Thursday, July 9, 2009

Cthulhutech: The West Formula

This came out of the same Cthulhutech forum thread that spawned the Resurrection spell. Use of this particular set of rough rules will substantially change the nature of a Cthulhutech game. Used properly, it will also spark an examination of what it means to be human.

I don't think this is a bad thing. I, for one, would love to see more transhumanism in Cthulhutech.




Even though arcanotechnology is common and accepted in the NEG, I suspect that they would still perfer use of the West Formula to revive dead soldiers. In fact, the development of nanotechnology should make use of the West Formula as common as the use of medical sorcery.

Think about it.

As seen in "Herbert West - Reanimator" the serum was pretty much complete. Assuming that a corpse was fresh enough, it could be restored to life with no loss of mental facilities (see part IV, "The Scream of The Dead" and later references to the reanimation of the "well-dressed stranger"). The formula is sound, even if Dr. Herbert West himself was not.

[Rough mechanics for the West Formula: There is a time limit, even for use of this formula. Every 10 minutes that passes between death and administration of the formula, reduces the deceased's Intellect by 1 and increases the deceased's Tenacity by 1. Every 15 minutes that passes decreases Perception and Presence by 1 and increases Strength by 1. Refrigeration will double the intervals, while an exceptionally damp or warm environment will halve the intervals.

Each time an attribute adjusts, add 1 Insanity Point. If Intelligence falls to 0, you get a rabid animal with no fear of Humans. Cannibalism is distressingly common at this point.

If the brain is destroyed, all bets are off. Double Strength and Tenacity, eliminate all Perception and Presence, and watch the mindless thing go berserk.]

So, we can fully restore life to the dead with a simple and relatively inexpensive formula. All that is necessary is to get to the corpse quickly enough.

Enter nanotechnology.

Assuming the deceased does not have a living will that specifies he is not to be reanimated upon death (and no military personell of the NEG are allowed to have such a living will during their term of service), and assuming that the corpse is reasonably intact (particularly the brain), a suite of nanobots are introduced to the corpse. These nanobots are a variant of the standard medical nanobot and serve three functions: they attack the various bacteria that cause decomposition, they repair any damage sustained by the corpse (whether by decomposition, injury, or illness), and they administer an "embalming fluid" also derived from Dr. West's experiments which further retards the process of decomposition.

Once the corpse has been fully repaired, a series of injections of the West Formula and a second set of nanobots is made into the corpse. The West Formula is used to revive the deceased, and the nanobots are used to ensure the proper delivery of the West Formula to the cells in the precise amounts required.

[Rough game mechanics: Assuming the brain of the corpse is intact, this process allows the deceased to be revived at any point after death. If necessary, a new body can be cloned and the brain transplanted in.

If you think that is a little over the top, assume that this nanotherapy multiplies the above-listed intervals by a factor of 10 to 20.]

Since the Formula is purely a chemical formula (no magic need apply), this treatment isn't even expensive. A nanofactory with the appropriate blueprint software can manufacture it and the nanobots that go with it in any quantity necessary.

Oh, by the way. The Formula requires a Permit, and it's use is watched closely by the NEG. You can use it to animate bits and pieces of things, and the NEG disapproves.

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