Cybernetic Clarification

By Vicendithas, in Star Wars: Force and Destiny RPG

I have some questions about cybernetic enhancements/implants that I was hoping someone could answer. I'm running a droid PC and am looking at the possibility of upgrading my body parts sometime later in the campaign. I've read the rules in the books and some posts on the forums and other places online, but I've seen conflicting answers/interpretation.


My main question is about the cost of cybernetic arms and legs.


I know that for cybernetic arms:


  • You can either upgrade one arm at a time or both at the same time
  • You can choose either +1 Brawn or +1 Agility
  • If you do both arms, the models have to be the same (can't choose +1 Brawn AND +1 Agility)
  • If you do both arms, the bonus does not stack

I know that for cybernetic legs:


  • You must upgrade both legs at the same time
  • You can choose either +1 Brawn or +1 Agility
  • Both legs must be the same model (can't choose +1 Brawn AND +1 Agility)
  • You must have both legs in order to get the bonus

What I don't know about arms and legs (I included my thinking on the answers, but these are just my opinion):


  • Does each arm/leg require a cybernetic implant available or does the pair of arms/legs count as a single upgrade?

It seems strange that one of the arms/legs would take up a cybernetic slot when it doesn't give any benefit. For a droid replacing all 4 limbs, having each limb take an individual cybernetic slot seems very costly. It doesn't allow for as much other customization.


  • Does the cost listed for cybernetic arms (10,000) reflect a single arm/leg, or the pair?

It seems strange for one of the arms/legs to cost 10,000 when it doesn't give any benefit. Also, if the cost listed is per limb, that gets very expensive very fast.


  • If you upgrade arms/legs and choose +1 Brawn, does that extra Brawn increase your ability to take more cybernetic implants?

I know this doesn't matter for a droid, but I'm curious about it for other characters. I would guess that it doesn't, since that seems overpowered, but I don't have a specific reason why.


Let me know if I got something wrong, or if I'm not understanding something correctly. I'm hoping one of the game devs can give official answers.


Regards,


Vicendithas

1. Yes, each limb is its own cybernetic implant.

2. Yes, the cost reflects a single limb.* It is indeed expensive, but some would consider it to be "worth it," since it can get you up to godlike abilities.

3. Yes, the Brawn from cybernetics can increase your cybernetics cap.

*There are other instances in the game where items are sold as singles, but in the descriptions it is mentioned that they usually come in pairs. This has no bearing on the fact that the price is per item .

If it's really important for you to have a matching set of arms (as a droid, at least), maybe you could work something out with your GM where you "in fluff" have the second arm but don't count as having it "for real". I could definitely see letting my player do that if they were willing to pay the additional 10,000 credits for what is, essentially, a cosmetic upgrade at that point, and wouldn't penalize their cybernetics cap. Of course, that's predicated on the fact that 1) I'm an absurdly liberal GM at times, and my party gets up to weird stuff 2) the character is a droid, so the arm he's replacing was mechanical to begin with. If an organic being wanted to replace an organic arm with a cybernetic one, that might cause me to consider my stance on the above.

As for legs, well, it's a bit odd to me that something that requires both to give any benefit counts as two cybernetics, but if you go from a role-play standpoint, you've replaced almost half of your body with cybernetics and that would be significant. Referring to an organic, obviously. Still a bit confused about it in the context of droids...

1. Yes, each limb is its own cybernetic implant.

2. Yes, the cost reflects a single limb.* It is indeed expensive, but some would consider it to be "worth it," since it can get you up to godlike abilities.

3. Yes, the Brawn from cybernetics can increase your cybernetics cap.

*There are other instances in the game where items are sold as singles, but in the descriptions it is mentioned that they usually come in pairs. This has no bearing on the fact that the price is per item .

I think the cost for the legs are for both of the legs.

But I could be mistaken.

1. Yes, each limb is its own cybernetic implant.

2. Yes, the cost reflects a single limb.* It is indeed expensive, but some would consider it to be "worth it," since it can get you up to godlike abilities.

3. Yes, the Brawn from cybernetics can increase your cybernetics cap.

*There are other instances in the game where items are sold as singles, but in the descriptions it is mentioned that they usually come in pairs. This has no bearing on the fact that the price is per item .

I think the cost for the legs are for both of the legs.

But I could be mistaken.

I tend to agree, but i think we are wrong... i never understood the idea behind providing a per item price when you MUST get 2 to use them. it could have been clarified in the descriptions a little more IMHO. but whatever the case i just house rule that its 10k a Pair. in the end its not to much of an issue, the GM controls the amount of cash a group have anyway.

It seems that for balance reasons the developers didn't want more than a +1 to a single attribute from implants. And I guess the reasoning behind "the pairs have to match" rule is that it would be very awkward to use arms/legs designed for different purposes. About the legs it doesn't make much sense that one single leg gives you some advantage in the way you move, you usually use both for all purposes (I can only think it would make sense in a kicking scenario) . On an arm though you kinda can use just one arm for many tasks (like fighting).

