In games where blood transfusions are possible, as well as surgery and other relatively advanced medical techniques, would you go so far as to make blood type a character trait?

 Generally speaking blood types could be useful in games where players can get injured and need transfusions. Let's not forget every single member of the military carries ID with his bloodtype included, for a good reason.

 So would you make blood type a character trait? I could see it as being in general a feature that had a 0 point cost, with being one of those poor schmucks who could only accept very rare blood types as a minor to moderate disad, whilst being the so-called "universal recipient" could be a mild to moderate advantage.

Note that being a "universal donor" would not really matter much to the character as much as who he could receive blood from. At most being a UD might be a tiny advantage that could blow up on the player if too many people suddenly need too much blood.

BTW, do many games feature this already? I could see the morrow project and twilight 2xxx maybe having it, I'm always surprised traveller missed it.

Note that in ultra high tech settings where artificial/universal blood substitute id available, the effect of this may drop but it could still be a factor when you're sharship down on some uncharted frontier world, your medical supplies are limited and jones was just speared by a hostile native...

If the game focus is gritty "reality" (dare I say "crunchy"!?) in regards to trauma recovery then that sort of detail would be required and appreciated.

I do not remember the games you mention having that info...I can't think of one that does! Could be used as a cool hook or wrinkle during an adventure!

If we do this it might be necessary to mention if the character's even been exposed to/carrying any blood borne diseases...

Not really a problem for any decent system. Just a line in the history section.

It's astounding no game has ever done this...

For a gritty modern or post-modern game, blood type would be essential. However, a stat isn't needed - Just have players write one down in the background. If they powergame it for some reason, have them roll 1d4 or something.

Quote from: Narf the Mouse;412086For a gritty modern or post-modern game, blood type would be essential. However, a stat isn't needed - Just have players write one down in the background. If they powergame it for some reason, have them roll 1d4 or something.

Hmm, let me look up a website about blood and transfusions....


Here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_type

(OK, someone bitch about wikipedia being unreliable now.)

This gives all the data needed to make a blood type system for RPGs including how common blood types are and who can be a universal donor or recipient.  Blood types could be random with percentile dice and the charts o the link  or maybe bought with points or give a points bonus if you need a rare type.

Quote from: Cylonophile;412072BTW, do many games feature this already?

Anime games sometimes attach a special significance to the blood types, but for completely different reasons.

So, no one dos it for real purposes, like transfusions.

I think you're onto something here and not just from a modern or sci-fi angle.  Consider that many magical rituals were powered by sacrifice and the use of blood.  The type and amount used could result in wildly varying results in a game with a good blood magic system.  In a fantasy world like this, being of noble blood or certain bloodlines would be very important.  Breeding, Hemophilia and Sacrificial Knives would become major parts of a campaign.

Vampire used blood albeit in a clumsy way as a pool of points to power abilities.  Earthdawn had blood magic but it was predictable and lacked flavour if memory serves me.  

You've really got me thinking...

Thanks

Quote from: EBM;412099I think you're onto something here and not just from a modern or sci-fi angle.  Consider that many magical rituals were powered by sacrifice and the use of blood.  The type and amount used could result in wildly varying results in a game with a good blood magic system.  In a fantasy world like this, being of noble blood or certain bloodlines would be very important.  Breeding, Hemophilia and Sacrificial Knives would become major parts of a campaign.

Vampire used blood albeit in a clumsy way as a pool of points to power abilities.  Earthdawn had blood magic but it was predictable and lacked flavour if memory serves me.  

You've really got me thinking...

Thanks

Getting a person to think is one of the greatest things one can do.

In fantasy settings the term "blood" usually refers to more primitive concepts like "race" or a family line with no connection whatsoever to the literal meaning of the term. ("You are of the accursed Charlton bloodline! You are filth!" or "You are of noble blood, your destiny is to lead!")

I'd like to see just basic realistic blood rules for games in the right setting, at least up to early 20th century into the future, where issues like blood types and transfusions might be a real issues.

Again, the fact that traveller, morrow project and other gritty games missed this is amazing...

There's quite a bit of popular pseudoscience in Japan which looks at blood type as an indicator of personality; not sure if you'd want to go quite this far with it, but there it is nonetheless.

Lord Hobie

What the fuck?!

RPGPundit

The reason blood type doesn't show up in modern / near future RPGs is because all healing rules are deeply abstracted, even in games that go to extremes with wounding rules.

You need a transfusion when you have blood loss, but without blood loss being part of the game system's wounding mechanic, then there's no need to consider transfusion as part of the healing rules.

However, the concept of "blood type" could be interesting for a fantasy game where blood was a game resource that did something via magic or monsters.

The Finnish sword-and-sorcery RPG Praedor uses "Blood" for the system's HP equivalent: the undead and demons don't have that, for example, so the only way to destroy them is by scoring crits. However, it's not divided into different types.

Quote from: Lord Hobie;412104There's quite a bit of popular pseudoscience in Japan which looks at blood type as an indicator of personality; not sure if you'd want to go quite this far with it, but there it is nonetheless.

Lord Hobie

Yeah, I'l use that in the same game that makes phrenology a valid science...

Quote from: RPGPundit;412148What the fuck?!

RPGPundit

...never mind.