Shadowrun
Shadowrun General => The Secret History => Topic started by: bobo69 on <09-14-10/1911:44>
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If a human vampire tried to embrace a metahuman, would that said Metahuman turn into a vampire or its metahuman equivalent(eg. Ork= Wendigo, Elf= Banshee etc.)?
I think there are probably more strains of HMHVV out there as the strain keeps mutating(either naturally or through human(corporate) genetic interference):
Example:
Werewolf: Basically a genetically modified HMHVV II Ghilani strain(Loup Garou). Victim permanently turns into a 7-8 foot tall Man wolf beast. Transmitted by blood or sexual contact(yes the disease gets turned into a sexually transmitted virus(read the novel Ravenous and Bestial by Ray Garton for inspration)
The disease effectively destroys human cognizance and the victim thinks like a ravenous animal whose only drive is to eat(it is constantly hungry) and to procreate(spread the virus sexually). So far it only affects humans. The werewolf is allergic to silver(severe). As well as the weaknesses of the Loup Garou.
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Oh yeah, victm is rendered sterile but also gains regeneration.
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From Running Wild, p 57:
HMHVV I: Ghilani vrykolakiviridae
Isolated 2034 by Dr. Emil Harz and Dr. Carla Greenbaum
• Dwarves become goblins
• Elves become banshees
• Humans become vampires
• Orks become wendigos
• Trolls become dzoo-noo-qua
HMHVV Ia: Ghilani vrykolakiviridae sanguisuga
Isolated 2046 by Dr. Wilhelm Bruckner and Dr. Günther Langer
• Humans become nosferatu
HMHVV II: Ghilani moneriviridae
Isolated 2039 by Dr. John Russell Jarka and Dr. Michelle Criscione
• Dwarves become gnawers
• Elves become harvesters
• Humans become loup-garous
• Orks become grendels
• Sasquatches become bandersnatchii
• Trolls become fomóraig
HMHVV III: Ghilani wichtiviridae
Isolated 2051 by Dr. Jeffrey Krieger
• All metahumans become ghouls
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There was a PC Bat shaman in the game I played in who had warm fuzzies for vampires and ghouls (and Ares, and Lofwyr, and . . . ). It was all part of her backstory. She was shocked and aghast (no pun intended) at the number of people who were willing to kill vamps and ghouls on 'general principles'. My suggestion was that the vamps & ghouls she knew were . . . different . . . from what the world knew. Basically, no HMHVV. Both the player and the GM went for it.
But jeez, it would have created major problems in the wider SR world.
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Running Wild has a full chapter on this with some pretty detailed rules/results, written in character, if memory serves. It's a pretty nice book. I like the old Paranormal Guide to NA but Running wild is pretty good. I recommend it. Pick it up on PDF if you don't wanna spring full out for Dead Tree.
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Yeah, Running Wild is a great book
Its THE critter book for SR.
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If you've got questions about this after you read the bit in Running Wild, pop back in and I'll see what I can do to answer them.
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From reading Earthdawn, its hinted that the undead were originally created by the Horrors.
So HMHVV is actually a horror corrupted virus. Technically.
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More HMHVV sub types:
Reaper: Basically a genetically modified HMHVV-II virus which brings out the Harvester genotype to other metahumans. However whoever tweaked this basically meant this as a bio weapon and added the following weaknesses: Self destruct. 1 week after infection, victim burst into flames destroying virus and infected. Virus itself is destroyed 1 week after being released.
Manananggal: Basically a Filipino variant of the HMHVV-1 vampire. Only affects humans. dual form. Basically the victim has two form human and manananggal(which basically the upper half of the body sprouts huge batwings, fangs, claws and seperates from lower half at the stomach. ), the manananggal can switch from the human and manananggal form anytime but it would rather do so at night(due to the manananggal form suffering from allergy: Severe sunlight). It likes to eat metahuman inner organs especially infant fetuses(It regards this as a delicacy). The usual MO is the Mananggal likes to go to the roofs of houses use its thin tongue to slide down a hole in the ceiling and suck up the infant fetus from a pregnant victim...it does not like Troll or Ork infant victims(too much dermal deposits).
So powers are different for each form:
Human: Immunity(age, Pathogens, Toxins), Infection, regeneration, sapience, enhanced senses(hearing, lowlight, thermographic). Weakness: Dietery Requirement(metahuman blood & flesh: inner organs). Essence Loss 6 months).
Manannggal: Every powers and weakness of the human form with addition of: Powers: Flight, Bite, Claws, tongue stinger(used to suck up blood and internal organs). Weakness: Allergy Severe Sunlight, Allergy severe: Salt
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Another HMHVV subtype
Jiang Shi: A HMHVV-1a vampire subtype found in China. Infected deforms into a walking corpse, looking like it was dead for two-four weeks or so and sprouts claws. Basically its a Nosferatu but the following extras: Powers: Claws and Bite, Movement Weakness: Dietary requirement: metahuman flesh.
