So I’m starting a game, we haven’t actually created characters yet, right now we’re just bouncing around ideas. One player really wants to be a cyborg, but in our version of Halcyon the kind of tech needed to turn a normal person a super-powered cyborg doesn’t exist (we want to focus more on supernatural powers and keep the science to modern-day levels). We agreed on a work-around, that her supernatural power is what makes her cybernetics possible, now we just need to decide what her power actually is. Any suggestions?
Ideas we’re currently toying with include metal assimilation (to make the implants bond to her body), electricity generation (to power them) or superhuman resilience (to withstand surgery that would kill a normal person).
What’s the booklet?
Matteo Suppo The Transformed, natch.
Didnt Buffy have a Villain that was effectively a Cyborg/Frankenstein? May be worth looking at that character for ideas.
if their mutation/power/whatever lets them get techno-warped, the tech is their ability, for all intents and purposes… like, maybe their biodynamism is a highly selective immune system and immunity to heavy metals toxicity, but in their sheet it says “inhuman strength” and “impenetrable armour” because that’s what they’re using when they are making moves.
Magic’s setting Innistrad has a lot of Frankenstein like scientists and mages that renanimate and stitch together corpses. There might be something there. In addition they use captured spirits/ghosts to power machines sometimes.
This magitech can lead to things like: i.imgur.com (there is a werewolf involved here too but…)
So yeah. Taking a soul (http://mythicspoiler.com/emn/cards/soulseparator.jpg) and binding it to a scarecrow or zombie can lead to something like this: http://mythicspoiler.com/ori/cards/possessedskaab.jpg
For a few more ideas check here: https://scryfall.com/search?as=&order=&q=%28c%E2%89%A5U+OR+c%E2%89%A5B+OR+c%3AC%29+%28-c%E2%89%A5W+AND+-c%E2%89%A5R+AND+-c%E2%89%A5G%29+%28e%3Adka+OR+e%3Aemn+OR+e%3Aisd+OR+e%3Asoi%29
I already narrowed down the search somewhat but there will be a lot of stuff in there that is not relevant, sorry.
Wouldn’t it be better first to decide a playbook, then to understand how “cyborg” can fit into that?
Unless she see a specific theme in “cyborg”, that would be her look, and since each playbook has a specific theme maybe it would be best to understand what she wants to play besides “a cyborg”.
A Newborn can be a cyborg, as an Outsider (which, being alien, toss out of the window the issue with the state of Earth’s technology), as other playbooks.
I don’t know, maybe she is a Legacy with superstrength (because she is a cyborg) and invincibility (because metal skin and/or force field), and her Legacy got their tech from the future.
Am I missing something?
I’m hearing something like the Spark in Girl Genius, the combination of obsession, passion, and genius needed to make improbable tech just work. For them. Not for anyone else.
Technopathy?
I’m imagining a magical cyborg with golem parts.
Why specifically is the player interested in being a cyborg? That’ll tell you a lot about which path to explore.
For instance, if they want to dabble in themes of physical identity and fears of losing humanity, Fullmetal Alchemist’s Alphonse Elric would be a great touchstone. He’s a boy whose soul was bonded to a suit of armor after an alchemic experiment gone horribly wrong. While it’s a science-ish explanation, it’s a very magic-based science. The show goes on to explore how he relates to the world, and how he feels incomplete in some ways without a human body, while still using his new body to his advantage.
Joe Beason Warforged! (goofy grin)
What everyone else is saying with the ‘why cyborg?’ If wanting the “how much human till you don’t count as one” just magic up the cyborg. You don’t have to have your cyborg arm be all robotics and circuitry, instead it is a golem arm.
Yeah, ultimately you just say “BOY ITS WEIRD THAT HAPPENED HUH” and then don’t say anything about it until the evil version shows up.
I like the technopathy/ tech affinity explanation.
yeah, modern tech’s real issues with prostheses is the interface and materials, technopathy would solve the former, and hand-waving (something something titanium chromium alloys, mumble mumble) fixes the latter
on the other hand…he’s the tranformed, and maybe just have it be meatgrinder surgery and replacement, incredibly painful, horrific to look at, and so essential to his body at this point (how many vital organs did this guy replace). as for why he’s unique… well, the guy who did this violated the shit out of ethics, and legality, and is rotting in prison. this also lets you have his creator be a normal person, just your average, evil bastard.
Hmm, I’m liking the idea that tecnopathy was the ability she was born with, and then some ethically-questionable scientist said “cool ability you got there, you know what would make it even cooler? If I stuff your body full of servos and sensors and other gizmos!” I’ll pitch that to the player and see how she likes it.
As for why she wants to be a cyborg, it’s basically what people have already said about playing the Transformed: Exploring loss of the old self and where the line is between human and monster.
This may be the proverbial fix that’s worse than the problem, if you wanna keep the sci-fi low , but… Alien technology that fell from the sky and bonded/infected the character?
Or from another reality if you don’t want Sci-Fi aliens.
Sounds like the first step is really clarifying what the group wants, as a whole.
If i proposed: “let’s play a superheroes game set in a world limited to modern technology!” and a friend responded with: “Great! I want to play a character based around future tech!” my first goal would be to figure out where we might have disconnected.
If they want to be a ‘fish out of water” and are fine existing as a future-tech marvel in a specifically modern tech world, great! Some of her issues might likely be that people will want to study her, possibly shadow corporate or government interests wishing to capture and steal her tech; balanced around tone to reward her choice and not to make her regret playing the cyborg. She’ll also have a damn hard time repairing any damages, since she’ll rely on modern resources; again, designed to make the choices fun, not to punish her. There may be interesting drama there; as we explore it. Maybe while playing to find out what happens, we’d find a genius technician that she can trust, who will find ways to help her without mining her for their own interests.
If the player’s actual goal, though, is to play in a world of futuristic technology, then i’d want to make sure we’re on the same page before moving forward. Either i might relent on my insistence in modern tech, or we might agree to back-burner her concept for a later game set with appropriate technology.
Once we’re on the same page about intent, and the whole group is on board, i’d help each player, including the cyborg, find a playbook that offers the game play experience they’re looking for. The Bull, The Nova, The Outsider, The Doomed, The Transformed – i can see lots of options to play the technologically advanced cyborg in a modern world, and it could be great fun as long as we don’t have a fundamental disagreement in expectations from the gaming experience.