What are some really good maze-core item combos?
I didn't just mean "good" as in "mechanically effective," but also good as in "cool" or "fun" or "flavorful."
Sadly, SirShua, it looks like only the level 20 paragon X-gen gun isn't analog. All the other projectile class guns with the automatic descriptor in the Core Rulebook don't appear to be compatible with maze-core tech since they are neither powered, nor technological items.
Bayonets, underslung grenade launchers, Rwby's sniper scythe, Gears of War chainsaw gun...so many amazing (and balanced) ideas completely undercut by unnecessary item restrictions.
So far, I've used/ seen..
laser rifle/shock caster. Long range rifle, short range, large aoe. Perfect infantry weapon.
Dragonglaive/whatever ranged. I've used laser rifles, diasporan snipers, and shock casters effectively. Depends on the build.
X-Gun/plasma cannon. One uses bullets, the other battery. Doubles your ammo supply, and gives a small aoe.
(X-gen guns are not analog, so it works. They probably have a secondary power supply to quickly feed bullets)
I am currently wondering about armor mods, and if you can combine them.
I don't see much point in maze core items that aren't weapons. But maybe I'm missing something. A swift action change is basically quick draw between two weapons, and is probably cheaper than two called fusions.
funny problem would be solar weapon plus whatever for me
... The worst part is that there technically seems to be no reason that doesn't work beyond the solar weapon not having a listed price, considering they're not considered analog weapons for whatever reason.
I think a great combo is any low level power weapon with a pulsecaster rifle. This give you two great things, one is the 40 charge battery and the second it it is only 150 to add some ranged capability because of the pulsecaster's cost is so low. This does assume that you are not using the sfs version of the pulsecaster rifle.
I love be the idea of combining a pulse gauntlet with a sonic pistol or street sweeper. End up with a sonic gauntlet that hurls sonic booms from your outstretched palm, or a sonic rifle with an extremely nasty rifle butt.
Reminds me of the pulse fist often used in the RED RISING book series.
You could do something similar with the electric weapons, rather than the sonic weapons too. Go all dark side on your enemies with technological force lightning from your finger tips.
Ravingdork, you're idea (which I love) brings up an interesting point, how does maze coring a pair of items effect their "handedness" for lack of a better term. For instance, can/when I maze core a plasma cannon which needs two hands with a battle glove/gauntlet which uses 1/no hands (depending on how you want to look at it) does my combined item need two hands when it is a plasma cannon , or 1/no hands? What about when it is a glove? It's easy when both items have the same, like a plasma sword and a pistol, but when you start mixing items with different handedness It gets messier.
Personally I think that the fact that the bulk goes up 1 regardless of what two items you combine seems to indicate that you'd have to use the worse "handedness" of the two, but that reduces the fun factor of maze cores by quite a bit actually.
What is a "Maze-Core" combo?
(Sorry: n00b question)
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Maze core is a way of combining two items added in the alien archive.
I suspect handedness remains the same as the component item since it's not called out as being any different.
For example, combining a one-handed weaponized glove with a two-handed longarm weapon might result in a weaponized "full arm sleeve." You can still hit people with the one hand in melee, but once you spend your swift action to switch it into "ranged mode" you need to brace your outstretched sleeved arm with your offhand if you don't want bad things to happen to your balance.
I envision the swift action basically being used to brace your feet or to "charge up" the energy required to fire ranged attacks, and your offhand would be used as a stabilizer for the powerful energy blast.
While in ranged mode, you would not be able to hold anything in the sleeved hand due to the excessive energy build up in your palm. :-D
I can get behind nay narrative tweaking to make the items whatever a person wants as ling as they follow the rules whatever those should be. I personally enjoy the idea of the transformative weapons that blur the lines of handedness. Then again I also think there should be a way to fire a two handed ranged weapon one handed (at penalties of course) and that doesn't exist currently.
Either way I think the safest bet is that you are correct and that in whichever form a maze core item is it retains the handedness of the item it is transformed into.
Realistically speaking, there's nothing stopping you from firing a two-handed weapon with one hand. It's just likely to miss, and possibly hurt you as well.
I could lay a large gun on a table and fire it with one finger if I wanted. Its just not advisable, for a myriad of reasons.
Correct, but the rules don't allow this.
