
> covered. > Either way, it is only slowed, but I would not consider it
> stopped, and it >will still be a wound that will heal later and cause
> problems as it tries to >force the cyber out.
>
> I believe by dead the BBB meant dying, however once the regenerating
> critter was stabalized, the regeneration would kick back in (IMO). I

I suppose you can interpret it that way. I tend to take it quite
literally, but each person's campaign is different. I'll try not to
nitpick over something like interpretation. The thing about serious damage
to the brain seems to indicate that they are quite, quite dead. At best
spinal damage might mean they live, but are unable to send the nerve
impulses to the rest of the body to tell it to grow. So if it lives, it
will be quite messed up. Brain damaged and/or paralyzed.


> believe the lowering temperature to halt the regeneration would work...
> however, would the docs still be able to operate?
>

If they could keep from shivering. ;)

>
> hmmmmm... I think the regener's rejection of cyber is just something FASA
> stuck in to keep you from running into say a Vampire with wired 3 (for
> total of +5D6 Ini) I can understand if they did it maintain balance, but
> it would be nice if they could acheive the same effect (balanced game)
> with out resort to "it's just so" (which they didn't to do, but kinda
> came close to :) IMO, the cyber would block the regeneration of the eye
> in your example, but it is really hard to say ... are there any RL
> examples of regeneration? I know of lizards regrowing their tails, but
> none others ... It might help to look to see how any of these specimems
> regenerate when the regeneration is blocked (no, I'm not recommending
> anybody experiment, but if anybody has any knowledge on the matter,
> please share :)
>

I believe starfish are able to regenerate missing limbs, even forming two
starfish if you chop it right. Crabs will regrow missing claws and legs,
IIRC. None of them can do it in under three seconds, I don't think. When
your body grows bits back that fast, I think the correct term for anything
block said growth would be, in a word, excrutiating. The thought occured
to me that if there was a relatively non-invasive bit o' cyberware, rather
than something like cyberwires, it would be a bit more feasible, but still
a little uncomfortable. I'm at a loss to think of many things that would
fit under that catagory. Boosted reflexes, maybe. MBW, if you did it
right. Maybe. Bone lacing? It would still be a bit uncomfortable, so
even if you were to allow them to get cyberware in somehow without a
continued handicap to their regeneration, I'd say they'd get a modifier as
though injured.

Granted, this seems to make the assumption that regeneration regrows back
bits, rather than just accelerated healing. That seems to be a big crux on
this discussion.