Ghost in the Shell Stuff

[Ymdar]

Ok. Here are some houserules of mine that coincide with the Cyberpunk feeling with this setting:

1. Armor gives DR: (As in UA) : The base Defense bonus/2 (rounded down) = DR . Armor gives a defense bonus of (base Defense bonus)-DR. This Defense bonus does not stack with class defense bonus.

2. I don't let characters use evasion in tight spaces (hallways or corridors) only in wide open spaces.

3. Automatic firearms: Whenever a character fires a burst fire and hits Defense 10 against an area, the targets inside the area must roll a Reflex save for half damage. DC 15 or if the attack roll was higher than 15 then DC Attack roll.

4. Massive Damage Threshold rolls: DC: 15 + 2 per 5 points of damage above Con.

I think that's all for today.

PS. I've read the demo of Posthuman. One NPC didn't convince me to buy that product.

 

[Dark Psion]

I like, I like. I actually just got my copy of Stand Alone Complex from E-Bay the other day and what with finals and all have only gotten a chance to start watching it now.

Just wondering, do you use any special rules that allow "mudanes" such as Togusa to keep pace with their cybered counterparts? Just wondering because given the relatively limitless budget that seems to be available to section 9 there would be little reason for a character to keep a meat body other than role playing reasons which would be a pretty serious power hit to take for all but the best role playing reasons.

It may just be the character, but Togusa and the others without Cyber-upgrades, seem to have a greater insight than the cyborg characters. Perhaps the Intelligence bonuses from cyber upgrades should be balanced by a reduction in Wisdom, as the Cyborg relies more on logic and facts, i.e. Intelligence.

Some feats, especially those based on Wisdom/Insight, might be restricted to those without Cyber upgrades and even baned from cyborgs and androids.


For a full Android like the Major, would getting a new body be a weath purchase or a feat, especially if you chose to change your "model"?

 

[lonesoldier]

Q:

If I were to start a d20 modern/future GITS-style game (I do not know the setting very well, or the plot, but I love the idea of a squad of crack cyber-enhanced soldiers).

However, I was considering using the d20 anime system (similar to BESM).

Any input for the system? or interest is such a game?

 

[Ymdar]

It may just be the character, but Togusa and the others without Cyber-upgrades, seem to have a greater insight than the cyborg characters. Perhaps the Intelligence bonuses from cyber upgrades should be balanced by a reduction in Wisdom, as the Cyborg relies more on logic and facts, i.e. Intelligence.

Some feats, especially those based on Wisdom/Insight, might be restricted to those without Cyber upgrades and even baned from cyborgs and androids.


For a full Android like the Major, would getting a new body be a weath purchase or a feat, especially if you chose to change your "model"?

For the first part of your question: I don't think I need to balance it. In this setting only few people who were born on the street and members of fundamentalist anti-cybernetics organizations don't have this kind of cyber enhancement. (This is a setting thingie really).
Effectively this means that the average Intelligence of humanity is raised by 2 points from 10.5 to 12.5. This means that all major reasearch activities of the world are boosted to a very high level. New advancement in technology, biology and philosophy are introduced almost every day. But hey! If you want to modify it, just do it. Aside from the thread's name this is a generic thread where I try to introduce new items.

For full androids ... that really depends on your campaign style. If you run a cyberpunk game it should be a wealth purchase. For a corporate campaign the players should either recieve free bodies or a system based on recquisition or reputation.

lonesoldier:
I don't know about that system. And one pbp campaign I'm in is enugh for me

 

[Omote]

For a full Android like the Major, would getting a new body be a weath purchase or a feat, especially if you chose to change your "model"?

Strictly GITS speaking, a full cyberized body could be both a WEALTH PURCHASE or possibly even a special ability based on Prestige Class. In GITS it seems fairly obvious that if you have the money, you could be cyberized. There are multiple examples of this in the series and in the movies.

Or in Major Kusinagi's case, it seems as if her full cyber-body was given to her as a part of her service to Section-9, which could be directly attributed to her "prestige class" of being a member of Section-9. In that case the cyber-body would be an enhancement or special ability granted by Section-9, and no personal wealth would be required.

Just some thoughts.

.............................................Omote
FPQ

 

[Chrysalis]

It lives!

Reviving and old thread,

I think there are a lot of good things in here...

First off the series I think is a good start off since it makes the characters more human-like and more interesting really.

Well, you could have full cyborg bodies bought as a feat, but I don't like that. I prefer saying that you have pull somewhere which has given you a cyborg body.

