Analgine discrepancy

[Daigoro]

The stats for Analgine on UT p205 and in Biotech on p149 are a bit different. Which ones should be considered, and I hesitate to use the word, official?

[Hans Rancke-Madsen]

Originally Posted by Daigoro

The stats for Analgine on UT p205 and in Biotech on p149 are a bit different. Which ones should be considered, and I hesitate to use the word, official?

How different? Small enough to just be considered two different brands? Is the weaker one also cheaper?


Hans

[Mailanka]

Originally Posted by Hans Rancke-Madsen

How different? Small enough to just be considered two different brands? Is the weaker one also cheaper?


Hans

Completely different mechanics.

The Biotech version grants HPT for (25-HT)/4 hours but makes you Drowsy and costs $2, while the Ultra-Tech version "masks pain" (no further rules mechanics given) for half the users HT in hours, but makes you Numb, and costs $50.

They're different enough that I tend to pick one and ignore the other.

[Langy]

For any kinds of drugs/medical stuff, I'd go with the Biotech information instead of the Ultra-Tech information. However, since Analgine is a made-up drug, you can probably use the Ultra-Tech stuff without any problems. Just make sure you note which one you're using in a campaign, or call them Analgine-A and Analgine-B or something.

[Daigoro]

Yeah, the Biotech one sounds more authorative. And it's unusual for a drug to last longer on people with higher HT, although the effect is generally beneficial.

The 'masks pain' bit could reasonably be interpreted to mean that it grants High Pain Threshold.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by Mailanka

Completely different mechanics.

The Biotech version grants HPT for (25-HT)/4 hours but makes you Drowsy and costs $2, while the Ultra-Tech version "masks pain" (no further rules mechanics given) for half the users HT in hours, but makes you Numb, and costs $50.

They're different enough that I tend to pick one and ignore the other.

They're different enough that you could use both and rebrand one of them

[Lupo]

Originally Posted by Mailanka

Completely different mechanics.

The Biotech version grants HPT for (25-HT)/4 hours but makes you Drowsy and costs $2, while the Ultra-Tech version "masks pain" (no further rules mechanics given) for half the users HT in hours, but makes you Numb, and costs $50.

The Ultra-Tech version is badly written (or at least, it's incomplete) so there should be little doubt... choose the Biotech version which actually tells you how Analgine works in GURPS.

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by Daigoro

The stats for Analgine on UT p205 and in Biotech on p149 are a bit different. Which ones should be considered, and I hesitate to use the word, official?

I'd really say use one or the other as convenient. Note that this applies to Antirad as well as Analgine.

If you were going to go by publication date the UT versions are later but I detect more cut and paste from earlier editions in UT. I tend to prefer Biotech's greater detail and effort to update to 4e.

However, as a general issue there are multiple examples of different ways to do the similar things in BioTech. See the many different ways to grant the Resistant to Disease Ad. I think there's at least 4.

Compared on cost and other factors one would come out best and the others would go away, but not every version will exist in every game world. The multiple techniques are there to let you customize your game world.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by Fred Brackin

...
Compared on cost and other factors one would come out best and the others would go away, but not every version will exist in every game world. The multiple techniques are there to let you customize your game world.

That doesn't happen in the real world. How many OTC pain killers are there? Even if one was drastically more effective on average, there is still the issue of allergies.
For example, I'm deathly afraid of surgery, because of my family's near immunity to opiates. I would probably try to score some cocaine for topical use if I ever had to go under the knife again. Lidocain is a joke for real pain.