Steam Mail

Artificial limbs are known as steam mail. They comprise many intricate parts but relay on one major component, the nerve synapse.

The steam mail comprises three main parts, excluding the nerve synapse. The main part of the artificial limb is the structure, that is made up of long bars that represent bones. These bars are aligned like a frame so that the other components can easily connect to it or reside within it. The gears and pulleys reside within the structure and the plating connects to the outside of the structure. Think of the structure as the bones, the gears and pulleys as the muscles and the plating as the skin.

The plating comprises solid material that bolt onto the structure to offer protection to the rest of the parts. The gears and pulleys connect the limb together and react to the impulses sent from the nerve synapse.

Accessories

Steam mail has all kinds of different accessories you can get installed. There are many features, like hidden weapons and steam compartments, besides enhanced agility and might, that make this product unique. Steam Mail accessories can also be upgraded.

Steam Mail Weight

When a steam mail is attached to the body, its weight is added to the character’s physical body weight. It is only added to the carry capacity if the limb is being carried and is not attached to the body.

Nerve Synapse

Power Sources

As in the name, Steam Mail is powered by steam, or steam canisters to be specific. While the general functional use of the Steam Mail does not require steam, using any of its special properties does. The size of the canister depends on the limb that was replaced, with arms using small canisters and legs using medium ones.

Steam Mail Properties

Accessory Slots (Acc.)

This is the number of accessory slots the steam mail can have.

Each accessory requires a specific number of slots to be installed. It is required to upgrade your steam mail to unlock more accessory slots.

Burst Bonus

The bonus in this column of the steam mail table increases the power source’s capacity by the indicated amount.

Durability (DU)

Just like all equipment, steam mail has durability. This is important to remember because if a one is rolled when using your steam mail, it loses one durability and can break if reduced to zero. One example would be if you were making a strength check to lift a heavy object and rolled a one.

This does not include attacking with a weapon when rolling a one (unless using martial arts). The durability damage applies to the weapon and not the steam mail. This includes hidden weapons except for arms (guns) as they are built into the Steam Mail.

Power Source (PS)

This is the size of the power source the steam mail limb can hold if it is upgraded with a power source compartment.

Types of Steam Mail

So, you seem to have lost a limb, or you’re one of those people who loves technology and lopped your own limbs off just to get your hands on some steam mail. Well, hopefully you have enough coins because this stuff gets expensive. After all, it is made with tiny parts, energetics, and an insane amount of genius design. Plus, it’s made special just for you.

Each company has their own models of steam mail with different stats and even their own unique names. The descriptions of each limb listed below are generalized information that is not specific to one company.

Arm

The steam mail arm is attached to the shoulder and is the whole arm and hand. Arms can hold a small power source and can have accessories installed.

Foot

This steam mail is a replacement for a missing foot. It cannot hold any power source or accessories regardless if it has been upgraded. Upgrading a foot only increases its durability.

Hand

This steam mail is a replacement for a missing hand. It cannot hold any power source or accessories regardless if it has been upgraded. Upgrading a hand only increases its durability.

Hook

A curved piece of metal with a pointed tip. The hook is a basic inexpensive alternative to a hand. Only manufactured by Leg O’ Less.

Leg

The steam mail leg is attached at the hip and can hold one medium power source. Legs can have accessories installed and include a foot. Except for Leg O’ Less’s Peg model, which does not include a foot as it is specifically designed to be a peg leg.

Accessories

Steam mail accessories are installed based on how many available accessory slots the steam mail has. Each type of accessory requires several slots.

Accessory Slots (Acc.)

The number of slots the accessory requires when being installed.

Bursts

The number of bursts from a power source it takes to activate and deactivate an accessory. For example, it costs two bursts to use a hidden blade, one to extend it out and one to retract it back into your arm.

Types of Accessories

Hidden Blade

A small blade that can be stored in the forearm. It can be extended out with a single burst and retracted with another burst. The blade extends out of the underside of the wrist. The power source is stored in the forearm with the blade.

Hidden Chain Blade

A small retractable blade attached to a ten-foot chain. Using a burst, the blade can be shot out of the steam mail up to the length of the chain. If you impale a target with the blade, you can spend an additional burst to reel them to you using an opposed guts check. This weapon requires two bursts to use, one to shoot the blade and a second to reel it back in.

Hidden Claws

Three small sharp blades that are retractable with a burst. The claws extend out of the top of the hand. It takes one burst to extend the claws and an additional to retract them.

Hidden Short Arm

A specially designed revolver that fires a single Short Bullet out of your palm. This accessory requires a full arm as it requires room for the ammunition, gun parts, and power source. The steam arm can hold five bullets before needing to be reloaded.

If you roll a one while attacking with this weapon, not only will it cause durability damage, but it will also jam the arm. This arm can be upgraded in the same way as other arms.

Hidden Shield

A retractable buckler that, when extended out, offers you extra protection. The buckler can be upgraded in the same way other shields can be upgraded. This shield cannot be disarmed.

Hidden Short Sword

A retractable blade that, when triggered, quickly extends out of your hand. The blade exits on top of your hand, allowing you to still hold objects. This can only be installed in a full or half arm. This blade can be upgraded in the same way as other weapons.

Lock Pick Finger

The tip of a finger hide lock pick that, when opened, can be used in the same way standard lock pick can be used. It starts at novice pick and can be exchanged for higher quality pick but cost an additional 2gc as they must be customized to fit in your finger.

Power Port

Power ports can increase either your agility or might statistic equal to the grade of the upgraded steam mail. However, the extra boost only lasts for ten seconds and costs two bursts. The boosts to your statistics do not stack but can be used one after another until your power source is depleted.

Additional Compartment

A hidden small or medium compartment that can hold items or an additional power source. They are a little larger than a small or medium power source. Anything held inside the compartment is hidden unless someone specifically is aware of steam mail accessory. A small compartment takes up one accessory slot and is placed in an arm. A medium compartment takes up two accessory slots in a leg.

Shield Attachment

This special attachment locks any shield onto your arm, preventing it from being removed. When activated, any shield you are holding with your steam mail arm cannot be disarmed for as long as your power source has fuel. Each attempt to disarm the shield that would have been successful isn’t and instead you spend two bursts.

Weapon Attachment

A specially designed attachment that prevents you from dropping your weapon or being disarmed. When this attachment is activated, it prevents your weapon from being disarmed or dropped. Each attempt to disarm the weapon that would have been successful isn’t and instead you spend two bursts.

Weapon Transform

This advanced type of accessory can only be installed into steam mail arms and requires a completely new arm to be made.

When activated through a burst, the forearm and hand physically transform into a weapon. per transformation and can be done as a free action. By transforming, the hand is replaced, and the arm is extended into the weapon's shape. The arm can transform into either a sword or a club. The sword deals 1d8 slashing or piercing damage and the club deals 1d6 blunt.