Van Saar Archaeo-Cyberteknika
Source: House of Artifice
House Van Saar has a well-deserved reputation for tech, and bionics in particular, their artisans providing augmetics for many of the Great Houses, as well the Merchant Guild, powerful criminals, and anyone else who can pay their high prices. This mastery of the cybernetic comes not solely from a desire to bring wealth to the Clan House, but out of a necessity to preserve the failing flesh of its people. By the time a Van Saar clanner comes of age, their body will already be starting to fail them, kept alive only by the systems of their survival suits. As they age, or are wounded in the endless wars of the underhive, their body will degrade further, and only the intervention of augmetics can keep them going. Fortunately for a Van Saar ganger, access to the clan’s Cyberteknika (as it is known within the Clan House) is plentiful, and a successful fighter can greatly extend their own life span, enhance their abilities and hide their inward degeneration through the use of masterfully wrought artificial skin and limbs.
Using Archaeo-Cyberteknika
All Van Saar fighters have access to Cyberteknika, and as they gain advances or suffer injuries they can use Cyberteknika to repair and enhance themselves. There are a few ways for a fighter to gain a piece of Cyberteknika – either to repair a Lasting Injury, once they have spent Experience points for an advancement (representing the fighter’s body aging) or during gang creation (reflecting the older, more experienced, members of the gang).
To repair a Lasting Injury, during any post-battle sequence, the player simply pays the credits cost for the Cyberteknika associated with the injury (Eyes, Hands, etc) and places the fighter Into Recovery. Once the fighter leaves Recovery, the effects of the Injury will have been replaced with the effects of the Cyberteknika.
Alternatively, when a fighter gains a new advance, they may also replace any of their body parts with a piece of the Cyberteknika, paying the credits cost and going Into Recovery as above.
Finally, Van Saar fighters with the Gang Hierarchy (X) special rule may be given Cyberteknika during gang creation at the cost listed as follows.
Upgrading Archaeo-Cyberteknika
Once a fighter has a piece of Cyberteknika, it is permanent. Cyberteknika can be used to replace any Bionics (as found in the Trading Post) in the location it is taken (Eyes, Hands, etc), and a fighter can only have one type of Cyberteknika in each location on their body. All Cyberteknika comes in three levels, ranked Alpha (the most basic), Gamma (intermediate), and Omega (the most advanced). When a fighter gains a piece of Cyberteknika, they can choose any level provided they can pay its cost in credits.
Fighters can also upgrade their Cyberteknika – this is the only instance in which they can change the type of Cyberteknika they have. To upgrade a piece of Cyberteknika the fighter must pay the difference between the cost of the level they have and the next level up, after which they will go into Recovery. Once the fighter leaves Recovery, they gain the improved piece of Cyberteknika (i.e., Alpha becomes Gamma and Gamma becomes Omega). Omega Cyberteknika cannot be upgraded.
Damaged Archaeo-Cyberteknika
If a fighter with Cyberteknika suffers a Lasting Injury to a location with Cyberteknika, roll a D6. On a 4+ the Lasting Injury itself is ignored, though the fighter must still go into Recovery. Otherwise the Cyberteknika is damaged and stops working (the fighter can no longer use its benefits), and the fighter then goes into Recovery. Note, however, that none of the other effects of the Lasting Injury are applied against the fighter.
To repair a piece of Cyberteknika the fighter must pay half its cost in credits during the pre-battle sequence of any battle, or during downtime in a Campaign.
Cranial Cyberteknika
Cranial Cyberteknika represents any number of cognitive cybernetics or brain implants that repair cortical damage or enhance mnemonic function:
- This Cyberteknika upgrade repairs the damage caused when a fighter suffers either a Head Injury or Humiliated result on the Lasting Injury table.
- This Cyberteknika upgrade may be damaged if the fighter suffers either a future Head Injury or Humiliated result on the Lasting Injury table.
- Each level of this Cyberteknika grants the fighter the benefits detailed below:
| Level | Cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha | 30 credits | This fighter is immune to the Insane condition. |
| Gamma | 40 credits | This fighter is immune to both the Insane and the Intoxicated conditions. |
| Omega | 75 credits | This fighter is immune to the Insane and Intoxicated conditions. In addition, the fighter cannot become Broken. |
Ocular Cyberteknika
Ocular Cyberteknika replaces the fighter’s eyes with bionic enhancements, allowing them to see into a multitude of spectrums or shield them from the effects of blinding weapons like photon flash grenades:
- This Cyberteknika upgrade repairs the damage caused when a fighter suffers an Eye Injury result on the Lasting Injury table.
- This Cyberteknika upgrade may be damaged if the fighter suffers a future Eye Injury result on the Lasting Injury table.
- Each level of this Cyberteknika grants the fighter the benefits detailed below:
| Level | Cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha | 50 credits | This fighter is considered to always be equipped with an infra-sight, the benefits of which are applied to any ranged weapon they carry. |
| Gamma | 85 credits | This fighter is considered to always be equipped with both an infra-sight and a mono-sight, the benefits of which are applied to any ranged weapon they carry. |
| Omega | 105 credits | This fighter is considered to always be equipped with an infra-sight and a mono-sight, the benefits of which are applied to any ranged weapon they carry, and photo-goggles. |
Sindextrous Cyberteknika
Sindextrous Cyberteknika repair hands and arms with corded bionics, making limbs more responsive and intricate manipulation far easier for the fighter, giving them a level of dexterity beyond that of their mortal flesh.
