I'm currently picking bits at random to read (in other words, what ever interests me at the time). This is the first thing I want to bring up. ---- Under DIY biomods, I was wondering if it were possible to make modifications using the Medichines nanoware augmentation (Core rulebook, p. 308)? It was a question that someone on the forums had asked at one point. I figured that since that this new book goes so far as to talk about surgery for modding morphs, I figured that medichines was worth bringing this up again. I was wondering what your guy's take on such approach? If I remember correctly, my response to that question was that it probably wouldn't work well. A healing vat normally has software, lots of microbots, and an abundance of raw resources. Any attempt to use a [Low] priced augmentation to do the same would be much slower and prone to errors (most likely requiring tests, with penalties, to make such modifications). Edit: Fixed a few typos. Clarified my points.

I've read the morph creation rules. I'm going to play with some numbers now. By the way, were you guys going to post details on doing morph R&D? I don't think we seriously need such data, but it might be interesting to have. At the very least, a good idea as to what skills are needed, and estimated costs, gear required, and time needed.

I just skimmed through and noticed the bioware enhancements for swarmoids. Are these supposed to be the cyberware versions of these upgrades or is this a nod to "living" swarmoids composed of biodrones? The chapter itself looks good. Unfortunately, from now on there will always be a picture of Octomorph Hitler in my mind.

