Cybernetics and biotech are medical technologies utilized quite widely in the Sprawl. Cybernetics are electromechanical systems integrated into the human body, usually as a replacement for an organ or limb that was damaged (although voluntary cybernetics have grown very popular). 

Biotech is short for biotechnology. It uses living systems and organisms to either replace damaged or malfunctioning organs or to make alterations to the body. Biotech often uses modified stem cells, DNA-tailored viruses, and cloning.

Cybertrauma & Strain

Strain measures the amount of stress cyberware and bioware puts on a character's nervous system before they suffer cybertrauma. There are no artificial limits to the amount of cyberware or bioware you can install to your body, but that's not to say there aren't any consequences. 

Your character's Max Strain is equal to your unmodified Vigor die type. If your character has a Vigor of d8, then their Max Strain can safely support 8 points of cybernetics or biotics. Their Current Strain is the amount of Strain from all installed cybernetics and biotics. 

But what happens when you go over that limit? The answer is cybertrauma. If your character has an installation that pushes them over their Max Strain, make a special Vigor Test with a penalty equal to the difference between your character's Max Strain and their Current Strain. Success and Raise means nothing happens during this operation. On a Failure gain a level of lethal Fatigue that doesn't go away until your character removes enough augments to drop below the Strain threshold. A Critical Failure results in two levels of lethal Fatigue. As mentioned above, your character can continue to install cyberware and bioware if she wishes, but if she ever becomes incapacitated as a result of gaining Fatigue in this manner, she dies on the operating table. All of the standard rules for Fatigue apply.

Example: Your character has Vigor d8 and a Max Strain equal to 8 points. She suffers damage that necessitates the installation of new cyberware and her Current Strain would equal 10, a two point difference. During the cyberware surgery the character makes a special Vigor test with a -2 penalty and hope they at least Succeed.

Managing Cybertrauma

Characters who go over their Max Strain and are suffering from the effects of cybertrauma can take the drug Neurolimus (street name Nu-Roll) to stave off the Fatigue levels. You have to take a dose a week, at $250 per dose. In addition to taking Neurolimus, you also gain the Habit (Major) for Neurolimus. If you do not get your fix, you suffer the effects of your Cybertrauma. Any additional Fatigue could potentially incapacitate you, and the only end result is death.

Replacement vs Enhancement

Replacements are cybernetic or biotech limbs or organs that function exactly like the original with no additional modifications. Replacements are often used after catastrophic injury would crush a limb or gouge an eye, and incur the least amount of Strain.

Enhancements are cybernetic and biotech alterations that go above and beyond what the normal human body can do, such as increased strength, exotic vision options, or built-in weapons. Enhancements incur the most amount of Strain.

Enhancement Quality

There are three different qualities of cyberware and bioware you will find in the Sprawl. Each modifies the Cost and Strain.

Gutterware is the lowest of the low in quality. This could be standard cyberware that has been stripped out of someone's dead body and sold on the black market or just really crappy materials from a back alley ripperdoc. Divide the cost by 2, but double the Strain.

Chrome is the standard. Everything listed below is considered chrome for the prices and Strain listed.

Milspec is the high end defense contractor corpo shit that the bad guys in all the movies always have to make them a serious threat. Double the prices and but divide the Strain by 2.

Fractional Strain

You'll notice that cybernetic and biotech replacements have a fractional Strain cost, and Milspec Enhancements can drive some cyberware into the Fractional territory. When calculating Strain, add up all of your Strain (including fractional). Only the full points of Strain count against your Max Strain. As soon as you have enough fractional strain to equal a full point, it counts against your Max Strain.

Cybernetic & Biotic Replacements

Cybernetic Enhancements

Cyber Limb and Cyber Eyes Modules

Cyber Limb and cyber eye modules require a certain number of Module Slots to function. 

Biotic Enhancements

Plastic Surgery

Fashionware

Fashionware is a class of cyberware that focuses on physical aesthetics. Fashionware is generally innocuous, easy to install, and carries no Strain cost. Most mall stores and retail outlets that install commercial cyberware will have options for fashionware as well. There are even standalone kiosks that can install it.

Biosculpting

Biosculpting is a modern version of plastic surgery that does not necessarily involve implanting cybernetics (hence it's separation from fashionware). Biosculpting has advanced to the point where it is almost trivial to make someone look like whatever they want, assuming they have the money to do so. Bones, muscle, and organs can be shifted around fairly easily and skin of any type grafted (including animal skin, fur, feathers, etc.), creating whatever look you want. Higher quality work is more expensive, but biosculpting is cheap enough that even average people can often afford it. Some gangs make extensive use of biosculpting, often requiring specific looks instead of gang colors (the Moddies).

Basic Biosculpting

Change your basic facial features, skin color, hair texture and color, or lose weight. Basic biosculpting can be done at mall or small shop kiosks. Police image recognition will still know who you are. 

• Cost: 500

Advanced Biosculpting

Everything covered under basic biosculpting, to include gender reassignment. The end result of advanced biosculpting still appears human, but increases the difficulty by 2 to identify who you are by image recognition. Advanced biosculpting requires a specialty clinic. Doing this legally requires you to update your Chicago "Show Me" identification card or go to jail.

• Cost: 1,000

Exotic Biosculpting 

The sky is the limit. Make yourself look like a furry manimal with walrus tusks, or a demon, or any outward appearance a humanoid shape can support. The Yama Kings fashion themselves to look like Chinese and Hindu gods and demons. Exotic biosculpting requires a specialty clinic. Doing this legally requires you to update your Chicago "Show Me" identification card or go to jail.

• Cost: 5,000

Full Cyborg Conversion

Sometimes by choice, sometimes by fate, characters who were born human end up undergoing a full cyborg conversion. When a Human 1.0 or 2.0 character is dying (either from Incapacitation or Bleeding Out) , he can spend a Benny to survive long enough to undergo a full cyborg conversion. If you voluntarily choose to undergo full cyborg conversion, you don't spend a Benny, but you gain everything else, including the additional Hindrances to cover the hidden "costs". This replaces all of the meat of your body, save the brain which is placed into a specially prepared synth body.

Recreate your character using the information for Synths. You gain all of the bonuses and drawbacks of your new body and your old body (except for any physical hindrances), but add the following:

• Habit (Major; Neurolimus)

• Under A Thumb (Major)

All of your previously purchased cyberware transfers over, but not bioware.