Availability

Availability expresses how easy it is to find a piece of gear. The higher the number, the more scarce the item is. Availabilities typically range from 1 to 6, but circumstances can push them up to 9.

Note that the top levels of Availability are primarily reserved for alphaware, betaware, and deltaware versions of augmentations.

Availability ratings give a general sense to the gamemaster of whether player characters can find a given item, but they also can be used in mechanics in two ways. First, the Availability rating can be used as a threshold in Matrix Search tests to find someone who carries the item - though the gamemaster should note that just because the players find a seller doesn’t mean that seller will be easily accessible. Second, players may ask a contact to locate an item. Generally speaking, contacts can find goods whose Availability is less than (not equal to) their Connection rating. Whether they connect the player characters to the gear is a question of Loyalty and roleplaying.

Navigation

Magical Goods

Formulae

Focus Formula

Ritual Spellcasting Formula

Combat Spell Formula

Detection Spell Formula

Health Spell Formula

Illusion Spell Formula

Manipulation Spell Formula

Availability

As focus

3 (Legal)

Cost

Focus Cost x 0.25

¥1,000

¥2,000

¥500

¥1,000

¥1,500

Magical Supplies

Magical Lodge Materials

Reagents (Per Dram)

Availability

(Force) (Legal)

Cost

Force x ¥500

¥50

Shadow Cloak

This focus-like magical device is useful during astral projection and is made in the form of some type of garment, typically a hooded cloak or robe. It is simple to bond, and even the mundane can bond to it. Its astral form can be carried along into astral space just like any normal focus. When worn in the astral plane, it adds its rating to the Magic (or Essence) of the projecting traveler to determine the length of time that can be spent in astral form. It does not increase the Magic rating in any other way. The shadow cloak’s effective Force is temporarily reduced by 1 point for every two hours spent projecting, and the temporary Essence loss of the traveler does not occur until after the shadow cloak’s temporary effective Force reaches 0. The shadow cloak’s effective Force returns at the same rate that temporary Essence loss does.

The shadow cloak has other lesser-known functions useful for metaplanar travel. When any rating shadow cloak is carried along by physical transference into the Astral Sea or another metaplane, the wearer has no need for food or water and will not become hungry or thirsty. As long as the shadow cloak has any Force and is worn, the traveler can survive any length of time in the metaplanes. If the shadow cloak is lost or destroyed, the traveler’s need for food and water will return. In the deep and very deep metaplanes, a shadow cloak can protect the wearer from evanescence (pg. 175, Astral Ways). The cloak can shield the traveler from Essence loss, but these extreme energies permanently erode the enchantments of the shadow cloak. Force reduced by evanescence shielding is permanent and does not regenerate on returning to the physical realm.

A shadow cloak has no known effect in the physical realm beyond the normal function for the type of garment.

Force

1 - 6

Bonding Cost

Force x 1

Availability

(Force + 2) (Legal)

Cost

Force x ¥3,000

Liar's Medium

Normally, a medium is a Divination Fetish used to better help the caster tell the future. Dice and tarot cards are the most popular forms but there is no shortage of ways you can have your fortune told, but as these fetishes came to creation in New Orleans, what was popular there quickly became ubiquitous. However, sometimes you don’t trust fate to give you a good outcome. That’s where the liar’s medium comes into play.

By stacking the deck and loading the dice, you aim not just to be shown what the fates will, but exactly what you need to see to buy a better future.

Creating a liar’s medium requires an existing divination fetish and “cheating” the tool - shaving the dice to weigh them more to one side, loading the deck so it’s easier to draw what you want, or similar tasks. Once completed, a new dram of reagents must be expended to secure the altered magic. Thus, creating one from scratch effectively requires two drams.

Divination Fetish

Availability:

Cost:

¥55

Notes: A liar’s medium Divination Fetish replaces the -2 Drain on Divinations with +1 Dice Reroll.

Liar's Fetish

Availability:

Cost:

+¥55

Notes: If the user really wants to play with fire and cheat the deck big time, a Liar's Fetish adds +2 Dice Rerolls and +2 Drain.

Preparations

These preparations are examples of what some alchemists can build along with a listing for megacorporate production models available to various public and private sectors featuring multiple charges and extended Potency.

The Formula and Drain Value are for alchemist characters. If the triggers or modifiers on the preparation are modified, so is the Drain Value of that preparation. The preparation has the effect of the listed spell and uses the listed trigger.

The Cost is for a single charge on the corporate-produced version. The megas can add multiple charges to preparations with the per-charge cost, but they all have the same Potency for casting and degradation. All corporate-produced preparations are done by an alchemist with a Magic of 4 for the purpose of casting. This rating can be upgraded by up to four levels, but this increases the per-charge cost at a rate of 50¥ per rating-point increase. Potency for all corporate creations starts at 4.

