Common Biotech Implants and Devices

A list of common implants in the galaxy at large. The list should also include things such as how accessible they are to acquire, including the tech interface level they require or result in, as well as any additional requirements they have. Take a glance at the Extrapolation on Technology thread for some ideas on what the different components of these pieces of biotech should look like. As well as associated systems of powering, and how they affect your ability to keep a low profile.

Keep in mind this list is nowhere near exhaustive, or complete. If anything, it's a short "top fifteen" spam list from which to consider one's options for acquiring, or making, new biotech at large.

Insular Medical Devices. Technically an ancient form of implant. These follow established mechanical actions, or direct application of chemicals. They do not have internal electronics or inorganic intelligences on them of any real significance, and are very often self-powered. These include things like conventional pacemakers, mechanical prosthetics, hearing aids, birth control implants, contact lenses, and even things like prescription drugs. Tech Interface Level required: 0. Additional requirements: Usually obsoleted by even minimal modern implants, but useful in some contexts.

Cosmetic Implants. You degenerate. Nah, is cool. There are a bunch though. So, feel free to use the old imagination box. Tech Interface Level required: minimum 0, maximum 1. Additional requirements: Tech level only required if cosmetics glow, change in color, light up, or other things via micro machines in the body. They may also require a power source.

Assembler Tattoos. Effectively identical to Cosmetic Implants, but with a twist. Assemblers often employ powerful implants and inorganic technologies in their bodies that make unappealing distortions in the body likely. The creative use of Assembler tattoos turns this from a potential horror into breath-taking art that doesn’t detract at all from the functional purpose beneath. Tech Interface Level required: Assembler. Additional Requirements: None, and none of the cosmetic implant requirements so long as more significant implants exist.

On-Board Computing Components: Perhaps one of the most nebulous forms of implant, but also one of the most widely used and disbursed out in the galaxy. Following the same principle as the militarily developed EMP-Resistant, embedded computer technology, if a person was in need of additional or specified operating hardware… well, the body offers quite intimate storage space. Most often used for a very small, private hard-drive, but also commonly utilized to store back-up power systems, or a low level BIOS / computing system to serve as an intermediary between an organic and an external inorganic intelligence. Though, it has to be said, less common are those who embed powerful computing components within themselves to grant an edge in use of technology, hacking, or otherwise. Most notably Assemblers tend to go to the extreme with this. Tech Interface Level required: 1. Additional requirements: Improved input/output (I/O) either via implant, inorganic intelligence, or otherwise.

Synthetic Vaccines. Not vaccines made with artificial compounds. Rather, they are an injection of biodegradable micro-machines into the body that monitor and influence biological response. They do not send or receive signals beyond themselves, and so cannot be hacked. They reduce instances of the immune system attacking itself, and highlights more troublesome invaders. Promotes health in general on both a personal and a societal level. Tech Interface Level required: 1. Additional Requirements: They are replaced every 1-4 years via a trip to one’s personal primary care professional for a low cost.

Supra Vaccines. Sometimes called synthetic vaccines without distinction from actual Synthetic Vaccines. Other times called synthetic vaccines plus, or some arrangement of those words. Supra Vaccines are synthetic vaccines that can communicate with a computer or inorganic intelligence in real time to evaluate and consult additional information on treatment in rapid time. They can also induce concert in ALL other bodily micromachines to perform more urgent or severe actions. That being said, while the machines themselves are not hackable, the signals they send through a wireless network connection could be if not directly hardwired to the body. This could make certain field-diagnostics incorrect or unusable if used through the individual’s own technology interface. Tech Interface Level required: minimum 1, recommended 2. Additional Requirements: Same as synthetic vaccines, but have ways to communicate with a data storing / reading device, and can direct other biotech micromachines to coordinate healing.

Input/Output Interface. A core difficulty with core organic functionality is being limited to near speed-of-sound operation in communication. All organic languages appear to have an inherent ‘speed limit’ set for rates of data exchange. Though, with a non-invasive, and very approachable procedure, organics can mirror the I/O processing of machines. Whether via a neural lace, or a distributed operating system within one’s body, or any other implementation, the solution exists. Often made of biodegradable components in most cases, but sometimes requiring extrication when no longer desired or in need of repair. The result isn’t true Speed-of-Light communication, nor is it as seamless as natural organic communication – with harsh upticks and downticks in speed – it has many uses. The greatest of which being true hands-free capability with devices, and fastest possible I/O speeds on instinctive reflex (aka ‘oh shit’) moments. Usually using the I/O requires focusing on one thing in particular, so besides the age-old situation of whispering, most of the time, two organics will default to speaking verbally if they are in speaking distance.  Required Tech Interface Level: 1. Additional requirements: Neural lace requires no maintenance, and a quick out-patient procedure to administer once every five years. Integral, distributed operating systems require regular maintenance, but no medical procedures unless damaged – which will usually require a medical procedure to begin with.

