Disadvantage - gigantism and interactions with other genetic anomalities

[Solomon Draak]

So.
As we know by following the incredible life of Andre the Giant, most athletes and wrestlers who owned their size to gigantism suffered intense pain throughout their body as they got older. Many, like Andre, died of congestive heart failure. Yet the main problem faced by the giant was the weakening of his joints, leading him to break his ankle just by slightly twisting it.

Now. There is a genetic anomaly, that mabye inspired the film Unbreakable ( with Bruce Willis, year 2000 ) that produces incredibly high bone density and almost indestructible skeletons ( LRP5 gene mutation ).

So.
Thought exercise: if someone suffering from acromegaly, like Andre, also had the mixed blessing of ultra-dense bones due LRP5 mutation, could he benefit from this combination? Would he suffer less - or not at all - from joint and spine weakening?

And, if we add in the mix a myostatin-related anomaly ( genetic induced muscle hypertrophy ) could the increased muscle mass and reduced adipose mass help the giant to sustain his own weight?

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by Solomon Draak

So.
As we know by following the incredible life of Andre the Giant, most athletes and wrestlers who owned their size to gigantism suffered intense pain throughout their body as they got older. Many, like Andre, died of congestive heart failure. Yet the main problem faced by the giant was the weakening of his joints, leading him to break his ankle just by slightly twisting it.

?

Please note that none of these problems are automatically part of the Gurps Disadvantage of Gigantism.

Actually, no Gurps Disadvantages (or Advantages) seem to be involved.

I'm not sure it should even be labeled (Bio-tech) because of course the Bio-tech book allows for the possibility of genetic improvements. That's a substantial part of what it's for.

Maybe it's a question f real world biology but you're not likely to get a truly informed answer.

[Solomon Draak]

I should have wrote the questions more clearly.

How would you replicate ingame a gene anomality that increase bone density, and one that increase passive muscle mass grow?

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by Solomon Draak

I should have wrote the questions more clearly.

How would you replicate ingame a gene anomality that increase bone density, and one that increase passive muscle mass grow?

As works of the TL9+ Genetic Engineering Skill.

[Varyon]

Originally Posted by Solomon Draak

How would you replicate ingame a gene anomality that increase bone density

Injury Tolerance: Unbreakable Bones. That's not truly accurate, but it's close enough for gaming purposes. You could also justify increased HP.

Originally Posted by Solomon Draak

and one that increase passive muscle mass grow?

Higher ST, paid for normally - a human with a genetic mutation that results in extreme muscle growth doesn't get a discount any more readily than an orc does. If you limit humans to ST 20, you might treat a character like this as having a higher cap, either as a Feature or perhaps a leveled Perk (essentially, a 1-point Unusual Background for every +1 to ST beyond 20, paid for when the character actually exceeds the previous cap).

[Rupert]

Originally Posted by Solomon Draak

I should have wrote the questions more clearly.

How would you replicate ingame a gene anomality that increase bone density, and one that increase passive muscle mass grow?

By giving the character more ST and Hit Points, as seems appropriate for their increased strength and robustness. If they're also very big, Gigantism might also be appropriate.

GURPS doesn't generally care about where stats come from, just what they are.

[Inky]

And apparently none of this would negate the Gigantism feature (it actually seems to be a Feature (0 points), not a Disadvantage), as its only mechanical disadvantages in GURPS seem to be that you get -2 to Disguise and Shadowing and have to buy custom-made clothes and armour, neither of which would be affected by strong muscles or bones.

The GURPS feature seems to assume that you already have whatever is needed to be able to be that big without physical ill effects - unrealistic, maybe, except over short timescales, but makes the mechanics simpler.

If for some reason you happened to want to represent someone with realistic acromegaly, that might be Gigantism plus some Disadvantages, I'm not sure which ones.

[Rupert]

Originally Posted by Inky

If for some reason you happened to want to represent someone with realistic acromegaly, that might be Gigantism plus some Disadvantages, I'm not sure which ones.

That would depend on the character's age and how long the campaign was expected to last. In later life Chronic Pain would be suitable, as would low HT. Short Lifespan 1 might be too steep.

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by Inky

And apparently none of this would negate the Gigantism feature (it actually seems to be a Feature (0 points), not a Disadvantage), as its only mechanical disadvantages in GURPS seem to be that you get -2 to Disguise and Shadowing and have to buy custom-made clothes and armour, .

There's supposed to be a much bigger one. all of your enemies are +1 to hit you because you're SM+1. Yes, in melee too. I was surprised when Kromm first told me that.

[Rupert]

Originally Posted by Fred Brackin

There's supposed to be a much bigger one. all of your enemies are +1 to hit you because you're SM+1. Yes, in melee too. I was surprised when Kromm first told me that.

And in melee you get a -1 to hit SM+0 targets unless making a grappling attack (in which case you get +1 instead). OTOH your length 'C' weapons now have length '1'.