[Gonad808]

I'm looking over the choices between cyber ware and bio ware, my question is why would you take cyber ware over bio when the bio uses less essence?  Is there starting restrictions? Sorry I'm still a noob

[ScytheKnight]

The two main reasons are the Nuyen price, Cyberware tends to be much cheaper, and different or combined abilities.

Sure cyberware, bioware and genetech all have initiative boosters. However only Wired Reflexes can be combined with Reaction Enhancer for more Reflexes, also only Move By Wire will also act as a free Skillwires system.

Another factor to consider is Chrome Flesh contains a Quality that reduces Essence cost of either Cyberware or Bioware as well as Genetech that reduces Essence cost of Cyberware.

Basically it comes down to exactly what you're trying to do, and what prove you're willing to pay.

[Gonad808]

Thanks for the reply, my Gm was alittle suprised when I brought bio ware to his attention. He hasn't played in a long time too so we were confused about it, thanks for clearing that up.

[ScytheKnight]

Thanks for the reply, my Gm was alittle suprised when I brought bio ware to his attention. He hasn't played in a long time too so we were confused about it, thanks for clearing that up.

All good. One of the major things to consider is the limitations of Bioware as an analog system, it can push the metahuman body to its limits and beyond, but is also ultimately limited by what a metahuman body can do. Cyberware on the other hand is a digital system, it can do anything a computer or machine can do. This is part of why Cyberware tends to have such a steep Essence cost, not only because it's metal, wires and computers, but because it grants abilities completely outside metahuman capabilities.

Sure Bioware has the Tracheal Filter to give you bonus dice to resist breathing in toxins... but only Cyberware can give you internal Air Tanks that eliminate the need to breath at all for an hour. That said, Bioware also does stuff that Cyberware can't do like Platelet Factories to minimize wounds, Sybiotes to boost your healing, Tailored Pheromones to make you more personable or boost your mental capabilities.

[Gonad808]

Yea I'm going bio for the fact that I don't need to ever worry about being hacked lol, in our last campaign one of the only things I remember is a street sam being beat to death by his own arm..... I refuse to let the GM do it to me lol

[ScytheKnight]

Yea I'm going bio for the fact that I don't need to ever worry about being hacked lol, in our last campaign one of the only things I remember is a street sam being beat to death by his own arm..... I refuse to let the GM do it to me lol

 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RIUxQtpsis

That said, the easy defense against hackers is use Cyberware with no wireless bonuses, then you just have everything wireless off and thus hacker-proof.

[Gonad808]

Hahaha exactly, I thought about leaving it off but then he is a funny guy and probably catch me with it on in a restroom or something, then forsure I would glitch....

[Csjarrat]

Yea I'm going bio for the fact that I don't need to ever worry about being hacked lol, in our last campaign one of the only things I remember is a street sam being beat to death by his own arm..... I refuse to let the GM do it to me lol

 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RIUxQtpsis

That said, the easy defense against hackers is use Cyberware with no wireless bonuses, then you just have everything wireless off and thus hacker-proof.

Don't worry about that. implant a commlink and internal router (chrome flesh) and it eliminates the need for wireless but still gives you the bonus. 0.7 ess is harsh, but alpha with biocompatibility quality brings it down a lot.

[Whiskeyjack]

I'm looking over the choices between cyber ware and bio ware, my question is why would you take cyber ware over bio when the bio uses less essence?  Is there starting restrictions? Sorry I'm still a noob

It completely depends on the ware.

There are some pieces of ware under both categories that do similar things, but cyber tends to be cheaper in money but larger in Essence, while bio usually costs less Essence but more money.

Usually a blend is the optimal way to approach ware. For example, Synaptic Boosters are money-intensive, but Essence-lighter, but you can't get to the REA boost levels as you can with cyberware combos (so I will pretty much always try to take the cyberware combo). By contrast, Muscle Replacement is cheaper than a combo of Toner + Augmentation, but not all characters are going to benefit from the STR boost or want to pay so much Essence.

[Gonad808]

Thanks for all the help guys I was torn afew ways for sure, alot of it is cleared up now. I appreciate it alot

[Whiskeyjack]

If you have any specific questions on pieces of ware (e.g., Wired Reflexes vs Synaptic Boosters, the pros and cons of each) feel free to ask

[Gonad808]

I think I finally got it, after reading over the section a bunch of times I'm gonna go with bioware for this character. It's a female elf. She is gonna use her Charisma to get her way so visually bioware is the way to go. Helps that bioware has the Tailored pheromones. Should be a fun character to run.

[ScytheKnight]

Bioware is a pretty good choice for an augmented character that wants to double as a face. Just don't discount Cyberware completely, sure having cybereyes would be a giveaway, but you can get Smartlink chipped in on its own for a boost to ranged combat. Or paired cyber melee weapons for a +1 Reach bonus in unarmed combat. Or a Datajack/Implanted Comlink for DNI.

Most builds even when they focus on one over the other, still take a piece or two of the other that suits their character's needs.

[Top Dog]

She is gonna use her Charisma to get her way so visually bioware is the way to go.

While there's plenty of visible cyberware (cyberlimbs being the archetypical example), there is plenty of cyberware that's invisible as far as normal (and most abnormal) vision goes - bone lacing, muscle replacements, wired reflexes and plenty of others are fully internal and don't make you appear any different from a normal human (much the same as bioware). Cyberware is (often) easier to scan for, but that's only really a thing with high-end scanning equipment and magical assensing - and if they're doing that, your appearance through the scan won't matter.

In the end, you don't have to pick one. Each type has certain pieces that are "better" than the other side (sometimes that depends on your particular needs, too). Cyberware does Bone augmentation better, while for most characters Bioware does muscle replacements better. There's no disadvantage in mixing the two.

Mind you, a character that's squeamish about Cyberware ("Metal in my body? No way!") but perfectly okay with "natural" upgrades is an interesting choice, if that's what you're going for, and both categories can do most of the things you'll want well enough.

[Gonad808]

Yea I ended up getting some cyber ware for my character ( smartlink, light pistol implant) not discounting cyberware at all just not going with things I would think would be obvious. I appreciate all the help guys