HTMLThe following gadgets are universal and can apply to weapons found in any era, provided all gadget-specific restrictions are observed.
Alternate Weapon
Some weapons are capable of serving multiple purposes by integrating two types of weapon into one. This can encompass everything from having a bayonet installed on a rifle to allowing a weapon to switch between two different energy types at any given time. When dealing with firearms and other ranged weapons, this usually involves only mixing like types; for example, energy weapons are only combined with energy weapons, and ballistic weapons are only combined with ballistic weapons. This is not a hard-and-fast limitation but rather a suggestion based on the logistics of designing such a weapon. When selecting the alternate weapon gadget, choose a second weapon. That weapon is integrated into the base weapon and can be used at any time. Additionally, you must choose whether or not the alternate weapon may be physically separated from the base weapon or not at the time of purchase. This gadget may be selected multiple times, each time adding a single additional weapon to the base model.
Restrictions: The character must also purchase the weapon
to be integrated separately from the primary weapon, before the gadget modification is made.
Purchase DC Modifier: +4.
Autofire Module
Some firearms and energy weapons are capable of firing in single shot or semiautomatic forms only. The autofire module gadget allows these weapons to be fired on autofire.
Restrictions: Ranged weapon without autofire only.
Purchase DC Modifier: +2.
Autoloader Module
Many weapons rely on box magazines or power packs to function. The autoloader gadget facilitates quick reloading. This may come in the form of an integrated power pack alternator, or in spring-mounted magazine loaders worn on the wrist of the user. Regardless of their location on the owner's body or the form that the autoloader takes, a weapon with the autoloader module gadget is always automatically reloaded as a free action as soon as the previous magazine or power pack is expended. This module cannot be transferred from one weapon to another, even those of similar types, due to the fact that each autoloader module is keyed to the individual weapon for which it was designed.
Restrictions: Ranged weapons using box magazines or power
packs only.
Purchase DC Modifier: +3.
Booby Trapped
Those characters with a more paranoid outlook on life may consider the booby trapped gadget for protecting their personal belongings. Any weapon with this gadget is designed to function properly only for the owner or owners of the weapon, or for a particular group of characters. If an unauthorised character picks up or attempts to use the weapon, a special trap is immediately triggered. After a trap is triggered, only an authorised user can reset the weapon to its normal state. When selecting the booby trap gadget, the character must designate a single person or a particular group that can use the weapon safely without triggering the trap. Additionally, the character must select a single trap from the list below.
Barbs: The weapon rapidly projects spikes or blades from its grip, dealing 1d6 points of damage to the user each round the weapon is held.
Electric Shock: Power cells in the weapon's grip discharge and deal 1d6 points of electricity damage to the user.
Stun Bolt: A stun shock (Fortitude save DC 15) is discharged from a special nozzle built into the weapon. See the stun module gadget for more information on the effects of stun shocks.
Trigger Integrated Weapon: An integrated weapon is triggered and targets the unauthorised user. This trap requires that the weapon make use of the alternate weapon gadget (see above) and is typically used to trigger an explosive device.
Restrictions: None.
Purchase DC Modifier: +6.
Collapsible
In situations that call for stealth and deception, it is of great value to be able to separate an item into its parts and transport them in their broken down state. A weapon that makes use of the collapsible gadget is easily disassembled and reassembled at a moment's notice. Breaking down a weapon into its individual parts requires a full-round action, while reassembling them in the correct order requires another full-round action. Obviously, the weapons must be fully assembled to be used. In its disassembled state, a weapon is not easily identified; a Knowledge (technology) check (DC 17) is required to identify a collapsed weapon for what it really is.
Restrictions: None.
Purchase DC Modifier: +2.
Compact
By eliminating wasted space and using smaller components, some engineers are capable of producing weapons far smaller than their standard counterparts. Any weapon that makes use of the compact gadget is one size smaller than normal, to a minimum size of Diminutive.
This gadget can only be added to ranged weapons, as most melee weapons rely on size and mass to deliver damage.
Restrictions: Ranged weapons only.
Purchase DC Modifier: +2.
Expanded Magazine
Some weapon engineers recognise that stopping to reload a weapon in combat is a dangerous and potentially life-threatening manoeuvre. Taking steps to reduce the amount of time required to keep the weapon full, these engineers have increased the ammunition capacity of the weapon to reduce the frequency with which it must be reloaded. Any weapon with the expanded magazine gadget doubles its normal magazine capacity. This gadget may only be taken once per weapon.
Restrictions: Ranged weapons only.
Purchase DC Modifier: +2.
Genetic Tags
Some law enforcement agencies and military units go out of their way to track the exact actions of their members by placing an identifying marker on any ammunition expended. This marker may come in the form of a serial number stamped on a weapon's casing, or may be as subtle as a chemical compound sprayed on the outside of the ammunition it leaves the weapon's chamber. Regardless of form, each round of ammunition that is fired from the weapon bears a unique tag that corresponds to the genetic code of the person to whom the weapon is assigned, immediately identifying the attacker to any forensic analysis.
Restrictions: Ranged ballistic weapons only.
Purchase DC Modifier: +2.
Integrated Equipment
A particular piece of non-weapon equipment has been integrated into the weapon and can be used by the weapon's bearer at any time. This gadget is often used to give ranged weapons features like glow-lamps or flares, though it is not limited to those applications. Some weapons may use the integrated equipment gadget to incorporate a small computer or sensor module, reducing the amount of equipment the character has to carry.
