This optional rules module covers the hunt for the lost technological wonders of mankind’s golden past, so central to the Adeptus Mechanicus but also pursued by other organisations and individuals of all stripes, as part of the game.
Fragments of techarcana – from partial blueprints and old manuscripts describing their theoretical function to incomplete or non-functional samples and spareparts – can be acquired by characters during play or by making the appropriate choice when gaining the Lavishly Equipped talent.
To try an (re-)assemble a techarcanum, characters need to possess at least two of its fragments, as well as one or more skills (most often Techcraft and Forbidden Lore [Archeotech]).
If they meet these pre-requisites, they may make an attempt between missions (taking up the time and effort they would otherwise need to use a facility on their base). The attempt requires a 9+ roll on a D6 to succeed, the target number is lowered by 1 for every fragment after the second which the characters have acquired. If the attempt succeeds, all the fragments are consumed and the characters now possess a complete example of the arcanum. If the attempt fails, one fragment is consumed.
Some techarcana are added as facilities to a base, others can be carried by the retinue on their missions. If a retinue carrying a techarcanum becomes a casualty, the techarcanum is considered destroyed, leaving only one fragment.
Sample techarcana:
Advanced Clone Tanks
Requires Techcraft, Medicae, Forbidden Lore (Archeotech).
Your base gains a Cadet School (career of the character that needs replacement) facility.
Biowafer Printer
Requires Techcraft, Language (Binary), Forbidden Lore (Archeotech).
You gain the Loyal Retainer (2 Imperial robots) talent and your base gains a facility, that allows you to make a Techcraft test to replace any robot retainer lost during a mission.
Dreadnought Crypt
Requires Techcraft, Medicae, Forbidden Lore (Archeotech).
Your base gains a facility that allows characters to give a dead or critically wounded Space Marine character the Combat Pilot talent. The talent must be used to pilot a dreadnought and the character can no longer leave the dreadnought. If the dreadnought is ever destroyed, the character is irrevocably killed.
Portable Voidshield Generator
Requires Techcraft, Forbidden Lore (Archeotech).
If taken along on a mission, the entire retinue is subject to the Slow talent due to the size and weight of the generator. The retinue is protected by a single voidshield. It can be repaired as normal.
Psi-Lens
Requires Psyniscience, Forbidden Lore (Archeotech).
If you have one or more Psykers in the retinue, you may choose one of two effects per turn – you either may use two psychic powers instead of the normal one, or, if you use only one power, you may double its range. A retinue carrying a Psi-Lens may not use its Psychic Save even if it has one.
Rejuvenator
Requires Techcraft, Medicae, Forbidden Lore (Archeotech).
Your base gains a Rejuvenator facility.
Stasis Casket
Requires Techcraft, Forbidden Lore (Archeotech).
If taken along on a mission, the entire retinue is subject to the Slow talent due to the size and weight of the casket. If the retinue becomes a casualty and at least one character escapes unharmed, they may place one other character who would have died in the Casket. Once taken back to base, the character can be revived and is instead wounded.
Titan Cradle
Requires Techcraft.
Your base gains a Barracks (Titans, 1,000 points) facility.
Transatmospheric Targeting Augury
Requires Techcraft, Navigate (Stellar), Forbidden Lore (Archeotech).
Only usable on voidships, where it counts as a facility. Your ship gains a When conducting orbital bombardment, your strikes only scatter once and Hit results do not scatter. If you roll a Misfire result, the techarcanum is destroyed.
Vortex Bomb
Requires Techcraft, Forbidden Lore (Archeotech).
The retinue gains an additional attack that works exactly like a titan’s Vortex Missile, only with a range of only 10cm. Like the missile, this is a one-shot weapon. When fired, it does not leave behind a fragment.