[u]Eclipse Phase Morphs Chapter, Proofreading[/u] Note: You are inconsistent when it comes to page references to previous supplements. Some morphs provide references for anything that isn't in Core or Transhuman, while others have references for anything that isn't in the Core (including references within Transhuman). A few don't have any page references at all. Previous books used the first method, providing page references to anything that wasn't in the Core rulebook or the book within which the morph appeared. This is the standard I am going to apply when suggesting fixes. There is a chance I will miss a few, and so I suggest that you apply your own standard when pushing this draft through to its release state. General / Aptitude Bonuses / You should probably go through all the morphs and fix the language used with aptitude bonuses. Some of them have “+x to x aptitudes of the player's choice', others have “+x to x OTHER aptitudes of the player's choice”. My advise to to normalise them to “+x to x OTHER aptitudes”, as that is how it works rules-wise. Optional Rule: Morph Variety – Clarify that the player should roll MOX*10 when resleeving into a new, previously unsleeved into morph (rather than one they have sleeved into before). As written the rule could be read as a morph picking up negative traits every time someone sleeves into it. Ariel / Notes / The Non-Mammalian Biochemistry trait doesn't need a page reference. Ariel / Advantages / The movement speed provided by the wings implant defaults to (8/40). I don't see any particular reason why it should be dropped down to (4/20). Basic Pod (Pod) / Title / Should be “Basic Pod (Pod Biomorph)”. Basic Pod (Syrtis Variant) / General / I don't think that this particular entry is necessary. It is just the Martian Variant from earlier applied to the Basic Pod. Biocore / Implants / The Brain Box implant doesn't need a page reference. Blackbird / Enhancements / The Invisibility enhancement needs a page reference (Panopticon 149). Blackbird / Enhancements / The Reduced Signature enhancement needs a page reference (Panopticon 149). Blackbird / Wound Threshold / The Blackbird should have a WT of 5 for its Durability of 25. Blackbird / Advantages / There is a rogue comma at the end of the advantages list. Blackbird / Notes / The Small Size trait doesn't need a page reference. Cloud Skate / Implants / The High-G Adaptation implant needs a page reference (Gatecrashing 152). Cloud Skate / Implants / The Hydrostatic Pressure Adaptation implant needs a page reference (Rimward 188). Cloud Skate / Implants / The Long-Term Life Support implant needs a page reference (Rimward 189). Cloud Skate / Implants / The Swim Bladder implant needs a page reference (Gatecrashing 152). Cloud Skate / Implants / The Temperature Tolerance (Cryonic) implant needs a page reference (Rimward 189). Cloud Skimmer / Enhancements / The Internal Rocket enhancement doesn't need a page reference. Cloud Skimmer / Enhancements / The Swim Bladder implant needs a page reference (Gatecrashing 152). Critter / Disadvantages / The Lacks Manipulators trait doesn't need a page reference. Critter / Disadvantages / The Reduced Size trait doesn't need a page reference. Critter / Notes / The Non-Human Biochemistry trait doesn't need a page reference. Daitya / Notes / The Large Size trait doesn't need a page reference. Fighting Kite / Enhancements / The Radar Absorbent enhancement needs a page reference (Panopticon 149). Fighting Kite / Advantages / Missing an 's' on “two aptitude(s) of the player's choice”. Fighting Kite / Notes / The Small Size trait doesn't need a page reference. Flying Squid / Aptitude Maximum / This is the only pod morph in the entire game with an aptitude maximum higher than 30. I don't particularly see why. Personally I would change it to 30 for SOM, REF and COO, with 25 for the others. Flying Squid / Aptitude Maximum / Tying into the above, the notation method for the aptitude maximums doesn't follow precedent from previous books. It is an ambiguous topic, previous morphs have had them displayed multiple different ways, however “40 (SOM, REF, COO), 30 (all others)” would be the most fitting. When combined with the previous suggest, it would be “30 (SOM, REF, COO), 25 (all others)”. Flying Squid / Advantages / “Ambidextrous” needs to have “trait” added to it. Flying Squid / Advantages / The Ambidextrous trait isn't a morph trait. This morph shouldn't technically be capable of taking it. Flying Squid / Note / The Non-Mammalian Biochemistry trait doesn't need a page reference. Freeman / Advantages / -5 WIL is not an advantage. It should be put under Disadvantages. Freeman / Advantages / The multiple choice aptitude bonus doesn't need to specify that it cannot be spent on WIL. The general rules for morph aptitude bonuses already cover this. It should instead simply be “+5 to one other aptitude of the player's choice”. Galatea / Implants / I don't know what Emotional Control is supposed to be pointing to? There isn't an implant by that name is this book, and the closest I could think of would be the Emotional Dampeners from the Core book. Griefer / Disadvantages / “-5 to two chosen aptitudes” should be “-5 to two aptitudes of the player's choice”. Griefer / Disadvantages / If the morph has such a specific stigma attached to it, more because of its use rather than the fact that it is a robot, should it not have its own Social Stigma (Griefer) trait? Guard Deluxe / Name / This variant should be titled “Guard (Deluxe Variant) (Synthmorph)”. Mimic / Disadvantages / “Disadvantage” should have an 's', even though it is only describing a single instance. Mimic / Disadvantages / “trait” is randomly bolded. Mimic / Notes / “Note” should have an 's', even though it is only describing a single instance. Mimic / Notes / The Small Size trait doesn't need a page reference. Nautiloid / Enhancements / The Hydrostatic Pressure Adaptation enhancement should have a page reference (188 Rimward) Nautiloid / Notes / “Note” should have an 's', even though it is only describing a single instance. Nautiloid / Notes / As far as I am aware, there isn't a Very Large Size trait? I guess there is reason to have one, but if you do it would change some things. The Surya is probably larger than the Nautiloid, why is that Large but this is Very Large? If the Nautiloid is 'van-sized', then it should be Large, not Very Large. Nautiloid / Notes / Either way, the Very Large Size trait doesn't need a page reference. Nomad / Implants / The Efficient Digestion implant doesn't need a page reference. Nomad / Implants / The Far Storage implant doesn't need a page reference. Nomad / Implants / Temperature Tolerance (Improved Cold) / Precedent has page references placed into their own set of brackets, not merged with the existing bracket set for an implant. This implant should probably read “Temperature Tolerance (Improved Cold) (p. 166 Sunward)”. Opteryx / Description / “to be a fast, lightweight runnerS, climber and flyer” should be “lightweight runner, climber and flyer”. Opteryx / Enhancements / The Cartography Package isn't an enhancement, it is a software package. I am almost certain that this is the only time a software package has ever appeared within an enhancement list. I'm not sure it should be here? Perhaps write up an enhancement, hardware version and use that instead? Opteryx / Enhancements / Either way, the Cartography Package shouldn't have a page reference. Rover / Mobility System / You might want to include a Walker movement mobility system, even if it is a particularly slow (4/8) one. Thrust Vector is great, but being able to crab walk around is still useful. Rover / Notes / The Small Size trait doesn't need a page reference. Samsa / Advantages / “+20 Intimidation” needs a space directly before the '+' symbol. Samsa / Advantages / The Ambidextrous trait isn't a morph trait. This morph shouldn't technically be capable of taking it. Samsa / Advantages / The Ambidexterity trait should be “Ambidextrous”. Security Pod (Space Marine Variant) / Title / Should be “Security Pod (Space Marine Variant) (Pod Biomorph)”. Smart Swarm / Enhancements / The Smart Swarm enhancement doesn't need a page reference. Smart Swarm / Mobility System / The titular “Mobility Systems” shouldn't have an 's'. Smart Swarm / Mobility System / Both “drones” and “shaped swarm” should be capitalized. Smart Swarm / Notes / Due to the vital importance of Swarm Composition, this is the only occasion that I think a page reference is required. Sphere / Enhancements / The Gas-Jet System enhancement needs a page reference (166 Sunward) Synthtaur / Notes / The Large Size trait doesn't need a page reference. Every Flexbot / Notes / The Small Size trait doesn't need a page reference.

