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Technology
Technology in Arcanum plays the antagonist to
the ways of magick. Because technology utilizes the laws of
nature, and does not bend them, it lends itself to common use
and widespread popularity. There is no mystery in the spark
between two pieces of flint, and even advanced technology is
just an extension of these basic principles, from a simple
Skeleton Key to the complex Tesla Rod or the Mechanized
Arachnid. Consequently, technology has become quite popular to
the shorter-lived species of Arcanum, such as humans and orcs,
who lack the longevity and patience to practice the magickal
arts for decades on end. The level of technology in Arcanum is
what you would find at the turn of the 19th century. Steam
engines, revolvers and muskets are common in the world of
Arcanum. But the player will be able to find and create
extraordinary pieces of technology such as fully automatic
mechanized guns, mechanical creatures, and stat boosting
therapeutics. There are literally dozens of technological
items to be discovered in this world. There are eight
disciplines of technology, and each discipline will have seven
degrees within it. These 56 technological degress can be
obtained by spending character points. The eight technological
disciplines are:
Please
note: That these Schematics are provided to the Student
automatically as he or she attains a new Degree. A student may also
find additional Schematics in his or her travels, of course, and with
sufficient expertise could make a variety of unique devices which have
never been seen before, even by the professors of the Polytechnic. It
is precisely this sort of exploration, experimentation and discovery
which the Institute hopes to encourage by offering instruction of this
sort by mail.
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Novice |
Assistant |
Associate |
Technician |
Engineer |
Professor |
Doctorate |
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Herbology |
Heal Lite |
Fatigue Restorer |
Poison Cure |
Fatigue Limiter |
Accelerate Healing |
Wonder Drug |
Cure All |
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Chemistry |
Strong Poison |
Charges |
Animal Scent |
Corrosive Acid |
Hallucinite |
Paralyzer |
Anaesthisizer |
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Electrical |
Electric Light |
Charged Ring |
Flow Specktrometer |
Shocking Staff |
Chapeau of Magnetic Inversion |
Healing Jacket |
Tesla Rod |
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Explosives |
Molitov Cocktail |
Flash Grenade |
Smoke Grenade |
Stun Grenade |
Explosive Grenade |
Fire Obstruction |
Dynamite |
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Gun Smithy |
Flintlock Pistol |
Fine Revolver |
Repeater Rifle |
Hushed Revolver |
Looking-Glass Rifle |
Hand Cannon |
Elephant Gun |
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Mechanical |
Spike Trap |
Trap Springer |
Auto Skeleton Key |
Eye Gear |
Bear Trap |
Clockwork Decoy |
Mechanized Arachnid |
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Smithy |
Pure Ore |
Balanced Sword |
Ultralite Axe |
Dwarven Gauntlets |
Helmet of Vision |
Ultralite Chainmail |
Elite Plate Mail |
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Therapeutics |
Elixir of Persuasion |
Elixir of Physical Prowess |
Liquid of Awareness |
Tonic of Increased Reflexes |
Mind Marvel |
Energizer |
Revitalizer |
Herbology
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Heal
Lite
Heal
wounds quickly and easily! Taking full advantage of the natural
healing properties of Ginka Root and Kadura Stem, this elixir
restores one's health and biological energies without rest or
prolonged hospitalization.
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Fatigue
Restorer
Advances
in the science of herbology have now made it possible to restore
vim and vigour in no time at all. By combining the leaves of the
cocca and tobacco plants, an elixir is produced with regenerative
powers superior to those of any spell or incantation of magick.
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Poison
Cure
The
restorative qualities of Kadura Stem are used once again, this
time in this fast-acting cure for poison. A mixture that includes
the very venom that it counteracts, this liquid is a must-have for
any technologist adventurer who finds himself in quick need of an
antidote! And tasteless as well! Perfect with morning tea!
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Fatigue
Limiter
Tired
of running out of energy just before that crucial battle? Put your
worries behind you once and for all! By combining the invigorating
Fatigue Restorer and the Witchbane, one can create an unrivaled
serum to expend energy more efficiently! You'll serve the killing
blow with as much ease as your first strike! Incredible!
