Unexpected Infrastructure

The hidden infrastructure of a typical building or spaceship likely contains numerous mechanical, electronic, and plumbing features concealed in walls, ceilings, and floors that are unlikely to be a part of even the most comprehensive map or room description. While modern infrastructure can usually be ignored, a crafty or panicking player might choose to attempt to make use of both the described and inferred features of a constructed environment. You should always feel comfortable explaining to a PC before they waste actions that their character doesn't think the idea is possible given the limited amount of time and resources available during an encounter.

If you're up to the challenge of adjudicating these features on the fly, you can find similar environmental effects and guidelines for environmental damage. It should probably take an entire round (or more) to complete the setup, which can give you some time to consider an appropriate reward for a PC's efforts. For example, if a PC wants to find a live power line to shock a robot, you might require a Crafting or Engineering Lore check to determine where they can find a line in the wall, an Athletics check to Force Open a panel in the wall, and an Interact action to grab the wires safely enough for the PC to Strike with them next round. Knowing it will take 4 actions with a chance of failure is usually enough to dissuade a PC from attempting that sequence of actions, but the rewards can make for a memorable story!