Infovore: The vampire for the new age. HMHVV-4?. Basically a psychic vamprie. drains memories or even age. Essence loss to zero either turns the victim into a mindless drone. Basically here are the powers: Essence drain, immunity age. Weaknesses: Dietery requirement(memories: drained via essence los), Essence loss.
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Another HMHVV subtype
Ghul: Found in the Middle East, this HMHVV-1 sub variant only affects humans. Basically turns the infected human into a cannibalistic( raw metahuman flesh) immortal without the usual vampire powers or even weaknesses. Powers: Infection, Compulsion, influence, immunity: age, pathogens, toxins, essence drain, sapience. Weakness: Dietery Requirements: metahuman flesh(fresh).
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From reading Earthdawn, its hinted that the undead were originally created by the Horrors.
So HMHVV is actually a horror corrupted virus. Technically.
Used this once ago, to make the whole HMHVV viruses spread wide across the world an horror, as Rystul is, which feed of the pain inflicted to the infected's victims. Wasn't clearly said in the campaign, just a short and frightening vision of the horror, I don't think my players really understood, but it wasn't the goal, just a clue to make them think about crazy theories.
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While we are on this subject I actually just had a character that was infected in game with HMHVV, or a strain there of anyway (special ghoul strain). So I have a question to all my fellow runners. The new techniques of cellular repair can return lost essence and attributes due to the virus even though it can't cure it, however those techniques are not yet available on the particular time line (2059 at the current moment, gonna be awhile).
So I turn to magic given that there are health spells that heal damage, could a health spell potentially be written to restore lost attributes (not essence/magic). In fact I just so happen to have a spell written. I'd like some opinions on whether anyone thinks it will work. (it's written in 3ed format)
Restore (Attribute)
Type: M Target: Attribute Duration: Permanent Drain: M
These spells can permanently restore a lost attribute due to disease or damage. Each attribute requires a separate spell. The target number is the attribute to be restored. Every two successes restore 1 point, up to the maximum force of the spell. The spell may be applied anytime. A character may only be restored once for any set of injuries (disease lowers strength then the runner loses an arm on a run. Each may be treated separately, but only once.) A cyberware version could exist. This spell will restore racial maximums as well.
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If what I remember from Runner's Companion is right, you can't restore Attribute losses from HMHVV by any means. The virus actively resists any such attempts, rewriting the infected's DNA to what it wants and essentially either resets or negates the attempt or it kills the infected. I think you're pretty much screwed on it. Of course, you can always just say, "Eat it, I'm the GM and I'm making it this way." But I would make the Drain on a spell that restores Attributes very high. If I even allowed it. It's very powerful.
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In the FAQ, is states that "Can cellular repair (p.88, Augmentation) regain Essence lost due to infection with HMHVV?
Yes."
So if the tech can repair the attribute losses including essence (fairly cheaply i might add) then why would a spell not be able to repair the normal attributes?
This is the ghoul variant by the way.
The drain code fits with the spell design rules laid out by the Magic in the Shadows supplement.
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Maybe it can then. I wouldn't allow it, but I like playing up the horror of being one of the Infected, so there's that. ;)
I don't know what the older versions of the magic creation rules and Drain codes are. It just seems logical to me that restoring Attributes would be a bit more difficult, and strenuous, than restoring health.
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Look at it this way: With Cellular Regen, you're fighting Magic with Technology, two things that are diametrically opposite. HMHVV is a magical disease, so it will tend to be more resilient to magic.
Personally, though, if the story called for it, I'd allow it.
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Okay, so maybe toughing it out is what I should actually be doing at this point...still gonna write the spell, might be able to make some money on the side maybe a little extra karma with some charity healing work. Be nice to have someone around that can repair that old run injury that's been bothering your shootin' arm for the last year, you know, the one you can't afford to actually fix because of all the gear you got in your body already.
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If you've got enough gear in you, magic probably isn't your best bet for getting your arm fixed.
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As noted previously Running Wild (p.57, 67) clarifies HMHVV as follows (note the additions to HMHVV Ia from the earlier post):
- HMHVV I: Ghilani vrykolakiviridae
Isolated 2034 by Dr. Emil Harz and Dr. Carla Greenbaum- Dwarves become goblins
- Elves become banshees
- Humans become vampires
- Orks become wendigos
- Trolls become dzoo-noo-qua
- HMHVV Ia: Ghilani vrykolakiviridae sanguisuga
Isolated 2046 by Dr. Wilhelm Bruckner and Dr. Günther Langer- Humans become nosferatu
- Trolls usually die, but may become mutaqua
- All other metatypes die, barring one case where an elf survived to become a nosferatu
- HMHVV II: Ghilani moneriviridae
Isolated 2039 by Dr. John Russell Jarka and Dr. Michelle Criscione- Dwarves become gnawers
- Elves become harvesters
- Humans become loup-garous
- Orks become grendels
- Sasquatches become bandersnatchii
- Trolls become fomóraig
- HMHVV III: Ghilani wichtiviridae
Isolated 2051 by Dr. Jeffrey Krieger- All metahumans become ghouls
The relevant author—Patrick Goodman—released some material cut from Running Wild for space that adds:- HMHVV I: Ghilani vrykolakiviridae
- Sasquatch become Jabberwocks
See HMHVV (http://wiki.dumpshock.com/index.php/HMHVV) and Jabberwocks (http://wiki.dumpshock.com/index.php/Jabberwock) at the Sixth World Wiki for more detail.
