Cyberpunk-style "Splicer" template

[Seamonster]

I'm looking to create a cybernetic medic template for a futuristic game. The template is intended to be a hybrid - he's not a "healer" like the field medic, and he's not a versatile mechanic either. He's really like a mechanic for humans - installing and repairing parts, etc. The inspiration came from the "Splicer" character type in 3e GURPS Cyberpunk (p. 16). I like the idea and feel of it, but there isn't much info for specific traits and skills.

Right now I'm thinking vital skills are Surgery (Cybernetics), Physician (for anesthesia, at least), Scrounging, Diagnosis, Electronics Operation (Medical), and Mechanic (Robotics). I don't think First Aid is appropriate for this template, but I could be wrong.

What other skills do I need for the concept? Any advice on traits would be welcome too.

Thanks.

[vicky_molokh]

First Aid is no good if you take a lot of Physician.

Tissue Engineering is good for making those biomods.

I wouldn't specialise Surgery, because the +1 to installing stuff is meh when it comes at the cost of -1 to everything else.

Efficient is a must-have if you work in the field.

[Seamonster]

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

First Aid is no good if you take a lot of Physician.

I wasn't thinking of First Aid for this template, but I thought it was the skill for bandaging and treating shock (p. B424). Isn't Physician more "administrative" treatment, with drugs and longterm care?

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by Seamonster

I wasn't thinking of First Aid for this template, but I thought it was the skill for bandaging and treating shock (p. B424). Isn't Physician more "administrative" treatment, with drugs and longterm care?

Check the defaults.

[theothersarah]

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

Check the defaults.

However as you said, it really only matters if you take gobs of Physician. First Aid is Easy and has a Physician-4 default, but Physician is a Hard skill. Depending on the point level of the campaign it could be better to put a single point into First Aid than nothing.

Edit: That said, I agree that First Aid isn't really a skill that such a character would necessarily have. Obviously they'd know enough about health care to perform first aid in a pinch (hence the default) but I don't think that they'd necessarily have a large amount of experience performing such treatment. If they do, for some reason, then that's something an individual character can have rather than the template.

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by theothersarah

However as you said, it really only matters if you take gobs of Physician. First Aid is Easy and has a Physician-4 default, but Physician is a Hard skill. Depending on the point level of the campaign it could be better to put a single point into First Aid than nothing.

Not Physician-4. It is, IQ-4, Veterinary-4, Physician or Esoteric Medicine.

[theothersarah]

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

Not Physician-4. It is, IQ-4, Veterinary-4, Physician or Esoteric Medicine.

You're right, it had so many -4s around it that I guess it confused me. That's a lot better than I thought, and clearly means that you don't need First Aid if you're a reasonably-skilled Physician.

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by Seamonster

What other skills do I need for the concept? Any advice on traits would be welcome too.

Pharmacy will be useful, sometimes you need to work with or against the client's immune system.

Contacts are likely to be useful. Empathy or Callous fit.

[Daigoro]

Won't he need some Electronics (Cybernetics) and maybe Armoury skills, for the weapons and other tech he's implanting?

[Seamonster]

Originally Posted by Daigoro

Won't he need some Electronics (Cybernetics) and maybe Armoury skills, for the weapons and other tech he's implanting?

According to Ultra Tech, p. 208, Mechanic (Robotics) is used to repair cybernetics; Electronics Operation (Medical) or Diagnosis to detect concealed cyber-parts; and Surgery for implanting cyberwear.

I can't find another Electronics Operation specialization that would apply. I suppose Armoury would only apply if the template also makes weapons to be implanted; Engineer (Robotics) if the template is designing/inventing new cyberwear. Both of these are not appropriate to the base template, I feel.

Someone mentioned Pharmacy. I'm fine with that, but I guess I don't fully understand why. Pharmacy (Synthetic) is "The skill of preparing drugs under 'laboratory' conditions. To prescribe drugs, use Physician skill." I just don't see my Splicer template being able to make drugs, just know what they are and prescribe/use them. Does that seem right?