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Accelerate
Healing
The
body is an incredible machine, with its own internal healing
mechanisms. Unfortunately, one rarely finds himself with the time
to let nature do her work. Now, by mixing Heal Lite and the cocca
leaf, you can give her a little push. See the surprise on your
enemy's face as you laugh at what normally would have been a
disembowelment!
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Wonder
Drug
In
this new world of fast-talking men and cure-alls, one often finds
himself with a product that touts miracles and does nothing of the
sort. Not so with the Wonder Drug! Through combining the Heal
Accelerator, and Big Chief Snake Oil, a regenerative product is
created that restores both your health and your energy!
Guaranteed!
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Cure
All
Rarely
do advances in science change the way we look at things forever.
The Cure All is just one of those things. By taking the dependable
Wonder Drug, and then adding one more part Big Chief Snake Oil, an
amazing remedy is born in the form of the Cure All. All energy and
health is revived! Poisons are cured! Impossible, but true!
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Chemistry
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Strong
Poison
Chemistry
is the basis for all biology, and the newest experiments have
brought us this efficient liquid poison. Through combining common
household items like Monroe's Cleaner and Varham's Aqua Vitae,
even the most untested scientist can bring forth a poison to
handle any infestation, orcish or otherwise.
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Charges
Extensive
research into the chemical properties of liquids and metals has
produced this wonder of the technological age. A charged
electrolyte solution housed in a metal casing allows even the most
casual user the advantages of a mobile power source.
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Animal
Scent
Being
mauled by wild beasts is the wish of no traveler who finds himself
in the unmapped regions beyond civilization. One application of
the astonishing Animal Scent, a mixture of Bromide and Morning
Star Perfume, allows an individual to walk fearlessly through the
most fearsome denizens of the forest! [Use in springtime not
recommended.]
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Corrosive
Acid
The
itinerant scientician is often in need of direct solutions to
complex problems. Enter the Corrosive Acid. This cantankerous
compound, made from Pete's Carbolic Acid and Sulphur Pills,
immediately begins to corrode whatever it touches. Ponder for just
a few moments, and the endless applications for this product
become apparent!
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Hallucinite
The
mysteries of the brain are revealed through Hallucinite, an
amazing product made from the mixture of Mushrooms and Crane's
Cough Cure. When used on any foe, Hallucinite creates the most
fantastic and frightening illusions, all within your opponents
very mind! Be a neurological nemesis with this phlogistic
phenomenon!
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Paralyzer
Oftentimes,
death need not be the only solution, and the Paralyzer was made
with this in mind! A combination of the Mushrooms and the Varham's
Aqua Vitae, this lethal liquid will leave their bodies completely
disabled while you choose their fate. Be merciful, or save them
for torture! Either way, you've won the day!
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Anaesthisizer
Wondering
how to get by that particularly vigilant sentry? We have the
answer for you! By combining Hallucinite and Bromide, the guileful
technologist can create the Anaesthisizer! Just one dose of this
enigmatic elixir will have them drowsing for days! Remarkable!
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Electrical
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Electric
Light
Nature's
most awesome force is tamed in this wonderful little device,
composed of merely a small filament and a common household
lantern. By the trapping of electrical flows in the filament, a
person can carry a light into the darkest places without the
discomfort usually produced by smoking, sputtering torches.
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Charged
Ring
Tests
have shown the advantageous effects of electricity on the human
nervous system, and this wonder of the scientific realm is a
testament to that fact. Made of treated brass and an electrical
capacitor, this charged ring gives the wearer increased reflexive
performance and power.
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Flow
Specktrometer
Research
has found the undeniable connection between electricity magick,
the result being the fabulous Flow Specktrometer! The combination
of a Compass and Small Electrical Parts produces a device
sensitive to even the slightest disturbance caused by the flows of
magick, thereby averting a dark demise by the devious mage or
wizard!
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Shocking
Staff
With
technology, even the plainest items are transformed into
awe-inspiring items of mayhem! By attaching a large electrical
capacitor to any common staff, the powers of the Shocking Staff
are brought to bear. One touch of this technological wonder
unleashes a nightmarish electrical maelstrom!
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Chapeau
of Magnetic Inversion
Once
was the time warriors had only to contend with a well-swung sword,
but now a single bullet can overwhelm the most fearsome combatant.
