ShadowRun, Plagues of the New World - Both diseases and chemical problems

by Peter Andersen (andersep@mail.oit.osshe.edu)

While trying to come up with something to discurage players from turning into walking cyberware/bioware objects (when Essence is in the tenths of a point and Body Index is almost that low) one of my players come up with the following effects.

Black Shakes: Some rather nasty side effects of cyberware. Currently the Shakes affects anyone with cyberware but it can be adjusted to only affect those with large amounts of cyberware.

TPX: Think of it as a cortex bomb for bioware… If you get it, you better find out fast.

These haven’t been used yet, but they seem to have potential. Comments are always welcome.

Black Shakes

A neurological dysfunction involving epileptic seizures, loss of motor control, and loss of control of cyberwear. It is caused by the nerve cells rejecting or callused by cyberwear. It is usually localized in the body where the cyberwear is located. (Cyber arms become useless; body collapses with bone lacing; seizures from wired reflexes.) This effect all who have cyberwear in varying degrees.

It usually occurs in high stress situations (Chance of it occurring is 1 in (essence + 1) round up GM discretion). If it occurs, player must resist 5L stun with Essence (round down). If player rolls no successes, then all cyberwear begins a cascade shut down. This lasts for 6 - Willpower successes (TN# 4) in rounds. Used cyberwear may not recover from Black Shakes. Used standard will fail in a 1 in 3 chance, used Alpha will fail in a 1 in 6 chance, used Beta will fail 1 in 2 chance (Hey did you think if it was tailored for someone else it will work better for you?). There is no treatment and the only cure is having no Cyberwear at all.

> It’s a bleak day on a run when the hitter turns to Jell-O
> Fast Jack

TPX - Tailored Pox Virus

A contagious disease with outward signs of large red sores and a fever. Sores are filled with toxins and dead cells from bioware. TPX is a mutated version of the small pox virus, which now targets the common structure of tailored cells of bioware. The manufacturers use a standard genetic sequence for all bioware (Hey company standards make the price goes down). The virus spreads quickly in bodies that have lots of bioware as the body is already being subdued to accept the wares. The virus camouflages itself genetically as it hides within the tailored cells. Catching it early raises the TN by 2 for diagnosis. TPX will only attack standard bioware, none of the host’s own organs, or cultured bioware. TPX will die off or go dormant when there is no more bioware in the system. TPX can spread itself to another host through organ transplant, fluid contact or sores. Sores are not noticeable through skin enhancements, but will become a source of infection and will become visible with any physical wound.

Find Bio% = Bioware/Natural.

Chance of catching TPX:

Type	%
Bad Organ Transplant	95*bio%
infected fluid IV	75*bio%
Infected fluid spatter	40*bio%
sore splatter	10*bio%

After Infection

Player who has first been infected will only feel a fever and resist a (6bio%)L Stun resisted with Natural Body (round up). This would go on daily for 4 to 5 days. GM keep track of total boxes taken. After 4-5 days, blotches appear and players take (8bio%)M Physical damage. This will go on for another 4-5 days. Third phase, the blotches become the red blisters and damage goes to (10*%bio)M physical. The player now has headaches, sore muscles and pain from the reason why the GM has been counting boxes. If the player has taken 5 boxes of damage and a piece of bioware has a +2 bonus it is now a +1. If a player has taken 10 boxes, a piece of bioware has been destroyed. The size of the blisters depends on the size of the bioware damaged or destroyed. This will affect the player not only with the loss of bonus, but the possible loss of organs. Toxin Extractor, Pathological defense, and Nephritic Screen do not help in resisting TPX. Loss of brain structures causes a mental disorder, and permanent loss of int. Nerve loss causes a permanent loss of Quickness and gland loss causes a loss of body.

But fear not, if diagnosed, it can be treated, but not immunized. It is treated with Meatrice drugs, which cost 150 yen per dose and needs to be taken for 5 days. At this time TN to resist damage is lowered by 2, unless in intensive care, then no more damage is taken to bioware. Street index for Meatrice is 8.

NOTE: TPX does not effect Muscle Augmentation and Enhanced articulation. TPX will still be effected by symbiotes.

> Not as bad as the Jell-O maker, but have you ever seen a quick thinking Decker turn into a vegetable because of TPX? Company insurance does not cover stupidity.
> Fast Jack

Some bad waste out there.

> We warned the Johnson, and now the juice is loose. The juice is Long Chains with simple names. DDT and PCB, Carcinogenic and Estrogen mimics. Now Mr. Johnson too has to deal with the juice.
> Blitzen, Aleutian tribesman