Biomods and PDS

I'm not certain why biomods have a PDS load. I am looking at this without any consideration of 'theme', taking an analytical approach. It is a common practice in games to separate aesthetic options from gameplay. We already see this with biomods not allowing options that would give a combat or stat bonus. I think the reason for this is rather self explanatory, it could lead to all sorts of abuse. However, if a boon should not be allowed the same goes for a disadvantage. In fact gaining a biomod at the moment takes away from the ability to invest in more cyberware, a game mechanic effecting object. Biomods are also put into this category because of the shared PDS load but without any contribution towards enhancing the character. If anything it forces a delay in action that would positively affect the game by redirecting it in an aesthetic direction.

The PDS help file is a bit outdated.

https://www.sindome.org/help/game/pds/

It does not mention nanos or biomods.

Interesting that biomods are regarded as having no mechanical advantage. Was there a change to this?

Or is it the case these days that anything that's not combat related is considered "not a mechanic"?

It wouldn't surprise me if it were one of the things that got lost when biomods were taken off the plate of GMs and builders and put entirely into PC hands. The thing I'm thinking about could be a bit hard to automate, as it might not have always taken a predictable magnitude or [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sign_(mathematics)]sign[/url].

This is the problem. It's getting theme and mechanics confused. When using the MDA framework (Mechanics-Dynamics-Aesthetics) these three aspects are separate components. In short, theme does not apply as that is an aesthetic. To clarify, MDA is sort of the bible for analyzing games.

From the perspective of the designer the mechanics should generate dynamics (The meta) which generate the aesthetics (Theme). When approached in this way the biomods do not fit into the cyberware model. Anytime something aesthetic is forced into a mechanic as seen in larger multiplayer games such as MMOs it receives tremendous backlash. Just look at Lost Ark and their community.

How is "working" being defined?

What are the Requirements?

I haven't seen the dev / GM definition of "working biomods".

I'd argue that needing the controller is overkill when biomods already have a PDS load associated with them.

It was discussed extensively five and two years ago and the ultimate argument against lifting any restrictions was worry that the game would become a furry playground. Make of that what you will, but I doubt you are going to change any minds.

https://www.sindome.org/bgbb/game-discussion/new-game-features/bio-modification-233/

https://www.sindome.org/bgbb/game-discussion/game-problems/biomod-controllers-423/

It's working exactly as designed.

Why would we even change it? From a staff perspective, biomods are extremely popular despite the restrictions. With all the complaining you'd think they're never used and everyone hates them.

Yet the opposite is true. Aesthetics and self actualization have a cost, and the PDS is that cost.

Lacking from your model, Varolokkur, is that mechanics can also be B. Behavioral. Where we want to encourage or discourage behaviors through mechanics, ultimately to reflect the theme we want, but player psychology is neglected in the MDA model. Here it is used to the fullest extent, and they have achieved that purpose perfectly.

That's the thing though, it has nothing to do with balance or improving the fun of the game. I came across the problem when considering the system for my own character as a fun narrative flavor to explain change and growth. It is something I could just update nakeds, BS, and poof, and some people just do that because it's easy. However, we like to , as an RP community, go a bit further and give depth to the narrative, (the aesthetic). At this point I took a step back as my dev senses tingled and looked at it from the other point of view. It became clear that this bit of flavor, with no impact on other players, would at minimum take away an immediate 1 month worth of UE and likely a later additional month in what would otherwise be used to better round out what my character can do, that would directly benefit their role and contribution to the game. The same goes for studdlies and cyber tits. Great, you have an updated description, you've changed a couple of words with no impact except some pointless ERP that does not benefit the game. How much time is redirected everytime a player does this that could be used to push towards meaningful improvements? Add it up and if 5 players get biomods and aesthetic chrome per month, you've just subtracted up to five months from the total character skill pool. That isn't healthy for the state of the game. It's not my call to make a decision on this, but I'm giving you the facts to give it some consideration.

To clarify, that's 5 months/m, so not linear, it's a rate. That's scary.

"Great, you have an updated description, you've changed a couple of words with no impact except some pointless ERP that does not benefit the game."

There are -hugely- significant plots around biomodification. These plots affect specific characters more than others, but they are still significant and cause both social and physical pvp. It is a plot device, and the physical 'weight' of biomodification does, justly, impact your character and potentially aligns them for or against different things in nuanced ways.

These plots take place both on a huge, playerbase wide scale, and in the background.

This is a game where aesthetics are a game mechanic. You literally can't get involved in certain places or plots without dedication to aesthetics. Aesthetics bestow power to a character in ways that combat simply cannot reach.

I think the PDS hit is balanced.

I think using a conventional "bible" of game analysis to look at Sindome is inherently flawed, and completely misses the point. While it is of course a game in the literal sense, the purpose and design of it is (arguably, I am not a designer) more oriented towards an advanced roleplaying chatroom. While there is competition, mechanics, advantages and disadvantages, they exist (through my interpretation) in service of informing and prompting roleplay - not crafting a perfectly balanced text-based Cyberpunk PvP arena. We are here imagining the lives of fictional characters, not trying to win a game.

The flipside of this pedantic argument is that yeah I can say that, but when it comes down to it, can someone's violence not always override my RP? Of COURSE balance is necessary when I can get my character removed from RP by someone who HAS decided PvP is more important. Not to mention the argument that yeah, RP and flavor is important, so let someone look cool and interesting and also be the type of character they want to be without needlessly handicapping themselves; it will make for a more interesting environment than boring generic killing machines.

So to sum up, I have no idea what to do.