When selecting the integrated equipment gadget, choose a piece of equipment. That equipment is integrated into the base weapon and can be used at any time. Additionally, you must choose whether or not the equipment may be physically separated from the base weapon or not at the time of purchase. This gadget may be selected multiple times, each time adding a single additional piece of equipment to the base model.
Restrictions: The character must also purchase the piece
of equipment to be integrated separately from the weapon, before the gadget modification is
made.
Purchase DC Modifier: +1.
Miniaturised
By eliminating wasted space and using microscopic components, some engineers are capable of producing weapons vastly smaller than normal. Any weapon that makes use of the miniaturised gadget is two size categories smaller than normal, to a minimum size of Diminutive.
A weapon to which the miniaturised gadget has been added cannot fire standard ammunition. It must fire appropriate ammunition modified by the miniaturised universal equipment gadget.
This gadget can only be added to ranged weapons, as most melee weapons rely on size and mass to deliver damage.
Restrictions: Ranged weapons only.
Purchase DC Modifier: +5.
Scope, Range finding Laser
One of the most valuable additions to any weapon is a scope, allowing the bearer to target opponents farther away than normal. What makes the range finding laser scope gadget so valuable is that it serves two purposes. First, a weapon with this gadget increases its range increment by one-half (multiply by 1.5). Additionally, the scope also sends out an invisible laser that can determine the exact range to a target, and then relay that information via a computer link. If that information is relayed to another weapon with the range finding laser scope gadget targeting the same character or object, the second attacker gains a +1 equipment bonus on his first attack roll against the target. This allows multiple characters with range finding laser scope gadgets to triangulate the exact position of a target and ensures greater accuracy.
Restrictions: Ranged weapons only.
Purchase DC Modifier: +1.
Sensor Baffling
From simple metal detectors to advanced x-ray scanners, there's a way to detect every weapon. As the technology level increases, so does the accuracy of weapons sensing devices. The ability to confuse these sensors can be invaluable, especially when smuggling weapons past security. Any weapon with the sensor baffling gadget grants a +4 bonus on any checks made to conceal the weapon from sensors or other detection devices.
Restrictions: None.
Purchase DC Modifier: +2.
Spring-Loaded
Some weapons are designed to be concealed from sight and then quickly drawn into the hand at a moment's notice. The spring-loaded gadget ensures that small weapons can remain hidden under layers of clothes or armour and still be called to action at any time. The bearer of a weapon with this gadget automatically gains the benefits of the Quick Draw feat with this weapon only, even if the weapon is hidden from sight on that character's person.
Restrictions: Weapons of size Small or smaller only.
Purchase DC Modifier: +2
Stun Module
One advantage of energy weapons over their ballistic and physical counterparts is that they are capable of altering their own output on the fly. With the stun module gadget, this means that an energy weapon can be used to apply nonlethal force. The stun module is an alternate firing mode; switching to or from stun mode is a free action (just like changing a weapon's rate of fire). Whenever a character fires a weapon set to stun and successfully hits the target, the target must make a Fortitude save (DC determined by cost of the gadget) or be stunned for 1d4 rounds.
Restrictions: Energy weapons only.
Purchase DC Modifier: +2 (Fort DC 12); +4 (Fort DC 15); +6 (Fort DC 18).
Techno-Organic Makeup
Though the technology of Earth is based on electronics and mechanics, some alien cultures may have developed technology based on living organisms working in harmony for an intended purpose. Additionally, advanced civilisations may make use of certain biological forms of technology integrated with their own mechanical devices to form a techno-organic hybrid capable of performing certain tasks with increased efficiency.
A weapon with the techno-organic makeup gadget is composed of living tissue or a biological/mechanical hybrid material. Unlike normal weapons, the weapon with this gadget heals itself at a rate of one hit point per hour when damaged. Additionally, weapons with this gadget are susceptible to diseases and poisons specifically designed to target techno-organic material.
Restrictions: None.
Purchase DC Modifier: +2.
Variable Ammunition
Firearms typically draw their ammunition from a single source and do so until they are reloaded with a fresh magazine. The variable ammunition gadget changes this; it allows the user to load an additional type of ammunition. This essentially doubles the ammunition capacity of the weapon and allows the user to switch between the two different types of ammunition as a free action. This gadget may be selected multiple times, each time adding a single additional magazine capacity for a different type of ammunition.
Restrictions: Ranged ballistic weapons only. Purchase DC Modifier: +4.
Variable Charge
As with the stun module gadget, the variable charge gadget takes advantage of an energy weapon's ability to modify the damage caused by its own shots. This gadget gives the user the ability to "power up" his or her shots by focusing more energy into a single blast. A weapon with the variable charge gadget may be primed as an attack action, increasing the damage of its next shot by +1 die. For example, a weapon that normally deals 2d6 points of damage deals 3d6 points of damage after being primed for one round. A weapon may be primed for up to three rounds. If primed for more than three rounds, it becomes unstable; on the fourth round the weapon must be fired or else it explodes and deals the fully charged damage (normal weapon damage, +4 dice) to the user. When this occurs, the weapon is completely destroyed.
Restrictions: Ranged energy weapons only.
Purchase DC Modifier: +6.
Voice Recognition System
A countermeasure commonly built into weapons is the voice recognition system gadget. It requires any user to speak a command word to unlock the weapon before it can be used. Some weapons couple the voice recognition system with the booby trap gadget to require a voice command to reset the weapon to its previous state. Any weapon with the voice recognition system gadget will not fire or activate unless the owner (or designated group) gives the command word to the weapon.
Restrictions: None.
Purchase DC Modifier: +1.
