Healing Factor and the plague

[VooDu]

Can the plague affect someone with a healing factor (like in HU2)? Also how about megas, vampires, and others with a different type of healing?

[demos606]

The plague itself doesnt do any damage so theres no reason to believe its effects on anyone with a mutant or supernatural healing factor would be affected any differently. As it stands, any magical being with the ability to do so is gonna get the hell outa there ASAP.

[VooDu]

I was on the lines of thinking since the nanos "may be in the air" and since characters from Splicers can't use tech (nanos dormant in their system). If exposed to the air in Splicers would the nanos affect anyone?

[Nekira Sudacne]

Anything immune to disease would be unnaffected by the nano plauge.

[sHaka]

Anything immune to disease would be unnaffected by the nano plauge.

Surely it is the metal this character is in contact with that is the risk?

Immunity to disease won't stop a soup ladle from melting your face off.

[VooDu]

I say in a weird way you are both correct (if I were GM). I feel that nanos can not harm the SN / Crazy ass healing factors but Shaka is right since if I were to touch some metal object infected it would have to react accordingly (blow up, melt, turn into drone, etc.). I think the question occurs to what, why if so, happens to that Vampire (from any place but Spicers Earth) that goes to Splicers Earth and decides to go to anyplace (Rifts, Palladium, etc.)? The book says how a person can not "infect" other things and "pass" on the plague to others but it also says that said item now has plague if touched by someone from Splicers (if an airtight compartment is breached, as the book says, the plague works should that mean you too regardless of some parameters).

[sHaka]

Vampires wouldn't be affected - they're (un)dead - they wouldn't trigger a plague response.

Voodu wrote:

Can the plague affect someone with a healing factor (like in HU2)?

I don't own or know much about HU so I can't comment on supers with any authority, but as GM i'd rule that and non-mammillian being would be safe i.e. wouldn't trigger a response - they, like vampires, could still carry the nanites in their clothes etc.

Otherwise, if you're a mammal, regardless of disease immunity, you'll set the plague off when you contact metal.

You might be immune to it's effects such as explosions or static discharge, but the effect will still occur, possibly endangering civilians or others around you.

The nano-plague doesn't affect people/mammals, it affects non-precious metal - people/mammals are merely the trigger. This is an imortant point people tend to overlook.

[VooDu]

I don't think being undead has anything to do w/ triggering the plague. Most vamps (I was using them as an example) are/were mammals to begin with I thought? I agree w/ the trigger (all factors must be present) but as the book says the nanos are everywhere and people are breathing them in. So will anyone that goes to Splicers Earth will come back w/ the plague? That means once a character goes there they can never use tech/metal again (since the plague lies dormant until contact w/ metal).

[sHaka]

I don't think being undead has anything to do w/ triggering the plague. Most vamps (I was using them as an example) are/were mammals to begin with I thought? I agree w/ the trigger (all factors must be present) but as the book says the nanos are everywhere and people are breathing them in. So will anyone that goes to Splicers Earth will come back w/ the plague? That means once a character goes there they can never use tech/metal again (since the plague lies dormant until contact w/ metal).

vampires can carry the nanites as well as anything else.

I hope my earlier post wasn't Interpreted in a way that suggested I thought otherwise.

I was merely explaining how they (vamps) could handle metal on the Splicer's world and not trigger a response.

Bringing the plague back to Rifts Earth, or anywhere else, would be a problem for that character but only for a while in my opinion.

The plague doesn't self replicate and the nanites must have a shelf life. I would have thought that over months, possibly years of life away from the Splicer's world, the plague response would lessen as the amount of nanites carried by the character drops - assuming the nanites will eventually run out of power or malfunction and, of course, assuming the character can survive. that long!

[Borast]

The nanos would likely be "immune" to Healing Factor, and it would not likely be that effective against the nanos, depending on how they are programmed... "Gobbler" nanos simply disassemble everything they come across.

Now, since I don't own Splicers (maybe in a year or three...), I don't know EXACTLY how the "plague" operates, so I am limited on how much I can help...

[VooDu]

If that was the case then SN beings (beings that can regenerate too) should be able to get bionics. The body (especially those w/ advanced healing) should reject this foreign object. So can Gods get plague?

