From:	Sebastian Wiers m0ng005e@*********.com
Subject:	Essence (was Re: Cyberware and Cosmetic Surgery)
Date:	Wed, 22 Sep 1999 12:29:19 -0500

> Eurlgh, munchkins unite! I can understand that as part of an explanation,
> but it seems too weird to use it as the only thing that determines essence
> loss. Mr. Super Sammie can cram 80 points of old essence in his body just
> because he feels good (nana-nana-na). I can imagine some psychological
> disorders from over-cybering but to explain death at zero essence with
> "yeah, he didn't feel that his arm was part of him and that killed him in
> the end." sounds very weird.

Well, if he did succesfully psychologically "accept" a whole ne cyber
body, MBW4, and other crud, he'd still be dead; it sounds to me like that's
a pretty big psych change, and thus essence loss. It cuts both ways, I
think, although I'll wait to see any details of just what essence loss
means.

> Having said that semi-flexible essence cost sounds like a good idea
though.
> But I suggest to make it random based +- 10% and then maybe have a high
> cyber tolerance as an edge at start up which would cost a bunch of
> points which would give you a positive modifier (and a reverse flaw).

Surgery already impacts essence, resulting in variation from base cost.
There is also the "sensative system" flaw, which doubles essence cost.
In fact, I'm suprised at the current big flap. The "sensative sytem"
flaw has been around quite some time; what is its justification, if not
physiological or psychological?

Mongoose