History Main / BiotechIsBetter

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* The Yuuzhan Vong in the ''Literature/NewJediOrder'' used nothing but organic technology, and they were shown to be devastating against the conventional fleets of the New Republic and Imperial Remnant. The first known encounter with one by [[VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic Canderous Ordo]] had him describe it as firing plasma that melted his ship's armor like wax, and then escaping at a speed that was impossible to keep up with. Three thousand years later, when the main force arrived in the galaxy, they would still have a considerable advantage.

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* ''VideoGame/{{Warframe}}'': The Technocyte Plague merges biological and mechanical systems into dangerous amalgams of twisted flesh. While the normal Infested enemies are a bit weaker than the other factions (their main advantage is [[WeHaveReserves limitless numbers]]), properly cultured and controlled, the plague can be used to create near-invincible super soldiers that can fight entire armies. [[spoiler: This is actually the origin of the warframes. The Orokin couldn't use traditional technology against the Sentients (since the Sentients could just control it), so they infested hosts with a modified Technocyte Plague, giving them skin as strong as steel and reinforced organs.]]
** On an related note the Sentients themselves are ambiguously biotech; despite appearing as machines at first glance they have gelatinous flesh and blood, and their cores are described as organs. They also have all the advantages of this trope, and are generally the one thing that really seems to be a threat to the Tenno

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* ''WebOriginal/MysteryFleshPitNationalPark'': Subverted with [[MegaCorp Anodyne]]'s [[WetwareCPU wetware computers]]. While incresibly powerful, they turned out to be AwesomeButImpractical due to both their high power requirements and the highly specialised equipment needed to maintain them, especially after the 2007 disaster.

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** At one point the Vong also run into trouble when their living armor has an ''allergic reaction'' to some pollen from a grove of Ithorian trees. It's so severe that many of the Vong troops end up either crushed or suffocated by their own armor.

* ''VideoGame/{{Warframe}}'': The Technocyte Plague merges biological and mechanical systems into dangerous amalgams of twisted flesh. While the normal Infested enemies are a bit weaker than the other factions (their main advantage is [[WeHaveReserves limitless numbers]]), properly cultured and controlled, the plague can be used to create invincible super soldiers that can fight entire armies. [[spoiler:This is the origin of the warframes. The Orokin couldn't use traditional technology against the Sentients (since the Sentients could just control it), so they infested hosts with the Technocyte Plague, giving them skin as strong as steel. Unfortunately, the process also drove the subjects uncontrollably insane. It was only the children who had survived the ''Zariman 10-0'' incident who were able to control the warframes by [[YouAreNotAlone showing them basic empathy and compassion]]. Together, they became the Tenno]].

* WebOriginal/MysteryFleshPitNationalPark: Subverted with [[MegaCorp Anodyne]]'s [[WetwareCPU wetware computers]]. While incresibly powerful, they turned out to be AwesomeButImpractical due to both their high power requirements and the highly specialised equipment needed to maintain them, especially after the 2007 disaster.

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* Like so many other sci-fi tropes, ''Webcomic/QuentynQuinnSpaceRanger'' has a rebuttal for [[http://rhjunior.com/QQSR/QQSR0000.html#Comic=76 this one]]. The strip claims that biotech has so many downsides that it's more trouble than it's worth.

* ''MagicTheGathering'' features Ravnica, a CityPlanet entirely controlled by ten 'guilds', each representing two out of the game's five colours of mana. In the case of the Simic Guild, this blends [[MightMakesRight green]] and [[ForScience blue]] mana to create {{Hybrid Monster}}s and BioAugmentation aplenty on the battlefield - and medicine and OrganicTechnology off it.

* Played with in ''Series/{{Westworld}}'': The more up-to-date Hosts use OrganicTechnology down to the bone, instead of just as a facade over a mechanical framework, but Ford claims this was because it's ''cheaper'' that way [[GoodOldWays and doesn't see it as an improvement]].

** ''Shadowrun'''s pure-science-fiction contemporary, TabletopGame/''{{Cyberpunk}}'', goes the same route of 'pricier, but you can get more of it before you cap out'. The 'cap' here being 'before you disassociate from humanity and go on a killing spree', since even if it's has kevlar and polymers lased through the flesh and bones, it's still ''your'' arm doing the punching. The bioware here also has some varied and weirdly specialized applications, from a nanobot-based auto-grooming system (alongside the more obvious HealingFactor system) to a gland that secretes organic antifreeze.

** ''Shadowrun'''s pure-science-fiction contemporary, TabletopGame/''{{Cyberpunk]]'', goes the same route of 'pricier, but you can get more of it before you cap out'. The 'cap' here being 'before you disassociate from humanity and go on a killing spree', since even if it's has kevlar and polymers lased through the flesh and bones, it's still ''your'' arm doing the punching. The bioware here also has some varied and weirdly specialized applications, from a nanobot-based auto-grooming system (alongside the more obvious HealingFactor system) to a gland that secretes organic antifreeze.

