Shadowrun Headware

Headware

These small complex devices are inserted into the head (typically constructed via less-invasive nanosurgery). Items that have a Capacity rating may be installed in cyberlimbs instead, costing capacity rather than Essence.

• Commlink: An implanted version of the commlink, popular with hackers and salarymen on the go. A Sim Module (modified for hot sim or not) may be implanted at additional cost.

• Control Rig: This implant harnesses the raw data-coordinating and synchronization power of the middle brain for the express purpose of directly manipulating rigged vehicles/drones. The control rig provides a +1D bonus on all Vehicle skill tests while the rigger is “jumped into” a vehicle/drone via full virtual reality. This bonus does not apply to other drone manipulation through the Matrix.

• Cranial Bombs: An illegal method of coercion, cranial bombs are the ultimate headache. Kink bombs are designed to damage only part of the victim’s head, either rendering specific headware (or other cyberware) useless or damaging the brain to cause blindness, stuttering, hearing loss, etc. Microbombs are just powerful enough to kill the bearer. Area bombs do the same, but also affect a blast area like either a fragmentation or high explosive grenade (p. 155). The bombs can be remote- or time-detonated, or even set to discharge by sound recognition. If installed in cyberlimbs, these bombs are designed to destroy specific components (kink), the entire limb (micro), or blast the area (area).

• Kink: Kink bombs are designed to damage only part of the victim’s head, either rendering specific headware (or other cyberware) useless or damaging the brain to cause blindness, stuttering, hearing loss, etc. User suffers 2D damage, resisted with strength only.
• Micro: Microbombs are just powerful enough to kill the bearer. User suffers 4D damage, resisted with strength only.
• Area: Area bombs do the same, but also affect a blast area like either a fragmentation or high explosive grenade. Damage: 5D/4D/3D/2D ; Blast Radius: 0-2/4/6/10m

• Datajack: A datajack allows a user to directly interface with any electronic device via a fiberoptic cable. Datajacks also allow users to slot and mentally access chips, softs, and BTLs. Datajacks are equipped with their own memory storage for downloading or saving files. Two datajack users can string a fiberoptic cable between themselves to conduct a private mental communication immune to radio interception/eavesdropping.

• Data Lock: This specialized version of the datajack is used by couriers, spies, and aides to top officials and executives, allowing them to act as walking data safes. Stored data is encrypted, and a special code is required to transfer data in or out through the data lock. Most importantly, the data lock is neither wireless-enabled, nor does the implanted character have mental access to the data—she’s merely a carrier.

• Olfactory Booster: Known on the street as a “sniffer,” “cybernose,” or “cybersnout,” the olfactory booster enhances, identifies, and records smells (and can play them back later). This opens a completely new world of sensual information for the user, because smell carries much more information than a normal metahuman nose would ever be able to pick up—for example, many diseases can be identified by smell, and a metahuman body unconsciously produces odors corresponding to emotions (joy, fear, anger, etc.). Further, the olfactory booster can continuously analyze the composition of air and set off an alarm if it picks up traces of explosives, ammunition propellant, or various substances used in biological and chemical warfare. A cut-off function allows the user to completely ignore intense odors. The olfactory booster is usually linked to the user’s PAN to create an even more thorough AR experience. Apply the olfactory booster’s rating times 0D+2 as a dice pool bonus for any Perception: Search Tests involving smells.

• Taste Booster: The taste booster performs the same function as the olfactory booster (see above), except that it enhances the user’s tastebuds. The taste booster also allows the user to experience taste sensations in AR situations that are programmed for taste. Apply the taste booster’s rating times 0D+2 as a dice pool bonus to any Perception: Search Test involving tastes.

• Tooth Compartment: These hollow teeth come in storage and breakable models. The storage model is used to smuggle contraband and micro-size items (gamemaster’s discretion). The breakable model triggers a linked effect (such as starting a tracking signal or releasing poison) when the user bites hard on the tooth.

• Ultrasound Sensor: This is an implanted version of the ultrasound sensor. The ultrasound accessory consists of an emitter that sends out continuous ultrasonic pulses and a receiver that picks up the echoes of these pulses to create a topographic ultrasound “map” that is laid over (or replaces) the user’s normal visual sensory input. While ultrasound vision is perfect to “see” textures, calculate exact distances, and pick up things otherwise invisible to the naked eye, it is less adept at other tasks like perceiving colors and brightness. It cannot penetrate materials like glass that would be transparent to optical sensors.The ultrasound sensor can be set to a passive mode, in which it does not emit ultrasonic pulses but still picks up ultrasound from outside sources (such as motion sensors or someone else’s ultrasound sensors on active mode)

• Voice Modulator: This implant enhances the subject’s vocal organs. She can speak with an increased volume of up to 100 decibels without exhaustion, or shift her pitch to create perfect bird calls, mellifluous singing, and uncanny vocal impressions. The modulator can also play back a recorded voice; however, she cannot use the recorded voice for any purpose other than to mimic exactly what it said (voice recognition systems will spot the deviation from the original). For more deceptive purposes, the (highly illegal) secondary pattern function can be installed—it can be loaded with a recording from another person’s voice to create an almost perfect reproduction. To fool a voice recognition system, make an Opposed Test between the voice modulator’s rating and the system’s rating.

Headware	Essence	Capacity	Availability	Cost
Commlink	0.2	[2]	-	2,000 + Commlink Cost
Control Rig	0.5	-	2	10,000
Cranial Bombs
Kink Bomb	0	[1]	5X	2,000
Microbomb	0	[2]	5X	5,000
Area Bomb	0	[3]	6X	10,000
Datajack	0.1	[1]	-	500
Data Lock	0.1	[1]	4	1,000 + Encryption
Olfactory Booster (Rating 1–6)	0.2	[2]	Rating	Rating x 1,000
Taste Booster (Rating 1–6)	0.2	-	Rating	Rating x 1,500
Tooth Storage Compartment	-	-	2	200
Tooth Breakable Compartment	-	-	4	500
Ultrasound Sensor	0.3	[2]	3	6,000
Voice Modulator	0.2	-	1	7,500
Secondary Pattern (Rating 1–6)	-	-	[Rating]X	Rating x 5,000