[sHaka]

If that was the case then SN beings (beings that can regenerate too) should be able to get bionics. The body (especially those w/ advanced healing) should reject this foreign object. So can Gods get plague?

No one 'Gets' the nanite plague - it is simply present in the environment and carried by creatures/bots etc.

You're looking at the nanite plague in the wrong way!

The plague infects METAL - think of it as making metal allergic to mammals.

Anything can carry the plague - only metal that comes into contact with mammals will be affected.

[VooDu]

I know you don't "get" the plague per say. But you even said yourself it is carried by creatures. I understand the clothes, etc. but it is like carrying the common cold. You always have it and something knocks it out of dormancy. What I'm saying is how can a "foreign" substance stay in someone's system especially if you have "ways" to get rid of all foreign substances. I know it INFECTS METAL but being infected by something and carrying are two different things. I am more concerned on how can someone (or thing) w/ a Crazy ass healing factor can not "purge" these foreign entities.

[VooDu]

Forgot to add I would agree w/ this and like this point:

"Bringing the plague back to Rifts Earth, or anywhere else, would be a problem for that character but only for a while in my opinion.

The plague doesn't self replicate and the nanites must have a shelf life. I would have thought that over months, possibly years of life away from the Splicer's world, the plague response would lessen as the amount of nanites carried by the character drops - assuming the nanites will eventually run out of power or malfunction and, of course, assuming the character can survive. that long!"

[sHaka]

I know it INFECTS METAL but being infected by something and carrying are two different things. I am more concerned on how can someone (or thing) w/ a Crazy ass healing factor can not "purge" these foreign entities.

Sorry if I came across as grouchy.

With gods/supernaturals etc, I'd have to rule it on a case by case basis. There's something not quite right about a god like, say, Thoth being an unwitting carrier of the plague.

I think, with Splicers, i'm going to avoid the whole messy idea of crossovers!

[Nekira Sudacne]

Anything immune to disease would be unnaffected by the nano plauge.

Surely it is the metal this character is in contact with that is the risk?

Immunity to disease won't stop a soup ladle from melting your face off.

No. the nanos are in humans themselves, it says that specifically.

if your immune to disease they can't "live" inside you.

[demos606]

Given that Scarecrows (the Splicers version) are fully affected by the nanites and have as good a healing factor as any HU characters can obtan (including the potential for immunity to disease), there's absolutely no reason to believe anything mammilian is immune - regardless of its healing abilities. Are there other powers that would make you immune to the damage the metal will inflict when the nanites are triggered? Absolutely but thats completely beside the point.

[VooDu]

I am not saying they are immune to the effects (explosions, drones, and other "allergic" reactions from contact) of touching the item. I'm saying the nanos can not / should not function inside of these people since foreign items should be purged (i.e. bionics). I think that nanos can be on their armor, clothes, etc. since it is in the air but not in them.

[demos606]

The whole point behind the nanoplague is NOT to alter the bodies of the humans affected. Since there aren't any "damages" to the body itself, theres nothing to be "healed" by healing powers. Saying the nanites would be expelled because their foreign to the body is tantamount to killing your character because by that logic food and water would be expelled as foreign matter.

[Nekira Sudacne]

Given that Scarecrows (the Splicers version) are fully affected by the nanites and have as good a healing factor as any HU characters can obtan (including the potential for immunity to disease), there's absolutely no reason to believe anything mammilian is immune - regardless of its healing abilities. Are there other powers that would make you immune to the damage the metal will inflict when the nanites are triggered? Absolutely but thats completely beside the point.

they're not utterlly immune though.

Healing factor only gives a resistance.

Immunity to Disease, or Immortality (the major, not mega power) would render them invunerable to the plauge.

[VooDu]

Nekira I have to agree w/ you except about the mega immortality (understand your points but they can regrow things and should have some immunity maybe resistance like the healing factor). The point is the nanos do not alter the body or "invade" the body but they are there. The food and water is not logical because their are physiological factors in place for most humans (if the food is tainted don't you puke it out or crap it out or die). Like Shaka said earlier could you imagine Zeus going to Splicers and coming back to Midgard w/ the nano plague? That seems weird to me.[/quote]

[sHaka]

Anything immune to disease would be unnaffected by the nano plauge.