Once their controller is killed, drones will go autonomous, unless their controller has the Possum Cache enhancement. This should be obvious; if you're dead, you can't control them anymore!

Lalande21185 wrote:

See the 'like a videogame' comment in the direct control section: So your playing a first person shooter and keel over dead from a heart attack. Does your character suddenly start playing itself? This is the basis of the way the GM in the example ruled and it is perfectly reasonable

It does if it's got an AI that takes over whenever it's not directly controlled, and your connection drops when you're killed.

Page 50 has "Excepting a few knock-off brands, flats frequently have..." should say "pods" instead of "flats". Laser/Microwave/Ultrasound Link (all on page 46) should probably make it clear that this is in addition to radio links rather than instead of. That gets implied in the paragraph on Jamming, "Microbots will automatically change over to a new communications protocol if available" but without reading that section players could get the impression that eg if they add lasers they'll have no choice but to be obvious to anyone with enhanced vision. Near the top of page 43 we have "The standard size for a swarmanoid morph is roughly 5,000 microbots" while near the top of page 44 there is "Every additional 1,000 microbots, or half of a standard swarmanoid". Either the first number should be 2000 or the second 2500, and if the latter then some further changes are needed to the Megaswarms section. Megaswarms on page 44 says that adding half a swarm should increase Dur by 25 but I'm not sure that makes sense when the standard swarm has Dur 30. Perhaps it does, with a normal swarm really having Dur 50 but 20 of that is required for the microbots that deal with the overhead of coordinating the swarm leaving only 30 effective Dur for the ego to play with. If it is due to overhead though shouldn't this be reflected in the paragraph on "Splitting a Swarm" on page 43, perhaps with one swarm of Dur 30 becoming two of Dur 10 (well, those numbers don't really work either)? The Apiary flexbot on page 27 is described as a mini-swarmanoid but we don't have a clear definition of that. Is it what we'd get if a swarm was halved as per "Splitting a Swarm" on page 43? If so should the Dur of one of these be altered to match the other? Speaking of the Apiary I'm not quite sure what it is. Is there something which physically attaches to a flexbot module? I can't see why that'd be needed, wouldn't it be possible to run a piece of software on and ecto or mesh insert that simulates a microbot which the real microbots are programmed to stay within range of, and for that to use almost none of the resources available given that this hardware can run an ego? If it is more than that wouldn't it just be a single microbot connected via an access jack or skinlink? What I'm getting at is should this module be available to morphs which don't have Modular Design? An Apiary without any other modules looks like a way for a character to buy a cheaper but less effective swarmanoid. I'm not saying that is a bad thing, in fact I like it. We also don't know how flexbots work with with the Right At Home trait from EP page 147. Perhaps buying this trait only works for one specific module type, in which case what happens if an ego sleeves into a flexbot morph consisting of some modules they have this trait for and some modules they don't?

