What can Utility Beltâ„¢ do for you?

By Desslok, in Star Wars: Edge of the Empire RPG

I just started a technician a couple of weeks back, but I will be picking up Outlaw Tech as soon as I can. The reason? The awesome Utility Belt Talent. So in preparation of getting the tree, I thought I'd come up with a list of all the gear that would fall under it's usage.

For those that don't know, here's the Talent:

Quote
Spend one destiny point to produce a previously undocumented tool with a rarity no greater than 4. Item cannot be a weapon unless it has the limited ammo 1 quality.

The talent only mentions rarity, not size. In theory you could pull a Comm Jammer out of the belt (Rarity 3, Encumbrance 3) - but that makes no sense. So I tried to stick to things with a encumbrance of 0 or 1, and marked things on the border with a *. In other words, use your Signature Ability: Common Sense.

ACCESSORIES
Ribbon Rack (LBE)
* Symbol of Command (LBE)

BLACK MARKET
Corellian Whiskey (SOF)
Death Sticks (single dose) (CRB)
Marcan Herb (LONH)
Ryll Spice (LONH)
Whyrens Reserve (SOF)

CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT
Foamcast (FO)

COMMUNICATIONS
Collar Amp (FH)
Comlink (CRB)
* Hardened Comlink (DC)
Headcomm (FIB)
Holomessenger (CRB)
Remote Activation Controller (SOF)
Secure Comlink (FIB)

DROIDS
Butterbug Remote (SM)
Cam Droid (SOF)
Generic Remote (SM)
Service Patch Remote (SM)

DRUGS AND POISONS
Sulfur Inhaler (NOP)

DETECTION DEVICES
Cargo Scanner (FC)
Demolitions Scanner (DC)
Electro binoculars (CRB)
General Purpose scanner (CRB)
Hand scanner (CRB)
Macro binoculars (CRB)
Recon remote (DC)
Scanner Goggles (CRB)
Surveillance Tagger (CRB)
Veridicator 200 (KTP)

EXPLOSIVES AND COMPOUNDS
Detonite (FO)
Flex-5 Detonite Tape (FO)

MEDICAL
Bioscan (DoH)
Emergency Medpac (CRB)
* Liter of Bacta (CRB)
Med-Aid Patch (KTP)
* Military Medpack (DC)
Military Traumapac
Nullicaine (FIB)
* Physcians Kit (CRB)
Spray Plato-cast (DoH)
Stimpack (CRB)
Stimstick (FIB)
Synthetic Anesthetic (CRB)
Synthskin (CRB)
Veterinary Kit (SOT)

RECREATION/ENTERTAINMENT
Chance Cube (CRB)
Sabbac Deck (CRB)

SECURITY
Binders (CRB)
* Com Jammer (CRB)
* Disguise Kit (CRB)
Magnacuffs (FH)
Personal Transponder (KTP)
Restraining Bolt (CRB)
Scramble Key (EV)
* Slicer Gear (CRB)

SCANNING AND SURVEILLANCE
Applied Imaging Micro Imager (DoH)
Foodstuffs Analyzer (DoH)
Geoscanner (DoH)
* SE Vigilant Automated Sensor
Signature Scent Synthesizer (DoH)
Surveilance Detector (DoH)
Shipboard Systems Scanner (FO)
* Mine Detector (FO)

SLICING TOOLS
Dataspike (SM)

SURVIVAL GEAR
Breath Mask (CRB)
Camo paint (DC)
Camp Stove (SS)
Canteen (DC)
Entrenching Tool (DC)
Field Goggles (DC)
Fire Paste (DC)
Luma Flare (KTP)
Mess Kit (SS)
Personal Distress Beacon (ETU)
Ration Pack (CRB)
Synthrope (ETU)
Thermal Cloak (CRB)
Water Purifier (SS)

TOOLS
Ascension Pistol (DA)
Audio Visual Translator (ETU)
Beast Call (ETU)
Chem Lure (ETU)
Chronoscanner
* Climbing Gear (CRB)
Cultural Etiquette Manual (DA)
Datapad (CRB)
Datagoggles (DoH)
Emergency Repair Kit (EV)
Emergency Repair Patch (CRB)
Extra Reloads (CRB)
* Fusion Cutter (CRB)
* Fusion Lantern (CRB)
Glow Rod (CRB)
Insiders Guide (DA)
Learning Systems Transliterator (DoH)
Mercantiler Datapad (FH)
Military Field Manual (CRB)
* Musical Instrument (FH)
Repulsor Assist Unit (EV)
* Repulsor Clamp (SM)
Species Database (DA)
Specimen containers (small) (ETU)
Sporting Microbinoculars (NOP)
Synoptic Teacher (DoH)
Urban Compass (EV)
Weapon Maintenance Kit

WEAPONS
Bolo/Net (CRB)
Explorer's Knife (SS)
* Hand Grinder (doesn't have the limited ammo quality, but a case could be made) (SM)
Ion Grenade (DC)
Proton Grenade (doesn't mention a limited ammo 1, but it's a grenade) (DC)
Rivet Gun (has a high Encumbrance, but is too awesome not to include) (SM)
Stun grenade (CRB)
* Vibro Machete (SS)
Vibrorang (DoR)

Edited by Desslok

It does say "small" tool. I spose you n yer GM can arm wrestle over that.