Worry no more! By combining a Top Hat and an Electrical Coil, the
Chapeau of Magnetic Inversion creates a strong magnetic field!
Avert bullets and arrows with ease!
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Healing
Jacket
Need
that extra bit of vim and verve while out adventuring? Look no
further than the Healing Jacket! Similar to the Charged Ring, this
wonderful piece of technology utilizes the body's own electrical
impulses to achieve an increased rate of healing and regeneration!
And stylish as well!
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Tesla
Rod
For
years men have marveled at the power of the lightning storm, and
the latest research has bridled that power into the Tesla Rod.
This technically advanced cousin of the Shocking Staff does one
better by hurling raw bolts of energy at unsuspecting opponents!
Searing burns and paralyzations are only the beginning!
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Explosives
Molitov
Cocktail
Sick
and tired of the same old barroom brawl? Looking to spice up your
dreary duels? Well, the Molitov Cocktail is just the ticket! Made
by combining Fuel and a common rag, this hot little number makes
any situation into an explosive extravaganza! Try it today!
Flash
Grenade
Oftentimes
it is surprise, and not strength, that wins the day. This point is
illustrated perfectly in the new Flash Grenade! Both lightweight
and versatile, this remarkable gadget uses the explosive
properties of Magnesium to blind and muddle opponents! Strike as
they cower in fear and confusion!
Smoke
Grenade
The
dependable Smoke Grenade, created from Fertilizer and a Sugar,
causes muddle and mayhem when thrown among opponents! Upon
detonation, this wonderful device creates a billowing cloud of
smoke that befuddles enemies, leaving you with the freedom to
choose a surprise attack or a quick getaway!
Stun
Grenade
Looking
for that all-important advantage before going into battle? Look no
more! By combining Stearic Acid and and Saltpeter, the Stun
Grenade can give you the edge that you need! Detonation of this
versatile piece of technology stuns your enemies, leaving you the
opportunity to casually run them through! Unbelievable!
Explosive
Grenade
Advanced
research has revealed the violent reactivity of TNT, and the
Explosive Grenade takes full advantage of those properties. By
combining Black Powder and a Metal Can, the ingenuous technologist
can create a weapon of unmatched destructive power! One throw and
you'll watch the bodies pile up like cordwood!
Fire
Obstruction
The
latest developments in the Explosives discipline have brought to
us the amazing Fire Obstruction! A simple mixture of Liquid Soap
and Fuel, the Fire Obstruction throws up a blazing wall of flame
between you and your foes, keeping them at bay while you choose
the weapon with which to dispatch of them!
Dynamite
Like
the Explosive Grenade, this new and exciting invention uses the
reactive properties of TNT. Dynamite, the product of Nitroglycerin
and Saltpeter, can be attached to doors and containers of all
kinds. Imagine the surprised thief who opens your boudoir and
finds that he's strangely missing his hand! Brilliant!
Gun
Smithy
Crude
Flintlock Pistol
A
technologist often needs to use whatever is at hand. By combining
a Broken Flitlock Pistol and a Small Metal Tube, a wily
technologist can create the Crude Flintlock Pistol! Perfect when
there's just nothing else around!
Fine
Revolver
Metallurgical
advances have aided the discipline of gunsmithing in recent years,
this well-balanced and elegant pistol has emerged as the first
choice of scienticians and layman the world over. With an improved
firing mechanism and chamber, this weapon has been shown to
perform consistently and with greater magickal resistance.
Repeater
Rifle
The
successful marriage of the rifle and the pistol culminates in the
Repeater Rifle. With the stability of a longer stock, but the
quick firing mechanism of a pistol, this weapon is perfect for
both professional and casual use. And with increased range, the
user is insured greater performance in battling magickal beasts
and hooligans.
Hushed
Revolver
For
years, technologists were forced to choose between superior
firepower and stealth. No more! By combining the Fine Pistol and
an Engine Muffler, the Hushed Pistol offers the versatility of a
firearm without sacrificing the element of surprise! Silence is
golden, and now it's fatal as well!