It can be increased at a rate of 100¥ per point. The preparations follow the rules for their spells unless otherwise noted.

Acid On Demand

This preparation is a small vial of actual acid that acts as a focus for a dangerous spell. Care and precautions should be taken to minimize harm and injury when using this preparation. To create an acid effect on a particular target, touch the vial, select the placement, and say “melt away.” The acid is created on that spot. There is an advantage with arcane acid, as it goes away after a short time (using the rules for the spell), leaving no chemical residue behind.

Acid covers an area of one-half square meter.

Formula: Acid Stream, Verbal

Drain Value: 8

Cost: ¥600

Acid Wash

Developed with scientific processes in mind, this preparation has been abused by individuals who accessed it on the black market. This creates a large area of acidic effect, initially with the intent to deal with chemical spills and provide intense acidic testing on a variety of surfaces with a regulated effect.

As with most preparations, use is easy. Touch or hold the curved vial of acid, select a region to place the acidic effect, say “awash in hydrogen ions,” and the preparation covers a circular area with a two-meter radius. Caution should be taken as with the smaller version, but again the effect is short-lived.

Formula: Toxic Wave, Verbal

Drain Value: 8

Cost: ¥600

Arcane Taser

Personal defense now has an arcane option. Keep this little lightning bolt charm on a necklace, earring, bracelet, or just in a pocket or purse so it’s always available to help chase off unwanted advances. It’s a quick piece of self-defense designed to keep you safe on the darkest of nights with a bolt of electrical juice.

To activate, you need to be in contact with the charm, see the individual you are targeting (or some part thereof), repeat the open-hand-to-balled-fist activation movement, and get ready for the show as they face the shocking revelation of your charm.

Formula: Lightning Bolt, Somatic

Drain Value: 7

Cost: ¥450 per charge

Arcane Taser Plus

This is the next step up from the standard Arcane Taser, when you have a whole group of people who need to be subdued. The plus version expands beyond a single individual, but it risks including you in its electrical blast, so be sure to select the initial location carefully.

Touch the small marble (even if it’s still concealed), pick a spot for the party to start, say “tamed lightning,” and get ready to run from some stunned predators.

Formula: Lightning Ball, Verbal

Drain Value: 9

Cost: ¥600 per charge

Aura Obscura

This tiny vial holds a potent draught with a pleasant fruity flavor. Take a swig and pick the subject of your entertainment. Imagine what their new aura will look like, then sit back and watch the show as those around you with the talent to see auras marvel or ignore the aura you have created.

Some level of experience in aura viewing is usually needed to make a believable aura. This does not prevent an individual from using this to make something so ridiculous it is quickly seen through or dispelled, of course, but experience will lead to better, subtler uses.

Formula: False Impression, Material (Saliva)

Drain Value: 5

Cost: ¥300

Bean Counter Bean

When you need a very specific set of details, pop this pill and focus. It could be information about an individual you are scoping out, a certain comm screen that you need to memorize, a keypad you’re watching so you can access what it protects, or any other single small area you need details on. The pill simply activates in your mouth and gives you the hyperfocus you need to get the job done.

Formula: Scrutinize, Material (Saliva)

Drain Value: 6

Cost: ¥350

The Bench Clearer

This preparation looks like a typical baseball. Speak the command words (default: “high heat”) and toss it into an area and you’ve got a shot at snoozing the opposing team, or at least wearing them down enough to rethink skinning their smoke wagons when you come in guns blazing.

The toss requires an Athletics + Agility (1) test. If the test fails, the ball lands somewhere other than intended and fails to activate. The ball does not lose its charge on a failed activation but still must be used on the same location with a successful toss.

Formula: Stunball, Delayed Verbal (1 Combat Round), Somatic

Drain Value: 7

Cost: ¥550

Boomstick!

This “wand” design actually looks like a twenty-centimeter-long hexagonal rifle barrel with a small iron sight on the end. As usual, the wand does not need to be waved, but a few creative souls use the hollow tube for targeting.

The standard BOOMStick! is intended for a single target with only minimal collateral effect. In honor of the historical entertainment reference, the default activation phrase is “This is my boomstick!”

Using a Minor Action to look through the barrel gains the user a single dice reroll.

Formula: Thunderstruck, Verbal

Drain Value: 9

Cost: ¥500 per charge

Boomstick Extreme!

The BOOMStick Extreme! has been upgraded with an increased area of effect. In honor of the historical entertainment reference, the default activation phrase is “This is my boomstick!”

