Bomb-in-head disadvantage?

[Say, it isn't that bad!]

Originally Posted by Anthony

No, the main reason for adventuring is "implicit disadvantage: PC". While disads to get used as plot hooks (particularly duty and sense of duty) their main function is adding complications to attempting to resolve the adventure.

In any case, a disad that never actually goes off isn't worth anything, so unless your head will explode during the adventure, it's just worth the value of what it's coercing you to do. Which is Involuntary Duty.

Except with Involuntary Duty, you probably will at some point do something else, and your head probably won't explode.

[Anders]

Ultra-Tech has the Bomb Implant (p. 210), which gives an Involuntary Duty.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by Say, it isn't that bad!

Except with Involuntary Duty, you probably will at some point do something else, and your head probably won't explode.

It's well within the prerogatives of the GM to make your PCs head explode for breaking an involuntary duty.

[AlexanderHowl]

Cranial bombs are so crude though. A proper cyberpunk world would use a small implanted electical device to kill the brain and then claim the still living body as their property.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl

Cranial bombs are so crude though. A proper cyberpunk world would use a small implanted electical device to kill the brain and then claim the still living body as their property.

Nah, just make sure the cranial bomb it large enough to take out nearby targets and then use them as an assassin. Without telling them that's your plan, of course.

[Say, it isn't that bad!]

Originally Posted by Anthony

It's well within the prerogatives of the GM to make your PCs head explode for breaking an involuntary duty.

...Huh, so it does. That still makes that disad the reason the PC is adventuring, however - absent any other disads.

And "Disad - Player Character" tends to express itself through a collection of other disads, or an implicit setting disad. Like "Delusion (I can be rich and famous if I loot this dungeon)"

Edit: Note: It's entirely possible for a delusion to be true; the only real requirement is that there's no known reason for other people, or perhaps the player character themselves, to believe it.

[Pursuivant]

Isn't there a Perk which allows you to make a mutually-suicidal final strike?

If so, it certainly applies to cortex bomb implants which are big enough to take out those around you.

Unless there is no chance of having the bomb deactivated, or there is a chance that your enemies could activate it, I'd be wary of allowing a cortex bomb as a variant of the Terminally Ill disad. It's a lot of points for something that's essentially a plot device to enforce player compliance. Of course, maybe getting -40 or more character points for "Involuntarily passenger on the G&M Railroad" is worth it for certain players.

Instead, the "obey or you're dead" aspect of the implant is nothing more than a justification for the Involuntary enhancement to Duty. Likewise, a bomb which goes off if you're captured or if you threaten to reveal certain information might be justification to boost an ordinary Duty to Extremely Hazardous.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by Pursuivant

Unless there is no chance of having the bomb deactivated, or there is a chance that your enemies could activate it, I'd be wary of allowing a cortex bomb as a variant of the Terminally Ill disad.

Honestly, terminally ill isn't a disadvantage I permit in games at all. It's either free points or unplayable.

[Otaku]

I don't recall if this was true after revisions by later supplements (Ultra-Tech II, Cyberpunk, etc.), but originally a Cortex Bomb was a -15 point Disadvantage, at least, if points were being charged for cybernetics in the setting. The RAW version also did 1d concussion damage to anyone within a 2-hex radius.

If the setting allows the hacking of such implants, that might be worth some points as well. If someone skilled at hacking computers can force an Involuntary Duty (including one that contradicts the Duty imposed on you through the implant), or just kill you, that could be worth points... unless such risks are common enough for all people due to existing magic, psionics, etc.

[Anders]

Originally Posted by Pursuivant

Isn't there a Perk which allows you to make a mutually-suicidal final strike?

Sounds powerful for a perk. Build it as an ability at 1/5 normal cost (the usual cost for "one-use"). There is a perk that guarantees you'll go out with a bang, though.