Cyborg Discussion (Cogwerks)

[Val]

I like the idea of detective borgs but the flash has got to go.

I then offer two possible alternatives to the flash, that should still make the module viable against a troublemaker:

• Pepper Spray: A can of capsaicin or whatever it is that's extracted from chili peppers that can be sprayed anywhere within one tile of the borg's standing position. It would work similarly to a spray bottle and when used on a human, will blur their vision and screw up their movement but otherwise do very little else. I'm not sure if this counts as harm, since it's fairly painful in-character, but otherwise doesn't do damage. Certain headwear and masks counter the effect of this tool.
  
  
• Dazzler: An alternative to the flash. It doesn't incapacitate you completely, but it does do nasty things to your vision and interface. Firstly, it causes temporary and partial blindness. Secondly, it screws up the way you move. Finally, it stops you from running and forces you to walk. If you try to run while dazzled, you will trip. This device can be used infinitely, but has a recharge time equal to the duration of the effects. Wearing dark glasses protects against its effects.
  
  
• Note: Both have a moderate chance to make the target drop their held items.

AFAIK, any borg can refill/replace their module tools that have a finite supply by asking for a roboticist to rewrite it to the same module and re-install it. The construction borg can exploit this and give the roboticist an abusrd amount of glass, metal, and pharosium this way.