Also, you have to factor in that you usually put a cybernetic member when you lose one from an injury. So it makes sense that prices and cybernetic slot costs are for just one piece. I would allow to put just one cybernetic leg, but you wouldn't get the bonus until you replace both.

Edited by blackyce

I tend to agree, but i think we are wrong... i never understood the idea behind providing a per item price when you MUST get 2 to use them. it could have been clarified in the descriptions a little more IMHO. but whatever the case i just house rule that its 10k a Pair. in the end its not to much of an issue, the GM controls the amount of cash a group have anyway.

I'll agree with blackyce on this one. You can use the item just fine; it's just that you don't get the powerful mechanical benefits of the item until it's paired.

That is why it makes sense.

I tend to think that the most common use of the cybernetics would be in droids, apart from Ganks they're the ones who have no qualms about upgrading their bodies. So I guess it just makes the Droid species ability even more amazing, just with a much higher price tag.

So the obvious follow up question now is "is each leg and arm a separate cyber implant? A brawn 1 character can never benefit from cyber legs?" In which case the 10k cyber brain implant is looking like a fantastic value for money option.

I genuinely hope Special Modifications has some side bar text that addresses all these questions.

So the obvious follow up question now is "is each leg and arm a separate cyber implant? A brawn 1 character can never benefit from cyber legs?"

If the cyber legs give the character +1 Brawn, then yes he can benefit from both of them ;)

But I agree, it's money better spent elsewhere.

But is each leg and arm a seperate implant? A droid replacing both Arms and Legs has used up 4 of their 6 Cyber Implants, 1 for each leg and 1 for each arm? I tend to think that if they are listed as a seperate item then they are an implant each, this changes their use to most PC's completely.

Or are they counted together? so 2 implants total, 1 for 2 arms and another for 2 legs?

If it is the first option then the Character with 1 Brawn can not install the second leg required for the stat boost until they increase their brawn through a Dedication.

it also means there is never a time when a PC would install both Arms, there is just no point if that pc ever wants to use another Cyber implant.

What about the Repli-Limb are they, counted as an implant, the way the rules read it seems they would.

Eyes are seperate too i'm assuming.

There is a lot here that requires reading between the lines, considering this could be a significant way that a Droid makes up for the massive Characteristic disparity.

in this one thread i have gone from thinking droids are cool and on par to why the hell are they even in the rules as a PC option. there seems to be so much effort put into close paraty between all the other species, with a quite consistent formula, but droids just stand out as a "Why?"

Hmm, grump over. At least i know exactly how to reward a Droid PC now!

My table's take:

Does the limb grant a bonus characteristic, skill, or other mechanical benefit? If it does, then it eats one of the implant slots.

This means getting one leg does not eat an implant slot, but the second paired leg would. The first arm does, the second does not.

If you lose a leg and get a cyber leg, your no different. As a matter of fact, you might even be looked down upon. No mechanical benefit. If you lose a second leg, for the difference in credits, and the cost of one cybernetic slot, you gain a second cyber leg and a stat boost.

Same if you lose one arm except you can gain the stat boost on the first arm, and the second can only leave you where you are or remove the stat boost.

I thought this made sense. I mean, to the point where I don't get why it's become a thread here. But maybe it's just me.

My table's take:

Does the limb grant a bonus characteristic, skill, or other mechanical benefit? If it does, then it eats one of the implant slots.

This means getting one leg does not eat an implant slot, but the second paired leg would. The first arm does, the second does not.

If you lose a leg and get a cyber leg, your no different. As a matter of fact, you might even be looked down upon. No mechanical benefit. If you lose a second leg, for the difference in credits, and the cost of one cybernetic slot, you gain a second cyber leg and a stat boost.

Same if you lose one arm except you can gain the stat boost on the first arm, and the second can only leave you where you are or remove the stat boost.

I thought this made sense. I mean, to the point where I don't get why it's become a thread here. But maybe it's just me.

Yeah, I was going to say something along these lines as well. If a droid is getting a different arm with no benefits, then it doesn't take a slot.

If a player got one +1 brawn leg but couldn't afford the other one yet (but still had organic) I would give them a blue dice if they kicked with that leg, or something similar.

It's worth noting that on droids at least the arm upgrade could well be all hidden under its outer chassis. Just having one will give you the mechanical benefit and saying the other one looks the same is fine as it's just cosmetic.

With the legs that give + to characteristics yes I think they have to be used in pairs but other artificial limbs don't.

I house ruled to allow a droid PC to have 2 different arms as to me it made sense as he's a droids (meaning he had +1 brawn and a hidden weapon) but I wouldn't let a human player do it.