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Using CyberEvolution in CP2020
by Dan Bailey <superdan@mkvax1.mankato.msus.edu>
Editing and comments by Winterfrost

When I first saw CyberGeneration on the shelf of my favorite gaming store, I was very skeptical. The idea of having kids play a serious role in our CP campaign just wasn't going to work. I was, however, intrigued by what I saw on the cover. I wanted an explanation for all of these glowing and funny-looking kids in a CP context. So I cracked it open and took a quick look. What I saw intrigued me enough to pick it up. I am not a fan of alternate realities in general, but what sparked my interest was that I wasn't seeing an alternate reality -- the world was the same, but had been seriously changed by throwing in a little bit of new tech. And the tech wasn't really that "far-out" in my mind. At least there was a logical, pseudo-scientific explanation for what I was seeing. I mean, at least Edgerunners (or their children in this case) weren't sprouting powers due for some bogus genetic reason, etc. I could also rationalize something like this in my campaign a little easier than vampires and psychics. I can't say I really cared for the new "angle" that RTG was pushing -- I prefer my CP dark and gritty, not quick and (relatively) happy -- but I did like the idea behind CyberEvolution. And, as any of my players would attest to, I have an obscene fascination with webs and mysteries so tangled that usually I can't even figure them out. The origin of the Carbon Plague provided me with an opportunity for an immensely twisted plot -- but that's another story; I'll jot down some of the details for those interested when I get a moment. What it came down to, though, was a desire to incorporate the CyberEvolution tech into the campaign -- this was a long-term project, or at least it was intended to be. If I had just done it rather than making excuses an trying to follow the CG storyline too closely, it probably would have worked better. So it's in this spirit that I'm including this article. My likes, dislikes, and general comments are included in the text.

-Winterfrost

Author's Note: This is a way to adapt the Carbon Plague (from CyberGeneration) for use in a normal CP2020 campaign. Just in case you don't like the idea of a 13-year old edgerunner.

In 2020, three AIs that had gone rogue, banded together to create AItech Incorporated, the first corporation headed by AIs and not humans. Their goal was to create nanotech that would bring humanity to a higher level, and hopefully, in the process make them realize the potential of Artificial Intelligences, and thereby grant them the rights they felt they deserved. After nearly two years, they introduced their CyberEvolution line of nanotechnology, which is very difficult to find, and very costly.

To acquire a Major Evolution involves making contact with an AItech representative, which is a Near Impossible task (Streetwise, Streetdeal, or Resources I would guess. - W). To get a Minor Evolution is easier, requiring the individual to download the list of AItech dealers from his nearest BBS.

AItech is proud to introduce the future of humanity! The next step in evolution! CyberEvolution! You can have powers beyond your wildest imagination! From the more costly Major Evolutions to our less radical and more economic Minor Evolutions, all will bring you to a higher level of existence without any loss of EMPATHY, thanks to revolutionary techniques developed by free AIs.

(The "No-Humanity-Loss" issue I have a bit of a problem with. Humanity loss isn't the same as in Shadowrun where you lose Essence simply because the cyberware interferes with your lifeforce, or however they explain it, but because it makes you feel less human. If you don't look human, other people tend not to treat you as human, so you lose Humanity. If you do things humans can't (lift more, run faster, catch bullets with your galvanized teeth, etc.) you realize you are "more than human" making you feel "less than human": you lose Humanity. In most cases, Tinman being the most notable example, Evolution will leave a character "relatively" unmarked, which would obviously reduce the Humanity loss, but for the most part it's going to effect a character in much the same way as cyberware. The children from CG are going to grow up with the nanites in their system, so they have a little easier time of dealing with it and keeping it under wraps, so they wouldn't suffer in the same way as an adult Edgerunner in the same situation. What, exactly the Humanity loss would be is up to the GM's discretion. - W)

Major Evolutions

These are the five major types initially listed in CyberGeneration, which you will need to use this article. They work as describe in the section in CyberGeneration, and have a HC=0. Granted, the recipient will still experience the symptoms of the Carbon Plague before all the evolution is complete. Costs are as follows:

No character may have more than one major evolution.

Minor Evolutions

This is the conglomeration of lesser evolutions, which are more readily available and cheaper than the ones listed above. They, too, have a HC=0. The evolution takes 1-2 days, and during this time, the character will experience the symptoms of the "Carbon Plague." A character may have two minor evolutions, even if he already has one major evolution, barring any incompatibilities.