Surely it is the metal this character is in contact with that is the risk?

Immunity to disease won't stop a soup ladle from melting your face off.

No. the nanos are in humans themselves, it says that specifically.

if your immune to disease they can't "live" inside you.

(Splicers, 2004 pg.9) "...These tiny little nanobots infect every bit of metal on this god-forsaken world."

They 'live' in/on metal also - this is quite explicit. They 'live' in people only by virture of the fact those people's environment is contaminated by these nanobots and are breathed and eaten.

When a mammal comes into contact with infected (i.e. all non-precious) metal - the plague response will trigger. The fact that nanites are not present in your body is irrelevant when a steak knife is peeling your face off.

[NMI]

Here is a question that should answer your question about healing factor and the plague...

Is a Host Armor/Mount/Living Armor/Biotic with "Super Regeneration" (The splicer ability) immune to the nano-plague??? The answer is no, they still will trigger a response.

Also, you can be immune to disease but still be a carrier.

[Jesterzzn]

Anything immune to disease would be unnaffected by the nano plauge.

Surely it is the metal this character is in contact with that is the risk?

Immunity to disease won't stop a soup ladle from melting your face off.

No. the nanos are in humans themselves, it says that specifically.

if your immune to disease they can't "live" inside you.

(Splicers, 2004 pg.9) "...These tiny little nanobots infect every bit of metal on this god-forsaken world."

They 'live' in/on metal also - this is quite explicit. They 'live' in people only by virture of the fact those people's environment is contaminated by these nanobots and are breathed and eaten.

When a mammal comes into contact with infected (i.e. all non-precious) metal - the plague response will trigger. The fact that nanites are not present in your body is irrelevant when a steak knife is peeling your face off.

The nanites are present in the humans/mammals as well as the metal. If a splicer is rifted to rifts earth, they are still infected, and still get a response. Case closed.

Nothing is immune except jackers. Just because you may be immune to biological disease, you will still issue a response from the nanites. Someone has already mentioned Scarecrows, and I will mention them again.

[VooDu]

Deific NMI great point. No One should be immune to the response. I have said that over and over. But as the book says pg. 13: "Splicers characters brought to Rifts Earth carry the plague inside of them..." The people inside the armor are already infected so the response is a moot point. As the book also says on pg. 13: " Characters arriving from another dimension are safe from the nanobot plague provided they are in an airtight vehicle, robot, power armor.... and will not trigger a reaction from metal while so contained." So to further complicate if I was a humaniod that did not breathe air would I trigger the response? Shaka I am w/ you 100 percent about the crossover.

[NMI]

Yes in mind the nano-plague would still affect a non-air breather, as you still probably either a) have orifices or opening that bots could enter b) they would be on you as well. Not to mention you would still be organic and would therefor trigger the plague in the metal objects around you.

[Jesterzzn]

Deific NMI great point. No One should be immune to the response. I have said that over and over. But as the book says pg. 13: "Splicers characters brought to Rifts Earth carry the plague inside of them..." The people inside the armor are already infected so the response is a moot point. As the book also says on pg. 13: " Characters arriving from another dimension are safe from the nanobot plague provided they are in an airtight vehicle, robot, power armor.... and will not trigger a reaction from metal while so contained."

But as soon as they leave their "bubble" they are now forever infected.

So to further complicate if I was a humaniod that did not breathe air would I trigger the response? Shaka I am w/ you 100 percent about the crossover.

Perhaps an alien species that is not carbon based might be immune? I really don't know there. But anything organic is going to trigger a response, regardless of their respiration or immunity to disease.

[sHaka]

But anything organic is going to trigger a response, regardless of their respiration or immunity to disease.

Only mammalian life forms:

(Splicers, 204, pg.11) "..in fact it will react to contact with any mammal.."

As to your earlier reply:

The nanites are present in the humans/mammals as well as the metal. If a splicer is rifted to rifts earth, they are still infected, and still get a response.

Which, if you read my post, is a point i've already made. The nanites infect metal but are present in the environment, thus they infect living organisms,
but only mammals will trigger a response.

