Merits

While the World of Darkness Rulebook describes Merits in greater detail and provides lists of examples, cyborgs are removed somewhat from mortal society and often require unique or specialized Merits.

What follows are traits designed solely for cyborgs (both general cyborgs and Nanon as indicated), allowing players to further distinguish their characters from ordinary mortals and other nonhuman beings. These Merits are available at character creation and during the course of the chronicle. (It’s not possible for a strictly mortal character to have the following traits as presented here.)

Nanon Merits
Nanos (• to •••••) 

Nanos is the life blood of cyborgs. It fuels their Applications, repairs injuries to both organic and non-organic material and allows their bodies to evolve new cybernetic functions. Each dot of Nanos adds one die to the metabolism of the Nanon (see metabolism rolls on p. XX).

After resting for at least eight hours a Nanon recovers a number of Nanos equal to the number of dots the character possesses in the Nanos Merit, resulting in a Nanos total up to the number of dots the character has in the Nanos Merit plus Gestalt score. Any Nanos over this maximum is lost.

Safe House (• to •••••; special) 

Effect:  A safe house is a place where a cyborg can get away from the dangers of modern society. A safe house can be as simple as a sewer or an abandoned warehouse or a cabin in the woods, as long as it is off the grid and away from prying electronic eyes.

<span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">All safe houses are not created equal. A warehouse might have plenty of space, but it might not be secure against unwanted visitors. An abandoned subway car in a long-forgotten tunnel has space and adequate security, but you may have to go through monitored tunnels to reach it. Great time and effort is spent finding suitable safe houses, and their value is represented by three factors — location, size and security. Players who choose this Merit must also choose how to allocate these three factors when spending points. For instance, two points may be spent on Safe House Location, with a third spent on Safe House Security.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">A good Safe House Location is off the grid. Not only is the safe house off the grid, but the route by which to reach the safe house is free of electronic surveillance. A safe house with many dots in this category might be in the woods or in an abandoned part of town, while one with few dots might be across the street from an ATM with a camera. Each dot of Safe House Location grants a +1 die bonus on evasion checks for the character who controls it and any whom she allows in. Safe houses without any dots in Location are in the middle of metropolitan areas so close to monitored buildings as to not provide any bonus.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Safe House Size is important to characters who need a place to safely store their possessions and valuables. A safe house with no dots in Safe House Size is just large enough for its owner and perhaps a single companion, with minimal if any storage capacity—a cramped loft apartment. By spending points to increase a safe house’s size, a player allows for accoutrements and personal effects. Larger safe houses can be anything from mansions to mountain hideaways to vast subterranean catacombs. Note, however, that safe houses of considerable size are not necessarily easy to maintain.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">• A small apartment or underground chamber; 1-2 rooms

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">•• A large apartment or small family home; 3-4 rooms

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">••• A warehouse, church or large home; 5-8 rooms, or large enclosure

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">•••• A abandoned mansion or network of subway tunnels; equivalent of 9-15 rooms or chambers

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">••••• A sprawling estate or vast network of tunnels; countless rooms or chambers

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Of course, Safe House Location and Safe House Size do not prevent intrusion by mortals (police, criminal organizations, social workers). Players of characters who wish to ensure privacy and safety may choose to spend points on Safe House Security, thus making it difficult for others to gain entrance. Safe houses with no dots in Safe House Security can be found by those intent enough to look, and offer little protection once they have been breached. Each dot of Safe House Security subtracts one die from efforts to intrude into the safe house by anyone a character doesn’t specifically allow in. This increased difficulty may be because the entrance is so difficult to locate (behind a bookcase, under a carpet) or simply difficult to penetrate (behind a vault door). Also, each dot of Safe House Security offers a +1 bonus on Initiative for those inside against anyone attempting to gain entrance (good sight lines, video surveillance).

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Characters whose players spend no points at all on safe house might have their own small, humble safe houses, or perhaps they share the residence of a friend or family member. In any event, they simply do not gain the mechanical benefits of those who have spent Merit points improving the quality of their homes.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Each aspect of the Safe House Merit has a limit of 5. In other words, Safe House Location, Safe House Size and Safe House Security may not rise above 5 (to a maximum of 15 points spent on this Merit).

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Special: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> It’s possible for the Safe House Merit to be shared among characters in a close-knit group. They might simply be devoted to one another and willing to pool what they have, or perhaps their mutual reliance on an individual or trust could bring them together to share what they have in common. To share this Merit, two or more characters simply have to be willing to pool their dots for greater capability. A shared rating in the Safe House Merit cannot rise higher than five dots in any of the three aspects of the trait. That is, characters cannot pool more than five points to be devoted to, say, Safe House Size. If they wish to devote extra points to the Merit, they must allocate those dots to a different aspect of the Merit, such as Location or Security.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Shared Safe House dots can be lost. Cell members or associates might be abused or mistreated, ending relationships. Group members might perform actions that cast themselves (and the group) in a bad light. Money might be spent or lost. If any group member does something to diminish the safe house, its dots decrease for all group members. That’s the weakness of sharing dots in this Merit. The chain is only as strong as its weakest link. The Storyteller dictates when character actions or events in a story compromise shared Safe House dots.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Characters can also leave a shared safe house. A rift might form between close Nanon. A character might be killed. Or one could be kicked out of the safe house by the others. When a character leaves a shared-Safe House relationship, the dots he contributed are removed from the pool. If the individual still survives, he doesn’t get all his dots back for his own purposes. He gets one less than he originally contributed. So, if a character breaks a relationship with his coterie, his two Safe House dots are lost by the group, but he gets only one dot back for his own purposes. The lost dot represents the cost or bad image that comes from the breakup. If all members agree to part ways, they all lose one dot from what they originally contributed.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Storyteller decides what reduced dots mean in the story when a character leaves a shared safe house. Perhaps no one else picks up the character’s attention to Safe House Security, leaving that to drop. The residents may stop taking safe routes, causing a drop in the Safe House Location value. Maybe a portion of the safe house falls into disuse or even collapses, causing an effective drop in Safe Hosue Size. Whatever the case, a plausible explanation must be determined.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">A character need not devote all of her Safe House dots to the shared Safe Hosue Merit, of course. A Nanon might maintain a separate safe house of her own outside the communal one represented by the shared trait. Any leftover dots that a character has (or is unwilling to share) signify what she has to draw upon as an individual, separate from her partners. For example, three characters share a safe house and expend a group total of five dots. One character chooses to use two other dots on a private safe house for herself. Those remaining two dots represent a safe house entirely separate from what she and her partners have established together.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">To record a shared Safe House Merit on your character sheet, put an asterisk next to the name of the Safe House Merit and fill in the total dots that your character has access to thanks to their partnership. In order to record their original contribution, write it in parentheses along with the Merit’s name. It is not important to note which aspect of the Safe House Merit on which those points are spent, as this allows greater flexibility should a character ever decide to withdraw from the community arrangement.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red">Status (• to •••••; special) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">While certain Merits detailed in the World of Darkness Rulebook focus on recognition in mortal society, certain Status concerns itself with the social orders of the Nanon. Status is divided into three areas — Cell, Zhizn’ and Narot. Players must choose one of these three areas for each Merit point spent. (Enterprising Storytellers may come up with additional types of Status, and clever players might have unique applications as well. Status is designed as a sort of “umbrella” Merit, under which new types can be created.)

