Mental Exercise: Sanitized Metabolism

[Tallor]

Say there's a conflict between two factions, both very alike one another in tactics, strength, and technology, but one of them is using a bioroid army that has Sanitized Metabolism.

What sort of vast changes could occur from such a simple perk? What do you think?

[PTTG]

If both sides have a sense of smell, which I think is safe to assume since they are lifelike enough to, by default, have unsanitized metabolisms, then the sanitized side has superior olfactory stealth.

I could see a GM granting that side a +1 to the opening strategy roll for the sanitized side, if that side is using a misleading attack or ambush.

Additionally, morale would be moderately improved for all units. Driving around with a bunch of big sweaty robots is never fun.

[vicky_molokh]

A rather minor logistic advantage due to not needing [as] many sanitization items.
The mutual +1 Reaction among troops in many contexts can probably be counted as a further morale/coherence boost, but I don't think GURPS Mass Combat is capable of accounting for it.
As mentioned, minor olfactory stealth boost and a negation of certain olfactory stealth penalties.

[Wavefunction]

I always read Sanitized Metabolism as not producing any waste products, or if you do, then they're completely sanitary and fragrant. Which seems like it'd be a pretty significant advantage. More so at low tech than high tech. You don't need to take off armor to go to the loo, you don't have to worry about infection or illness due to the waste pits being too close to the camp, heck you don't even need to spend the time digging a waste pit/don't need a bathroom in the starship, saving weight.

[malloyd]

Originally Posted by Tallor

What sort of vast changes could occur from such a simple perk? What do you think?

If you can get vast changes from a perk it's either mispriced or your interpreting it wrong. Everybody has a sanitized metabolism means conditions are a little nicer or less stressful for the same cost of living/life support weight/occupation density/logistics chain/routine cleaning effort, which is nice as a quality of life thing, but fairly minor in a fight. As problems go "this foxhole smells bad" comes in way, way below "they're shooting at us".

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by malloyd

If you can get vast changes from a perk it's either mispriced or your interpreting it wrong. Everybody has a sanitized metabolism means conditions are a little nicer or less stressful for the same cost of living/life support weight/occupation density/logistics chain/routine cleaning effort, which is nice as a quality of life thing, but fairly minor in a fight. As problems go "this foxhole smells bad" comes in way, way below "they're shooting at us".

Perks are priced for individual usefulness, not for species-level benefits.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

Perks are priced for individual usefulness, not for species-level benefits.

But there aren't that many that have collective effects that are hugely greater than their individual benefit. Reproductive perks being a notable exception.

[dhasenan]

Sanitized Metabolism has its greatest effect with large armies before TL6.

A ton of people living at close quarters, with poor hygiene -- one gets cholera and a tenth of your army could be dead in a few weeks. Sanitized Metabolism eliminates that problem. All your excreta is sanitized. You just have to ensure that people who start vomiting stay away from the rest of the army -- an advancement that, unfortunately, might not be available until late TL5 through late TL6.

[Tallor]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

But there aren't that many that have collective effects that are hugely greater than their individual benefit. Reproductive perks being a notable exception.

Like clone armies having some kind of Short Gestation*!

*Not including the Clone Army, who just had Short Lifespan 1.