Better Living Through Biochemistry

by Erik Jameson

Bigger, Better, Faster -

The World Of Tailored Hormones

You can still hear it today, "better living through chemistry." Of course, when that phrase was first coined, they meant traditional chemistry. In 2057 however, they mean biochemistry.

One of the positive side-affects of the intense research done in the attempt to cure "Goblinization" was a vastly improved understanding of the (meta)human physiology and anatomy. At first, this helped to pave the way for effective and efficient cyberware, and then bioware. Now the "Goblinization" is paying new dividends in the area of tailored hormones.

Cattle ranchers and body builders were among the first to realize the potential of hormones back in the previous century. Both used them to make their products (whether beef or biceps) larger, faster and easier. Other athletes then caught on, discovering that steroids, as they were now called, could also make a man faster and quicker. There was no end in sight, with artificial hormones being created, and the beginnings of tailored hormones. Or at least, that was what they thought.

After a decade or so, science began to realize that injecting massive amounts of steroids into someone, whether man or cattle, might not be such a good idea. Higher incidence of cancer, liver and kidney failure, obvious and blatant changes in mood, the weakening of connective tissue. And bodybuilders weren't the only ones affected. It was too late to turn back; steroids had entered the mainstream mind. High school kids, wanting to make the cut for football, or simply to look better to the opposite sex, began to consume steroids in mass quantities. And so, the hormone trade as we now know it, was born.

Modern tailored hormones can duplicate almost anything that modern chemistry can do. Not only are there the traditional steroids, there are now combat hormones and recreational hormones. And with the Awakening, there are now more hormones to work with.

The largest problem with using any outside hormone, even tailored, is that large doses, used frequently, will frequently cause the body to shut down its own production of that hormone (or what ever is closest). This is why bodybuilders gain fat and lose muscle when they go off steroids; the body isn't producing enough of its own testosterone. Too much long term use, and the body may actually completely lose the ability to produce the hormone in question. Which means that while short-term side affects tend to be few, long term side affects can be disastrous. In game terms, this means that once Tolerance has been achieved, the body has shut down its own hormonal production. When shut-down a number of times equal to the user's original un-augmented body, that means the user has lost the ability to produce their own hormone, and must continue to take the artificial tailored hormones to make up for the loss.

The other long term effects of tailored hormone usage are up to the individual gamemaster. Side effects such as cancer (common) and liver failure (very common) are outside the purview of the basic Shadowrun rules, and thus should be handled by each gamemaster. In the case of steroids and tendon damage, it is recommended that whenever the user does some sort of Strength feat, or something highly athletic, the user must make a Body Test (target number decided by the gamemaster). If failed, the user has damaged their tendons, and must take at least a mandatory Light Wound. Again, final effects are up to the gamemaster.

ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE ENHANCERS

Jet-Test is still based simply on testosterone, with surprisingly few (and shockingly subtle) changes. Considered to be an "off-season" steroid because it can be detected in the bloodstream for as many as four or five weeks after use. It does, however, provide the most benefits. Jet-Test is also the most effective steroid as a fat-burner. Body fat will typically drop by more than 5% minimum (depending on original body composition) during usage. The effects last for up to four to eight weeks after the last dosage, dependent on the user's previous Strength (the weaker the user is initially, the longer it lasts. Actual duration of effects is up to the gamemaster's discretion.).

Attribute Bonus: +2 Strength, +2 Quickness, -1 Willpower

Legality	Tolerance	Vector	Availability	Cost/Dose	Street Index
4-M1	4	Injection	4/24 hrs	450¥	1.5

>>>>>[It's amazing, with Muscle Replacement and Muscle Augmentation that people would still use this stuff.]<<<<<

-Flex (14:25:23/6-26-57)

>>>>>[It's far more common among gangers and anyone else who can't afford those options. Plus, there are a few "purists" (if they can be called that) who think that cyber and bioware is cheating. Steroids are just fine by them though...]<<<<<

-D. Yates (14:33:02/6-26-57)

Deca-Durabol

Considered by athletes to be the "in-season" steroid, this heavily tailored hormone is much more difficult to detect, being washed out of the body in about 2 weeks. However, this subtlety does mean that it isn't as effective as Jet-Test. Deca-Durabol is, however, almost as effective as Jet-Test as a fat burner. The effects last as long as the user continues to take Deca-Durabol.

Attribute Bonus: +1 Strength, +1 Quickness

Legality	Tolerance	Vector	Availability	Cost/Dose	Street Index
4-M1	5	Injection	5/36 hrs	600¥	1.75

HGF-ss

Usually used as an adjunct to Jet-Test, Human Growth Factor-Beta is a heavily tailored version of the basic growth hormones found in all (meta)humans. While this does mean accelerated muscle growth, is does also mean that the human body is being put through a second puberty. Users experience, most notably, additional bone growth. Like Jet-Test, HGF-ss is considered to be an "off-season" hormone, as it can be detected up to 6 weeks after the last usage. While the effects last for as much as three months, some of the side-effects, like bone growth, are permanent. Long term extreme abuse of HGF-ss has been known to add up to 15 centimeters of height and dermal deposits (although not to the level of orks and trolls).

