Techs

"Just because the world got dipped in crap and hung to dry doesn't mean things have changed that much. Life in this City still depends on technology to keep everything from going full-on post-apocalypse. And that means everyone depends on me. If your blender breaks, chances are you won't see a new one at the local Night Market for weeks. Maybe months. And that's assuming you're on good terms with the local Fixer, and they bother to invite you. Meanwhile, I'm here, ready to repair your blender. And your Agent. And whatever else you got. Technology's the lifeblood of this City and me? I'm the beating heart keeping it flowing. At least in this neighborhood."
João "Torch" Barbosa alves, Owner of Torch's Total Repairs

You can't leave anything alone—if it sits near you for more than five minutes, you've disassembled it and made it into something new. You've always got at least two screwdrivers and a wrench in your pockets. Computer down? No problem. Hydrogen burner out in your Metrocar? No problem. Can't get the video to run or your interface glitching? No problem. You make your living building, fixing, and modifying—a crucial occupation in a technological world recovering from a War that broke the back of the supply chain. You can make some good bucks fixing everyday stuff, but for the serious money you need to tackle the big jobs. Illegal weapons. Illegal or stolen cybertech. Corporate espionage and counter-espionage gear for "black operations." If you're any good, you're making a lot of money. And that money goes into new gadgets, hardware, and information. Your black market work isn't just making you friends—it's also racking you up an impressive number of enemies as well—so you invest a lot in defense systems and, if really pushed to the wall, call in a few markers on a Solo or two. You've fixed up tech for everybody from black ops Corporate samurai to Ms. Zepada down the block. No one's ever come back to you with a complaint, but that might be because of the turrets guarding your front door. You're addicted to technology in all its forms and that's what makes you a Tech.

Role Ability: Maker

The Tech's Role Ability is Maker. Using the Maker Role Ability, the Tech can fix, improve, modify, make, and invent new items. Whenever a Tech increases their Maker Rank by one, they gain one rank in two different Maker Specialties of their choice, including repairing, upgrading, fabricating, and inventing.

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▶ Field Expertise ◀
Your familiarity with technology in the field makes you a valuable asset on any job, especially when something breaks down at just the wrong moment. Add your Rank in this Specialty to any Basic Tech, Cybertech, Electronics/Security Tech, Weaponstech, Land, Sea, or Air Vehicle Tech Skill Check you make for any Non-Maker Specialty purpose.
Additionally, as long as you have at least 1 Rank in this specialty, instead of attempting a lengthy full repair you can elect to instead temporarily repair your target (at the same DV of a typical repair for the item) to perfect condition as an Action (with full SP and HP, if applicable). You add your Rank in Field Expertise to this Check. This jury-rigging holds for 10 minutes for each Rank you have in this specialty, after which the item returns to the state it was in before you jury-rigged it, except that it cannot be jury-rigged again until it has been fully repaired.


▶ Upgrade Expertise ◀
Improves an item in one of the following ways. An item can only benefit from 1 upgrade granted by this specialty.

• Lower the Humanity Loss of non-borgware cyberware by 1d6 if its typical humanity loss would be 2d6 or greater.
• Increase the number slots of a type an item already has for options, attachments, Programs/Hardware, etc. by one.
• Simplify the item, halving the time it takes to make any future full repair to the item.
• Grant a typically non-concealable onehanded weapon the ability to be concealed.
• Increase an Average Quality Weapon to an Excellent Quality Weapon.
• Grant a weapon Attachment Slot to an Exotic Weapon.
• Allow an Exotic Weapon to fire one variety of Non-Basic Ammunition of its ammunition type.
• Increase an item's SP by 1, but only if it had any to begin with.
• Upgrade a vehicle with an upgrade that only requires a Nomad Role Ability Rank of 1.
• Install an upgrade invented by the Tech using Invention Expertise. Requires additional materials equal to the Price Category assigned to the item by the GM when it was invented.

To upgrade an item, you roll TECH + the TECH Skill that the item is typically repaired with + your Rank in this specialty + 1d10. The Tech must purchase materials of the same price category of the item being upgraded, which installing the upgrade consumes. The DV you roll against and the time it takes to install the upgrade is based on the price category of the item you are upgrading.
On a failed Check, halfway through the upgrade, you realize that you'll have to start again from scratch. The materials purchased to make the upgrade and the item to be upgraded are both uninjured.

It doesn't matter what it was, choomba. All that matters is what i can make it into. Imagine the possibilities!
— Eran Malour

▶ Fabrication Expertise ◀
Fabricate an existing item or one invented by the Tech using Invention Expertise from materials. To make an item, you roll TECH + the TECH Skill that the item is typically repaired with + your Rank in this specialty + 1d10. The Tech must purchase materials of one price category lower than the price category of the item being fabricated. (Except for Super Luxury items, which require materials equal to half their Price to fabricate.)
The DV you roll against and the time it takes to make the item is based on the price category of the item you are making. On a failed Check, halfway through the fabrication process, you realize that you'll have to start again from scratch. The materials purchased to make the item are uninjured.


▶ Invention Expertise ◀
Invent an upgrade to an existing item or invent an entirely new item. To invent an item/upgrade, you'll need to describe to your GM the desired function of your item/upgrade, as precisely as you can in the language of already existing technologies in the setting, making sure to include the mechanism by which your invention might accomplish its function. It is suggested that you draw up a simple schematic for illustrative purposes. Your GM and fellow Players will certainly appreciate it.
If your GM is satisfied with your explanation and is okay with it in their game, they will write how the proposed invention would operate rules-wise, being careful not to create an imbalanced item. The upgrades presented earlier in Upgrade Expertise are a good guideline for balanced Tech upgrades. Based on the item or upgrade's value if it were to be sold on the open market, the GM will set the Price Category of the item as close to other items/upgrades of a similar "power level" as possible, although the lowest category they can select is Expensive.
The time it will take to invent the item/upgrade and the DV your Character has to beat with their TECH + the TECH Skill associated with repairing the invention or the item the invention is meant to upgrade + your Rank in this specialty + 1d10.
The DV you roll against and the time it takes to make the item is based on the price category of the item you are making. On a failed Check, you realize halfway through your process that you need to go back to the drawing board.
Once invented, you (or another Tech who you show the blueprints to) can make your invented item/ upgrade real using Fabrication or Upgrade Expertise! It's worth mentioning that nobody will give your invention a second thought before you have a working prototype. Of course, that's when they'll try to steal it. Don't bother with the courts.
More than any ability in the game, this ability can result in game imbalance. Your GM might need to retroactively change the way your invention operates rules-wise (or, in extreme circumstances, even replace it with another invention of an equal price category that you collaborate on together) several times before you find a version that works well at your table and doesn't negatively impact game balance.