Using a Minor Action to look through the barrel gains the user a single dice reroll.

Formula: Thunderstruck, Increased Area, Verbal

Drain Value: 10

Cost: ¥600 per charge

Boost Pills

A range of these handy little pills are available to give a little edge just when you need it. Each pill is designed to bolster a different aspect with Speed Boost (Agility), Power Boost (Strength), Stamina Boost (Body), and Reflex Boost (Reaction) offering a full array physical enhancements. Popping the pill in your mouth or spitting on it in your palm are equally effective for activation.

Formula: Increase Attribute, Material (Saliva)

Drain Value: 5

Cost: ¥400

Bruce Lee Keychain

This balled fist attached to a small chain is the tool of choice for those who like to practice the famous “one-centimeter punch” without seeking out a decade of training. Touch the keychain, touch the target, say “hoosh,” and blam, a blast of telekinetic energy erupts from your fingertips. It’s a great way to start (or end) a bar fight, especially if the person you tag has someone else to blame the hit on. Did we mention it can be a great distraction?

Formula: Punch, Verbal

Drain Value: 5

Cost: ¥75 per charge

Climbing Gear

This gorgeous carabiner isn’t just any old climbing tool. It’s the secret to climbing without the need for a carabiner or any other standard gear. The activation of this preparation is a simple touch and talk. Saying “time to climb” while in contact with a surface activates the ability to have your hands and feet (also knees and elbows) stick to surfaces for easier climbing. This mystical adhesion is not impeded by basic clothing, gloves, or shoes, but bulkier armor will prevent contact connections for covered areas like elbows and knees. You can even use the connection to hang upside down if both you and the surface can support your own weight.

The preparation also makes you a nominally better climber, though it does not impart some grand level of wisdom or skill to assist your effort.

Formula: Gecko Crawl, Verbal

Drain Value: 7

Cost: ¥500 per charge

Cold As Ice

Looking to show off at a party full of trolls and dwarfs? This is the ticket. Tear it, say the magic words, and suddenly you have ice running through your veins. It’s not literal, as that would kill you, but with a simple muttered phrase you can become significantly cooler than those around you.

These were originally marketed for military members who wanted to avoid detection by enemy thermal scans, but they’re now offered to the public to use a little cool magic to bring some hot times to a party near you.

Formula: Icy Veins, Verbal, Somatic

Drain Value: 6

Cost: 500

Deep Breath Disk

This tiny wafer is like an effervescent little breath mint that not only makes your mouth fresh, but also fills your blood with mana-generated oxygen. No need to breathe - especially since the wafer does not guarantee fresh breath. The preparation allows some extended breath-holding and keeps you safe from some nasty inhaled toxins, not to mention allowing for some nice deep free dives.

Formula: Oxygenate, Material (Saliva)

Drain Value: 6

Cost: ¥450

Disco Distraction

This handy little disco ball lets you pick a spot, say the magic phrase “disco never dies,” and fill that region with all sorts of distracting and annoying effects, all related to the era of disco from the last century. It’s a niche effect, but in the end the magic still works the same. Everyone gets distracted by “Stayin’ Alive” while you do your best to do just that.

Formula: Chaff, Verbal

Drain Value: 8

Cost: ¥550 per charge

The Doctor's Right Hand

This glove, which comes in a variety of colors and styles, is the quick-and-easy way to figure out what’s making your best mate bleed from all of his orifices. When it’s near the target, say “activate scan,” and voila, you know whether it’s time to cut and run or to cut out those heavy metals in their diet! (Good luck with the latter.)

Formula: Diagnose, Verbal

Drain Value: 7

Cost: ¥500 per charge

Don't Piss Off The Kitchen Staff

This powder can be sprinkled over a bit of food to make the person eating it allergic to everything! This is a mean little trick, one of those goods that requires certain alterations to the legal status agreement when making purchases in external corporate and national jurisdictions. It’s as simple as sprinkle the powder on a platter, say the special words (“Is that a rash?”), and once the tainted food is eaten, watch the effects kick in.

Formula: Anaphylaxis, Material (Saliva), Verbal

Drain Value: 7

Cost: ¥600

Door? What Door?

With a flick of the wrist, this vial of liquid is splashed on a door, and voila, no more door. The effect is limited to doors but has no limit on the material or style of door. It’s still harder to break plasteel than wood, but that’s about buying a potent-enough preparation. Using the preparation requires a single Minor Action to open the vial and toss out the liquid, all of which are part of the Somatic trigger.

Formula: Corrode [Door], Somatic

Drain Value: 4

Cost: ¥350