Transhuman Space Methuselah ST+1
 

“Methuselah
see Broken Dreams, p. 120; 20 points
An early upgrade design, aiming for a substantially increased lifespan, with some success but also with disastrous neurological side effects.
Attribute Modifiers: ST+1 [10]; HT+3 [30].
Advantages: Extended Lifespan 1 [2]; Longevity [2]; Resistant to Disease (+8) [5]; Resistant to Poison (+3) [5].
Disadvantages: Epilepsy [-30]; Extra Sleep 2 [-4].
Features: No Appendix.
Date: 2045.
Cost: $20,000.”

Just curious as to why does Methuselah have ST+1? I assume it’s related to HT?

Re: Transhuman Space Methuselah ST+1
 

Nothing directly related to lifespan occurs to me.

This is a Parahuman so it could buy HP directly while Eugenic models can only get them as part of ST.

So, it's something that's part of some other aspect of life or it was even a semi-random choice by the designers.

Re: Transhuman Space Methuselah ST+1
 

The quoted text notes it was an early parahuman, so it may be assuming that, at the point when it was made, a general +1 ST was more readily doable than a focused +1 HP.

Re: Transhuman Space Methuselah ST+1
 

<shrugf>As likely as anything else but the rules don't reflect that.

Re: Transhuman Space Methuselah ST+1
 

I'm pretty certain the rules also don't say that parahumans have to have unintended Disadvantages, but many do (like the Methuselah's above having Epilepsy and Extra Sleep, or the Felicia-series from Bio-Tech sometimes getting a bit randy after using their speed boost). Or maybe the idea is that the researchers found that, at least at the time, boosting their muscle strength to match their increased resilience required only relatively-small adjustments, so might as well go for it - it's not like boosted strength is something people wouldn't want (it's realistically not a good option if you're trying to make a parahuman who can survive in a locale where calories are scarce, but I doubt the Methuselah-series were designed with that in mind... and GURPS typically doesn't scale needed food consumption with ST anyway, aside from SM-based effects).

Re: Transhuman Space Methuselah ST+1
 

I'm pretty sure those unintended Disads are David Pulver's idea of realism and game utility. Apparently perfect is boring and there's no serious consumer regulation for genotypes.

Re: Transhuman Space Methuselah ST+1
 

I would assume it's because muscular development, especially upper body strength, is associated with longer and higher quality of life.

Re: Transhuman Space Methuselah ST+1
 

I'd never heard that before. I have heard that taller people make more money but more money equaling longer lifespan is a little indirect.

Re: Transhuman Space Methuselah ST+1
 

Possibly some incidental side effect of making strong heart muscle and fiddling with fat retention tendencies.

Re: Transhuman Space Methuselah ST+1
 

It's not about being tall, keeping your back and core muscles in shape can help to prevent spine problems and otherwise maintain general activity levels, which tends to improve the span and quality of life.