Attribute Bonus: +2 Strength, +1 Body, -1 Willpower

Legality	Tolerance	Vector	Availability	Cost/Dose	Street Index
4-M1	4	Injection	5/48 hrs	500¥	2

>>>>>[This modern stuff is a direct result of research done on trolls.]<<<<<

-Wheeler (14:43:27/6-26-57)

>>>>>[Don't even think this list is complete. Tailored thyroid hormones (for mega-fast fat burning), and all kinds of tailored secondary growth hormones are available, if you know where to look. The ones listed above are the Big Three, and have found usage by everyone from shadowrunners to dockworkers.]<<<<<

-Baker (14:45:44/6-26-57)

Combat Enhancers

"Hellraiser" is a clever collection of hormones (some non-human) that turns the normal pain process around. Users feel pleasure where they should feel pain. This means that wounds will feel good, perhaps even ecstatic. In game terms, this means that the user incurs no penalties due to wounds. Also note that this is psychologically addictive, so normal addiction rules (found in Shadowtech, page 87) apply. "Hellraiser" lasts for 6 hours.

Attribute Bonus: -3 Willpower

Legality	Addiction	Tolerance	Strength	Vector	Availability	Cost/Dose	Street Index
2-M1	4M	4	3	Injection	8/7 days	2,000¥	2.5

>>>>>[Knew a guy that got addicted to this drek. Went from mild-mannered wage slave, to full-on leather-wearing masochist slave. It was nasty how he died...heard he loved every second of it, even though he knew he was dying. Weird.]<<<<<

-Mad Barker (15:02:55/6-26-57)

Centurion

Centurion, first manufactured by the labs at Ares America, is the height of combat hormones. There are currently no known side-affects, aside from the known problems of using hormones too often, with very positive bonuses. However, given its high cost and it's short duration (2 hours), it has only found limited combat usage.

Attribute Bonus: +2 Quickness, +2 Body, +1 Initiative

Legality	Tolerance	Vector	Availability	Cost/Dose	Street Index
2-M1	6	Injection	14/30 days	9,300¥	4

>>>>>[This is what tailored hormones can really do. Most of the other tailored hormones can be fashioned at home with a sufficiently advanced chemistry set and a knowledge of biochemistry. That's why they aren't always so hot. This, however, is so drekking advanced it requires a cutting edge lab to manufacture it. THAT'S why it's so expensive.]<<<<<

-Roman Soldier (15:19:11/6-26-57)

"Banzai"

"Banzai," as it's name might indicate, is a tailored hormone version of Kamikaze. Far more expensive, it is non-addictive (but does suffer from the same affects of any hormone) and performs almost as well. Like Centurion, "Banzai" is too highly advanced for any basement chemistry set to create. It is currently manufactured by Mitsuhama and several specialized underworld crime organizations.

Attribute Bonus: +1 Body, +1 Quickness, +1 Strength, +1D6 Initiative

Legality	Tolerance	Vector	Availability	Cost/Dose	Street Index
2-M1	3	Injection	12/21 days	2,200¥	3

>>>>>[I've heard of some organization I won't name that does this sort of thing. I've also heard that maybe one of the old drug cartels is into this.]<<<<<

-Brother Hill (15:32:36/6-26-57)

Ironman

A product of Yamatetsu Europe, Ironman is not a combat drug per sé. Rather, it is designed to get combatants back on the field as soon as possible. Actually a collection of hormones, from testosterone to an unspecified hellhound hormone, Ironman is designed to push the bodies own healing process into overdrive, and is almost as good as Accelerad-9, the speed heal drug from Universal Omnitech, without the nasty side-affects (like an induced coma). Ironman does, however, leave the patient very weak (-3 Strength, -2 Quickness, -2 Body) for several days after usage (one day per point of damage healed).

Attribute Bonus: +5 Body (for healing purposes only)

Legality	Tolerance	Vector	Availability	Cost/Dose	Street Index
4P-M1	2	Injection	9/10 days	8,700¥	3.5

>>>>>[A pretty good product, Ironman. Doctors like it, but they tend to not use it on the hyper-critical patients. Sometimes the shock is too much for a body all ready pushed beyond the max.]<<<<<

-Tepper (15:39:26/6-26-57)

>>>>>[Ironman is actually more common on the streets than Accelrad-9 (which is probably the better of the two). A well connected street doc should have access to this stuff. And they aren't afraid to use it.]<<<<<

-Mentzer (15:43:56/6-26-57)

"Recreational" Hormones

"Blue Lace" is a collection of tailored hormones that provides an overall feeling of pleasure, in addition to being mildly psychoactive. It derives it primary street name from it's deep blue color. Effects last for up to 12 hours.

Attribute Bonus: -4 Willpower, -2 Intelligence

Legality	Addiction	Tolerance	Strength	Vector	Availability	Cost/Dose	Street Index
2-M1	5M	3	5	Injection	4/24 hrs	1,200¥	1

>>>>>[It's also got a host of other names, like the Big O, and Mellow O. According to rumor, there are two variants, male and female. Each is supposed to work better with the appropriate sex. Don't think I believe it though.]<<<<<

-The Decker Formerly Known as... (15:49:21/6-26-57)

"Holiday"

Holiday is an intense psychoactive, providing full sensory hallucinations. While not truly addictive, once total tolerance has been reached, the user's brain has been "dulled," and cannot function properly without the use of outside neurotransmitters and brain hormones (-3 Intelligence, -3 Willpower, -2 Charisma).

Attribute Bonus : Reduces all Mental Attributes to 1 for duration

Legality	Addiction	Tolerance	Strength	Vector	Availability	Cost/Dose	Street Index
2-M1	6M	3	5	Injection	6/48 hrs	1,600¥	1.5

>>>>>[This stuff can be a delightful alternative to knock-out drugs for a prisoner...]<<<<<

-Party Shagger (15:54:55/6-26-57)

>>>>>[That's barbaric!!]<<<<<

-Northern (16:03:07/6-26-57)

>>>>>[Yeah, well, I didn't say it was nice. Just that it has other uses.]<<<<<

-Party Shagger (16:05:16/6-26-57)