The (meta)human body is miraculous in design, particularly it's musculoskeletal system. Muscle tissue, anchored to bones by tendons, contracts when an electrical impulse is applied. These contractions, typically generated by electrical signals from the nervous system, yield motion. Slow-twitch muscle mass is typically responsible for motion requiring strength, while fast-twitch muscle mass is responsible for quick, dynamic motion. The (meta)human body is optimized to combine these two qualities as appropriate.
Anchor Point Recalibration, or A.P. Recalibration, seeks to further optimize the body for a particular category of activity. By adjusting (or "recalibrating") the tendon anchor points of key muscle groups, a body can be coaxed into generating a greater response for a particular type of activity, such as running or lifting. In terms of classical physics, human muscle and bone is treated as a simple machine, and the adjustment of muscular anchor points along bones serves to change the overall mechanical advantage of key muscle groups within the body. Any advantage in strength comes at the cost of quickness, and vice versa.
A.P. Recalibration comes in two forms -- A.P. Recalibration for Strength, and A.P. Recalibration for Quickness. Each offers a boost of +1 to the named attribute while lowering its "opposed" attribute by one. These adjustments actually alter racial maximums, as well. For example, a human who has received Anchor Point Recalibration for Quickness would receive a +1 to their quickness attribute and a -1 to their strength attribute. Additionally, the modified human would have a new racial maximum for both quickness (7) and strength (5).
If an individual's strength or quickness would be lowered below one during the Anchor Point Recalibration process, it is not possible to receive the augmentation. Such individuals do not have the structural integrity to undergo the augmentation process and continue functioning normally. For example, an individual with a strength of 3 and quickness of 1 could not receive A.P. Recalibration for strength, as this would lower quickness to zero. The individual could, however, receive A.P. Recalibration for quickness. The result would be a strength of 2 and quickness of 2 (with corresponding adjustments to racial maximums).
This modification is compatible with all other forms of muscle augmenting
and modifying bioware and cyberware. If an individual receives cyberware
replacements resulting in more than 50% bodily replacement, however, all
benefits of A.P. Recalibration are lost. Penalties are likewise negated
in such a situation. This situation might arise, for example, if
an individual receives two cyberlegs and a cybertorso (greater than 50%
of such a body would be cyberware, negating A.P. Recalibration bonuses
and penalties).
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[I can see where this
would have its uses. If most of what you do is running or lifting,
this looks like a simple way to optimize.]
Doc Fingers
[Exactly. This stuff
is all the rage in professional athletics these days. Runners, urban
brawlers, and some combat bikers are getting recalibrated for quickness
more and more. Your professional mover or power lifter may also
go the route of A.P. recal for strength. Not for everyone, but nothing
ever is.]
Tool
[Chummer o' mine was redone
for strength. He was sore as hell for a couple o' weeks afterwards,
but he kept drinkin' his milk and protein shakes (like the doc told 'em),
and now he's got some hearty "oomph" to throw behind punches and kicks.
He's a tad slower, but he says he knew that would happen anyway.
Doesn't seem to bother 'em much.]
Kaptain Krunch