[Basic] Advantage of the Week (#32): Damage Resistance, Nictitating Membrane

[Otaku]

Originally Posted by ericthered

-20% to only protect that one arm?

If you re-read the entry on p. B47, you notice that protecting Only One Arm is -40%. Remember, you multiply by two if only one limb is affected. A single arm is even the example, so it specifically calls it out as being worth -40%.

Whether that is worth it or not, I don't know. I did not quote your comment about Tech Level, but I think we can say that about most Advantages technology can well replicate.

[sir_pudding]

Terminators probably just have Secret (Infiltration Cyborg) which turns into Monstrous Appearance and Social Stigma: Monster if revealed.

[TGLS]

Going by Ultra-Tech, which Will to Live works off of, an Android takes an appropriate Biomorphic Lens, and if revealed, doesn't necessarily fall to Monstrous appearance. Terminators are in the eye of the beholder, but they don't look that bad (though they are despised for entirely unrelated reasons)

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by TGLS

Terminators are in the eye of the beholder, but they don't look that bad (though they are despised for entirely unrelated reasons)

The original film was Sci-fi/horror, the Terminator was literally the monster. Animated skeletons often have Monstrous Appearance, chroming them doesn't seem to be a significant improvement.

[Bruno]

Another way a revealed terminator gets to people is seeing an alleged human with a) a massive injury and b) mechanical parts sticking out of their insides.

This is a great representative of fear of mutilation - both the original injury and a body mutilated with mechanical pieces. Toss in a dose of fear of the Other - the changeling/alien/reptile people/terminator hiding amongst us, pretending to be one of us, but so very very not.

[Kalzazz]

I admit I've never used no signature myself

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by Bruno

Another way a revealed terminator gets to people is seeing an alleged human with a) a massive injury and b) mechanical parts sticking out of their insides.

This is a great representative of fear of mutilation - both the original injury and a body mutilated with mechanical pieces. Toss in a dose of fear of the Other - the changeling/alien/reptile people/terminator hiding amongst us, pretending to be one of us, but so very very not.

Like that scene in the second Terminator where what looks to be an insane man "de-gloves" his flesh hand only to reveal a machine part. It changes a near generic realistic horror into an existential "everything you know is wrong" confusing terror.
Few like to be fooled, but turning a fundamental "one of us" into a "thing" is a visceral betrayal of trust that reaches deep into our basal tetrapodal psyche, I think.

Though some, if not much, of that could be culture/setting dependent. THS citizens may have virtually no instinctive concept of "thing", because everything in common use has some computer intelligence and language.
While even a basic metal dental "grill" may freak out ancient peoples. "Why are you part rock?"

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

Though some, if not much, of that could be culture/setting dependent.

Yes, which is why the scenario you described doesn't, I think, actually have anything to do with modifiers on DR.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Yes, which is why the scenario you described doesn't, I think, actually have anything to do with modifiers on DR.

My hypothetical character isn't from THS, so that world's unique oddities wouldn't count. Perhaps we could at least categorize where such modifications do and do not fit. I'm getting a little confused with some of the vague language here, my own included sadly.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

My hypothetical character isn't from THS, so that world's unique oddities wouldn't count. Perhaps we could at least categorize where such modifications do and do not fit. I'm getting a little confused with some of the vague language here, my own included sadly.

That character's problem isn't that they have a subcutaneous armor layer that doesn't pass for human if revealed. Their problem is that humans will react negatively to the nonhuman in their midst if revealed. That is a Secret.