Nothing is immune except jackers. Just because you may be immune to biological disease, you will still issue a response from the nanites. Someone has already mentioned Scarecrows, and I will mention them again

Again, points that I and Demos606 have already made.

To sum up:

1. If you visit the Splicer's world and have no protection from the atmosphere (e.g. in PA. EBA etc..) you will be infected by nanites.

2. If you are a mammal and touch non-precious metal - you risk a nasty death for yourself and those around you.

3 Advanced healing or disease immunity is irrelevant. Even if your system could purge itself of nanites, any metal you touch would already be infected and respond to your presence accordingly.

4. The only unknown here is how long the nanites can function off-world or if they have a shelf life.

[Jesterzzn]

But anything organic is going to trigger a response, regardless of their respiration or immunity to disease.

Only mammalian life forms:

(Splicers, 204, pg.11) "..in fact it will react to contact with any mammal.."

Serious question.
Do demons and dragons trigger a responce? What about Xicitix? Or Cactus People? Lizardmen?

As to your earlier reply:

The nanites are present in the humans/mammals as well as the metal. If a splicer is rifted to rifts earth, they are still infected, and still get a response.

Which, if you read my post, is a point i've already made. The nanites infect metal but are present in the environment, thus they infect living organisms,
but only mammals will trigger a response.

Nothing is immune except jackers. Just because you may be immune to biological disease, you will still issue a response from the nanites. Someone has already mentioned Scarecrows, and I will mention them again

Again, points that I and Demos606 have already made.

Yes, I sometimes forget that there are people on these boards that feel if they have answered a question, anyone else that also answers is somehow horning in on their turf. Did my apparent agreement with you somehow offend you?

To sum up:

1. If you visit the Splicer's world and have no protection from the atmosphere (e.g. in PA. EBA etc..) you will be infected by nanites.

2. If you are a mammal and touch non-precious metal - you risk a nasty death for yourself and those around you.

3 Advanced healing or disease immunity is irrelevant. Even if your system could purge itself of nanites, any metal you touch would already be infected and respond to your presence accordingly.

4. The only unknown here is how long the nanites can function off-world or if they have a shelf life.

[VooDu]

To answer your question on pg. 13 :

"Likewise, intelligent beings who are not mammalian or similar organic life forms - i.e., silicon/rock or plant/vegetation beings do not trigger the plague reaction.." It goes on to say "All others, however including Deevils, demons, dragons, Faerie Folk, Lizard Men... will trigger the hostile response..." Then finally "Even Xiticix and other insectoids activate the plague, though it takes hours of exposure..."



To sum up:

1. If you visit the Splicer's world and have no protection from the atmosphere (e.g. in PA. EBA etc..) you will be infected by nanites.

2. If you are a mammal and touch non-precious metal - you risk a nasty death for yourself and those around you.

3 Advanced healing or disease immunity is irrelevant. Even if your system could purge itself of nanites, any metal you touch would already be infected and respond to your presence accordingly.

4. The only unknown here is how long the nanites can function off-world or if they have a shelf life.

I have to go w/ all the above as I said before except #3, yes and no. Activation is not the question, that is a gimme. Healing and immunity is relevant only when you leave Splicers (assuming I arrive butt naked and leave butt naked) as per your #4. For those who can not "purge" I say they are at least screwed for a while (maybe forever?) for those that can maybe a short duration or not at all.

[VooDu]

To answer your question on pg. 13 :

"Likewise, intelligent beings who are not mammalian or similar organic life forms - i.e., silicon/rock or plant/vegetation beings do not trigger the plague reaction.." It goes on to say "All others, however including Deevils, demons, dragons, Faerie Folk, Lizard Men... will trigger the hostile response..." Then finally "Even Xiticix and other insectoids activate the plague, though it takes hours of exposure..."

To sum up:

1. If you visit the Splicer's world and have no protection from the atmosphere (e.g. in PA. EBA etc..) you will be infected by nanites.

2. If you are a mammal and touch non-precious metal - you risk a nasty death for yourself and those around you.

3 Advanced healing or disease immunity is irrelevant. Even if your system could purge itself of nanites, any metal you touch would already be infected and respond to your presence accordingly.