Looking-Glass
Rifle
Marksmen
and assassins have never been happier! By combining a Marksman's
Rifle and a common telescope, the Looking Glass Rifle gives its
user unparalleled range and accuracy! They'll be running for the
hills as you pick them off from a distance like ducks in a pond!
Hand
Cannon
Need
some real firepower, but lacking the space in your carpetbag? The
Hand Cannon is just what you're looking for! By combining the
Clarington Rifle and the Fine Flintlock Pistol, you've got a full
arsenal you can hold in one hand! Enjoy your evening pipe while
your enemies fall like tenpins! Absolutely Fantastic!
Elephant
Gun
There
are situations that arise when the only answer is power, and lots
of it. The Elephant Gun was made specifically with those kinds of
situations in mind. Through combining a big pipe with a Hunting
Rifle, a weapon is created with enough power to stop a stampeding
pachyderm, as well as various species of orc and ogre!
Mechanical
Spike
Trap
Sure
to stop the most ferocious and ill-mannered adversaries, this
simple device is perfect for even the most novice of mechanics.
Utilization of the most basic physical forces ensure that the
spring drives the spike through almost anything that steps on
it-the possibilities for its use are endless and exciting!
Trap
Springer
Have
you been the victim of a deviously placed trap? Missing fingers,
toes or various other limbs as proof of this fact? Worry no more!
The Trap Springer, made from a Metal Casing and Small Springs, is
placed upon any questionable door or container, springing
mechanical traps while the cautious gent watches from a safe
distance!
Auto
Skeleton Key
The
secrets of the locksmith are laid bare when one uses the Auto
Skeleton Key. Built to the general specifications of most known
lock mechanisms, this simple tool increases the chances of opening
almost any conventional lock. [We understand the implications of
such a device, and expect both sound judgment and discernment in
its use.]
Eye
Gear
Eyesight
not so good? Losing those important battles because you just
didn't see the attack coming? Then the Eye Gear is perfect for
you! Made from Pocket Watch Parts and regular eyeglasses, the Eye
Gear affords you increased visual perception, both during the day
and at night! Never again suffer the vagaries of an ocular
handicap!
Bear
Trap
Immobilizing
your quarry is the key to a successful hunt. The Bear Trap, made
from the unification of a Metal Clamp and a Large Spring, does
just that and more! Not only does this amazing device hold your
prey, but it also does a considerable amount of damage while doing
so! Remarkable!
Clockwork
Decoy
The
trademark of the modern technologist is ingenuity, a fact clearly
established with the invention of the Clockwork Decoy. This
mechanical wonder is equipped with a powerful spring mechanism,
and is perfect for creating diversions and confounding the most
dangerous foes! Brain them at your leisure while their attentions
are turned!
Mechanized
Arachnid
This
wonder of the new scientific age is assembled from an hydraulic
assemblage of mechanical parts driven by a miniature steam powered
assembly, and controlled by an amazing clockwork mechanism. Also
equipped with large extendable claws to aid in subduing any
opponents, it folds into a small compact shape for ease of
transportation.
Smithy
Pure
Ore
Smelting
techniques have improved so vastly in the last century that it is
possible to create an ore so pure that use of any other would be a
travesty and a disgrace to the Smithy discipline. Such are the
properties of Pure Ore, and amalgam of iron and steel that allows
both increased strength and lightness.
Balanced
Sword
Taking
full advantage of the metallurgical properties of Pure Ore, the
Sword of Balance offers deadly speed and increased accuracy in
battle, as well as the comfort of a finely made hilt. You're
guaranteed to walk off the battlefield while your opponents stand
in awe of your weaponry, nursing their wounds or lamenting their
disfigurements.
Ultralite
Axe
Dwarven
technologists often supply us with the most innovative and useful
items. The Ultralite Axe is no exception. Through combining
Dwarven Ore and a common Oak Axe Handle, an axe is created with
only half the weight of a common axe! Maimings and decapitations
have never been easier!
Dwarven
Gauntlets
Again,
the Dwarven mind brings to us a technological device without
equal! Dwarven Gauntlets, the product of Sheet Metal and Leather
Gloves, offer their wearer increased hand-to-hand power when it's
needed! When the old, trusty sword finally breaks, your Dwarven
Gauntlets are there to win the day!