Yeah, my thinking is that if you cant see Batman keeping it on his belt, it doesn't fit.

Now we just need Shark Repellent. . . :)

Yeah, my thinking is that if you cant see Batman keeping it on his belt, it doesn't fit.

Now we just need Shark Repellent. . . :)

It's called a grenade in layman's terms.....

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It's like a Bag of Holding for things you've never owned.

GM discretion, I suppose, but it's fun to pull random things that you've never before mentioned to pull off an explosive escape or likewise

A long ranged comlink is a definite no: It's description is more of a backpack (thus, you couldn't wear this and a bag.) thus it couldn't be pulled out of a belt.

I like that you mention "liter of bacta" but forget the "liter of cola". Also, binders could conceivably fit under "recreation/entertainment"... *shifty eyes*

A long ranged comlink is a definite no: It's description is more of a backpack (thus, you couldn't wear this and a bag.) thus it couldn't be pulled out of a belt.

Eh, fair point. I'd missed the 'backpack' part of the writeup. Hey - when processing a couple hundred items, you start to skim descriptions after a while! :)

A technician with a cultural etiquette manual is breaks suspension of disbelief. You could probably drop that from the list and nobody would notice.

A long ranged comlink is a definite no: It's description is more of a backpack (thus, you couldn't wear this and a bag.) thus it couldn't be pulled out of a belt.

Eh, fair point. I'd missed the 'backpack' part of the writeup. Hey - when processing a couple hundred items, you start to skim descriptions after a while! :)

Nah thats totally fair. ^^ I'm just not meant to be on a forum right now so I threw out a very quick message. Hehehe

A technician with a cultural etiquette manual is breaks suspension of disbelief. You could probably drop that from the list and nobody would notice.

Counterpoint:

Edited by Desslok

Don`t any of you let your players flip destiny points for helpfull stuff in fitting situations, even without utility belt?

And with the utility belt talent, do you see it as a literal utility belt? Can`t you use it for bigger things that wouldn`t fit in the belt? Can`t utility belt just be the name of the talent and just one of many ways to flavour it?

Just wondering.

I use DP point flips for gear only for some really off the wall thing that PCs couldn't have fairly seen coming, I don't allow DPs to be used for being foolishly unprepared. Utility Belt I don't impose that restriction, but I do use the Talent, RAW, a small tool or a weapon of Limited Ammo 1.

I imagine the background motivation for the utility belt was rather tongue-in-cheek and as a GM I would be pretty permissive with it (yes, including Cultural Etiquette Manuals!), assuming the PC was playing a wisecracking Doctor Who/MacGyver character. I would hate for a powergamer to get their hands on this, though.

Don`t any of you let your players flip destiny points for helpfull stuff in fitting situations, even without utility belt?

And with the utility belt talent, do you see it as a literal utility belt? Can`t you use it for bigger things that wouldn`t fit in the belt? Can`t utility belt just be the name of the talent and just one of many ways to flavour it?

Just wondering.

Okay, I'm just going to cut and paste from the other thread my feelings on the differences:

The "Anyone can flip a point for an item" functionality seems more of a "The GM doesn't want to bring the game to a halt" more than them giving out free swag.

"Oh crap, the Mon Calamari is swimming away with The MacGuffin and none of us thought to bring rebreathers" verses "Lets see. . . Jelly Babies, yo-yo, Sonic Screwdriver, half eaten apple. . . ah! Here we go, forged documents!" One prevents stalling the game with busy work by forcing the players to go back to the ship, get the rebreathers and come back while the other is more functional (and fun).

And more importantly the GM can say No to Anyone Can Flip option at any time. Yes, he can say no to the Talent, but it harder when you have guidelines (at least harder without looking like an jerk)

Seeing as its found with both the Outlaw Tech and the Scout, this talent is probably bringing to mind that those types of characters would just have tons of stuff on and around them. Packs and pockets just loaded with garbage and spare parts and tools and on and on.

"Lockpick? I think I have one of those... Yep!"

Also:

A technician with a cultural etiquette manual is breaks suspension of disbelief. You could probably drop that from the list and nobody would notice.

Counterpoint:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sbt7iTWwzdo

The cultural etiquette manual is actually supposed to be helpful , right?

The cultural etiquette manual is actually supposed to be helpful , right?

Have you seen how non-personable and abrasive the 12th Doctor is? That IS an improvement!

It does say "small" tool. I spose you n yer GM can arm wrestle over that.

So... I could pull out a particularly derpy ewok?

It does say "small" tool. I spose you n yer GM can arm wrestle over that.

So... I could pull out a particularly derpy ewok?

Fraid I'd have to go literal on you over that one....

In my book, the distinction between the regular use of a Destiny token flip for "Deus ex Machina" and the Utility Belt talent is the following:

The purpose of the former is to advance the plot. If it doesn't, you can't do it - unless you have Utility Belt.

Great list, OP.

Edit: What I would like to know if you have people pay for the equipment they "bought offscreen and forgot to mention" in either case.

Edited by GranSolo

That's actually a brilliant summation! Utility Belt is at player whim, Point Flipage is a story point.

A destiny point can be flipped for things you could reasonably thought of before hand or in the area the character is in. IE you could flip a dp for a breath mask in a space station corridor. but not in the jungle. With utility belt talent you can still do it in the jungle.