Updated my post (http://eclipsephase.com/comment/37434#comment-37434) to include all my proofreading/style guide suggestions for the morphs themselves. Ow. My brain.

Ok, I'm going through morph creation at the moment, checking for errors. Step 01 - Choose Morph Type -It says that podmorphs must take the Social Stigma (podmorph) negative trait. This negative trait does change the Real CP cost of the morph. Does this count towards the 2 negative traits a new morph may have, or does this function as a third negative trait. -Before I post, I should mention that Step 09 answers this question. Would kinda be nice to know at this step. Step 02 - Choose Size and Durability -I was kinda thinking that the size of the morph might affect the amount of freebie durability. I'm not sure if that matters much though since tougher morphs might be considered more valuable, and should be priced more. Plus I think there might be new traits that cover that. Step 03 - Choose Aptitude Maximum -Appears A-OK. Step 04 - Choose Aptitude Bonuses -I find it weird that the costs for aptitude bonuses are dependent on the Real CP costs of what you do in another step (picking gear of all things). Step 05 - Choose Skill Bonuses -Not much in terms of the selection of skills... I'm not sure if it should matter much. -Does the limit of +40 in skills apply to the maximum to a skill, or the total bonuses from all skills. I would like to be sure if I can get something like +40 to infiltration and +40 to freerunning. Step 06 - Choose Augmentations -A limit of 10 augmentations per price category... I think that more augmentations could be put in a base morph, but I'll go with it for now. -Are augmentations like basic mesh inserts and cortical stacks free, or do you have buy them at this step? -Some augmentations must be bought at full price. Ok, I can get that is there for balance reasons... but are they there for reasons other than game balance? -Some augmentations must be totaled separately. In regards to step 4 (price of aptitude bonuses), do these augmentations count as being bought in this step, or do they count separately (and therefore do not affect step 4)? -If the morph has more than 1 full price augmentation, then the most expensive one is not paid for at full price. Does that mean that it is totaled in this step as though it were not a full price augmentation? -Does this mean it is also counts when determining the price of aptitude bonuses in step 4? -Why are traits mentioned in this step? Traits are handled in a later steps. It says that augmentations and traits should be totaled separately from this step and saved for step 10. -Morph advantages. It shows that large morphs are the smallest morphs to get natural weapons. Can't smaller morphs get natural weapons? Did you intend for morphs to get natural weapons through the use of augmentations? Step 07 - Add Synthmorph Costs -Appears A-OK. Step 08 - Choose Positive Morph Traits -I don't like the limit of only 2 positive morph traits (I think it should be possible to have more). -Why are augmentations mentioned in this section? Its like you copied and pasted a section from step 6 to step 8. In fact, it looks like the only thing changed is in the first sentence of the copied text had an "augmentations" replaced with "traits". Step 09 - Choose Negative Morph Traits -Again, I don't like the limit to traits. -It seems to mention the answer to my questions about mandatory negative traits. They do count towards the limit of traits you can have. -I think that when it refers to step 13, clanking masses, I think it should be pointing to step 12 instead. Step 13 has nothing to do with clanking masses. Step 10 - Calculate Adjusted CP Cost -Appears A-OK. Step 11 - Determine Final CP Cost -Appears A-OK. Step 12 - Incorporate Clanking Masses Trait -Can't say I like the idea of retroactively changing details after already having done the math. It might even be more weird to voluntarily pick the clanking masses trait, and then have it reduce costs enough to make the trait mandatory, and thus don't get any points from it. Step 13 - Final Credit Cost -Appears A-OK. Step 14 - Final Cost Adjustments -Appears A-OK. -I however would like to know what the prices would be to produce a morph at cost, not at market markup.