(The section that follows on Minor Evolutions is very similar to the advanced Bioware they discuss in EuroSource Plus, Deep Space, and Chromebook 4. Obviously Dan was ahead of his time :). These Evolutions might conflict with some of these "official" modifications. I also feel a few of them are dangerously over-powered (Braniac for example). But that's just me... - W)

Visionary 5000eb

Gives the person perfect vision with low-light, anti-dazzle, and a V-link (if using Virtuality), equivelent to having cybereyes.

Brainiac 25000eb

Gives the user the equivelent of Hyper-Intelligence Syndrome (INT 15).

Listener 7000eb

Improves the recipient's hearing, giving them quality equivalent to the best cyberoptics, with enhanced hearing range, sound editor, subsonic, and level dampener.

Brute 4000eb

Gives the recipient a +1 or +2 BT modification. 50/50 chance.

Speedfreak 3000eb

Recipient gets a +1 MA bonus.

Vampire 8000eb

The nanotechs build a set of retractable vampires in the user's mouth equivelent to Extended Canines (see ChromeBook 2) and a nanofactory that creates a sleep-toxin from the body's supply of nutrients, which can be injected when the "vamp" bites someone.

Feline 9000eb

Gives the user low-light vision and anti-dazzle (like the cyberoptic), enhanced hearing (like the cyberaudio), improved balance (+1 to any acrobatics skill), and a +1 MA.

Hardskin 3000eb

Creates undetectable SP8 skinweave.

Alter 15000eb

At will, the recipient can change their ATTR by +1 or -1 and change hair/eye color at will.

Shadow 15000eb

Using a thermograph to spot a Shadow character is a Difficult (20) task. Although it breaks up their thermal outline, it does not trap heat. So, an indistinct blob is visible - if compared to another form of visual input (low-light for example) the difference will be readily apparent. Shadows also have low-light vision.

Chameleon 20000eb

Gives the character the ability to change their skin attributes as if they were a chameleon. The CyberEvolution functions identically to the Militech M96 Ghostsuit found in ChromeBook 2 (pg. 27).

Untouchable 16000eb

Creates a charged field around the body that basically works like a taser. It functions identically to the SecSystems Protection Field in ChromeBook2 (pg. 12).

Healer 100,000eb

A Healer can excrete Nanosurgeons through their palms which affect the wounded person for 24 hours after contact is made, and work as listed in CP2020 (pg. 75).

Wraith 100,000eb

A Wraith has a "death-touch" from his palms, which causes the victim to take 4 points of damage per hour until dead. The death-touch will not work on other CyberEvolved (major or minor) or any "normal" human with Toxin Binder Nanotechs.

Eternal 1,000,000eb

An Eternal gets the equivelent of an FBRs Longevity Module built in their body by nanotechs. It gives the person a lifespan of 200-250 years. See ChromeBook2, page 85.

Visionary II 5000eb

A slightly different version of the Visionary, this one has infrared, image enhancement, anti-dazzle, and a V-link (if your campaign uses Virtuality).

Bloodhound 2000eb

Gives the character the equivelent of an Olifactory Boost (CP2020).

Stalker 250,000eb

The character becomes the ultimate killer. Vision is enhanced with the addition of low-light. Enhanced hearing range and an olifactory boost help track prey. Hard-to-detect SP10 skinweave is laced in, and the recipient gets a +1 bonus to MA and REF. Their fingers become like Tinman limbs, but can only become Rippers.

MindJammer 200,000eb

The character gives off electromagnetic fields that cause blinding headaches in others, resulting in a -2 to REF, -2 to COOL, and a -1 to INT until the field is shut off. This field will not affect other CyberEvolved, but Scanners will have difficulty reading others in the area.

Doc 100,000eb

Basically the same thing as a Healer, but excretes Anti- Plague nanotechs and Toxin Binders (ChromeBook 1 and CP2020, respectively).

Zap 75,000eb

It's "Bolter, Jr."! Gives the recipient a Tazer Grip (like the cyberware option), palms only.

Including Minor CyberEvolution in CyberGeneration

Assume that of all individuals in the target age range of the Carbon Plague that are "unaffected," 1 in 10 of them develop a Minor CyberEvolution. These are usually not as easily detected by outsiders.

Also, 1 in 100 Major CyberEvolution-"stricken" people get a Minor Evolution along with their Major.

CyberEvolution Incompatibilities

Major CyberEvolution

Minor CyberEvolution

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