Hardware: Bionics Genius

HARDWARE: BIONICS GENIUS by Severus Snape

These characters are the geniuses who design and build the bionic systems that are placed into people, as well as the surgeons who implant the devices. The bionics genius is able to take a bunch of wires and scrap metal and turn it into a viable limb or organ replacement, or a weapon or sensor to be implanted into someone. They are also skilled doctors and nurses, able to take their creations and implant them into others as part of bionic surgery.

Bionics Related Skills and Bonuses

The following skills are received in addition to Scholastic and Secondary skills. Note that this character loses two skill programs due to receiving these and the special skills.

Advanced Mathematics (+25%)

Basic Electronics (+10%)

Basic Mechanics (+10%)

Biology (+20%)

Chemistry (+20%)

Chemistry, Analytical (+20%)

2 Communications Skills of Choice (+10%)

First Aid (+20%)

Mechanical Engineer (+30%)

3 Mechanical or Electronic Skills of Choice (+20%)

Paramedic (+20%)

Bionics Genius Special Skills

Medical Doctor, Bionics (80% + 2%/level): This skill is a more specialized form of the Medical Doctor skill in that the character is skilled and knowledgeable about all things to do with bionics and bionic replacement of tissues, organs, and limbs in the human body. The character is skilled in performing the surgical techniques that allow one to implant a bionic part into the human body and have it function as if it had been there since birth.

As with the Medical Doctor skill, the character is able to diagnose injuries and diseases, but only to the extent that he or she can determine how to solve the problem with bionics and/or bionic replacement. This is vastly different from the Medical Doctor skill in that those with the Medical

Doctor skill can accurately diagnose and treat injuries and diseases, while this skill only allows for diagnosing based on how to correct the problem with bionics. An example would be a compound fracture of the skull. A Medical Doctor would be able to diagnose the fracture, explain all the options regarding every type of surgery, and may even be able to do the surgery himself. The bionics genius will see that it’s a fracture of the skull, and then be able to only determine the best course of bionic replacement for the skull fracture.

It should be said that many bionics geniuses also have the rudimentary (in their eyes) Medical Doctor skill in addition to having this skill.

Bionic Electronics (80% + 2%/level): This skill is a more specialized form of the Robot Electronics skill, except that the character is only able to analyze and repair the micro-circuitry of bionic parts. Robotic parts cannot be analyzed or repaired using this skill; the character would need to have the Robot Electronics skill in order to do that.

Bionic Mechanics (80% + 2%/level): This skill is a more specialized form of the Robot Mechanics skill, except that the character is only able to analyze, build, and/or repair bionic parts. Robotic parts cannot be analyzed, built, or repaired using this skill; the character would need to have the Robot Mechanics skill in order to do that.

Recognize Bionic Quality (80% + 2%/level): This skill allows the bionic genius the ability to look at bionic parts, either those already implanted inside someone or spare parts in a lab, and gauge the quality of the part. This includes the ability to gauge the workmanship, quality of the raw materials used to create the bionic part, and the quality/effectiveness of the implantation. The character can also attempt to determine the quality of the equipment used to create the bionic part by looking at the part only, but does so with a -30% penalty to this skill. If the character has access to the equipment used to create the part, the penalty does not apply when gauging the quality of the equipment.

Budget

Bionics Geniuses receive a starting budget, but this budget is not used to build a bionic character. Instead, the budget is used to purchase spare bionic parts and medical equipment used to implant those parts. At least 90% of the starting budget must be spent on spare parts and medical equipment (such as a portable laboratory or medical imager). The remaining 10% may be spent on bionic parts for the Bionics Genius himself from any of the bionic categories except Internal Organs, Bionic Military Weapons, and Bionic Body Armor. It is assumed that the character has implanted these items himself, and the above categories would prevent the character from doing this. Furthermore, should the character have enough cash, the Partial, Full, and Brain Transplant conversions are not an option. Any money from the budget that is not spent may be saved for future use, but only for the purchase of bionic parts or the raw materials to craft them from.

Working on and implanting bionic parts requires a fairly specialized work area. You need an area dedicated to researching the part, another to construct it, and a third to perform the surgery. It is assumed that the character either has, has access to, or at one time had access to such a facility that is/was outfitted with 3d4 x $100,000 in equipment and tools needed to work on the parts and/or the implantation. If the facility is owned by the character (see Sponsoring Organizations above), then it is assumed that the character has spent 4d6 x $10,000 on the location of the facility itself. Any money left over from the budget can be used for additional items for the facility, such as security or additional equipment.

Roll once on the following table to determine budget. Alternatively, you can select whichever amount you feel is adequate for the character’s concept.

01-06 $1 million

07-13 $1.5 million

14-19 $2 million

20-26 $2.5 million

27-32 $3 million

33-39 $3.5 million

40-45 $4 million

46-52 $4.5 million

53-58 $5 million

59-65 $5.5 million

66-71 $6 million

72-78 $6.5 million

79-86 $7 million

87-93 $7.5 million

94-00 $8 million

You’ll notice that the budget amounts can get quite large. Due to the ever-increasing cost of raw materials and the bionic parts that are made, it becomes necessary to have a rather large supply of cash on hand to purchase that stuff. Raw materials aren't cheap, and ready-made parts are even more expensive. So the character will need a decent budget to start with if he or she is to make bionic magic.

Other Stuff

Alignment: Characters can be of any alignment, but heroes are generally good people.

Other Skills: For starters, the character receives a bonus of +10% to any mechanical or medical skill. The character may use his or her Secondary Skills to pick any skills normally available as such, as well as using Secondary Skills to select any that are not normally available as long as they are mechanical or medical in nature.

Hand to Hand Combat: Hand to Hand skills must be selected by the character. If not, the character will have only the 2 Hand to Hand melee actions per round that all heroes receive.

Actions/Attacks per Melee Round: As stated, unless Hand to Hand skills are selected, the character will only have 2 melee actions per round.

Weapons and Armor: Unless the character is extremely wealthy or has ties to the military, he or she will only have access to conventional weapons and armor.

Structural Damage Capacity (S.D.C.): As with all Hardware characters, the Bionics Genius starts with 35 SDC, plus any SDC gained through physical training/skill selection. Selection of multiple Hardware areas of expertise does not provide additional SDC bonuses.

Other Options: If the Game Master allows it, the Bionics Genius may give up 3 of his or her Hand to Hand attacks and reduce all skill bonuses in half to select a second area of expertise. These attacks may never be gotten back, and the skill bonus reduction is permanent, but the character would end up with quite the list of skills and abilities. Characters may not have more than 2 areas of expertise.