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See HMHVV (http://wiki.dumpshock.com/index.php/HMHVV) and Jabberwocks (http://wiki.dumpshock.com/index.php/Jabberwock) at the Sixth World Wiki for more detail.
Why exactly are all new HMHVV II forms first encountered in North America? :P
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Why exactly are all new HMHVV II forms first encountered in North America? :P
Because when I wrote the thing originally, back for SR3 about, oh, seven years or so ago (I'd have to go check my archives for a more exact figure), I wasn't getting much in the way of cooperation from European freelancers, or the European branch of the company that held the license (that would be FanPro). Mostly FanPro. Being of a grudge-holding bent at the time, I said to myself, "Self...fuck it." And they were all found in the Western Hemisphere from that point.
I almost had harvesters appearing in Sao Paolo, but changed my mind since I wanted something to be from Texas. Not enough was known when I first wrote the thing about Asamondo so the gnawer, which I wanted to go alongside the ghoul, was first found in Chicago. Can't recall offhand why grendels turned up in Pittsburgh first. I think I was watching a football game at the time, and the Steelers were playing.
If it makes you feel better, you can just say that it's because I'm an America-centric jerk. I'm not apologizing for it, however.
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I KNEW that's what happened with the Grendels!
There wasn't any other real reason to put ANYTHING near Pittsburgh ;) Seriously Pirates, 100+ losses for the season??
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Well, Jack, it's also possible I just picked it out of a hat (literally; I've done that on more than one occasion when something really didn't matter too much), hit "I'm feeling lucky" on Google until a city name came up, or asked my girlfriend at the time to randomly name a US city. I honestly don't remember, but the football game seems right to me for some reason. Memory is such a funny thing....
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Why exactly are all new HMHVV II forms first encountered in North America? :P
Because when I wrote the thing originally, back for SR3 about, oh, seven years or so ago (I'd have to go check my archives for a more exact figure), I wasn't getting much in the way of cooperation from European freelancers, or the European branch of the company that held the license (that would be FanPro). Mostly FanPro. Being of a grudge-holding bent at the time, I said to myself, "Self...fuck it." And they were all found in the Western Hemisphere from that point.
As much I liked FanPro having held the licenses for all three of my favourite universes, I must say their attempt to basically split SR into SR North America and SR Europe (at least thats the impression I got) was a bit... disastrous. Contradictions galore form that time from both sides of the Atlantic, too. So I guess I can understand where you are coming from, even though I dont know all the background of what happened back then.
I almost had harvesters appearing in Sao Paolo, but changed my mind since I wanted something to be from Texas. Not enough was known when I first wrote the thing about Asamondo so the gnawer, which I wanted to go alongside the ghoul, was first found in Chicago. Can't recall offhand why grendels turned up in Pittsburgh first. I think I was watching a football game at the time, and the Steelers were playing.
Really now, Grendels should have been first found in Britain, wheat with Beowulf and all :p Though of course Britain already has the Formoraig... and those Nosferatu-strain Trolls...
If it makes you feel better, you can just say that it's because I'm an America-centric jerk. I'm not apologizing for it, however.
Nah, its no problem. After all, as always, if its really becomes a problem it doesnt necessarily need to happen in my gameworld :D
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In my old 2nd edition game although a lot of that has followed to my new SR4 game i ran with the idea from Earthdawn that the Horrors are connected to the virus. More a less the virus came from a horror being killed and devoured by the starving desperate inhabitants of a K'aer (the dungeons/scourge fallout shelters of Earthdawn). The horror took on new life and change the inhabitants of the K'aer and that is were the virus came from originally.
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Inb fact, I am quite currious about the connection between Horrors and HMHVV
I remember that some magician/vampire hunter in 6th World Almanach was talking about the future evil infected mean
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Inb fact, I am quite currious about the connection between Horrors and HMHVV
I remember that some magician/vampire hunter in 6th World Almanach was talking about the future evil infected mean
Quite possible. Sounds as Foul Folk/Corrupted/Horror Marked to me...
And remember, Horrors can kill you, then raise you from the dead in two ways - one, make you into a Cadaver Man, which is basically a fast, nimble Zombie, that flings into rage, when hurt, and speeds up even more (+3 attacks/round), or use Unnatural Life, to make you a rotting undead with his mind and memory whole, but under his supervision...