Cybernetics malfunction

By Skie, in Star Wars: Edge of the Empire RPG

A question: cybernetic replacements are a good way to make somebody more powerful. Unlike other games there is no essence or sanity or whatever cost for installing them. The only drawback the core book mentions is that they malfunction when hit by ion weapons.

So my question is: what do you think it really means? Is it enough just to hit a cyborg with ion weaponry to make the limb malfunction or is it just a description and game mechanics-wise you need to deal some strain damage (how much?).

It is clear that cyber enhancements are not THAT common in SW - they give advantage but it's not automatic choice for fighters when they get some money...

You have to hit the limb, like with an aimed shot. It's not that big a deal because you can wing clip someone with an aimed shot anyway, with the difference being you can repair a malfunctioning cyborg limb, as the rule says for the encounter or until repaired.

Yes - exactly. It's not that big a deal. So clearly cybernetics are superior to flesh. But we see Vader or Grievous having trouble breathing etc. (unless that's the nature of their wounds, not replacements...). I'm asking if money is the only limiting factor for replacing one's flesh with metal.

Yes - exactly. It's not that big a deal. So clearly cybernetics are superior to flesh. But we see Vader or Grievous having trouble breathing etc. (unless that's the nature of their wounds, not replacements...). I'm asking if money is the only limiting factor for replacing one's flesh with metal.

I don't know if the Clone Wars mini episodes on Cartoon Network (Not the show, but the ones animated by the Samarai Jack team that came out before episode 3) are still cannon, but if recall he got that breathing issue when a Jedi (Yoda maybe?) used the force on his exoskeleton and tightened it around his organs.

Now again I don't know if this is canon anymore, because those events occured directly before Episode 3 begins which is the end of the Clone Wars. In the Clone Wars series that came out after that movie Grevious still has that cough.

There is, in fact, a limit on cybernetics: You can only have as many enhancements as your rank in Brawn (unmodified by equipment or cybernetics).

Also, keep in mind that this isn't Shadowrun where everyone cuts off arms and legs to get the upgraded cyber versions. It takes a pretty "special" kind of person to voluntarily cut off their own legs to get metal replacements because it increases their Brawn stat once. If your players are lining up to have their arms and legs hacked off, you may have a munchkin infestation.

Krieger - that's what my point is (sorry for perhaps not being clear, I spent the whole day with my kids ;) ). Are cyber enhancements frowned upon? Does upkeep costs too much? etc. Is social stigma the only thing that stops fantastic warriors like for example the Fetts from changing a their limbs or installing armour?

*oh btw - does implant armour stack with normal armour? I think not (especially since AoR, where the description says it's often chosen by spies etc who do not use normal armour).

Yes implant armor stacks as with worn armor as cybernetics counts as a different source of soak. Individual sources of soak do not stack. Armor is one source. Cybernetics is another source. Talents are another source. Brawn is a source.

How much do you guys set the price for installing cybernetics? SW Saga has a nice services cost chart which says that surgery costs 500 per hour. Let's assume that such surgery takes 4 hours, that gives 2000. Or should it be 10% (?) of the implant's cost...

I don't, just included in the cost, whatever that ends up being.

There is, in fact, a limit on cybernetics: You can only have as many enhancements as your rank in Brawn (unmodified by equipment or cybernetics).

Did we ever get an answer from FFG on adding too many cybernetics and what happens?

As far as I know even the replacement limbs and organs count towards your brawn total, so someone really careless around lunatics with disruptors, vibro axes and laser swords could potentially end up with a lot of them.

I believe it is a fragments from the rim segment from the order 66 podcast that discusses cybernetics.

There is definitely a social stigma to cybernetic enhancement. A fear that people aren't entirely themselves. People that walk around purposely displaying their cyborg status are shunned and possibly dangerous.

Synthetic flesh is used to disguise the cybernetic limb and to attempt to fit in with society.

So yes Ion weapons are a mechanical drawback. But there should be a social drawback as well.

I don't, just included in the cost, whatever that ends up being.

Agreed. In fact the only problem I place in my games is finding a surgeon sketchy enough to implant a cybernetic into an organic that does not physically need one.

Droids are fine and replacing a damaged limb is also fine.

Yep, this is how we play it too, kaosoe.

Our game has a serious anti-droid stigma (only one of the factions sees them as sentient beings, and only grudgingly). And cyborgs aren't really viewed much differently.

Someone replacing a lost limb might be viewed with pity as well as mild revulsion, but someone willingly replacing their meat-body with droid-ware would be considered sickening beyond imagining.

And then you have the problem that the only doctor able to chop off your bits and place them with droid parts is precisely the kind of person you wouldn't want poking at you with surgical implements... such as Cratala in 'Beyond the Rim'...

The players got the hint; the only one with cyberware upgrades is the droid.