Expanding Unusual Biochemistry

Kesendeja · 05-17-2021, 10:55 AM

While the base disadvantage rules for Unusual Biochemistry work best for near humans, they are not the only creatures that exist in scifi and fantasy, to name the to most relevant genres. So to deal with something truly alien, I think it needs to be expand on. I've recopied the base power to give some idea of the changes. Comments and Critiques are welcome.

Unusual Biochemistry
-5 points
You can subsist on human food, but your biochemistry is sufficiently different from that of humans that drugs intended for humans don’t work or have unpredictable effects. Drugs that are specific to your biochemistry work normally, but cost 10 times as much as usual.
When you receive a drug intended for humans, roll 1d:
1-3 – Normal effect.
4-5 – Normal effect, plus an additional harmful effect of the GM’s choosing: lose 1d FP (sickness and nausea), suffer an amplified version of the drug’s usual negative side effects, etc.
6 – No effect at all.

-10 Points
You can subsist on some human foods (50% chance they can sustain you). But Drugs have a greater chance of simply not working and causing harmful side effects.
1 Works normally
2-3 Normal effect, plus an additional harmful effect of the GM’s choosing: lose 1d FP (sickness and nausea), suffer an amplified version of the drug’s usual negative side effects, etc.
4-5 Only the harmful side effects apply.
6- No effect.

-20 Points
Your species is sufficiently removed from the baseline of humanity that you cannot survive off human food. It will either do nothing or make you violently ill.
1-3 No nutrients are gained.
4-5 In addition to no nutrients being gained, it also makes you sick. Lose 1d FP to sickness and nausea.
6 Whatever it is you consumed makes you violently ill. Lose 1d FP to sickness and nausea, and 1d HP to poison.
Drugs are in a similar situation.
1- No effect
2-4 It causes 1d FP damage and 1d HP
5-6 Almost always fatal 2d FP damage and 3d HP damage

Shuckster · 05-17-2021, 10:59 AM

I feel like truly unnatural biochemistry (like say, non-carbon-based life) could potentially suffer ill effects from the very atmosphere of the planet, requiring a space suit of sorts that has whatever gasses they breath etc.

Also at the higher levels sickness could be a symptom but toxic damage is probably in order, though admittedly the GM might choose to have that effect already. Maybe if the HT roll is a crit fail or something.

05-17-2021, 10:55 AM	#1
Kesendeja Join Date: Jul 2013	Expanding Unusual Biochemistry While the base disadvantage rules for Unusual Biochemistry work best for near humans, they are not the only creatures that exist in scifi and fantasy, to name the to most relevant genres. So to deal with something truly alien, I think it needs to be expand on. I've recopied the base power to give some idea of the changes. Comments and Critiques are welcome. Unusual Biochemistry -5 points You can subsist on human food, but your biochemistry is sufficiently different from that of humans that drugs intended for humans don’t work or have unpredictable effects. Drugs that are specific to your biochemistry work normally, but cost 10 times as much as usual. When you receive a drug intended for humans, roll 1d: 1-3 – Normal effect. 4-5 – Normal effect, plus an additional harmful effect of the GM’s choosing: lose 1d FP (sickness and nausea), suffer an amplified version of the drug’s usual negative side effects, etc. 6 – No effect at all. -10 Points You can subsist on some human foods (50% chance they can sustain you). But Drugs have a greater chance of simply not working and causing harmful side effects. 1 Works normally 2-3 Normal effect, plus an additional harmful effect of the GM’s choosing: lose 1d FP (sickness and nausea), suffer an amplified version of the drug’s usual negative side effects, etc. 4-5 Only the harmful side effects apply. 6- No effect. -20 Points Your species is sufficiently removed from the baseline of humanity that you cannot survive off human food. It will either do nothing or make you violently ill. 1-3 No nutrients are gained. 4-5 In addition to no nutrients being gained, it also makes you sick. Lose 1d FP to sickness and nausea. 6 Whatever it is you consumed makes you violently ill. Lose 1d FP to sickness and nausea, and 1d HP to poison. Drugs are in a similar situation. 1- No effect 2-4 It causes 1d FP damage and 1d HP 5-6 Almost always fatal 2d FP damage and 3d HP damage __________________ My GURPS Blog: https://omniversalmess.blogspot.com/ Last edited by Kesendeja; 05-17-2021 at 07:27 PM. Reason: Added the drug effects for the -20 point version

05-17-2021, 10:59 AM	#2
Shuckster Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Near Chicago	Re: Expanding Unusual Biochemistry I feel like truly unnatural biochemistry (like say, non-carbon-based life) could potentially suffer ill effects from the very atmosphere of the planet, requiring a space suit of sorts that has whatever gasses they breath etc. Also at the higher levels sickness could be a symptom but toxic damage is probably in order, though admittedly the GM might choose to have that effect already. Maybe if the HT roll is a crit fail or something.