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Cell Status represents a vested responsibility and according acknowledgement in the affairs of a cell. Regardless of zhizn’ and narot, certain individuals rise to the top of the social, exemplary because of their efforts in the name of the cell as a whole. The exact titles and natures of those roles held within a cell vary widely.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Additionally, Cell Status represents those Nanon who aren’t necessarily part of the prevailing social structure, but who nonetheless have significant esteem, sway or reputation among the Nanon that are part of the cell’s social structure. Examples include bosses of powerful gangs, Nanon who have considerable influence in specialized areas (prominent businessmen, city government, health care and hospitals, religious communities), or even just those who are powerful in their own right but largely apolitical.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">In some cases, Cell Status can be lost through no fault of the character. A cell could be wiped out or disbanded.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Cell Status obviously reflects accomplishment, as with a political activist who has many mortal supporters — but those supporters obviously (probably) didn’t join the cyborg’s cause because they knew he was a Nanon. As stated earlier, every cell may have its own titles. Some may not have titles, at least not in the sense that the titles symbolize rank, but instead use titles reflecting the individual’s role within the cell. Often these titles are references to events or inside jokes known only to the cell and a few outsiders.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">• Red Pill or “new guy”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">•• Peer or “accomplished individual”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">••• Ace or “much deserved reputation”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">•••• Blitz or “longstanding or experience cell member”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">••••• Prime or “true paragon”

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Zhizn’ Status is concerned with lineage and occupation. At the outset of a chronicle, a Nanon’s standing often reflects the prestige they had in life. Many assume that a Nanon that had a productive and influential human life will also produce equal successes as a Nanon. This kind of recognition is short lived, however. A Nanon might enjoy prestige by virtue of their mortal legacy, but they are expected to contribute to Nanon society as well.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Nanon who truly embody the ideals of their zhizn’ and who establish themselves in positions of power and influence gain the respect of others in their zhizn’, being perceived as models for success. While the Hackers tell tales of particularly creative viruses, the Mnemonicans speak of daring infiltrators who confidently stride the halls of the most secure buildings in the world. Those who diverge from the expected behavior of the zhizn’ in remarkable ways gain renown (or notoriety), as well.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Zhizn’ Status is not so rigidly defined as Cell Status. While individual zhizn’ titles might arise, the notion of esteem is more general in this context.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Narot Status represents rank, achievement and responsibility, less concerned with zhizn’ ideals and more with narot actions, philosophies and accomplishments. The various narots are not bound by any supernatural means or governed by any one zhizn’. They find a commonality of goals and ideologies, instead. It is not enough to be powerful or exemplary of zhizn’ ideals; a narot is concerned with what its members have done to benefit its cause and combat its rivals.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Those Nanon who enjoy the greatest narot-based esteem are often the core members of their factions in a given cell, those around whom others rally. These Nanon instigate or mediate conflict with other narots, generally looking to further certain idealistic goals and establish themselves or other members in positions of influence in the various cells’ hierarchies. A Mnemonican in command of a massive spy network might have status within his zhizn’, but the lowliest of his spies might risk their life to gather a specific piece of information that helps oust a government official, subsequently enjoying far more status with the cells that have been impeded by the government official than with the their Mnemonican superior.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">A character must have at least a single dot of Narot Status in order to gain the benefits of any special abilities of that Narot. In other words, a character must have at least one dot of Narot Status (Enigma) in order to learn Menander. Or a character must have at least one dot of Narot Status (Immortal) to take advantage of the experience-point break on the Mentor, Resources, Retainer and Status Merits. If a character leaves a narot after learning some of its secrets, he does not lose any of those traits for which he paid experience points, but he may not learn additional dots of those traits (or additional dots at that particular price break, as with the Immortals and Aegis). See p. XX-XX for the complete list of which narots grant which benefits.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Like Zhizn’ Status, Narot Status is not so specifically tied to certain titles. It is more a notion of an individual’s accomplishments. An Enigma Augur, for example, has a greater title than, say, a noted ethicist of the narot, but that ethicist might have written numerous treatises on the Nanon condition and the soul, according them more esteem among their peers than the Augur who rides solely on the weight of their title.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">• The character is known to a select subset of the zhizn’/narot — a spy network, perhaps.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">•• The majority of the zhizn’/narot in one or more cells recognizes the character’s face, or at the very least their avatar, and can recall her exploits.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">••• The character’s deeds are known to nearly members of the narot; many members of other narots recognize her face.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">•••• Word of the character’s exploits has traveled far, and her name is known in most cells around the world.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">••••• The character’s name and face, or avatar, are synonymous with their zhizn’/narot; their exploits are taught to new members of the zhizn’/narot.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Status can serve as a mixed blessing, however. Those who enjoy the most might be able to use it to their advantage, but they are also visible targets for their enemies. High levels of Status make it almost impossible to pass unnoticed, even while they open doors that would otherwise remain closed.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Status works like a “social tool” in that it adds to draws for social interactions between members of the sub-group in question. That is, Narot Status adds to draws for interactions with members of the same narot, Zhizn’ Status enhances interactions with members of the same Zhizn’, and Cell Status affects those who are recognized members of the given cell.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Example: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> ''Loki wants access to the Enigma Augur, but the Augur is already occupied with an envoy from The Arm. He instead finds himself dealing with one of her aides, another Enigma. Loki, an Enigma himself, tries to convince the aide that he has important business to discuss with the Augur. His player adds Narot Status to a Manipulation + Persuasion draw. Loki has Manipulation 2, Persuasion 3 and Narot Status (Enigma) 2, creating a pool of seven dice for the task.''

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Status does not add to draws predicated on supernatural powers. For example, a Shadowmen’s Narot Status is not added to a draw for use of his Protocol power.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Dealing with Status can be a mire of responsibility, though clever characters can turn it to their advantage. Some characters may actually have a variety of Status — it is not unheard of for a character to have Cell Status, Zhizn’ Status and Narot Status.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">A character may have Zhizn’ Status only as a member of his own zhizn’. For instance, a Soldier never gains Zhizn’ Status (Hacker) no matter how much aid he provides them. His aid of the Hackers may certainly earn him esteem, but such concern is better handled on a case-by-case basis by the Storyteller, not in the form of Zhizn’ Status.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Narot Status is unique in that a character may, on occasion, have more than one form of it. This occurs almost exclusively at low levels, where a character is often beneath the notice of most other members of his narots. A character may never have more than three dots total in Narot Status among multiple narots. A double-agent, for example, might take two dots worth of Narot Status (Shadowmen) and a single dot of Narot Status (Aegis), representing the character’s true allegiance to the Shadowmen as well as the fact that he’s in on the ground floor of Aegis so that he can feed information back to his Shadowmen fellows. A character may even have a single dot of Narot Status in three different narots — perhaps he’s somewhat accomplished in each, but has yet to determine where his true loyalties lie. Naturally, a character with Status in only one Narot is not beholden to the three-dot limit.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-ansi-language: EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">A character with dots in Narot Status through multiple factions does indeed gain access to those narots’ special benefits. Narots expect certain contributions of their members, however, and if other Nanon find out that the cyborg in question plays multiple sides against the middle, he might see that Status vanish in a single night in which he’s called upon to account for his treacheries. Such is also the reason that cumulative Narot Status is limited to three dots. By the time a character gains a certain degree of Status in a single narot, he sticks out like a sore thumb if he turns up among another narot’s members. (An exception to this might occur if a character is truly some sort of deep-cover agent or other mole, such as is common among the Shadowmen, but that circumstance is best handled at the Storyteller’s discretion).