4. The only unknown here is how long the nanites can function off-world or if they have a shelf life.

I have to go w/ all the above as I said before except #3, yes and no. Activation is not the question, that is a gimme. Healing and immunity is relevant only when you leave Splicers (assuming I arrive butt naked and leave butt naked) as per your #4. For those who can not "purge" I say they are at least screwed for a while (maybe forever?) for those that can maybe a short duration or not at all.

[VooDu]

Sorry about the double post. Screwed up giving my man his props on his quote.

[Jesterzzn]

To answer your question on pg. 13 :

"Likewise, intelligent beings who are not mammalian or similar organic life forms - i.e., silicon/rock or plant/vegetation beings do not trigger the plague reaction.." It goes on to say "All others, however including Deevils, demons, dragons, Faerie Folk, Lizard Men... will trigger the hostile response..." Then finally "Even Xiticix and other insectoids activate the plague, though it takes hours of exposure..."

Yea, I thought that was the case. I just didn't have my book so I couldn't prove that it wasn't just mammals.

[sHaka]

Did my apparent agreement with you somehow offend you?

Not at all - I thought you missed my point (which you didn't) - apologies

[Nekira Sudacne]

Nekira I have to agree w/ you except about the mega immortality (understand your points but they can regrow things and should have some immunity maybe resistance like the healing factor). The point is the nanos do not alter the body or "invade" the body but they are there. The food and water is not logical because their are physiological factors in place for most humans (if the food is tainted don't you puke it out or crap it out or die). Like Shaka said earlier could you imagine Zeus going to Splicers and coming back to Midgard w/ the nano plague? That seems weird to me.

[/quote]

the Major power of Immortality grants immunity to poisons, deaseses, and radiation.

Mega Immortallity you can become sick or ill, you simply can't DIE or suffer permant effects from such things.

[VooDu]

the Major power of Immortality grants immunity to poisons, deaseses, and radiation.

Mega Immortallity you can become sick or ill, you simply can't DIE or suffer permant effects from such things.

Never disagreed. I was just saying damn it sucks to have a "more encompasing" power and offer nothing. That's why I was saying "some immunity maybe resistance". Megas have the option to take immunity to disease anyway.

[VooDu]

Sorry the quote should be the other way . I keep screwing that up.

[Jesterzzn]

Sorry the quote should be the other way . I keep screwing that up.

You can re-edit your posts after you have posted them.

[Prince Cherico]

I think people with healing factor should be imune

[sHaka]

I think people with healing factor should be imune

any reasoning, or just a GM preference?

[Borast]

Healing Factor would have little to do with omnipresent elements of one's atmosphere / environment. Dump a mutant with Healing Factor into a non-oxygen atmosphere and (s)he's still going to die.

The plague (from what I've read here) effects OBJECTS, not people. However, technically, from it's description, EVERYONE is immune, because it effects the objects one touches, not the person...after all, even someone immune can still be a carrier (look at Typhoid Mary).

[sHaka]

Healing Factor would have little to do with omnipresent elements of one's atmosphere / environment. Dump a mutant with Healing Factor into a non-oxygen atmosphere and (s)he's still going to die.

The plague (from what I've read here) effects OBJECTS, not people. However, technically, from it's description, EVERYONE is immune, because it effects the objects one touches, not the person...after all, even someone immune can still be a carrier (look at Typhoid Mary).

exactly.

If not one nanite is present in your system or on your person, but you're a mammal that touches metal you WILL provoke a plague reaction.

End of.

[VooDu]

That's right. All living things are "immune" to the plague. Only metal and some other objects are "infected". No one is immune to the reaction with some exceptions. The only thing, IMO, you should be immune to, if you have HF, Immort., or SN, is having those nanos "live" inside your body. Everything else is free game (clothes, armor, etc.)

[VooDu]

Interesting thought about the cloaking. How about Catastrophic Failure and maybe you can kill the nanos?

[Nekira Sudacne]

How would telemechanics and/or mechanolink affect the nano-plague?

I'd imagine in a similar fasion to the Technojackers.

[demos606]

Would ultimately depend on how many machines you can simultaneously control with telemechanics and mechanolink. But I agree with Nekira as for what you can control being similar to technojackers.