Tech Gear
Source Tech Core pg. 87
For everyone, from a technomancer wanting better protection from stray bullets to a mechanic chasing an even bigger gun for their turret, new developments in armor, weapons, and other equipment are the first place to look to enhance a character's capabilities. Any spacefarer knows that the gear they carry is a critical part of being prepared for anything, and artisans and corporations alike are always creating innovative ways to cater to them.
This chapter presents a variety of new equipment to supplement the options provided in Chapter 6: Equipment of Starfinder Player Core. These new high-tech items should appeal to any character with an interest in expanding their toolkit or wardrobe with new capabilities. Rules for improving and using items are here
This chapter presents a variety of new equipment to supplement the options provided in Chapter 6: Equipment of Starfinder Player Core. These new high-tech items should appeal to any character with an interest in expanding their toolkit or wardrobe with new capabilities. Rules for improving and using items are here
Armor
Source Tech Core pg. 88
In the heat of battle, quality armor can be the difference between life or death. With technological advancement matching the rising tensions between empires, eldritch threats hatching from planets, and cloak-and-dagger politics everywhere, soldiers, explorers, pirates, and adventurers of all kinds need cutting-edge protection. The options presented here represent the bleeding edge of defensive technology across the Pact Worlds and the Vast, offering intrepid spacefarers the best metals, polymers, or other materials to put between themselves and endless dangers.
High-grade Armor
Source Tech Core pg. 88
Some especially advanced or expensive armor doesn't exist at lower grades and must be initially purchased or crafted at a higher grade. The benefits of such armor's starting grade, such as an increased AC bonus and the resilient trait, is included in its listed statistics and doesn't need to be applied. When improving high-grade armor past its starting grade using the Armor Improvements table, subtract the adjustments listed in the table for its starting grade from those for the new grade; for example, elite aeon guard battle dress has room for one upgrade, rather than two.
Many types of high-grade armor have preinstalled armor upgrades built into their chassis, as listed in their descriptions. Such upgrades don't count against the number of upgrades that can be installed in the armor and can't be removed, but they can be improved to higher grades of the same upgrade.
Many types of high-grade armor have preinstalled armor upgrades built into their chassis, as listed in their descriptions. Such upgrades don't count against the number of upgrades that can be installed in the armor and can't be removed, but they can be improved to higher grades of the same upgrade.
Shields
Source Tech Core pg. 92
The following new shields use cutting-edge technology to protect users.
Specific Shields
Source Tech Core pg. 92
These especially high-tech shields have unique abilities that can't be fully encompassed by their traits. They can be improved like a normal shield using the Shield Improvements table but when doing so, subtract the adjustments listed in the table for its starting grade from those for the new grade. For example, a superior firewall projector has 22 additional Hit Points, not 68. Some specific shields also gain additional benefits at certain grades, as listed in their stat blocks.
Weapons
Source Tech Core pg. 94
Some of the entries in this chapter have a grade above commercial and item level above 0. This allows you to upgrade lower-or similar-grade equipment into these special variant weapons by using the difference in price to calculate how much you need to spend to upgrade your weapon. You can also upgrade these weapons into higher-grade weapons by paying the upgrade price listed in the Weapon Improvements table. For example, you can upgrade an advanced knife into a blast knife for 14,000 credits or upgrade a superior knife into a blast knife for 5,000 credits. You can later upgrade that into an elite blast knife for an additional 10,000 credits, gaining a higher item level, additional upgrade slot, and bonus damage die, as normal for an elite weapon.
These variant weapons are always considered to have the same name as the weapon listed in their grade entries. So, you can still use a void cutlass for feats that require you to wield a phase cutlass. You can share proficiencies if you have a feat or feature that specifically grants you proficiency in that weapon, including those that list multiple weapons like ancestry feats. However, variant weapons can’t be upgraded into other variant weapons even if they share the same listed weapon in their grade entry. So, a knuckle sheller can’t be upgraded into a magnet-directed battleglove.
These variant weapons are always considered to have the same name as the weapon listed in their grade entries. So, you can still use a void cutlass for feats that require you to wield a phase cutlass. You can share proficiencies if you have a feat or feature that specifically grants you proficiency in that weapon, including those that list multiple weapons like ancestry feats. However, variant weapons can’t be upgraded into other variant weapons even if they share the same listed weapon in their grade entry. So, a knuckle sheller can’t be upgraded into a magnet-directed battleglove.
Weapon Upgrades
Source Tech Core pg. 108
Even the most mundane weapon can be brought to life by a few choice weapon upgrades, and they can elevate an already-powerful armament into something truly exceptional.
Tech Ammunition
Source Tech Core pg. 110
These alternate ammunition types function as precious ammunition, except that they can’t be used to construct full weapons or grenades. As with precious ammunition, the listed price is for 10 projectiles.