Morpheus Unbound  |  House Rules

Cyberpathy (V&V)

It is an established facet of Villains & Vigilantes game mechanics that Lightning Control provides some control over electronic devices.  However, we've clarified this to mean the character can increase or decrease the amount of electricity flowing to a device, resulting in an on/off condition, power spikes or power sags.  Depending on the device, a power spike or sag can be damaging.  Lightning Control can also be used to let a character interface with electronic computers to the extent that input devices (e.g. mouse, keyboard, joystick) are not required.  However, Lightning Control does not permit machine animation, nor does it let the character automatically control computers.

To directly interface with, or control computers, the character requires Mutant Power (Cyberpathy) or Psionics (Cyberpathy).  The Cyberpathy power lets the character directly interface with any computer (of any size or complexity) within I / 5 inches.  All I?O functions occur in the characters head.  The character can communicate with I / 3 computers simultaneously.  This primary function of this power is communication not control.  The cyberpathic interface does make it much easier for  a character to take control of a computer, however, and once in control the character can alter components of the programming or command the computer to perform actions within the limits of its programming and abilities.  Unless the computer is reprogrammed to respond to the character automatically, it requires a Mind Control attack to force the computer to respond.  Treat a computers Intelligence as 1d4 +4 for a personal microcomputer.  Add +3 to the Intelligence for each step greater:  household device, microcomputer, minicomputer, miniframe, mainframe, supercomputer.  (For even "more realism" add +1 to the Intelligence for each year beyond 1999 that it is contructed, and subtract -1 for each year before 1999.)  A household device computer is a catch all category for things like personal digital assistants, calculators, cellular phones, automobile diagnostic computers, etc.  A household device computer has an Intelligence of 1d4.  Many computers have security on them that will modify the chances of success by increasing or decreasing the "to hit" roll.  No security is +4, weak security is +2, normal security is no modifier, strong security is -2, and paranoid security is -4.  Most corporations will have strong or better security, and most goverment or military operations will have paranoid security.  Because the character can cyberpathically communicate with cellular phones, he has instant access to the telephone network and can contact any computer the cell phone can call.


Copyright © 1999 by Morpheus Unbound.  All rights reserved.
Last updated 02 April 1999 by Patric L. Rogers.
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