EMP Dampener. It turns out, many organic bodies are a very good insulator for electrical components more often than not. Certain weapons, when used against electronics, can do very bad things. Though, when used against an organic body, they are less so. An EMP Dampener utilizes this by extricating certain components of an inorganic device, such as processing power, system memory, or data storage into the body of the organic wielder. Such mitigates damage that would be dealt to it, in many cases entirely, while usually posing no risk to the body that houses it. Though, the more organic the body, the less it can house. Tech Interface Level Required: Minimum 1, Maximum 5. Additional Requirements: Small size can be utilized at any tech interface level, moderate requires two or higher, large requires four or higher, very large requires five.

Standard Skin Graft / Osteo Graft: Better than ever before, being able to replace parts of your body that have been damaged with new, highly effective and efficient replacements is easier than ever. And less demanding than going with a full cybernetic prosthesis if it's just static parts of the body, and not mechanical systems. This can include things like whole or partial bones, teeth, scalp, tongue, cheeks, and the like. Tech Interface Level required: Minimum 1. Maximum 2.

Synthetic Prosthesis: The ancient dream of robo-limbs and half-robo faces has come to life. Though, not always in as garish a manner. Synthetic prosthetics are technologically advanced mechanical devices that simulate or automate certain desirable bodily functions. As one might have guessed, the most impressive and quality-of-life preserving are prosthetic limbs. Capable at lower ends of the spectrum as being equal to an organic arm in most ways, with some differences one way or the other, and examples at the higher end of the power curve being advanced beyond what a normal organic limb might be. That being said, synthetic organs are also an option if something should be damage, such as an eye or kidney. And often they can very easily resemble the original component closely while not entering the uncanny valley. Required Tech Interface Level: Minimum 2. Additional Requirements: Limbs whose strength exceeds that which a normal organic limb might achieve (Tech Interface 4 required), or eyes which can see far better than a natural organic (again, Tech Interface 4 required), and other such improvements, require a large power source for prolonged use at such levels.

Superior Skin Graft, Artificial Weave: Many impressive creatures sometimes lack their own natural forms of armor. Humans are the prime example. In exchange for their impressive vitality, adaptability, and strength, their dermal layers are still soft and easily pierced. Before one solders off their own arm in the name of bypassing evolution, another option exists. A modified cosmetic skin graft that uses specific fibrous weaves (see Armor Type: WEAVE; Synthweave or higher) can add a defensive characteristic to one’s flesh is reinforced while still being pliable enough to be flesh. Regular maintenance on these fibers requires a minute, but still steady supply of Z-Matter and micro-machines introduced to one’s body. Even creatures with harder organic exteriors can make use of this technology. And a more advanced, but invasive form can similarly reinforce muscle fibers, not increasing strength to any noticeable degree, but furthering one’s own physical robustness. The larger the area infused with artificial weave, the more significant the effects and drawbacks. Tech Interface Level required: Minimum 2, Maximum 4. Additional requirements: Progressive loss of touch sensitivity and perception in affected areas per amount of weave introduced. Added / disproportionate weight between weave-introduced areas and natural areas.

Superior Osteo Graft, Artificial Structures: Bones give us our shape, and a great deal of our strength. But they are funny things, and require so much calcium. They're also the components that make up skeletons, a popular image of deadly baddies in fiction. Who wants that? Instead, one could adopt for inorganic options that are identical in shape, or perhaps slightly optimized, while made of particularly strong stuff! There are a lot of options, each with their own set of traits and drawbacks. Tech Interface Level required: Minimum 3. Additional requirements: Added / disproportionate weight between structure-introduced areas and natural areas.

Instantaneous Physiological Interface: A series of intakes and exfiltration systems worked into the body to supplement existing, natural means. Usually each major system in the body has at least one pair, such as the cardiovascular. They may be scattered throughout, or be clustered together, and may come with some inherent modifications to the natural physiology as well; the more invasive and powerful the system, the more severe the changes. The end, and desired result of this is immediate administration of field care upon injury. Simple systems may use external storage to apply drugs directly to the bloodstream, or clotting agent to a wounded area, filter toxins while applying antidotes, remove foreign objects, and so on. More advanced systems may use an integral Z-Forge to synthesize drugs and necessary materials for treatment in real time. Tech Interface Level required: 3. Additional requirements: Z-Forge adapted interface is a medium or larger implant.

On-Board Weapon Systems / Components: Except when added to prosthetics in the form of Insular Implants, the dream of grafting a laser to one’s chest is still rather uncommon, inconvenient, and drastic. But… not impossible. At the expense of skeletal and muscular alterations to house and accommodate weapon systems, they can be integrated onto limbs, or onto the head and torso. LAZ weapons tend to be the most common given their small form factor, despite a lack of stopping power, though mass-block Axion weapons are also sometimes utilized in prohibitively expensive instances. Whether behind-the-shoulderblade affixed small arms, or a very large in size LAZ cannon that reveals itself when a hand is retracted… or just having a laser beam shoot from your forehead… it is possible. Tech Interface Level required: Min 4, Max 5. Additional requirements: If your weapon is not concealable, or is not concealed at a specific moment outside of combat, be prepared to be gawked at, shunned, or treated like a troublemaker.