Alright folks, so time for a bit of feedback. I'm currently wrapping my mind around the state of the modern human, a decision that will effect any Dhampir in the roleplay.

Let's start with how babies are born these days. An ultrasound is downright primitive compared to the medical science that comes into play here. Essentially while doctors aren't making nazi supermen from scratch the facilities and expertise to ensure two people have the best baby they could possibly make together exists. The only real constraints are the donors (mother/father) and how much money you're willing to throw at the highly paid medical professionals responsible for the pre-natal nip/tuck. Most families put away enough of a nest egg to pluck out the most easily detectable (and thus inexpensive) flaws, so things like glasses, ugliness, asthma and other such shortcomings are virtually non-existent. (Except for the exceedingly poor/undeveloped nations) The wealthy on the other hand have the means to design custom-tailored heirs, everything from eye color to sexual orientation decided long before the child is ever born. The end result being that boardrooms and yacht clubs are filled with real-life Mary and Marty Sues, to say nothing of those actually bred to be athletes from the get go. (Or the performance enhancing drugs professionals wind up addicted to)

So in a nutshell humanity is varying degrees of stronger/smarter then their ancestors (Read: Anyone that happens to have been an undying vampire for a while.) So vamps tend to prey on the poorest examples of humanity, in every sense of the word, meaning the seediest, slummiest parts of the sprawl are their stomping grounds. The downtrodden that gather here scrimp, save or downright steal their way to a leg up in life, often resorting to unsafe, unregulated and highly illegal gene mods. Even the skin trade follows this emergent trend, so-called 'whorror houses' cropping up as demand for more exotic pleasures rises.

That's the baseline we're working with so far, it's how cybernetics fall into place with what's already there that I'd like people to weigh in on. Would you prefer that:

*Cybernetics be increasingly outmoded by advances in medical science. The sort of thing people ended up 'stuck with' before the latest, greatest breakthroughs.

*A niche market that caters mostly to professional fields (military, private sector, etc.) with miles of red tape standing between civilians and their chrome.

*Ubiquitous. No one carries around a physical phone/computer anymore. The implants are so cheap that the net isn't something you log in and out of, it's just another part of the human experience.

I'm leaning on either option 3 or 2 myself while remaining open to suggestion/criticisms. Keep in mind that for vampires their physical form is merely an anchor for the curse and will remain as it was the moment they matured into either an Alp or Draug (Vetala don't even have bodies, so moot point in their regard.) So no, full on vampires can't have cybernetics or gene-mods. Even if they went through with the ill advised notion of getting them their bodies don't function correctly (Think of it like they're 'faking it', right down to bleeding out when they get shot) Even if the hardware or mods -could- work they'd just vanish like any other injuries the next time you revived.

Thus cybernetics and gene mods are strictly for Dhampir and real human beings. There will exist a sort of jealous undercurrent because of it, since these fledgling vampires will in time become a breed unto themselves as they mature into something never before imagined: Cybervampires. (Which will not happen during the course of this RP. Also, need a better name for it, too 90's. Transvampirism? Postvampirism? I'll think of something.)

So speak now or forever hold your peace people.

I'd go with Option 2. It allows the world to have a stronger sci-fi feel to it, without making it just an "everyday thing". This way, Cybernetics can be an actual threat, but not something Vamps have to constantly worry about/be prepared for.

Also, for when you make the OOC, are you planning to summarise all this info?

Yep. In the end the info will be chopped up like so:

*A summery to get people oriented
*A hefty chunk of 'at your leisure' information best skimmed while waiting for replies
*Information players will only receive if they create characters that should know it

As for the sort of dangers vampires have to look out for keep in mind that you are perfectly capable of being destroyed by a drunk driver or hail of gun fire. (Though luckily the heart will be a no issue for those not playing Dhampir.)

I should probably mention that I don't plan to treat cybernetics like super-powers. They won't be glamorous, sleek or slide into the territory of Deus Ex/Ghost in the Shell. For military applications remember that no one is going to put millions (or even thousands) of dollars worth of tech inside of a soldier. Cost effectiveness and practicality are most important here. Cyborgs wont be turning invisible, shooting lasers or leaping off of skyscrapers. Think of the modern military and police force as being mainly autonomous drones with humans as tactical support. The choices aren't so much going to effect what cybernetics can do as much as where they fit into society.

So far that's one vote for them requiring permits, licenses and insurance.

I'm warming up the hype-r drive for this RP.

I'd go with Option 2. It allows the world to have a stronger sci-fi feel to it, without making it just an "everyday thing". This way, Cybernetics can be an actual threat, but not something Vamps have to constantly worry about/be prepared for.

Ditto.

*waits ever patiently*

Still here

Sorry for not posting lately, just been working on the hush-hush stuff. Spheres of knowledge, plot points that can be missed, connecting plot threads and what-not. Ideally I've got a few 'stories' going on in the background then drop a gaggle of vampires into the mix. Was hoping I could keep the interest check lively by answering questions.

Some tidbits though. A viable combat tactic--especially for younger vamps--is 'tactical suicide'. Wraithburn aside a vampire revives whole and unharmed, exactly as they were the day they matured into a Draug/Alp/whathaveyou. This involves two critical factors:

1. Killing oneself quickly
2. Ensuring you revive before an attack can finish you off

As far as number one is concerned more experienced vampires prefer to either cleanly sever the abdominal aorta with a well placed gunshot or inhale sarin gas. Both methods are lethal in the extreme, leading to death within a minute or less and just as easily used against opponents.

Number two can be trickier, as oftentimes it's difficult to judge if you've bought yourself enough time or gotten to a secure enough position. Mainstays are dying in cover (The enemy doesn't know if you're just trying to draw them out), barricading yourself somewhere or just relying on your opponent not knowing that you're a vampire.

As revival is a major hurdle in properly slaying a vamp the proper method practiced by both hunters and warring clans is to either burn, incapacitate or hit them with so much firepower as to make the issue moot.

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And to further diverge from tradition Dhampir (The only vamps that compulsively drink blood) lack any sort of fangs or specialized anatomy for sucking it out of people. This means for the most part you'll be chewing through necks, bleeding someone into a glass or slurping it off the scenery. More importantly however neither Dhampir, Alps or Draug are immune (or even resistant) to disease. It is entirely possible for them to contract HIV, Hepatitis or viral hemorrhagic fevers--in fact this often leads to the characteristic 'sickly' appearance of your ilk.

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Again, a vampire's life cycle begins with the birth of a seemingly normal human child--Known as a Dhampir--the product of a mortal mother and vampiric father. Eventually the curse overtakes them and they mature into either a Vetala, Alp or Draug--though the age at which this occurs varies wildly on a case by case basis. Though it is seldom the case when a young child matures early it is speculated to be due to a weak will, powerful wickedness or ancient father, though these remain topics of debate. Hereditary ties for vampires are flimsy at best (Why they prefer sire to father) as one does not necessarily inherit the same characteristics as their father; Alps can sire Draug and vice versa--to say nothing of the ghostly Vetala. To this end Dhampir are usually a 'fire and forget' resource kept anonymous for their own protection and indoctrinated if and when it becomes prudent. Most Dhampir simply die before such things become an issue, either via natural causes, acting on their dark urges or being targeted by supernatural forces.

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There were other bloodlines, but over time they died out. Leading some to believe that if you destroy the first of their line (The All-Sire) no more come into being.

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Female vamps -can- get pregnant. BUT THIS IS THE WORST IDEA EVER. Their poisonous wombs twist whatever fragile life takes root there, and the curse permeates the unborn child wholly. What's born is crooked and foul...