Cyborg Merits
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Cybernetic components are purchased through the expenditure of Merits. The following is a partial list of the four major categories of Cyborg Merits: Implant Merits, Augmentation Merits, Enhancement Merits and Exoskeleton Merits.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Many of the following merits will have the prerequisite “special circumstance”. This refers to a variety of discretionary traits that are up to the Storyteller to determine. The only “special circumstance” that can blanket all occurrences is being a Nanon with the requisite dots in Autonomic Neural Interface to able to generate the merit.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Baring being a Nanon, the subject can purchase access to most merits with sufficient dots in Resources. Some properties require some measure of clearance or standing with a government agency as denoted by the character’s Status Merit.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Storyteller could also choose to provide the merits with restrictions. A maimed soldier that possess skills that the military can not afford to lose may wake up as a cyborg only to find that his will is not his own. An athlete may not realize that he failed to read his contract thoroughly until after he is paralyzed. A police officer, gun downed on his first outing in his new precinct, could discover why some people refuse to donate their body to science when they ‘die’.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Note: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Nanon Applications are not the result of their cybernetic implants, but of their unique nanophysiology. The purchase of the following Merits will not grant non-Nanon cyborgs access to Nanon Applications.

Implant Merits
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Implant Merits are the foundation for the other categories of Cyborg Merits. Without an Implant Merit the character can not purchase Augmentation Merits, Enhancement Merits or Exoskeleton Merits.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Autonomic Neural <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Interface ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";color:red">• to ••• <span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisites: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina ••; Resources •••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> The Autonomic Neural Interface or ANI is a critical component of any cyber-ware system. The ANI regulates biological functions between normal human physiology and automated prosthetics by interpreting subtle signals from the peripheral nervous system and reformatting the information so as to enable the body to synchronize its own biorhythms with the needs of properly formatted bio-ware.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The earliest ANI consisted of two sensors attached to the cervical enlargement and the lumbosacral enlargement regions of the spine. These primitive systems were hardwired directly into prosthetics and allowed individuals suffering from longtime handicaps to regain only the basic forms of mobility. It was the early ANI, with their hardwired connections to the subject’s prosthetics that resulted in the misconception that ANIs controlled the movements of prosthetic limbs.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Bulky and mostly external, early ANIs appeared in Japan during the late 1990s as little more than a series of wires protruding from the back of rats, and eventually primates, that terminated in a computer upon which the requisite programs were run and monitored. Test subjects would be fitted with ‘boots’, artificial limbs that slipped over existing limbs and have the ventral roots from L1 to S3 re-routed to the boots through the ANI hardware allowing researchers to observe the subjects behavior directly while the computer documented critical data. The process was expensive and slow. Test subjects experienced short lives because the ANI connection areas where subject to strain often resulting in paralysis, infection or misinterpreted signals ranging from pain to ecstasy. Over stimulation of the cerebral cortex triggered seizures and behavioral changes. The manufacturing of medicines necessary to prevent infections, edema and thrombosis in subjects was deemed to be not cost effective in light of hardware and software costs. With limited success ANI research was nearly halted until the development of nanobiotics, tiny robots designed to repair tissue damage, regulate bacteria and destroy infections on and around the areas where cybernetics come in contact with organic material.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">As ANI technology improved several changes occurred. The most important of which was the complete encapsulation of the ANI within the host body. The mounts onto the forward portions of the vertebrae and rear ribs behind the heart and lungs. More extensive ANIs also occupied the appendix, or the place where the appendix once was, using this area as a place to house an internally regulated nanobiotic distributor.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Autonomic Neural Interfaces also come standard with a secure, limited function, wi-fi network that allows the manufacturer or provider to check the systems vitals, locate the cyborg and collect data relevant to the improvement of the ANI. All ANI users are provided a hand-held interface device, often a smart phone or similar device, that allows the user to choose when to upload data or contact the manufacturer or provider for assistance. For privacy reasons the manufacture or provider can not initiate uploads. GPS tracking can be initiated with sufficient legal cause. Both the interface device and the ANI can be located. The interface device can access the ANI at a range of 20 meters, assuming no major obstacles.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The number of dots allocated to the ANI Merit represents the maximum technological level of the cybernetic parts that can be adequately integrated with the cyborg as well as the storage capacity of any internally regulated nanobiotic distributors.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">For one dot, the Autonomic Neural Interface grants the cyborg access to basic cybernetic implants and prosthetics. The character has no internal nanobiotic regulator.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">For two dots, the Autonomic Neural Interface grants the cyborg access to more advanced cybernetic implants and prosthesis. Most Enhancement Merits and some Augmentation Merits become available to the character. The character has a basic internal nanobiotic regulator that allows him to forgo daily supplements and rely upon weekly intravenous nanobiotics. The system provides an implanted peripherally inserted central catheter (iPICC) for easy access.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">For three dots, the Autonomic Neural Interface grants the cyborg access to the most advanced cybernetic implants and prosthesis. Nearly all Enhancement Merits and Augmentation Merits come available to the character. The character has an advanced internal nanobiotic regulator that allows him to forgo daily supplements and rely upon monthly intravenous nanobiotics. The system provides an implanted peripherally inserted central catheter (iPICC) for easy access.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Autonomic Neural <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Interface ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";color:red">•••• to ••••• <span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisites: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina ••, Autonomic Neural Interface •••, Nanon only

