Conjugates
A conjugator (sometimes also called a schemateer or tooler) is a creature that completes unfinished schemas (called conjugates), using modified versions of their engineering tools at the kit level (referred to as your Conjugate-Tools).
Typically, it’s engineers and choppers that are the conjugators, however anyone who has ranks in an engineering skill (one of Cybernetics, Genetics, Machinery, Materials, Medicine, Munitions, Neuronetics or Robotics) and the corresponding Conjugate technique could be a conjugator.
A conjugate is a schema template. In essence, it's not quite a schema, it requires finishing or completing by the conjugator, using the conjugate toolkit appropriate to the engineering skill, before it can become a full schema. Once it’s a full schema, it can be activated and built into an artefact and used. The process of completing the conjugate, and activating the resulting schema, typically takes a main-action in combat, but some can take less or more time.
The conjugate-tools are assembled by the conjugator themselves, and it is assumed that they are automatically ranked in the tool’s usage. When completing conjugates, they usually also need to use the tools of the engineering skill corresponding to the conjugate. This alignment between the engineering forte, the corresponding Conjugate technique, and the appropriate tool kits, are together known as an industry. A conjugator in a given industry will both have, and know how to use, a limited number of conjugates, and they have the mental reserves to devote a limited number of focus points on individual conjugations. All of these values increase with increasing conjugate simple modifier.
The following formulations show how conjugators gain and use conjugates by their rank in a Conjgate technique.
congugates known = 1 + R(Conjugate)
With a single rank in a Conjugate skill, the conjugator knows two conjugates. Therefore, if you have a rank in Conjugate (Materials) and another in Conjugate (Munitions) then you will know two Materials conjugates and two Munitions conjugates.
congugate max fp (spend/main-action) = R(Conjugate)
With a single rank in a Conjugate technique, the conjugator can devote 1fp to any one conjugation. Therefore, if you have a rank in Conjugate (Materials) then you can devote 1fp to any Material conjugation. If you have 3 ranks in Conjugate (Neuronetics), you can spend up to 3fp on any Neuronetics conjugation that you know.
Conjugate Industries
As we have already mentioned, conjugates fall into industries that correspond to the engineering skills, being: Cybernetics, Genetics, Machinery, Materials, Medicine, Munitions, Neuronetics and Robotics.
In order to conjugate in that industry, you need at least 1 rank in the appropriate engineering skill, and at least 1 rank in the Conjugate technique that falls under it. To actually perform the conjugation, you take a main-action, re-action, or longer, and you also need the appropriate conjugate-tools on you, and not lost or damaged. For example, to conjugate in the Robotics industry, you need:
M(Robotics:Conjugate) + Robo-Conjugate-Tools
You acquire the qualification in Robo-Conjugate-Tools, when you get your first rank in Conjugate (Robotics), so we don’t normally include the Robo-Conjugate-Tools term, but it does serve as a reminder that you need the toolset.
Most conjugates, when completed and activated, have effects that are either instantaneous in nature, or are temporary. Genetic conjugates are the exception here, in that the nanobots are biological in nature and can result in mutations that are mostly permanent. These genetic conjugates, often need to be reversed or damage occurs.
Imposed Saves
Many conjugates have effects that impose saves on your opponents. As for any other save that targets a skill, the imposed save has the form:
imp(sv,Skill,8+M*) or (some effect)
The save has a base Challenge (C) of 8 with your modifier plus the fp you spend boosting it.
If the creature you are targeting (or in the area of the effect of your conjugate) does not have the listed skill, then you must overcome its Complexity Challenge (CC) with a targeted roll.
chk(CC) = d20 +M* then (some effect)
Conjugate Effect Roll (CER)
Many of the conjugates listed below have effects that either damage opponents, heal allies, reduce damage done to allies or disrupt the ongoing effects of other combat conjugators. To determine the amount of damage, healing, or damage reduction, you need to make what is termed a Conjugate Effect Roll (CER).
The Conjugate Effect Roll (CER) is based on the number of focus points you used in using the skill acting as a multiplier of d6 rolls.
fp•d6+M(some effect)
Once you have rolled the dies, add the modifier on the appropriate Conjugate technique.
In an effect from a Neuronetics conjugate where your
- Conjugate (Neuronetics) technique modifier is 5
- you are spending 2 fp on the conjugate The Conjugate Effect Roll is: fp•d6+M = 2•d6+5
So you roll 2d6 and add 5 for the resulting score.
The score achieved with the Conjugate Effect Roll (CER) may be halved or doubled, based on circumstance. For example, where a targeted creature succeeds in a sv(Agility) from a damaging area effect, the CER is often halved.