GENE THERAPY

Beginning early in the Dark Age of Technology, the Emperor’s scientists discovered ways to not only replace abnormal or defective genes, but also to safely improve on otherwise healthy genes. Even more importantly, they discovered ways to create retroviruses that target all of an organism’s cells, thus allowing them to change various aspects of a creature. It became possible to upgrade a living being. It is the basics of this technology that allowed the creation of the original Space Marines.

 

At first, these processes only modified existing traits—increasing (or decreasing) one of the subject’s innate abilities, or sharpening his or her senses. But as the technology was perfected and scientists mapped and catalogued the genetic structure of various other creatures, it became possible to alter a subject so that he or she would gain traits that humans have never possessed. Though during the Age of Apostacy the world-shattering wars eventually ended by Sebastian Thor severely damaged the data of the Adeptus Mechanicus with regards to Gene Therapy much still remains, closely guarded by the Magos Biologis.

 

 

RULES

Genetic manipulation can endow a creature with any special quality. Once the therapy begins, the subject must make a Fortitude saving throw (DC varies) once per day until such time as he achieves a specific number of successes linked to the genetic modification being attempted (at which point he permanently gains that special quality). Every time a save fails, the subject suffers 2 points of Constitution damage.

 

During therapy, the ability remains latent, so the patient receives no benefits from the intended manipulation. Immediately upon completing the required number of Fortitude saves, the ability activates and becomes a permanent special quality of the patient.

 

Gene Therapy requires that the character take an injection of retro-viruses at a specified hour each day. If the character fails to do so the gene therapy comes abruptly to an end and can be re-attempted after a month has passed.

 

The special vials of retro-viruses required to succesfully undergo gene therapy cost a certain amount of Creds as specified in the table below.

 

Table: Gene Therapy
Type of Special Quality	Fort Save DC	Number of Successes	Credit DC
+1 to one ability score	15	10	25
Extraordinary ability (Ex)	15	15	30
Supernatural ability (Su)	20	25	35
Psychic-like ability (Ps)	20	50	45