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> These Autonomic Neural Interfaces have gone beyond what modern science is capable of producing. They function as per the three dot version of an Autonomic Neural Interface with the exception that the internal nanobiotic regulator has evolved and is now capable of facilitating the introduction of new cybernetic properties, surgery free.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">For four dots, the Autonomic Neural Interface can generate cybernetic components of a certain quality (any Cyborg Merit, Enhancement Merit or Augmentation Merit that requires no more than two dots in the Autonomic Neural Interface Merit) and integrate these components with the Nanon’s body, often while the Nanon rests. The Nanon is still required to meet all of the prerequisites for the merit. The appropriate number of experience points necessary to acquire the merit is still required to be spent for the acquisition of the merit.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">For five dots, the Autonomic Neural Interface can generate cybernetic components of any quality (any Cyborg Merit, Enhancement Merit or Augmentation Merit that requires no more than three dots in the Autonomic Neural Interface Merit) and integrate these components with the Nanon’s body, often while the Nanon rests. The Nanon is still required to meet all of the prerequisites for the merit. The appropriate number of experience points necessary to acquire the merit is still required to be spent for the acquisition of the merit.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Special: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> This merit is a continuation of the previous Autonomic Neural Interface Merit. To acquire the four dot version of this merit you need to spend eight experience points. To purchase the five dot version of this merit you must first purchase the four dot version and then spend ten experience points.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Bionic Intestine ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red">• <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina ••, Bio-regulator • and Autonomic Neural Interface ••; Resources •••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Bionic Intestine Merit replaces nearly any length of damaged or destroyed intestines.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Bionic organs are made of synthetic organic material that is neither cybernetic nor biologically compatible with the recipient. Nanobiotics are required to maintain the organ as well as prevent organ rejection.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Special: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Purchasing this merit prevents the player from purchasing the Iron Stomach Merit.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Bionic Liver ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red">• <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina ••, Bio-regulator • and Autonomic Neural Interface ••; Resources •••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Bionic Liver Merit replaces the entirety of a damaged or destroyed liver.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Bionic organs are made of synthetic organic material that is neither cybernetic nor biologically compatible with the recipient. Nanobiotics are required to maintain the organ as well as prevent organ rejection.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Special: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Purchasing this merit prevents the player from purchasing the Toxic Resistance Merit.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Bionic Lungs ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red">• <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina ••, Bio-regulator • and Autonomic Neural Interface ••; Resources •••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Bionic Lungs Merit replaces both lungs. It is designed to be compatible with organic hearts as well as the Cybernetic Heart Merit.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Bionic organs are made of synthetic organic material that is neither cybernetic nor biologically compatible with the recipient. Nanobiotics are required to maintain the organ as well as prevent organ rejection.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Special: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Purchasing this merit prevents the player from purchasing the Strong Lungs Merit.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Bionic Stomach ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red">• <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina ••, Bio-regulator • and Autonomic Neural Interface ••; Resources •••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Bionic Stomach Merit replaces damaged or destroyed stomachs. It is designed to be compatible with organic intestines as well as the Bionic Intestines Merit.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Bionic organs are made of synthetic organic material that is neither cybernetic nor biologically compatible with the recipient. Nanobiotics are required to maintain the organ as well as prevent organ rejection.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Special: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Purchasing this merit prevents the player from purchasing the Iron Stomach Merit.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Cybernetic Ear ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red">• <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina •• and Autonomic Neural Interface ••; Resources •••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">More than a simple Cochlear Implant, a cybernetic ear not only enables the user to hear but to convert the incoming sound waves into electrical data, even sound waves not normally perceptible to the human ear.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The ear also facilitates the reception of audio, with the assistance of the appropriate receiver, without creating sound.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Cybernetic Eye ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red">• <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina •• and Autonomic Neural Interface ••; Resources •••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Cybernetic Eye Merit not only enables the user to see but to convert the incoming light waves into electrical data, even light waves not normally perceptible to the human eye.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The eye also enables the user to acquire the Heads Up Display Merit.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Cybernetic Heart ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red">• <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina •• and Autonomic Neural Interface ••; Resources •••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Cybernetic Heart Merit replaces a damaged or destroyed heart. It is designed to be compatible with organic lungs as well as the Bionic Lungs Merit.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Cybernetic Kidney ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red">• <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina •• and Autonomic Neural Interface ••; Resources •••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Cybernetic Kidney Merit replaces one or both kidneys. It is designed to be compatible with organic internal organs as well as bionic and cybernetic organs.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Cybernetic Limb ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red">• <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina •• and Autonomic Neural Interface •; Resources ••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Cybernetic Limb Merit replaces a limb with a cybernetic counterpart. There are four Cybernetic Limb Merits to choose from: Right Arm, Left Arm, Right Leg and Left Leg. The merit must replace a previously existing limb or limb that failed to grow for any reason. A human being can replace either arm, but they can not add a third arm (or tail, or tentacle, etc.).

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The new limb provides normal function as per the original limb’s design. All joints bend in the normal direction and grant the owner the use of their Strength score with that limb. Fingers and toes possess their original capacity for manipulation, albeit after a period of adjustment and calibration. A layer of synthetic skin is laid over a contoured silicone insulation giving the new limb a life-like appearance and texture. The only source of heat comes from the pneumatic activity of the limb, so the limb will often feel cooler than regular body temperature. Physical sensations such as pressure, piercing, hot and cold are still experienced but the sensations are dulled, often to the point of mere awareness than true sensation.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Only human limbs are available. Cybernetic Limbs capable of replacing limbs lost by animals, while possible, are not in high enough demand to be readily available. Cybernetic Limbs that add limbs to an otherwise whole or complete body would require an advanced or even unique Autonomic Neural Interface capable of receiving a human brain’s signal to four limbs and converting that signal into instructions for five or more limbs. The additional limb would require the Cybernetic Trunk Merit to be purchased with the Retrofit Merit (an Augmentation Merit).

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Special: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Purchasing the Cybernetic Limb Merit for either leg prevents the player from purchasing the Fleet of Foot Merit. Purchasing the Cybernetic Limb Merit for either arm prevents the player from purchasing the Ambidextrous Merit.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Cybernetic Para-Maxillary ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red">• <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina •• and Autonomic Neural Interface ••; Resources •••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Cybernetic Para-Maxillary Merit replaces any of the five facial sinus cavities. The merit only replaces the individual’s sense of smell if it is necessary to do so. The primary purpose of the Cybernetic Para-Maxillary Merit is to repair structural damage and minimize the impact of some sinus allergies.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Some Augmentation and Enhancement Merits are dependent upon the player possessing the Cybernetic Para-Maxillary Merit.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Cybernetic Trunk ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red">• or •• <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina •• and Autonomic Neural Interface ••; Resources •••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Cybernetic Trunk Merit replaces some, or all, of the cyborg’s torso. The Cybernetic Trunk Merit replaces the entirety of the pelvic region and can replace the mid-section (digestive regions) and upper-section (ribcage) of the trunk as needed. The organs housed within the Cybernetic Trunk can be the original organs or may be replaced as needed/desired (replacement organs must be purchased separately). Genital function is completely lost without further cybernetic implants (purchased separately). Women who have the upper-section of their trunk replaced may purchase breasts to retain their form but will permanently lose their ability to breastfeed.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">For one dot, the Cybernetic Truck Merit replaces the entirety of the cyborg’s pelvic area and can replace the digestive region as well, player’s choice.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">For two dots, the Cybernetic Trunk Merit replaces the entirety of the cyborg’s torso from pelvic area to neck.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Special: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Purchasing this merit prevents the player from purchasing the Strong Back Merit.

Enhancement Merits
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Enhancement Merits do just that, they enhance the cyborg’s abilities, sometimes beyond normal human limitations, by providing bonuses to Skills that the cyborg already possess.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Unless stated otherwise in the specific Enhancement Merit, to maximum value of the enhancement is relevant Skills actual level. A player may purchase an Enhancement Merit that would provide a higher bonus than the character would be able to take advantage of, but the character would only receive the previously stated maximum until the Skill’s level is increased.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Enhancement Merits should not be confused with Augmentation Merits which increase the range of ability that a Cyborg Merit grants. A cyborg with the Cybernetic Organ (Eye) Merit could purchase the Telescopic Sight Merit (an Enhancement Merit) to receive a bonus to his vision but he would need to purchase the Thermal Vision Merit (an Augmentation Merit) to gain access to the infrared spectrum.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Bio-Gland ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";color:red">• <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina ••, Bio-regulator • and Autonomic Neural Interface ••; Resources •••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Bio-Gland Merit regulates any number of glands throughout the body. Each gland to be regulated must be purchased individually.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Bio-Gland Merit provides a +1 bonus to a specific derangement or other psychological impairment declared when the merit is purchased.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Cyberlocomotion ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red">• to ••• <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina ••, Cybernetic Limb (Left Leg) •, Cybernetic Limb (Right Leg) • and Autonomic Neural Interface ••; Resources ••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Cyberlocomotion Merit grants the character a +1 bonus to Speed per dot purchased.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Special: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Purchasing this merit prevents the player from purchasing the Fleet of Foot Merit.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Metaforikadaktylos ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red">• to ••••• <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina ••, Cybernetic Limb (Right Arm) •, Cybernetic Limb (Left Arm) •, and Autonomic Neural Interface ••; Crafts ••, Medicine •• or Larceny••; Resources ••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Metaforikadaktylos Merit grants the character a +1 bonus, per dot purchased, to a specific Skill declared when the merit is purchased. The maximum applicable bonus is the lower of either the Skill dots or the Merit dots. In all cases the bonus only applies to situations where manual dexterity is a significant or the primary component of the feat to be performed.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The player may choose from the Skills: Crafts, Medicine and Larceny.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Synaptic Alacrity ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red">• to •• <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina ••, Dexterity •••, Respiratory SBC •• and Autonomic Neural Interface ••; Resources ••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Synaptic Alacrity Merit grants the character a +1 bonus to Initiative per dot purchased.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Special: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Purchasing this merit prevents the player from purchasing the Fast Reflexes Merit.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Smart Link ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";color:red">• <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina ••, Cybernetic Eye •, Respirated SBC •, Heads Up Display • and Autonomic Neural Interface ••; Cybernetic Limb (any Arm) • or NetLink •; Resources •••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Smart Link Merit is a targeting system that allows the user to accurately shoot a firearm in complete darkness or while not facing the target. The system requires the use of specific firearms called Smart Arms outfitted with Smart Scopes that replace the user’s point of view for the purposes Firearm draws.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Smart Links require a cybernetic limb through which its internal system can be concealed or Smart Glove that uses a NetLink to bridge the gap between Smart Arm and Respirated SBC.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Smart Scopes grant the user all of the bonuses associated with the use of standard scopes and can be used to perform the ‘Aim’ maneuver. In addition, these scopes are outfitted with a variety of visual augmentations and optical refinements. (A cyborg need not possess additional Augmentation Merits for their Cybernetic Eyes to benefit from these properties.) These visual augmentations and optical refinements do not grant bonuses but reduce environmental penalties.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">For details on the external components for a Smart Link system see p. XX.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Telescopic Sight ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red">• to ••••• <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina ••, Investigation ••, Cybernetic Eye • and Autonomic Neural Interface ••; Resources ••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Telescopic Sight Merit allows a cyborg to zoom-in and out to reveal greater detail or a wider field of view.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">For every dot purchased in the Telescopic Sight Merit the user is able to increase their perception draws by one die up to the number of dots of the relevant Attribute.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Using the Telescopic Sight Merit in combat forces the user to forfeit their defense for the turn. Telescopic Sight can not be used to replace or augment the scope on a gun, but the cyborg can use Telescopic Sight to find the target. Switching between regular sight and Telescopic Sight is reflexive while switching between Telescopic Sight and another form of sight enhancement or augmentation requires an action.