Actually, I might have an idea how to handle clanking masses trait so you don't have to do math once more. Step 10 -Total Real CP -Don't adjust by multiplying by 0.25 Step 11 -Determine if the morph qualifies for the mandatory clanking masses negative trait. If morph type is synthmorph, and costs 60 or less Real CP, then it needs to take the trait. Any result that is 60 or less, when put through the adjusted CP process, will cost less than 20 adjusted CP. -Determine if the morph qualities for the option to select the clanking masses negative trait. If the synthmorph costs more than 70 Real CP, it may select the trait with the GM's permission. Note that any result costing more than 70 Real CP (like 71 Real CP) can take a -10 Real CP hit, be put through the adjusted CP step, and still wind up being at least 20 cp. -Make the clanking masses trait a third negative trait. I think its a pain to leave the slot empty so it becomes possible to select this trait later, only to find out later that you can't, so you go back through the process but it changes your cp enough to make clanking masses mandatory so you have to include it, but now you have to drop a trait which might be the one that caused the clanking masses mandatory... :( -You know what, change this. It might already be too complex. -Lets try: Any synthmorph that costs 60 or less Real CP must take the negative trait Social Stigma (Clanking Masses) and does not get a Real CP reduction in the process. If it isn't mandatory to take, the synthmorph has the option of taking it any ways to reduce the Real CP of the synthmorph, by -10 Real CP or what ever amount will reduce it to 60 CP (which ever is less). This is taken as a third negative trait. Step 12 -This is the adjusted CP process

The title "vacuum life" is written on page 137 but it's text is on page 138.

I'm doing testing on Morph Creation. I've giving notice to anyone reading this thread that I'm working on some excel sheets containing data from all morph creation rules I've seen thus far (the one in the fanzine, the first morph creation playtest, and the rules found in the file provided for in this thread). They are a still work in progress, so functionality is being added as I need them. I currently asking for some sample morphs to put through the system. I would like to know: Name (Not required, but makes identification easier) Morph Type (such as biomorph) Aptitude Maximums Aptitude Bonuses Size & Durability Traits (with cp costs included) Augmentations (separated by cost) If there are any full cost augmentation or full cost traits, I would like to them in a separate group as well. My overall goal is to be able to punch in data quickly and get numbers quickly. So if you can organize things before hand, I can spend less time organizing data before I can punch them in, and spend more time on the system. ---- A few examples I put through already. I hope to correct errors. *By the way, I'm not going beyond to completion yet. I'm more interested in the results part way through. *Short hand: EPFZ (Morph creation rules found in Eclipse Phase Fanzine #3), THP1 (Transhuman playtest, Morph Creation rules released on 2013-04-03, it was the first version of morph creation rules released), THP2 (Transhuman playtest, Morph Creation rules released on 2013-07-04, it was the second version of morph creation rules released). Flat actual cost - CP 0, Credit [High] EPFZ (Step 08) - 0 Final CP (rounded 0), High THP1 (Step 11) - -14 Adjusted CP (rounded -15), THP2 (Step 10) - -5 Adjusted CP (rounded -5), Menton actual cost - CP 40, Credit [Expensive] EPFZ (Step 08) - 39.5 Final CP (rounded 35), Expensive 20k THP1 (Step 11) - 51 Adjusted CP (rounded 51), THP2 (Step 10) - 34 Adjusted CP (rounded 35), Remade Actual Cost - CP 60, Credit [Expensive 40k] EPFZ (Step 08) - 66.9 Final CP (rounded 65), Expensive 40k THP1 (Step 11) - 76 Adjusted CP (rounded 75), THP2 (Step 10) - 42 Adjusted CP (rounded 40), ---- I've also punched in a my own morph. I've toned it down to based upon rules and recommendations (not so many bonuses and not so much augmentation). I'm using the following for the duration of these tests. Name Cogplus Type Biomorph Aptitude Max 40 Aptitude Bonuses +15 COG, +10 ANY, +5 ANY (Total 30) Size Normal Dur 40 --Implants-- [Low] (7 used) Eidetic Memory Hyper Linguist Math Boost Enhanced Respiration Temperature Tolerance Electrical Sense Radiation Sense [Moderate] (7 used) Basic Biomods Cortical Stack Mesh Inserts Circadian Regulation Clean Metabolism Toxin Filters Oracles --Traits-- Uncanny Valley (-10) ---- These were results were when punched through my excel sheets. EPFZ (Step 08) - 81.2 Final CP (rounded 80), Expensive 50k THP1 (Step 11) - 89 Adjusted CP (rounded 90), THP2 (Step 10) - 60 Adjusted CP (rounded 60),

