Equipment:
Shipping Gear
| Item | Cost | Range Increment | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appraiser (with ten ranks) | 400 cr | — | 1 lb. |
| Appraiser ranks (each) | 25 cr | — | — |
| Binding gun (commercial) | 450 cr | 5 ft. (30 ft. max) | 8 lb. |
| Liquid Fiber Refill | 10 cr | — | — |
| Binding gun (industrial) | 650 cr | 10 ft. (60 ft. max) | 22 lb. |
| Liquid Fiber Refill | 25 cr | — | — |
| Environmental processor | 1,000 cr | 50 ft. max radius | 40 lb. |
| Mass analyzer | 400 cr | — | 4 lb. |
| Packing gun | 500 cr | 5 ft. | 12 lb. |
| Chemical canister | 30 cr | — | 2 lb. |
| Robotic lock | 100 cr | — | 3 lb. |
Appraiser: This expensive little scanning computer is marketed for jewelers and other purveyors of fine goods. Most commercial appraisers are designed with cosmetics and style in mind, though this is not always the case. Since a collection of cheaper, less-dedicated equipment can perform many of the same jobs as an appraiser, these are often sold as luxury items to know-nothing laymen. An appraiser is a handheld unit with a large, protruding sensor. The user examines items through the sensor, which simultaneously scans the object. Data and scan results appear as an animated projection in the unit's display screen.
The scanner is linked to a database designed to determine material purity, physical integrity, and comparative quality in a wide variety of objects from gems to electronic components to clothing. An appraiser stores catalogs of data for up to five different styles of craftsmanship, such as gunsmithing or leatherworking. The scanner compares the data collected by the sensor to those items in its database and determines an approximate value by comparison. The database can be kept current by downloading the newest software updates on styles, trends, and pricing from across the galaxy.
An appraiser is operated with a Use Device check (DC 10). Essentially, the appraiser makes a trained skill check for the user, with a circumstance bonus of +1 to +10 based on its programming. The user just stands by and waits for a response from the unit. The device gets its bonus to Appraise checks based on the catalogs currently stored in its database. Up to 10 "artificial ranks" of data may be stored for up to five different Craft skills. A jeweler's catalog might be dedicated to Craft (gemcutting), for example, while a tailor's might be divided over Craft (leatherworking) and Craft (weaving). Unfortunately, appraisers cannot judge unique or previously unclassified items at all. When tasked with analyzing such potential treasures, the device returns a reading of "no recognized qualities."
Binding Gun: Intended for use as a packaging device, a binding gun dispenses quick-drying liquid cord of respectable strength. Useful only at short ranges, a binding gun fires four simultaneous streams around any objects in the target area, which is always a five-foot square no more than 30 feet from the gun. This requires a ranged attack roll against AC 5. Objects in the target area are bound by a mesh of synthetic fiber cords (Break DC 22, hardness 3, 1 hp). The drying action of the fibers makes the equivalent of a +10 Use Rope check against the target. Creatures caught in the target area may attempt a Reflex save (DC 15) to reduce the gun's Use Rope check against them by half. Bound creatures move at half speed and may not use their arms or other non-locomotive limbs without an Escape Artist check. Tiny and smaller objects or creatures are unaffected. A binding gun's magazine contains enough liquid cord for four uses. A binding gun is a light exotic weapon for combat purposes.
Binding Gun, Industrial: This is the large-scale version of the commercial binding gun. About the size of a shotgun, this Large awkward tool (and exotic weapon) targets a 10-foot square no more than 60 feet from the gun. It makes a +15 Use Rope check against objects or creatures in the area. Targets that fail a DC 20 Reflex save are bound by heavy-duty liquid cord (Break DC 30, hardness 5, 2 hp). Medium and smaller creatures are immobilized by these strands. Large and bigger creatures move at half speed, but may not use their arms or other appendages without a successful Escape Artist check opposed by the gun's Use Rope check. One canister of fiber allows for four shots.
Environmental Processor: This portable unit appears something like a large vaporizor with attached tanks of compressed gases. Used to alter passenger compartments or cargo bays for the purposes of exotic shipments or guests, an environmental processor affords a free-trader a great deal of flexibility in his cargo selections. A lot of power is needed to operate one of these devices, though, so they must be connected directly to a ship's power supply. Adjusting the environmental settings requires a Use Device check (DC 15), though most units come pre-programmed with the settings for a particular environment. An environmental processor alters the temperature, humidity, and particle mixture of the area surrounding the unit, out to a radius of 50 feet. The unit attaches magnetically to surfaces, so placing one on a ceiling can generate rain-like effects inside a cargo bay or other chamber. An environmental processor's capabilities reach into the extreme temperature ranges, and can even be hazardous if not used carefully. Smoke and toxic clouds can be emitted, though a processor can only generate a single atmospheric composition at any one time, and only if it is fed the correct ingredient mixture. Temperature settings can be altered independently of the atmospheric mixture and do not require ingredient tanks. The companies that produce atmosphere generators also sell prepackaged environmental ingredients.
Packing Gun: For objects more fragile or oddly shaped than a binding gun can safely manage, shippers use a packing gun. A packing gun is an inelegant unit with a pair of small metal tanks containing liquid chemicals. When these chemicals are mixed in the firing hose, they form a thick foam that immediately solidifies around any objects sprayed. Spraying with the packing gun's hose requires a ranged attack against the target's AC. Objects and creatures sprayed aren’t merely bound, they're encased in a solid mass of molded plastic. When used on objects, a packing gun creates an insulating barrier (hardness 5) that protects valuable merchandise. When used on a creature, the foam restricts movement, effectively dealing 1d6 points of temporary Dexterity damage to the target creature on a successful hit. The creature isn't actually harmed, however, and does not need to heal this damage. Instead, the creature must succeed at an Escape Artist check (DC 30) or be cut free of the plastic mass around them to regain their full Dexterity score. Cutting a creature or object free of the packing foam requires slashing or peeling (that is, unarmed) attacks to be made against the foam; these attacks automatically hit willing targets and relieve Dexterity restrictions according to the damage dealt in the attack. A slash from a dagger, for example, restores 1d4 points of Dexterity to the afflicted creature.
Robotic Lock: Although not technically a robot, a robotic lock is a mechanical device with rudimentary programming and simplistic sensory abilities. Robotic locks respond to vocal commands, passwords, or certain requests. The difference between a robotic lock and common electronic locks is that a robot lock can be issued instructions for admittance that require some degree of judgement on the part of the device. A robotic lock can be bypassed with the Open Locks skill (DC 22) or it can be tricked into opening up with a Diplomacy or Bluff check (opposed by the lock's +5 Sense Motive skill). This an out-dated device that sees use today when someone thinks they may want to allow unknown persons to access a container or room at some point in the future.