Augmentation Merits
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Augmentation Merits augment Cyborg Merits by providing new abilities that are outside normal human capacity or by altering the structure of cybernetic implants in a variety of ways.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Augmentation Merits should not be confused with Enhancement Merits which increase the range of ability that a Cyborg Merit grants. A cyborg with the Cybernetic Organ (Eye) Merit could purchase the Telescopic Sight Merit (an Enhancement Merit) to receive a bonus to his vision but he would need to purchase the Thermal Vision Merit (an Augmentation Merit) to gain access to the infrared spectrum.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Unless stated otherwise in the specific Augmentation Merit, augmentations that affect a specific Skill, sensory organ or otherwise over-lap in their purpose or method of use do not stack. Had the cyborg in the previous example purchased both the Telescopic Sight Merit and the Thermal Vision Merit the cyborg would receive the bonus from Telescopic Sight when using Thermal Vision: they can use one or the other at any given time, but not both.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Access ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";color:red">• to ••• <span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina ••, Cybernetic Eye •, Respirated SBC •, Heads Up Display • and Autonomic Neural Interface ••; Resources •••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Access Merit grants the character the access to various government databases. A character with a single dot in Access has access to all public databases. This access only applies to Recognition Merits that the cyborg has purchased.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">For a single dot, the character has access to most local government databases. This would include criminal databases and some open criminal cases.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">For a second dot, the character has access to databases that are the domain of any governing body that the character has three or more dots of Status with.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">For a third dot, the character has access to most or all databases that the character has a single status dot with, regardless of propriety. As long as the agency at large has access to it, so does the cyborg.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">What is on these databases are up to the Storyteller. Storytellers should feel free to restrict certain information or to flag the user should any of their Recognition Merits find a match. The merit should not result in a life-threatening encounter unless there is the opportunity for comparable reward.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Bio-Regulator ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red">• <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina •• and Autonomic Neural Interface ••; Resources •••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Bio-Regulator Merit grants the character the capacity to use the Bio-Gland Merit.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Bio-Regulator Merit is a vital component of the Heads Up Display (Vitals) Merit.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Dermal Vicissitude ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red">•• to •••• <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina ••, Respirated SBC • and Autonomic Neural Interface •••; Resources ••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The cyborg can change his skin color and texture, hair color and length as well as physical makeup to look like another person, or just ‘someone else’. While skin color and texture can reflect any natural pigmentation or represent most skin conditions the user’s hair can be of nearly any length or color, natural or not. This includes facial hair but not body hair, body hair is restricted to more natural hues and follicle density. Musculature, physical make up, can change greatly but does not provide any bonus to strength. For every 10% that the cyborg goes over their normal body weight they incur a -1 penalty to dexterity, as if wearing armor without any protection. For every 10% under their normal body weight the cyborg has a -1 penalty to Stamina draws and total number of health boxes as muscle density diminishes and bones and sensitive organs become more vulnerable. For every -2 penalty to Stamina, round down, the cyborg must have an additional dot in Strength beyond the first free dot provided at character creation.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Dermal Vicissitued does not provide the cyborg with personality traits or voice modulation (see Voice Modulation Merit below).

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">For two dots the cyborg gains a +2 bonus on all draws to create or maintain a disguise. The cyborg can try and impersonate another person, but they are dependent on their own talents to reproduce the subject’s mannerisms.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">For four dots the cyborg gains a +4 bonus on all draws to create or maintain a disguise. The cyborg can try and impersonate another person, just as with the two dot version of this merit, but they gain a +2 bonus as the dermis recreates facial tics native to the person in question if the cyborg spends sufficient time observing the individual in a variety of situations. At this level the cyborg is also capable of reproducing tattoos or other body modifications with an Intelligence + Crafts draw.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Special: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Purchasing this merit prevents the purchase of Striking Looks.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Heads Up Display ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red">• to ••••; varies <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina ••, Cybernetic Eye •, Respirated SBC • and Autonomic Neural Interface ••; Resources ••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Heads Up Display Merit provides the cyborg with just that. Depending on which displays the cyborg purchases the relevant information will appear on the screen as called or reflexively. The cyborg can make use of more than one Heads Up Display at a time, but should the cyborg have more dots in displays visible at once than he has dots in Intelligence then he suffers a -1 penalty to any action that requires vision or balance. This penalty stacks if the cyborg has twice as many dots worth of displays as he has dots in Intelligence, triples if he has three times as many dots worth of displays as he has dots in Intelligence, so on and so forth. Below is a list of Heads Up Display types. These should be recorded on your character sheet in the same way that divisions of the Safe House Merit are recorded.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Accountant/Calendar <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> • This merit keeps track of the users finances as well as their appointments. While this may be a service best left to an accounting professional or even the desktop computer at home, think of the immediate impact that knowing your up to date financial viability as well as the security of knowing that your financial data is stored in one of the most secure places on the planet, your head (well, next to your lungs really).