There are situations mentioned in the series and in the books, where it seems that the state has paid for a basic full body cyborg. That not only includes heads of state, but also soldiers and some civilians.

You have to realize though that the plebian full body cyborgs come in all shapes and sizes. The ones which are usually used by Section 6 are not only rare, its in the best interest of the government to keep the company that makes them a secret.

 

[Chrysalis]

I had a look at the thread in more depth. Here are a few things I disliked:

In ref. to ability loss, particularly charisma due to cybernetics

In a technological near future world, you can go to a clinic, and get your face redone, if you have the money you can get EVERYTHING redone. You want to be in a body of an eighteen year old supermodel, with the wonders of cybernetics its yours. It does not matter about your sex, because that is simply part of the process.

Constitution score does not work either. If a character goes off and gets a full cyborg body, which can run at an even 80km/h, take an axe in the back, drop 20 meters, it certainly is not losing consitution.

I think maybe a loss in wisdom score might be a way to do it. But I think that is not correct either. It comes down to borrowing from CP2020 and saying that once a person reaches point x they become cyberpsychos. I think balance is non-existant, and should not be dragged into a system because of circular logic. An advantage is a clear advantage and not a hinderance.


In ref to cybernetics

I think mecha in Ghost in the Shell are designed in a different way than most games handle. Mecha in Ghost in the Shell are extensions of research into cybernetic prosthetics. Most games make a wide difference between a cybernetic part and a part for a mecha.

I liked the idea in Heavy Gear vehicle creation, where building a vehicle simply cost money. You could build a star destroyer with it if you wanted to, but the bill attached to it would be astronomical.

 

[Omote]

'tis a great thread, and a better series to which you could base a cyberpunk style d20 Modern game it. I'm waiting patiently for d20 CYBERSPACE to see what they have done there. d20 FUTURE didn't "do it" for me in means of depth or use in play, hopefully the new book will give us a great deal more to work with. If not, I'll just have to go and do all my own work on making a great cyberware system for d20 Modern.

Strictly speaking from the GITS: SAC point of view, many people are cyberized. So the basic cyberbrain enhancement would be both affordible, and common.

For full cyberization, there are a few choices: "Heavy Load-Out Cybrog" which would be a older, combat based cyborg. This would probably be a milspec deal, not a personal option available to many. Possibly through illegal, but massivly expensive means.

Then you have characters like Batou and Bulma which seem to be heavy, but not FULL cyborgs. Their both close, but not quite all the way cyberized. This option could be, and probably is milspec. Section-9 would have definitely upgarded them.

Full cyborg, like Major Mtotko Kusanagi. The essence of the series focuses on her type of Cyborg. She is only human because of her "ghost" (soul). Ever other part of her being is fully mechanical (possibly bio-mechanical). This option is more then just milspec, it is probably the latest cyborg deveolpements, and completely up to date.

Section-9 is a goverment agency will all the latest and greatest toys. I would expect Kusanagi's body to be extraordinarily expensive to manufacture and upkeep. This is onbe of the reasons I think it is acceptable to use this as a class feature, rather then straight purchase DC. If you think about it, the purchase DC check would be made by the governmental entity controlling Section-9. With their massive reserves, that would be an easy check.

Because Kusanagi is so advanced in combat and ability to manipulate.use the net, I think she would be a different presitge class altogether that offers these kind of abilities, rather then having this ability attributed directly to cyber equipment and lots of ranks in the relavent abilities.

The other members of Section-9 described in the show, would probably not have any levels in whatever prestige class Kusanagi has, but they have their own special talents which might come from other classes. Take for example Togusa who has very little cyber enhancement. His class is clearly INVESTIGATOR or something along those lines. The same could be said with SAITO (Miltary, Sniper, etc.) and Ishikawa (Internet Specialist, Computer Specialist, Information Specialist, etc.).

Just some more random thoughts.

...........................................Omote
FPQ

 

[Omote]

I agree. I don't neccessarily like ability loss that much either. For a cyberpunk style game in the vein of Ghost in the Shell, you might have another ability altogether like "humanity." Just like SR and CP, humanity would decrease the more cyberized one is.

In the case you mentioned above, losing con is a possibility, as long as the cyber equipment you installed gives an additional ability which negates this loss in some way. For example, you could have unstalled cyber-legs that reduce your CON by 2, but giving you the ability to move up to 80 mph ~ give and take on this one.

........................................Omote
FPQ

 

[Chrysalis]

A small point about the Major. She is really Shirow's Mary Sue, the same Ed Greenwood's is Elminister. Basing information on her is a bit like making every PC in FR a copy of the 'minster.

-Chrysalis