- This Cyberteknika upgrade repairs the damage caused when a fighter suffers a Hand Injury result on the Lasting Injury table.
- This Cyberteknika upgrade may be damaged if the fighter suffers a future Hand Injury result on the Lasting Injury table.
- Each level of this Cyberteknika grants the fighter the benefits detailed below:
| Level | Cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha | 50 credits | This fighter ignores the effects of the Disarm trait. |
| Gamma | 75 credits | This fighter ignores the effects of the Disarm trait and they do not suffer a -1 to hit modifier when making close combat attacks if they have to turn to face their opponent before attacking. |
| Omega | 125 credits | This fighter ignores the effects of the Disarm trait and they do not suffer a -1 to hit modifier when making close combat attacks if they have to turn to face their opponent before attacking. In addition, this fighter’s attacks cannot be parried. |
Motive Cyberteknika
Motive Cyberteknika are leg, back and foot augmetics that add to the speed and agility of the fighter, allowing their limbs to instinctively cope with the difficult terrain of the underhive in a way fragile human appendages cannot.
- This Cyberteknika upgrade repairs the damage caused when a fighter suffers a Hobbled Injury result on the Lasting Injury table.
- This Cyberteknika upgrade may be damaged if the fighter suffers a future Hobbled Injury result on the Lasting Injury table.
- Each level of this Cyberteknika grants the fighter the benefits detailed below:
| Level | Cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha | 35 credits | This fighter ignores any negative Movement modifiers caused by moving through difficult terrain. |
| Gamma | 65 credits | This fighter ignores any negative Movement modifiers caused by moving through difficult terrain and adds 2" to their Movement when moving vertically (for example, when climbing up a ladder or other vertical surface). |
| Omega | 100 credits | This fighter ignores any negative Movement modifiers caused by moving through difficult terrain and adds 2" to their Movement when moving vertically (for example, when climbing up a ladder or other vertical surface). In addition, this fighter may re-roll failed Initiative checks to see if they fall when they go from Standing to Prone within ½" of the edge of a level or platform. |
Torsonic Cyberteknika
Torsonic Cyberteknika bone bracing and spinal grips make the fighter far more sturdy, granting them not just increased strength of body but also the ability to wield weapons with an ease they never could before:
- This Cyberteknika upgrade repairs the damage caused when a fighter suffers a Spinal Injury result on the Lasting Injury table.
- This Cyberteknika upgrade may be damaged if the fighter suffers a future Spinal Injury result on the Lasting Injury table.
- Each level of this Cyberteknika grants the fighter the benefits detailed below:
| Level | Cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha | 50 credits | An unarmed attack made by this fighter has a Damage characteristic of 3, rather than the usual 1. |
| Gamma | 75 credits | An unarmed attack made by this fighter has a Damage characteristic of 3, rather than the usual 1. In addition, this fighter may apply a +2 modifier to their Strength characteristic when resolving hits made with a weapon that has either the Melee or Versatile trait. |
| Omega | 150 credits | An unarmed attack made by this fighter has a Damage characteristic of 3, rather than the usual 1. In addition, this fighter may apply a +2 modifier to their Strength characteristic when resolving hits made with a weapon that has either the Melee or Versatile trait. Finally, any weapon this fighter is equipped with is considered to have suspensors fitted to it. |
VASCULAR CYBERTEKNIKA
Vascular Cyberteknika replaces key organs within the fighter’s body, usually their heart and lungs, granting them resistance to the perils of the underhive, but also a level of regenerative ability.
- This Cyberteknika upgrade repairs the damage caused when a fighter suffers an Enfeebled Injury result on the Lasting Injury table.
- This Cyberteknika upgrade may be damaged if the fighter suffers a future Enfeebled Injury result on the Lasting Injury table.
- Each level of this Cyberteknika grants the fighter the benefits detailed below:
| Level | Cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha | 40 credits | This fighter may apply a +1 modifier to their Toughness characteristic for the purposes of the number of Flesh Wounds they can take before going Out of Action. |
| Gamma | 80 credits | This fighter may apply a +1 modifier to their Toughness characteristic for the purposes of the number of Flesh Wounds they can take before going Out of Action. In addition, this fighter may re-roll any Toughness check they are required to make. |
| Omega | 130 credits | This fighter may apply a +1 modifier to their Toughness characteristic for the purposes of the number of Flesh Wounds they can take before going Out of Action. In addition, this fighter may re-roll any Toughness check they are required to make. Finally, in the End phase of each round, this Fighter may discard a Flesh Wound they have suffered. |
The bionics used by the Van Saar, while functionally very similar to those employed by the majority of Necromundans, are of exceptional quality. Quite often they will be indistinguishable from human limbs, especially if concealed under their survival suits, and to the untrained eye a Van Saar fighter might appear completely natural – even if they are anything but. With this in mind, players should feel free to add Cyberteknika to their Necromunda models without the need to convert them – it can be imagined that the fighter’s enhancements are hidden under their suit or appear identical to the real thing. That said, if a player wants to represent bionic limbs, eyes and other augments (perhaps raiding other kits from the Citadel Miniatures range for parts) then they should be able to do so, for not all Van Saar fighters favour subtlety, and many wear their bionics out in the open for all to see.