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The cyborg can schedule appointments with a hands-free iNtuit data entry system, but all financial transactions are reflexively computed by the system. The player should work with the Storyteller to determine what information and/or warnings they expect to receive from their Heads Up Display (Accounting/Calendar) Merit.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Danger Sense <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">•• This merit is nearly identical to the merit of the same name found on p. 108 of the World of Darkness Rulebook.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The primary difference between this merit and the merit found in the World of Darkness Rulebook is that this merit can be turned off, active or passive. The original merit reflects the ‘passive’ mode. The ‘off’ mode does just that. It prevents the cyborg from being burdened by the added Heads Up Display dots. The ‘active’ mode constantly scans the area for threats. Recognition Merits constantly attempt to identify everything that may be a threat while alerting the cyborg to opening doors, gusts of wind, fog, traffic, etc. This mode is mostly used for calibration purposes but some cyborgs (the really paranoid ones) claim that it has saved their lives a number of times. The ‘active’ mode provides no additional bonuses nor does it represent additional ‘dots’ for purposes of penalties from Heads Up Displays, but it could trigger the cyborg’s derangements.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Purchasing this merit prevents the character from purchasing the same merit from the World of Darkness Rulebook. Should the player already have the original merit it provides no benefit.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Direction Sense <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> •• This merit is nearly identical to the merit of the same name found on p. 110 of the World of Darkness Rulebook.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The primary difference between this merit and the merit found in the World of Darkness Rulebook is that his merit relies on a number of techniques from visual recall and GPS to discern location. In addition, the user gains the benefit of knowing the time by virtue of his connections to satellites, such as the ones that provide him with accurate GPS.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Purchasing this merit prevents the character from purchasing the same merit from the World of Darkness Rulebook. Should the player already have the original merit it provides no benefit.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Eidetic Memory <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> •• This merit is nearly identical to the merit of the same name found on p. 108 of the World of Darkness Rulebook.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The primary difference between this merit and the merit found in the World of Darkness Rulebook is that this merit is a combination of both cybernetic software and the individual’s memory.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Purchasing this merit prevents the character from purchasing the same merit from the World of Darkness Rulebook. Should the player already have the original merit it provides no benefit.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Unlike the original merit in the World of Darkness Rulebook this merit can be purchased after character creation.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Encyclopedic Knowledge <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">•••• This merit is nearly identical to the merit of the same name found on p. 109 of the World of Darkness Rulebook.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The primary difference between this merit and the merit found in the World of Darkness Rulebook is that this merit actually comes with digital encyclopedias, though in a slightly simpler format.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Purchasing this merit prevents the character from purchasing the same merit from the World of Darkness Rulebook. Should the player already have the original merit it provides no benefit.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Unlike the original merit in the World of Darkness Rulebook this merit can be purchased after character creation.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Inventory <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> • This merit allows the cyborg to keep track of any supplies he stores on his person or at his residence, remembering both quantity, general condition and location.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">This merit can be turned off, active or passive. The ‘passive’ mode alerts the user to more obvious discrepancies in its records, but otherwise stays out of sight. Discrepancies include missing change, credit or ID cards being inserted into a wallet sleeve differently or being missing entirely, food missing from or moved in the fridge or more obvious things like ‘your care is not where you parked it’ as you are standing where you parked your car. The ‘off’ mode does just that. It prevents the cyborg from being burdened by the added Heads Up Display dots. The ‘active’ mode constantly scans the area to ensure an accurate accounting of all items in the area. This mode is usually reserved for break-in recovery or when waking up after being knocked out. Living with a roommate or in a public shelter can limit the cyborg’s Inventory accuracy and create a large number of system alerts.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Polyglot <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> •• The cyborg can store one language at a time that he will then be able to speak, understand, read and write. The system displays the phonetic spelling on the Heads Up Display for the cyborg to attempt to repeat. This merit does not give the cyborg any experience with the language so their accent may be shaky at best. (This process becomes more sophisticated if the cyborg has the Voice Modulator Merit.)

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The merit provides a similar service to the cyborg in regards to reading the information.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">For the cyborg to ‘write’ the information the display projects the information onto the surface to be written upon and the cyborg can then trace it. (The Metaforikadactylos (Larceny) Merit can add to the cyborg’s attempts to write using this Heads Up Display Merit.)

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Telecommunication <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> • This merit allows the user to make phone calls without a phone. The system creates an independent system that can access and be accessed by conventional cell phone systems. Most attempts to hack the cyborg’s systems using this route fail unless they are sound based.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The ‘phone’ is sound proof as it creates no sound, nor does the user have to speak to be heard on the other line as the phone is constantly recording the cyborg’s voice creating a database of usable verbiage as well as tones and stress indicators. The system is only so good and anyone attempting to use the system to fool a voice recognition security system are going to be sorely disappointed.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The phone has at least the same versatility as modern phones in regards to contact information storage such as: phone number, email, image and speed dial. The phone can not be used to take photographs or play minesweeper.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Unseen Sense <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> •••• (iEMF) This merit is nearly identical to the merit of the same name found on p. 109 of the World of Darkness Rulebook.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The primary difference between this merit and the merit found in the World of Darkness Rulebook is that this merit is not destroyed by becoming another supernatural being. The cyborg does lose the ability to recognize his own creature type as the iEMF is forced to calibrate out the cyborg’s new resonance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Purchasing this merit prevents the character from purchasing the same merit from the World of Darkness Rulebook. Should the player already have the original merit it provides no benefit.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Unlike the original merit in the World of Darkness Rulebook this merit can be purchased after character creation.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Vitals <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> •• This merit displays the cyborg’s vital information. Heart rate, blood-pressure, oxygen levels, blood sugar, nano-homeostasis, etc., nearly anything can be monitored with this display.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">This merit can be turned off, active or passive. The ‘passive’ mode alerts the user to imminent threats to their well-being but otherwise stays out of sight. The ‘off’ mode does just that. It prevents the cyborg from being burdened by the added Heads Up Display dots. The ‘active’ mode constantly scans the user’s body, informing the cyborg of irregularities. This mode is primarily used during work outs to assess potential health issues and monitor recovery from previous injuries.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Mechanically the user is able to quickly determine risks to their body. Health levels, bleed rates and chance of survival from current wounds are at the morbid characters finger tips. The system also records dramatic health events allowing others to view the data after the system is recovered.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">This merit requires the character to have the Bio-Regulator Merit.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">NetLink ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";color:red">• to ••• <span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina ••, Respirated SBC • and Autonomic Neural Interface ••; Resources •••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The NetLink Merit allows the cyborg to interface with other computer systems.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">For one dot, the NetLink requires a direct connection between the cyborg and the system in the form of a cable. This NetLink jack is designed to release the cable if there is tension in the connection, thus protecting the NetLink from damage.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">For two dots, the NetLink requires a direct connection between the cyborg and the system in the form of a cable. This NetLink jack is much sturdier and often comes with a bracing system that fits around the user depending upon where the cyborg has the NetLink located on his body (usually this is in the base of the skull or in the wrist but nearly any area can be used as a NetLink, including the subjects urethra, which no longer performs its originally intended purpose, one would assume. These NetLinks sport more resilient cables ranging from the standard size (conventional Ethernet cable) to the size of a vacuum’s hose attachment.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">For three dots, the NetLink itself is wireless and exists entirely under the skin but only has a range of about one foot. It can be located by finding a hard disc under the skin that is about the size of a quarter. These NetLinks are specifically designed to prevent cable related injuries with the use of Exoskeleton Merits.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">This NetLink also comes with a brace for the respective area, usually built into the device the NetLink was intended to link with. Common braces are ergonomic chairs or full-body supports such as padded ‘mech’ suits.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Night Vision ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red">• <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina ••, Cybernetic Eye • and Autonomic Neural Interface ••; Resources •••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">This Merit allows the user to see in almost complete darkness with about as much clarity as regular light. The character does not see colors and shiny objects (knife blades, chrome or nickel plated firearms, etc.) seem to gleam or stand out.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Most close combat attacks are still possible, including firearms draws. Any ranged attack made against a target outside of close combat range not only incurs the normal penalties for the merit but also double the penalties for range modifiers. All combat actions are at a -1 penalty when the player is in near complete or complete non-magical darkness.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Should the cyborg step into an area that is brighter than near complete darkness (lit stadium during a night game, daylight, or even standing on a porch when the porch light comes on) is blinded until this merit is turned off causing them to be subject to the rules for “Fighting Blind” p. 166 World of Darkness Rulebook.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Recognition: Facial ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red">• <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina ••, Cybernetic Eye •, Respirated SBC •, Heads Up Display • and Autonomic Neural Interface ••; Resources •••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">This merit allows the cyborg to perform recognition checks on everyone that they encounter. The system will only recognize people that the cyborg has encountered since they receive the Recognition (Facial) Merit or those faces found in data bases that the cyborg has access to (whether through a direct connection of a NetLink or an onboard connection through the Access Merit). The system takes a full round to scan a face and is only able to scan one face at a time for every dot in the Respirated SBC Merit. (Each face being scanned counts as one dot for computing the total dots of the Heads Up Display.)

