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Ok, I've read RUE and the Bionics sourcebook, and I'm a little cloudy on the Partial Borg conversion rules. I'm trying to "GBTB" [go by the book].

According to the Bionics book, when a character goes from a regular OCC to a Partial Borg they "should" take the Partial Borg OCC. But it also seems that they "can" take a Headhunter OCC. The Bionics books isn't explicit in which OCCs you can or can't take, as long as it is a "Partial Borg" OCC.

RUE has rules for going Full Conversion for a Juicer, but not specifics on going Full/Partial conversion for different OCCs.

So, let's say I have a P.A. Pilot OCC. He get's his legs and an arm taken off and get's Bionics. Now, he MUST change OCC's (this is clear). Can he take a Headhunter OCC? Is he restricted to taking the General Headhunter OCC, or can he choose any of them?

(BTW, this isn't just for Munchkinizm in case your wondering - I have an idea for a P.A. Pilot to go Robot Slammer with a nice story line. I just want to make sure this is Rifts Legal - even though that is a very thin term. I would NOT let this character go to say, Headhunter Assassin, that just doesn't make sense!).

Phadeout wrote:Ok, I've read RUE and the Bionics sourcebook, and I'm a little cloudy on the Partial Borg conversion rules. I'm trying to "GBTB" [go by the book].

According to the Bionics book, when a character goes from a regular OCC to a Partial Borg they "should" take the Partial Borg OCC. But it also seems that they "can" take a Headhunter OCC. The Bionics books isn't explicit in which OCCs you can or can't take, as long as it is a "Partial Borg" OCC.

The Partial 'Borg O.C.C. is fully described on page 73 of the Bionics Sourcebook. The Headhunter is offered as an alternative for players desiring a slightly better-trained, more combat-oriented character.

RUE has rules for going Full Conversion for a Juicer, but not specifics on going Full/Partial conversion for different OCCs.

So, let's say I have a P.A. Pilot OCC. He get's his legs and an arm taken off and get's Bionics. Now, he MUST change OCC's (this is clear). Can he take a Headhunter OCC? Is he restricted to taking the General Headhunter OCC, or can he choose any of them?

He could become a headhunter, though this means leaving the CS military to become a mercenary (possibly CS-employed, possibly not). Theoretically, the character could also undergo training to become a Military Specialist, or even a Cyber-Doc. The only Headhunter options would be those which allow partial bionic reconstruction, which I seem to recall was exactly three: the Techno-Warrior, Techno-Hound, and Momano, though I may be wrong.

Of course, a good story can sometimes convince the most anal of GMs to allow exceptions.

For your P.A. Pilot example, if he acquired cybernetic limbs, bio-systems, then he wouldn't have to change OCCs.

As for OCCs available if he does change, I suggest:
- Partial Borg OCC
- Headhunter, including the variants in Rifts: Canada.
- Super-Spy (Bionics option) from Rifts: Mercenaries
- Mining Borg from Rifts: New West

"You fly a Viper sitting down"

Frankly I don't see why getting prosthetic legs would make all that difference to a pilot or power armor operator...
I think it's more likely that the original intent was that the Headhunter is one of the few OCCs that STARTS with extensive bionic augmentation...So other OCCs don't start off right off the blocks being 'borged up without penalties...

Furthermore, the presumption is the hard and difficult adjustment to artificial limbs serves as a considerable distraction to the normal advancement of a person's skill advancement...the more extensive the bionics, the greater the adjustment and 'dehumanization' and loss of some skills and abilities...

Frankly, I don't think a power armor pilot or robot pilot is going to be so hindered by having replacement legs, since he's already used to walking without a whole lot of sensation-return from the giant mechanical legs of his vehicle...in fact, he could probably just jack in the same nerve linkages as control his prothetics into the conduits that run his robotic exo...So I WOULDN"T change his OCC simply for that....

Go with Headhunter Anti-Robot Specialist.

Zerebus wrote:

panzerfaust wrote:Go with Headhunter Anti-Robot Specialist.

Unfortunately, that's the one Headhunter class that doesn't have bionics.

IMHO, you shouldn't have to change O.C.C.'s for partial conversion unless you are playing a mage or psionic, and then only if you would be seriously disadvantaged by not switching.

Yes, but ALL headhunters ARE ALLOWED (Allowed is the key word here) to get up to at least partial bionic conversion (though not all opt for or start with it).

panzerfaust wrote:Yes, but ALL headhunters ARE ALLOWED (Allowed is the key word here) to get up to at least partial bionic conversion (though not all opt for or start with it).

Exactly true. The Anti-Robot Headhunter CAN have partial bionics, they just don't have the option to start that way.

Phadeout wrote:

panzerfaust wrote:Yes, but ALL headhunters ARE ALLOWED (Allowed is the key word here) to get up to at least partial bionic conversion (though not all opt for or start with it).

Exactly true. The Anti-Robot Headhunter CAN have partial bionics, they just don't have the option to start that way.

Yep, the rule for changing O.C.C.s are in the Cutting Room Floor on Palladiums main page/website. Case in point, a number of NPCs in Rifts Sourcebook 4: Coalition Navy- Vice Admiral Nathan R. Copeland, Captain Fletcher Saunders, and Major General Jean-Pierre Moreau.

EPIC wrote:i view cybernetics and bionics the way i view MOM and Juicer conversions ... they are augmentations not occupations.

This is another one of those little modifications all my player groups/GMs have used over the years.