Advanced Engineering Talent Tree

In future settings, the “nerd” hero is highly valued due to his inherent ability to use technology of all kinds. In fact, since most engineers, scientists, and craftsmen are nerds, they are in many ways the very people that keep the Verse moving forward. Heroes with talents from this tree stand out in their fields as pioneers and brilliant minds at the forefront of their expertise.

Progressive Design

The hero may select one gadget that is one PL higher than his own. He then may apply this gadget as normal to a weapon, armor, or piece of equipment as though he had access to it in his own PL. The gadget’s cost modifier affects the cost of raw materials as normal, and the Craft DC and crafting time are treated as being one step higher on the type chart; simple type items become moderate type items, complex type items become advanced type items, and so on for the purposes of determining Craft DC and crafting time.

Quick Repair (Ex)

When you attempt to repair an item, you can do so in half the time normally required (to a minimum of a full action).

Top Shelf Parts

The hero may use superior parts in the construction of his designs, increasing the hardness of any items by +4 while reducing the weight by 50%. Increase the purchase DC of the raw materials by +2.

Engineer’s Eye (Ex)

When you are within 10 feet of a trapped or malfunctioning machine or computer, you receive a free Computers, Engineering, or Perception check (as decided by the GM) to notice the trap or defect, whether or not you are actively looking. In addition, due to your intimate knowledge of your ship, you receive one of these checks whenever you board your ship to notice if anything is wrong with the ship’s systems.

Prerequisite: Quick Repair

Master Craftsman

The hero should select one of his Craft skills. Any item the hero crafts using this trait is automatically considered a mastercraft (+1) item. Neither the Purchase DC to acquire the raw materials or the time to create the item increases. When the hero creates mastercraft items with a greater bonus (+2 or +3), subtract 3 from the Purchase DC to acquire the raw materials.       
Prerequisites: Progressive Design, Top Shelf Parts.

Scoutbot (Ex)

You’re always crafting rudimentary bots in your spare time, and can use them to scout. It takes you 10 minutes and 1 Resolve Point to create a scoutbot. A scoutbot is a Small technological construct, its EAC and KAC are equal to 10 + your mechanic level, and it has 1 Hit Point per mechanic level you have (and no Stamina Points). It has a land speed of 30 feet, and you can control its movements with your custom rig as a move action. It has a camera that streams visual and auditory data back to your rig. The scoutbot uses your saving throw bonuses if necessary. It is untrained in all skills and has a +0 bonus in all of them, though you can use your own Perception skill when examining the feed from its stream. Once created, the scoutbot lasts for 1 minute per mechanic level you have before falling apart unless otherwise destroyed.

Prerequisites: Any two Advanced Engineering talents.