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The recognition system scans a face and returns a probability match for each face. A cyborg can set an alert threshold, that is, a minimum likeliness of match, to prevent being alerted to low match probabilities or negative matches for things like face shaped dents in trashcans or the virgin Mary in the clouds. In most cases the actual individual will only have a 99% match rating to themselves, the system refuses to declare a 100% match.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Individuals attempting to disguise themselves are pitted against the cyborg’s natural capacity to recognize faces. The cyborg gains a +2 bonus on draws to see through the disguise. Other circumstantial bonus apply as normal.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Recognition: Flora ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red">• <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina ••, Cybernetic Eye •, Respirated SBC •, Heads Up Display • and Autonomic Neural Interface ••; Resources •••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">This merit allows the cyborg to recognize most flora on sight. The cyborg can recognize any flora that they have identified before or any flora available in any data bases that the cyborg has access to (whether through a direct connection of a NetLink or an onboard connection through the Access Merit). The system takes a full round to scan a leaf, tree, nut or fruit and is only able to scan one item at a time for every dot in the Respirated SBC Merit. (Each item being scanned counts as one dot for computing the total dots of the Heads Up Display.)

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Any flora that the cyborg is unable to identify yields some form of a “specimen unknown” notification and the information is added to the cyborgs repertoire, usually attached to an assigned serial number.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Heads Up Display (Encyclopedic Knowledge) Merit adds a variety of common flora to the cyborg’s repertoire as well as potentially useful data for flora that the cyborg has already identified. When combined with the Heads Up Display (Direction Sense) Merit the cyborg can determine if the specimen is native to the area.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Recognition: Fauna ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red">• <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina ••, Cybernetic Eye •, Respirated SBC •, Heads Up Display • and Autonomic Neural Interface ••; Resources •••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">This merit allows the cyborg to recognize most fauna on sight. The cyborg can recognize any fauna that they have identified before or any fauna available in any data bases that the cyborg has access to (whether through a direct connection of a NetLink or an onboard connection through the Access Merit). The system takes a full round to scan an animal, print, scat or other identifying feature and is only able to scan one item at a time for every dot in the Respirated SBC Merit. (Each item being scanned counts as one dot for computing the total dots of the Heads Up Display.)

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Any fauna that the cyborg is unable to identify yields some form of a “specimen unknown” notification and the information is added to the cyborgs repertoire, usually attached to an assigned serial number.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Heads Up Display (Encyclopedic Knowledge) Merit adds a variety of common fauna to the cyborg’s repertoire as well as potentially useful data for fauna that the cyborg has already identified. When combined with the Heads Up Display (Direction Sense) Merit the cyborg can determine if the specimen is native to the area.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Recognition: Object ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red">• <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina ••, Cybernetic Eye •, Respirated SBC •, Heads Up Display • and Autonomic Neural Interface ••; Resources •••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">This merit allows the cyborg to attempt to identify any object that he comes in contact with. Most objects are universal and easily identified while others are far more complex or less known. A cyborg can readily identify nearly anything that he has interacted with before. A successful Intelligence + (Skill) draw will inform the cyborg of less obvious details that he is able to recall.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The cyborg can attempt to recognize anything that he has observed, but not directly handled, or is available in any data bases that the cyborg has access to (whether through a direct connection of a NetLink or an onboard connection through the Access Merit). The system takes a full round to scan an object and is only able to scan one item at a time for every dot in the Respirated SBC Merit. (Each item being scanned counts as one dot for computing the total dots of the Heads Up Display.)

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Any object that the cyborg is unable to identify yields some form of a “specimen unknown” notification and the information is added to the cyborgs repertoire, usually attached to an assigned serial number.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Some objects can have other objects modify them and thus require additional effort to identify. A car may be outfitted with a spoiler, a gun may have an altered barrel or a scope added. The modifications are treated as additional objects to be recognized separately. Observing the modified object can help to identify the object’s modified purpose as well as the added object. A cyborg that comes across a tin can attached to a kite string will recognize the individual components but until he observes a child speaking into it and listening to someone else’s coming through, he may not realize that the contraption is communication device.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Heads Up Display (Encyclopedic Knowledge) Merit adds a variety of specialized information to the cyborg’s repertoire as well as potentially useful data for objects that the cyborg has already identified.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Respirate​d SBC ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red">• to ••• <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina •• and Autonomic Neural Interface ••; Resources •••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Respirated SBC Merit provides a cyborg with an onboard computer system that is independent of the Autonomic Neural Interface system in that it provides computing power to peripheral systems and has no control of automated functions.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The game mechanics of the Respirated SBC Merit are detail in the write ups for the merits that it affects.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Thermal Vision ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red">• to ••• <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina ••, Cybernetic Eye • and Autonomic Neural Interface ••; Resources •••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Thermal vision allows the cyborg to perceive heat signatures in their field of view. The vision is generally featureless, even to the point of being difficult to tell one heat source from another. This has little to do with the heat source’s actual proximity to one another as a heat source directly in front of the cyborg may appear to be part of another heat source several yards away.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Thermal vision benefits the cyborg by allowing them to see through thin concealment and cover as well as see targets that are physically invisible. (Targets that are invisible through powers that trick the mind, such as Obfuscate, remain undetectable with this merit.)

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">For a cyborg to distinguish targets outside of combat they must succeed at an Intelligence + Investigation draw modified by the number of dots in this merit. To distinguish multiple targets engaging the cyborg in close combat is nearly impossible since the heat signatures blend together at such a close distance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Some targets emit less heat than others. Vampires are generally far colder than humans and cyborgs, while still producing body heat, do not distribute that heat evenly resulting in limbs that appear cooler than the rest of the body. In the case of cyborgs, only limbs will appear to be different temperatures. Cybernetic Eyes, generally, would not appear as cool spots on the observed subject’s head.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">To purchase the second or third dot in this merit the user needs to purchase the Respirated SBC Merit. These additional dots help the cyborg to observe the heat sources allowing him to track and distinguish a number of distinct heat sources no greater than the number of dots the player has in this merit.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Voice Modulation ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red">• to ••••• <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina ••, Respirated SBC • and Autonomic Neural Interface •••; Resources ••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> The Voice Modulation Merit allows the user to attempt to deceive observers when imitating another voice or for the cyborg to prevent the recognition of his own voice.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">This merit passively collects sounds that the cyborg observes and compiles them for later use. The cyborg, should they choose, can prioritize one subject’s voice resulting (eventually) in the cyborg being able to recreate the subject’s speech patterns, even speaking words that the subject has never spoken through the use of an audio extrapolation program.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">When attempting to trick speech recognition security systems the cyborg may add the number of dots that they have in this merit to such attempts.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Attempts to deceive people will provide the same bonus, but will not eliminate circumstantial modifiers for mannerism and familiarity.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">If the cyborg is merely attempting to disguise his own voice he does so flawlessly as he is using the words and speech patterns of others to convey his message. In cases where the cyborg has a recognizable diction the application of the bonus is at the Storyteller’s discretion.