Helmet
of Vision
Have
dark dungeons been your demise? Been ambushed in a foggy forest?
Well, those days are over! The Helmet of Vision, made by combining
a Finely Made Helmet and Leather Straps, gives you unequaled and,
more importantly, unobstructed vision when the situation arises!
Ultralite
Chainmail
Chainmail
has always been the choice of the selective, mobile adventurer.
Now, with Ultralite Chainmail, made from a Spool of Heavy Wire and
Leather Straps, that same adventurer can go into battle with the
same protection but half the weight! After skewering your slower
opponents, you'll never wear anything else!
Elite
Plate Mail
The
secrets of the Dwarven armorers have been revealed! Elite Plate
Mail, a product of Dwarven Sheet Metal and Leather Armor, affords
its wearer unrivaled bodily protection, while also allowing him to
move about with less noise and ruckus than standard Plate. You've
never been safer, or more deadly!
Therapeutics
Elixir
of Persuasion
Is
the art of argument not your strong point? Having trouble
convincing even the dullest of individuals that the sky is blue?
Then the Potion of Persuasion is for you! By mixing equal parts of
Mercury, and Dr. Rose's Migraine Cure, you’ll be able to talk
circles around the most sharp-witted scholar! Fantastic!
Elixir
of Physical Prowess
Bodily
strength is absolutely essential to successful performance in many
endeavors, and now, with the aid of this amazing elixir, you can
be assured of increased strength and vigour at any time! By mixing
Spirit of Camphor and Famous Blood Pills, one swallow of this
elixir makes you a muscle-bound marvel!
Liquid
of Awareness
Ever
been caught in a particularly nasty dungeon, and your torch goes
out? What to do? Now, with the Liquid of Awareness, made from
Migraine Cure and Doolittle's Glyceride you never need worry
again! Just one dose of this elixir, and you'll have the increased
visual acuity necessary to get you through those sticky
situations!
Tonic
of Increased Reflexes
Ever
been undone due to a slow set of reflexes? Those days are now
behind you! Any competent technologist, by combining Tincture of
Arnica and Rheumatism Cure, can produce the incomparable Tonic of
Increased Reflexes! You'll be cleaning your sword before they even
know they've been dismembered!
Mind
Marvel
After
dicovering the Serum of Superior Intellect, scientists took the
next step to create the amazing Mind Marvel! A product of Nerve
Pills and the Serum of Superior Intellect, this cerebral serum
increases the brain's performance, allowing greater mental feats,
increased mental stamina, and better perception when the need
arises.
Energizer
Is
the mind willing, but the flesh weak? Find yourself lacking the
strength and stamina to finish that last leg of the journey? Then
look no further than the Energizer! By combining Melton's Quinine
and the Potion of Physical Prowess, you can create a tonic that
provides you with unparalleled physical stature! Go from hapless
to Hero in seconds!
Revitalizer
Scientists
have happened upon perhaps the most amazing technological discovery of
our time...the Revitalizer! A mixture of the Mind Marvel and the
Energizer, the Revitalizer will allow you to perform miracles of the
mind and of the body! Become an unstoppable, physical force while
mentally moving mountains! Astonishing!
With
each degree obtained, players gain specific knowledge in that discipline,
allowing the player to read more advanced schematics. Schematics are technical
drawings found in the game showing an item that can be created, and what two
objects you need to obtain in order to create it. For example, a player can
use their points to gain the first degree of the Mechanical discipline, which
is Trainee. This gives him the knowledge to read the Spike Trap Schematic,
which tells him that the two items necessary to complete the spike trap are a
railroad spike and a large spring. If he has both items, he can put them
together to create a spike trap, and then place the trap on the ground and any
creature stepping on it will take damage.
Technology
According
to some authorities, Technology is nothing more than the twisted
shadow of Magic--but nay-sayers have fallen increasingly silent in
recent years, as the Technological Disciplines have grown more and
more powerful. Over the past few decades, more and more Technological
Contrivances have been offered to the public at large, and many
citizens of Arcanum’s great cities have discovered that while a job
accomplished by Technological Devices is seldom accomplished prettily,
or with Magic’s flair for the dramatic, such jobs are accomplished
very quickly—and they stay done indefinitely!