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}'', [[BioAugmentation bioware]], first introduced in the 1st edition sourcebook ''Shadowtech'', part of the core rulebook in 4th ed, is presented as being the latest and greatest thing in augmentation. In game rules it is more expensive in terms of cash than traditional [[{{Cyborg}} cyberware]] but does less damage to your [[CyberneticsEatYourSoul Essence,]] making it preferred for mages. In the EverythingIsOnline world of the latest edition, it also has the advantage of having no wireless capability, meaning it can't be bricked or worse by an enemy decker.

* ''MagicTheGathering'' features Ravnica, a CityPlanet entirely controlled by ten 'guilds', each representing two out of the game's five colours of mana. In the case of the Simic Guild, this blends [[MightMakesRight green]] and [[ForScience blue]] mana to create {{Mix And Match Monster}}s and BioAugmentation aplenty on the battlefield - and medicine and OrganicTechnology off it.

* ''MagicTheGathering'' features Ravnica, a CityPlanet entirely controlled by ten 'guilds', each representing two out of the game's five colours of mana. In the case of the Simic Guild, this blends [[MightMakesRight green]] and [[ForScience blue]] mana to create MixAndMatchMonsters and BioAugmentation aplenty on the battlefield - and medicine and OrganicTechnology off it.

* In ''VideoGames/{{Colobot}}'', at the later stages of the game you finally start finding nests of giant ants you were encountering earlier. In these nests, you can find what can be best described as green, gooey pods that spawn pieces of organic goo. One of the missions concentrates on acquiring one of such pieces and bringing it back to the base, where you can examine it and use it to unlock a new type of robots: robots walking on ant-like legs (which quite literally look like half-robots, half-ants). They are faster and more capable of getting past steep hills than robots driving on wheels or on caterpillar tracks.

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}'', [[BioAugmentation bioware]], first introduced in the 1st edition sourcebook ''Shadowtech'', part of the core rulebook in 4th ed, is presented as being the latest and greatest thing in augmentation. In game rules it is more expensive in terms of cash than traditional [[HollywoodCyborg cyberware]] but does less damage to your [[CyberneticsEatYourSoul Essence,]] making it preferred for mages. In the EverythingIsOnline world of the latest edition, it also has the advantage of having no wireless capability, meaning it can't be bricked or worse by an enemy decker.

Contrast with its near-mirror twin, ArtificialLimbsAreStonger.

* In Scott Westerfeld's ''Literature/{{Leviathan}}'' series the Darwinists' "fabricated beasts" often seem to have the advantage over the Clankers' machines. I couple times the titular living airship takes on Clanker planes and zeppelins two-to-one and wins. Of course, it's packed with flechette bats and strafing hawks that can ZergRush the Clankers and breed reinforcements for the next battle.

* The Cylons in ''Series/BattlestarGalacticaReimagined'' use a lot of biotech and they appear to be ''much'' more advanced than the humans.

* Played with in ''TabletopGame/EclipsePhase'', many of the most powerful morphs are synthetic, and cheaper (in credits, but not build points) than equally strong biomorphs. But biomorphs are easier for transhuman Egos to adjust to and many polities discriminate against synthmorphs.

* Like so many other sci-fi tropes, ''Webcomic/QuentynQuinnSpaceRanger'' has a rebuttal for [[http://rhjunior.com/QQSR/QQSR0000.html#Comic=76 this one]].

* ''TabletopGame/TrinityUniverse'': zig-zagged on ''Trinity'' with the availability of many bio-tech devices that can replicate modern appliances, and some of the most sophisticated devices of the setting (like the jump ships) using it severely. On one hand, they can replicate the appliances' work just as well and Psions can bond with them and get them to work a bit better. On the other hand, they have higher maintenance, are much harder to fix, people are ''not'" comfortable using them (the fluff explicitly says that many biotech devices are sold with normal-looking exterior shells), computers are still better as hard tech, and if Psions get attuned to too many biotech devices, they develop junkie-like symptoms.

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* In ''WesternAnimation/GIJoeTheMovie'', the denizens of Cobra-La are the original dominant species of Earth and exclusively use biotech. Their technology and wildlife are constantly shown to overpower even the most advanced weaponry and vehicles the Joes have to fight back with. They even have a biotech equivalent of [=WMDs=] complete with rockets.

* The Yuuzhan Vong in the ''StarWarsExpandedUniverse'' used nothing but organic technology, and they were shown to be devastating against the conventional fleets of the New Republic and Imperial Remnant. The first known encounter with one by [[VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic Canderous Ordo]] had him describe it as firing plasma that melted his ship's armor like wax, and then escaping at a speed that was impossible to keep up with. Three thousand years later, when the main force arrived in the galaxy, they would still have a considerable advantage.