Exoskeleton Merits
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Exoskeleton Merits grant a character access to an exoskeleton, powered body suit or hands-free vehicle. This can be anything from your car that operates through the use of the cyborg’s NetLink Merit to a thirty foot tall ‘Mech’ armed to the teeth with an earth-shattering arsenal.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Exoskeletons are rare, expensive and heavily restricted. Talk to your Storyteller about their place in their campaign before purchasing dots in Exoskeleton Merits.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Powered Body Suit ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red">• to ••••• <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina ••, Athletics •, Brawl •, Computer •, Weaponry •, Cybernetic Eye •, NetLink •••, Heads Up Display • and Autonomic Neural Interface •••; Resources ••••• and/or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Powered Body Suit Merit represents two things: the cyborg’s access to the suit and the power of the suit. These suits are far too expensive for one individual to own and too complex for that same person to maintain and, thus, require a team of technicians and deep, deep wallets.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Powered Body Suits are state of the art robotic suits that augment the operator’s physical capability dramatically. While not all suits are military grade they all represent extreme danger to the public if they fell into the wrong hands. As a result, suits require security not just for investment reasons but for liability reasons. Powered Body Suit (Security) represents the difficulty to gain access to the suit. For every dot in Powered Body Suit (Security) subtract one from efforts to intrude into the powered suits hanger by anyone that is not specifically allow in. This represents a difficult to find hiding place as well as advanced security. It is not uncommon for there to be a 24 hour security detail on site, even when the suit is not being housed there.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">But getting to the suit is just the first step. The intruder has two options. He can hoist the suit onto a truck and drive it out, or he can attempt to bypass the Permissions and walk the suit out. For every dot in Powered Body Suit (Permission) subtract one from efforts to activate and use the suit by anyone that is not a registered pilot or operator. Typical security protocols include finger print and/or retinal scanners, complex passwords that may change every 8 hours, multiple keys or permission consoles, DNA restrictions, cybernetic compatibility and much more.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">But all of this hassle becomes worth it when the thief gains access to the suit. Every suit is designed for specific tasks and they are outfitted with the Technology to perform those tasks. The suit is built by purchasing parts with points acquired through the purchase of the Powered Body Suit (Technology) Merit.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Rating Number of Experience Points

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">1        0

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">2        10

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">3        20

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">4        30

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">5        40

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The suits lack independent thought or personalities of their own. As a result suits only have Physical Attributes. All skills are supplied by the operator. Suits lack Advantages such as Virtues, Vices or Willpower.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Their health levels are computed as per any other creature, but their size starts at 10 and normally does not exceed 20 (through the purchase of the Size Merit XXXX). Their Speed is their Size + Strength plus any merits purchased that improve their mobility. Powered Body Suits start with one dot in each of the Physical Attributes with the exception of Strength which starts with one dot per five size. The player allocates five dots among Attributes. Attribute dots for body suits are always spent one for one and can be increased beyond five.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">All other features are purchased with experience points that are spent using the mortal experience point chart found on p. 35 of the World of Darkness Rulebook.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Special: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> If your troupe has specialize rules for the Retainer Merit, specifically with regards to retainer construction and development relative to the number of dots the retainer has then consider adapting the points above to that system to balance this merit with your game.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Powered Body Suits are available through Suidobashi Heavy Industry, a Japan-based robotics company. For instructional video, please watch: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">http://youtu.be/2iZ0WuNvHr8<span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Smart Car ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";color:red">• <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina ••, Drive •, Cybernetic Eye •, NetLink ••, Heads Up Display • and Autonomic Neural Interface ••; Resources •••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">This merit represents the outfitting of a car with the capacity to be driven through a cybernetic interface. A driver jacked into the car (assuming the car has been adequately calibrated) can perform feats of driving precision that take the car to its own limitations.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The driver receives a +2 bonus to drive draws in this vehicle. This bonus, at Storyteller discretion, may be higher should the player outfit a better car than average car. In simplest terms, the bonus provided can be as high as the Resource cost to purchase the vehicle assuming that the bulk of the expense is the result of performance enhancements and not wasted on ‘seat warmers’.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Smart Cruise ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red">• <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina ••, Dexterity •••, Drive •, Cybernetic Eye •, NetLink ••, Heads Up Display •, Stunt Driver ••• and Autonomic Neural Interface ••; Resources •••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">This merit allows the driver of a Smart Car to ignore any drive draw that, after penalties are applied, starts at 10 or higher. In addition, the driver may apply his natural defense to any attacks that he would normally be able to apply his defense to if he was the target of the attack instead of the car. The car’s armor stacks as per normal.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Anything that causes the driver to lose their defense negates the benefits of this merit.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Tactical Countermeasure ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red">• to ••••• <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina ••, Dexterity •••, Drive •, Cybernetic Eye •, NetLink ••, Heads Up Display •, Stunt Driver ••• and Autonomic Neural Interface ••; Resources •••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">This merit grants the character the ability to negate penalties to the Drive Skill that are caused by environmental hazards. For every dot in this merit the player can negate one point of penalties to a Drive draw. This merit will never result in a bonus to the Drive draw.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Anything that causes the driver to lose their defense negates the benefits of this merit.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Vehicular Dodge ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red">• <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina ••, Dexterity •••, Drive •, Cybernetic Eye •, NetLink ••, Heads Up Display •, Stunt Driver •••, Tactical Countermeasure • and Autonomic Neural Interface ••; Resources •••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The character can ‘dodge’ attacks with his vehicle just as he can dodge attacks in close combat. Whenever your character performs a dodge (see “Dodge” p. 156 in the World of Darkness Rulebook), you can choose to add his Drive Skill dots to his Defense instead of doubling his Defense. He essentially draws on his driving experience rather than relying on his raw ability alone.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Anything that causes the driver to lose their defense negates the benefits of this merit.

<h3 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">Weaponize ( <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";color:red">• to ••••• <span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"SegoeScript","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:David;color:red">) 

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Prerequisite: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> Stamina ••, Dexterity •••, Firearms •, Cybernetic Eye •, NetLink ••, Heads Up Display •, Smart Car •, Smart Cruise •, Stunt Driver ••• and Autonomic Neural Interface ••; Resources •••• or special circumstance.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Effect: <span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">The Weaponize Merit allows the vehicle to be outfitted with a variety of weapons from wheel blades to rocket launchers to oil sprayers.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Any weapon that requires physical contact with its target (wheel blades) requires a Dexterity + Drive draw while ranged attacks require a Dexterity + Firearms draw. The number of dots in this merit represents the maximum bonus that a weapon can provide.

<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal">It is not possible to use the ‘Aim’ maneuver while driving with anything that does not take advantage of the cyborg’s Heads Up Display (such as a Smart Link). If the ‘Aim’ maneuver is used then the driver forfeits their defense during the rounds in which they are aiming. If a passenger is using the ‘Aim’ maneuver then the driver’s use of his defense destroys all accumulated benefits that the ‘Aim’ maneuver may have accrued.