Cuestiones pertinentes para todas las notificaciones de ayuda destinada a

ties or performance (or, more rarely, those of other people), various forms of defense involving tough- ened skin, “fleshwarping” powers that let a charac- ter literally mold flesh and bone, disease infliction and control, and the like. For purposes of the spe- cial effects interaction discussion in this chapter, it also tends to include abilities involving control over the density, size, or shape of one’s body, though those powers have their own distinct categories in the USPDs. Generally it does not include natural weaponry (such as claws, fangs, and tentacles), which fall into the Physical category.

See pages 127-29 of The HERO System Equip-

ment Guide for information on biological weapons

in game terms.

BIOLOGICAL UNDERWATER

Biological powers that involve projecting spores, viruses, or the like through the air work poorly, if at all, underwater — at most they have 25% effectiveness. This is accounted for by the Spe-

cial Effect: Biological Limitation.

BIOLOGICAL POWERS AND

OTHER SPECIAL EFFECTS

Here’s how Biological powers interact with other energies/special effects. These rules are optional; the GM may change or ignore them as he sees fit.

In the case of Biological powers that involve projecting spores, viruses, or the like through the air, an energy-based defense may be unusually effective because it “burns” or quickly destroys the tiny physical objects. (In the GM’s judgment this might qualify the Biological power for some form of the Physical Mani-

festation Limitation.) Depending on how intense the

energy defense is, it may get +1 to +3 defense against such attacks. Similarly, a power that can affect physi- cal objects may be more effective than normal against that type of Biological attack.

An airtight defense — in game terms, one built with Life Support (Self-Contained Breathing) — may totally prevent airborne Biological attacks from affecting the character. (Typically the way the power’s built will make this plain, either because it’s an NND with that defense or takes an appropriate Limitation, but even if that’s not the case the GM can rule that this occurs.)

ACID

Biological defenses don’t resist Acid well; Acid attacks do +2 DCs of damage against them before the defense is applied. (Alternately, the GM could treat Acid attacks as reducing Biological defenses by 1 point of effect against all attacks for each Acid attack they suffer in a given combat, but that may quickly make Acid far too effective against some targets.) Acid defenses also tend to work well against Biological attacks, since Acid interferes with many biological processes and functions; give them +2 defense before applying them to reduce the damage caused by a Biological attack.

AIR/WIND

Air/Wind has no special interaction with Biological powers; it neither gains nor loses against this special effect generally. However, in the case of Biological powers that involve projecting spores, viruses, or the like through the air, an Air/Wind defense may gain significant bonuses (+3 defense or more) or, in the GM’s discretion, constitute an absolute defense against the attack.

CHAOS/ENTROPY

The bonds of the flesh do not well withstand the forces of primal Chaos. Biological defenses suffer a -2 point reduction before being applied to Chaos/Entropy attacks. Similarly, Biological attacks have difficulty penetrating Chaos defenses; they’re at -1 DC before being applied to defenses.

Alternately, Chaos/Entropy may have a muta- tive effect on a Biological power when the two come into contact. The GM can use the Chaos- Dimensional Manipulation Interaction table on page 59 to determine the results (just substitute “Biological” for “Dimensional Manipulation”), or determine the results some other way.

CHEMICAL

Generally, Biological has no special interac- tion with Chemical powers; it neither gains nor loses against this special effect. However, Biological powers such as certain disease-causing powers are similar to many Chemical powers, and depending on the exact nature of the Biological and Chemical powers involved, the two may cancel each other out, enhance one another, or cause unintended “side effects.” For example, a Chemical gas cloud with medicinal properties might kill off a cloud of Biological-produced viri.

COSMIC ENERGY

Biological has no special interaction with Cosmic Energy; it neither gains nor loses against this special effect (except as discussed above for

BIOLOGICAL

POWERS

BIOLOGICAL

BASICS

energy powers generally). However, if the Cosmic Energy manifests with some other special effect (such as Fire or Sonics), use that special effect for determining the results of the interaction.