@ Madwand Cyberclaws are retractable (at least thats the impression I got). Think Wolverine form the X-Men. I don't know if the exit points are concealed or not (or if the claws piece flesh every time they extend instead of using special ports to prevent that). I assume that the setting allows you to choose the cosmetic effects of your gear. The Remade does not break the rules of no more than +15 bonus in a single aptitude, and no more than +30 bonuses in aptitudes. The maximum aptitude bonus it has is +10, and the total amount of bonuses is +25. 210 CP for a Remade? Did you remember to multiply the Real CP by .25 in step 10? My math says its 207 Real CP, and it becomes 51.75 Adjusted CP (which when rounded to the nearest multiple of 5, is 50 Adjusted CP). I don't think its possible to make a rule system that can match the morphs in previous books (and still be balanced for future uses). The problem lies with the fact is the devs originally picked numbers that looked right and seemed balanced. Morph creation rules was probably too ambitious at that point in time. The only way to have the previous morphs be balanced with these rules, in terms of costs, is to retcon the previous morphs so they are now compliant. Plus, I do like the theme that some podmorphs are cheaper equivalents of other morphs (like costing [High] instead of [Expensive]) which don't appear to be well covered by these rules. I have no reason to believe that certain augmentations should be considered free under these morph creation rules. As for extra costs for synthmorphs. My only guess is that matter isn't free, and matter used for proper synthmorphs (not Case and Case nockoffs) is fairly expensive. The Case was designed to be as cheap as possible, and it might be why it has the Lemon trait.

@DivineWrath It's possible cyberclaws could be concealed: it's not really clear from the description. It doesn't really matter, though. Choice of weapons is a very personal thing, and isn't something that should come by default on a morph unless it is something inherent to it (like claws on a cat, for example). Just my opinion. The Remade has 35 CP of aptitudes in my (3rd) printing of the book. You are right that I missed step 10. My bad, and that helps. I still think synthmorphs are being penalized way too much in these rules. If anything, it is biomorphs that should cost extra points. If "matter" is the measure, biomorphs take far more to manufacture as they also have to be fed during those years developing in a healing vat. Matter is cheap, though, compared to costs in time. When a product takes years to manufacture, that product tends to be very expensive.

Yeah, I realize that the reason is game balance. I'm not a fan of game balance in Eclipse Phase, it is an inherently unbalanced game. I'd prefer the rules reflect the "reality" of the game world. I've been thinking about the morph creation rules. I think they're confusing, having a separate CP cost for the morph that then gets multiplied. I would rather see development costs in credits, which then get divided by 1000 for CP cost or whatever, rather than introducing a third currency.