Augmented Imperium

Chromed Augmentation and Glammed DNAM trends

Augmentation, whether through Cyberware or DNA Modification is still on the cultural fringes of the Imperium. Even after 11 Centuries and thousands of cultures that have adopted the technology for ages.

In “mainstream” (that is, the Nobles who follow fashion trends from the Moot and Imperial Court) Imperial culture, Augmentation is designed to be unobtrusive and mostly invisible. Even Military cyberware is designed to conform to the Imperial Uniform Standards for the service that authorized the surgery.

Flashy, attention-grabbing cyberware is seen as “tacky”. DNAMs that stray too far from the “natural” bodily appearance are considered freakish and ugly. The practical advantages of Augmentation are appreciated, only the surface appearance is judged.

Of course, there are rebellious subcultures throughout the Imperium which revel in the derision cast at them by the
“mainstream”. Youths, marginalized communities, the underclass, especially in densely populated settlements on prosperous worlds. The embrace of Chrome or Flash corresponds to the gulf between the poorest and richest subcultures in a System.

On the opposite end of the economic scale, the ultra-wealthy or Celebrity class can indulge themselves in shocking cyberware, or “exotic” DNAM as a show of conspicuous consumption. They may never be invited to Court, or the Moot, but they will make an impact on the “social season”, and for many Nobles, attention is everything.

Of course, in Imperial Culture, even in the Moot and the Court, one form of DNAM is normalized and widely accepted, Anagathics. The highest ranks of nobility can afford the exorbitant costs for these ongoing treatments to maintain their youth and extend their lives. What is commonly (some would say deliberately) overlooked, even by the most conservative, tradition-bound Vilani families, is Genetic Engineering and alters the patients body as extremely as if it would have bestowed webbed digits and amphibious gills. (Having the body of a 30 year-old in their prime when your chronological age is over 90 is extreme by most any measure).

Vilani Culture

Vilani Culture was the fist human culture to develop cybernetic and genetic technologies. For over 10 milennia, the Vilani have utilized augmentation, The Ziru Sirka was familiar enough with the technology that practical augmentation was fully normalized. However, the slow development and evolution of Vilani culture has restricted the propogation of augmentation to practical uses. Medical prosthetics to allow people suffering injury or debilitation to maintain a comfortable level of ability and dignity or inconspicuous augmentation that improves professional performance. In the Third Imperium, Vilani cultural influence is the main influence keeping Augmentation unobtrusive.

Zhodani Culture

In the Consulate, augmentation is a complex subject. On the one hand, the mastery of psionics has made the Consulate masters of psychosurgery, and the addition of cranial augmentations. Cybernetics that enhance psionic ability was developed two tech levels lower than it was in the Imperium. However, the psionic caste society of the Consulate represses the adoption of augmentation.

Voluntary augmentation for reasons other than compensation for injury or debilitating conditions indicate a dissatisfaction with one’s body and is cause for re-education. The Prole class is scrutinized heavily, augmentation is strictly controlled to prevent the Proles from gaining an unnatural advantage. Intendants are likewise subject to surveillance. It is of uttmost importance by the Noble class that the psionic abilities of Intendants are developed through approved means, and not through technological or genetic modification. Nobles are constantly watching one another in the Consulate, looking for any leverage they can use on one another to gain social and political power without appearing “unmutually ambitious”. Augmentation to the Nobles are regarded as a potential vulnerability that outweighs the advantages they can provide.

Solomani Culture

The Solomani have embraced augmentation since even before they discovered Jump Drive. DNAM among Solomani colonies have given rise to dozens of sub-species of humaniti throughout charted space. In the Imperium, the Solomani culture pushes against Vilani traditionalism.

The Solomani Movement resists the adoption of too much cybernetics, and just outright rejects DNAM. The Solomani Movement venerates the Solomani Human Genome and the core of their philosophy of Solmani Human Supremacy proclaims the “essential human form” is Solomani.

In the Confederation, augmentation is tightly controlled by the Solomani Party. Politically this represses the resources available to any potential subversive groups that may arise within the Confederation.

Aslan Culture

In the Hierate and it’s client states, Augmentation is framed by Aslan Honor. Within the duelling socienty, if an Augment is judged to bestow an unfair advantage, it will either be disabled (if possible) or the disadvantaged duelist will be allowed equalizer to make the duel fair.

Aslan otherwise have a practical opinion of augmentation, members of more prosperous clans able to afford better technology, and the less prosperous clans making do with what they are permitted by the stronger clans. Most augmentation for the weaker clans is intended to increase professional performance, while the more prosperous clans, similar to the Imperium, augment for attention and presentation.

Aslan assassins often go through the most extensive augmentation, improving their physical ability, concealing weapons, improving their reflexts, and other augments for use in personal combat.

Vargr Culture

Vargr, being by their very nature highly individualistic and chaotic express the whole range of views regarding augmentation. Their opinion of cybernetic augmentation varies based on the pack and environment that is being queried. Most Vargr maintain that “so long as it produces the desired outcome, augmentation is just another tool in the box”. Even extensive cybernetic augmentation is generally accepted in the Extents.

Having been uplifted to sentience by the Ancients, Vargr are far more causally comfortable with DNAM than other cultures in charted space. Whereas, for most peoples, altering their bodies through genetic engineering is a relatively recent development when compared to the age of civilization and the history of their culture, Vargr have been engineered from the point where they achieved sentience. The fact that several Vargr societies have developed DNAM technology on their own gives genegineering a measure of perceived Vargr control over their own destiny.

Hive Federation Culture

The Hive Federation often adjust their own views on augmentation based on the area they’re nearest to. For example, the systems that have steady interaction with the Two Thousand Worlds, the Hive Federation will adopt similarly restrained and conformist views regarding cybernetic augmentation and DNAM. However, for those systems that have regular contact with the Imperium and the Confederation, the Federation takes a far more accepting attitude (even a promotion of Chromed Augmentation to appeal to the influential communities in those polities)

Travellers

The exception to all of these cultures and societies are the Travellers. Whether a Traveller chromes themselves to the limits of their resources and their bodies, or pushes their genetic tolerance with extensive modification, Travellers seldom care about the opinions of society. The very nature of a Traveller’s life give them the freedom to move to a more accepting system, or take on professions where being extensively augmented is considered an advantage (such as mercenary work, or deep space exploration).

We will be revisiting this topic next week, introducing some expanded house rules and some home-brewed cybernetics with which to tempt your players. Until then, have a happy Mayday! Traveller enters it’s Golden Year!