DARKNESS

Biological has no special interaction with Darkness; it neither gains nor loses against this special effect (except as discussed above for energy powers generally).

DIMENSIONAL MANIPULATION

Biological attacks tend to have trouble get- ting through Dimensional Manipulation defenses, which by their very nature interfere with physical reality on some level. Subtract 1 DC from the Bio- logical attack before applying it to defenses. Simi- larly, Dimensional Manipulation attacks gain +1 DC versus Biological defenses.

EARTH/STONE

Biological has no special interaction with Earth/Stone; it neither gains nor loses against this special effect.

ELECTRICITY

Biological has no special interaction with Electricity; it neither gains nor loses against this special effect (except as discussed above for energy powers generally).

ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY

Biological attacks have no special interaction with Electromagnetic Energy powers except as discussed above for energy powers generally. As discussed under Electromagnetic Energy, below, various forms of EM radiation tend to penetrate physical barriers well, so Biological defenses may suffer a reduction of -3 (or more) points before applying to Electromagnetic Energy attacks.

ENERGY MANIPULATION

Biological has no special interaction with Energy Manipulation; it neither gains nor loses against this special effect (except as discussed above for energy powers generally).

FIRE/HEAT

Due to their intense heat, Fire defenses are particularly effective against Biological powers that involve projecting spores, viruses, or the like through the air — they gain at least +3 defense, and possibly more. Other types of Biological attacks have no spe- cial interaction with Fire/Heat powers. Fire attacks are slightly more effective against Biological defenses than normal; reduce the Biological defenses by -1 point.

FORCE MANIPULATION

Biological has no special interaction with Force Manipulation; it neither gains nor loses against this special effect (except as discussed above for energy powers generally).

GRAVITY

Biological has no special interaction with Gravity; it neither gains nor loses against this spe- cial effect, except as discussed above for energy powers generally. However, in the case of a Gravity defense, the defense doesn’t burn or destroy the physical manifestation of the power so much as it uses gravitic energy to drag it to the ground or hold it at bay. (See Gravity, below, for more details.)

HOLY/UNHOLY

Biological has no special interaction with Holy or Unholy energies; it neither gains nor loses against this special effect (except as discussed above for energy powers generally).

ICE/COLD

Biological has no special interaction with Ice/ Cold powers; it neither gains nor loses against this special effect (except as discussed above for energy powers generally).

KINETIC ENERGY

Biological has no special interaction with Kinetic Energy; it neither gains nor loses against this special effect (except as discussed above for energy powers generally, and for powers that may directly control physical objects).

LIFE FORCE ENERGY

Because Biological attacks typically affect the target’s life force on some level, Life Force Energy defenses tend to be good at keeping them out (+1 or more points of defense). Biological defenses have no special interaction with Life Force attacks.

LIGHT

Biological has no special interaction with Light; it neither gains nor loses against this spe- cial effect (except as discussed above for energy powers generally).

MAGIC

Biological has no special interaction with Magic; it neither gains nor loses against this special effect. However, if Magic manifests with some other special effect (such as Fire or Dark- ness), use that special effect for determining the results of the interaction.

MAGNETISM

Biological has no special interaction with Magnetism; it neither gains nor loses against this special effect (except as discussed above for energy powers generally).

MATTER MANIPULATION

In general, Biological has no special interac- tion with Matter Manipulation; it neither gains nor loses against this special effect. But in the case of Biological abilities with a physical manifestation of some sort, Matter Manipulation may be unusu- ally effective; see the Matter Manipulation section, below, for information.

MENTAL/PSIONIC

Biological has no special interaction with Mental/Psionic powers; it neither gains nor loses against this special effect (except as discussed above for energy powers generally).

PHYSICAL

Biological has no special interaction with Physical; it neither gains nor loses against this special effect (except as discussed above for energy