While some brave mice seek their fortune and adventure on the road with sword, arrow, spells and luck, some mice explore the science of survival and create strange and useful contraptions. This post covers the basics of tinkering and some useful equipment and schematics for mice to make their own.
Check in to the workshop from time to time, I will be adding more items and schematics as they are made.
Written and Illustrated by Lux.
(WIP) Posted 9-25-2020
Background: Test Subject
Birthsign: Acorn
Disposition: Inquisitive/Stubborn
Coat: White, marbled
Physical detail: Silky fur
STR: 9
DEX: 6
WIL: 11
HP: 1
Everyone seems to be friends with Rivet. She is a friendly and helpful sort, often using her genius to make items and inventions to help other mice. She is rather eccentric and is known for coming up with odd sayings.
Tinker mice like Rivet are often found near human towns where they can watch and learn and scavenge gadgetry for their own uses. They may be only a tiny mouse, but they are rarely content to think small and always seek to expand their knowledge.Â
Salvaging - In a human town, or in areas where scraps of human technology can be found, your mouse can spend a watch salvaging. If they do, they will find d3 useful parts.
Below are a list of tools, contraptions and components that can be found for sale in a tinker mouse workshop.
The following parts are smaller than 1 slot unless stated otherwise. Up to six small components can be stored in a component bag. This list can be added to or changed to fit the GM's world.
d12
Small screws
Copper wire
Metal scrap
Tiny bulb
Circuit
Capacitor
Small fuse
Large Battery (Large)
Small speaker
Small battery
Windup motor (Large)
Electrical tape (Large)
A collection of various tools that is needed to begin tinkering.
Requires WIL of 11
Mark usage after each crafting or repair use.
Cost: 100p
A bag that can hold items that are smaller than a normal inventory slot. Many components needed for tinkering are small such as circuits and tiny screws.
Worn in a body slot
Holds 6 tiny items. List them beside the dots in the provided fields.
Cost: 20p
Insulating tape that is a bonding component for particular schematics.
Mark use after tape is used
Cost: 20p
A small telescope made from a bendy straw. The mirrors and lenses within are arranged so that it can be used as a pariscope.
Cost: 50p
Straw Scope Schematic
Construction time (Short Rest)
1 Plastic straw
2 Small lenses
2 Small mirrors
A spring loaded hook launcher with an attached string. Can retract and carry the weight of one mouse.
Cost: 50p
Hook Launcher Schematic
Construction time (Long Rest)
3Hooks
1 Small spool of string
2 Springs
Scrap metal or wood
A music instrument that makes a lot of noise with an built in speaker. It can be used to entertain or the speaker can be used to make some distracting or ear piercing noise.
Uses a small battery, mark usage after each performance. Can be turned off and operates as a normal instrument.
Cost: 250p
Mouser Guitar Schematic
Construction time (Long Rest)
1 Belt buckle
Copper wire
1 Tiny speaker
1 Small battery
A heavy ranged weapon with a hair trigger. This weapon has better damage than a bow but half the range. Uses normal arrows.
d10 damage
Requires an attack or move action to reload
Cost: 40p
Tinker Crossbow Schematic
Construction time (Long Rest)
1 Paperclip
Elastic (Any)
Scrap wood or metal
A tinkering component which stores significant energy.
Cost: 50p
A tinkering component which stores and generates kinetic force when wound up. This item is very noisy when used.
Cost: 80p
A kit that can be installed on a heavy metal melee weapon.
Effect: +1d4 Electric damage
Recharge: When the weapon's usage is depleted, so to is the shock kit's charge. It's batteries must be replaced to recharge.
Cost: 30p
Shock Kit Schematic
Construction time (Long Rest)
Installation requires weapon's handle to be insulated with electrical tape.
1 Small bulb
1 Capacitor
2 Small batteries
Copper wire
A charger which converts kinetic energy to recharge 1 Small battery. It takes a long rest to recharge 1 Small battery. This device must be wound up fully to use and is very noisy.
Cost: 250p
Kenetic Charger Schematic
Construction time (Full Rest)
1 Small bulb
1 Kinetic motor
Rubber band
Copper wire
1 Circuit
A large charger which transfers energy from a Large Battery to 4 Small batteries. It takes a full rest to recharge all of the batteries.
Mark usage after each charging of 4 Small batteries. When uses are depleted, the Large Battery must be replaced.
Cost: 500p
Electric Charger Schematic
Construction time (Full Rest)
Large Battery
1 Small bulb
Rubber band
Copper wire
Wood or metal scrap
1 Circuit
Rivet's workshop is actually only one area of the small unnamed settlement of mice that sprung up in this abandoned electrician's van. Rivet would frequently venture to the van to scavenge, that was until one day when she returned to find that a fox had attacked her home village. The survivors of the village fled with Rivet who led them to the abandoned van, hidden in the overgrowth. Mushrooms gardens exist in the tight space under the wheeless van and in the van's rusted out muffler which has quick access to the engine area.
A - Front Gate - The only entrance to the van is through a hole at the feet of the passenger's seat. One must climb into the undercarriage and climb through the rusty engine to find the hole. A portcullis of metal has been erected to act as a settlement security gate where several guards are stationed. The glove compartment is the barracks for the settlement guard.
B - The Sprocket Hotel - Most of the settlers dwell inside the drawers of the electrician's workbench that has been turned into a large mouse hotel with many rooms. The majority of the mice that live in the settlement work in the hotel and rent rooms and services to packrats that frequently visit and trade what they have scavenged.
C - The Stash - A small pub tucked into the corner behind the Sprocket hotel. Several bottles of booze are hidden in the jack compartment, this is where an entrepreneur mouse and his family set up a small pub for all those hard working packrats. Other drinks and foods are often imported and they are always looking to expand their menu.
D - Rivet's Workshop - Rivet's actual residence is inside the toolbox adjacent to the main tool and parts locker. She and several other tinker mice maintain a workshop in this area, developing schematics and wild mouse inventions. Be cautious of the occasional electrical flash and explosion.
E - Stockyard - The wide area between the workbenches is the settlement's stockyard. It looks cluttered most of the time but is actually well organized with supplies and goods being imported or exported by packrats.
F - The Dash - While most of the settlement operates autonomously, leaders of the community gather in the Dashboard weekly to discuss matters behind the instrument panel. This might involve trade agreements with packrat provisioners and resolutions for disputes within the small colony.
Feel free to use this map in your own campaigns!