Repair
Most
of the Technological Skills of our Game have already been described
above (Firearms in Section 3-3, Pick Locks and Disarm Traps in Section
3-4). The only other Technological skill available is to the player is
Repair, which is accessed in the Skill Window (see Figure 3-44). After
clicking the Repair button, the player will be given a targeting
cursor; thereafter the player may click on any item in his Inventory
or on the ground, and the Character will attempt to Repair that item.
Repair is like a Healing Skill for items, and it works by removing
damage from the item at the cost of lowering its maximum possible Hit
Point value. The damage removed is proportional to the Character’s
rank in Repair, while the maximum Hit Point reduction is proportional
to the Character’s training in Repair. With additional training,
Repair will lower the maximum Hit Points of the item very little, if
at all.
Schematics
Technological
items in the Game are manufactured by reference to a variety of
Schematics. The player may gain access to the Schematics Interface by
pressing the Schematics Button on the Main Game Interface (see Figure
3-45). Once this Interface is opened, the player can thereafter gain
access to any learned or found Schematic in the Game by using the two
buttons to the left. These two buttons open the player’s Schematics
Books, one of which is reserved for Learned Schematics, while the
other is used to record the player’s Found Schematics. Learned
Schematics are gained when the player buys additional degrees in any
Technological Discipline; Found Schematics are the children of
fortune, windfalls which a player may stumble upon in the course of
play.
Each
Technological Discipline in the Game is represented in any Schematic
Book by a tab on the right-hand side. Each tab, when clicked upon,
will open a section of the Book filled with Schematics for a single
degree. If more than one Schematic is known for a certain degree, the
section can be paged forward and back by using the arrows in the upper
left and right-hand corners of the pages.
Each
Schematic serves as a blueprint for a certain Technological
Contrivance, and bears the name and description of this device, as
well as a display of the two components that are needed to build the
item. A component is colored if the player’s Character possesses it,
and gray-scaled if he does not. Each component also displays its
Technological Discipline and its Complexity in its display, if it has
such. For each component with such values, the Character must have
Expertise in the appropriate Discipline which is equal to component’s
Complexity; without matching Expertise to Complexity, one will be
unable to make use of the Schematic. (See Chapter 2 – Technological
Disciplines)
The
player uses the bottom left-hand button to construct the item. This
button can only be used if the Character possesses both the necessary
components and sufficient Expertise in the required Technological
Disciplines to assemble the resulting machine. If one’s Character
does not possess the necessary Expertise, then the button lights are
red. If one’s Character has the Expertise but not the components,
then the lights are yellow. If one’s Character possesses both the
components and the necessary Expertise, then the lights are green, and
pressing the button will consume the components and construct the new
Technological item, which will then appear in the fortunate Character’s
Inventory.
Technological
Items
During
the course of his or her travels throughout Arcanum, the player will
almost certainly encounter a broad range of Technological items,
ranging from guns to Tesla coils. Each Technological item we encounter
has a certain quality of Technological Complexity, which ranges from
the very simple to the extremely ornate. When someone with
Technological Aptitude uses such an item, the item will tend to
function as intended, for the most part. Unfortunately, this is not
necessarily the case when a Character with Magical Aptitude attempts
to make use of the same item. On such occasions, there is more than a
slight chance of critical failure, and this chance is proportional to
both his Magical Aptitude and the item’s innate Technological
Complexity. This chance of critical failure is entirely separate from
the item’s chance to hit, and it is checked before the attack roll
is made.
Additionally,
when a Technological item is used against a person with noteworthy
Magical Aptitude, the item may fail to operate at all—not critically
fail, but simply fail to function at all. The chance for such a
failure is directly proportional to the target’s Magical Aptitude.
As in our discussion of Magical artifacts, the user’s Technological
Aptitude may reduce the chance of item failure; the higher his
Technological Aptitude, the more the chance of failure will be
reduced.
Note
that these two rules for Technological items are cumulative. A mage
attempting to use an advanced Technological item on another mage is in
the gravest possible danger. The item in question may critically fail
in the attacker’s hands—and even if the aggressor in such a case
could manage to wring some use out of the contrivance in question, the
target would have the full force of his Magical Aptitude to resist its
intended effect!
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