I think a great combo is any low level power weapon with a pulsecaster rifle. This give you two great things, one is the 40 charge battery and the second it it is only 150 to add some ranged capability because of the pulsecaster's cost is so low. This does assume that you are not using the sfs version of the pulsecaster rifle.
There is an FAQ here SFS Clarification that clarifies the Pulsecaster rifle as having a 20 charge battery at one charge a shot. I know it is for Starfinder Society but the wording seems pretty clear that it will most likely be in the official errata as well.
I did the same thing and someone pointed that out to me on Ravingdorks original Maze Core thread.
Personally I want to know if I can combine Power Armor and Motorcycles with this. I also like the fact this allows you to make a Qualta blade from Farscape.
At level 1 an Azimuth Laser Rifle/Pulsecaster Maze Core Rifle is doable but very expensive. Great way to have your batteries do double duty and to give you 2 energy types in one gun.
Too bad there are no 'force' guns that do kinetic damage/go against DR but use batteries.
Maze core is a way of combining two items added in the alien archive.
Ah! Thank you!
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Is it obvious that an item is a maze-core? If it's not, it could be really handy to have, say, a small computer (L bulk) M-C'd with a disintegrator pistol (L bulk). If we accept that a maze-core of two L bulk items just turns into a bulk-1 item.
Handy to sneak in with your operative. Oh this? It's just my space stenographer's notebook.
EDIT: Oh right. I guess I mean, if a Glamered fusion isn't enough for you, I suppose.
I also like the fact this allows you to make a Qualta blade from Farscape.
Or perhaps that alien gun sword from Transformers: Age of Extinction?
Seriously though, how on earth did Ka D'Argo never blow his finders off? He almost always placed the along the bottom blade, IN FRONT OF the firing port.
I also like the fact this allows you to make a Qualta blade from Farscape.Or perhaps that alien gun sword from Transformers: Age of Extinction?
Seriously though, how on earth did Ka D'Argo never blow his finders off? He almost always placed the along the bottom blade, IN FRONT OF the firing port.
I haven't seen that movie, but that 'stock' looks like it isn't very comfortable. I hope for that dork's sake that that space claymore doesn't have a lot of recoil.
It was made for machine-aliens much larger than your typical human. He just happened to appropriate it while adventuring.
Taclash Numbing + Zero Pistol
Opening Volley bonus followed by a disarm maneuver with the whip. With the combo it leaves hand free to grab the weapon you disarm.
Nice!
Are there any good non-weapon combos out there?
Plasma Rifle/Plasma Doshko feels like it would be pretty flavorful.
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Is maze-core a cheap way to put Called or Glamered on a high-level weapon? If you want to be able to access your Devastation Blade or Plasma Cannon at the fancy dress ball, but don't want to shell out for Called or Glamered at level 7 or 8, just maze-core it with an Azimuth Laser Pistol for 385 credits, and throw the fusion on that.
Is maze-core a cheap way to put Called or Glamered on a high-level weapon? If you want to be able to access your Devastation Blade or Plasma Cannon at the fancy dress ball, but don't want to shell out for Called or Glamered at level 7 or 8, just maze-core it with an Azimuth Laser Pistol for 385 credits, and throw the fusion on that.
Wow. Methinks it would have to be in the appropriate form when so glamered, it other that, it seems RAW legit.
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It would be like an Old Spice commercial. "See this? It's a sandwich. Wait, now it's a laser pistol. Wait, NOW it's a dragonglaive!"
And yeah, definitely would have to be in cheapo form to activate, so no Calling back your rocket launcher after you get disarmed unless the baddie turns it back into a pistol.
That being said, would putting a control module for your weapon on your computer allow you to cause it to change forms remotely?
I don't see why that wouldn't work, Sober Caydenite.
It’s bulk + 1 of the bigger item. It would function like a pistol in that mode, but it wouldn’t look like one at all.
It’s bulk + 1 of the bigger item. It would function like a pistol in that mode, but it wouldn’t look like one at all.
Or maybe it does, and it's just really dense. You never know with the wide variety of textiles they've got in the future. Heck, for all we know, maze-core tech uses nanotechnology, allowing the item to change change density, as well as form and function.
Pretty sure you can do that with weapons already. Also, wouldn't you have to give up your prosthetic limb to use the alternate mode? That could be...inconvenient.
An accelerated starknife and grappler with the returning fusion would be a great way to emulate a "yoyo weapon" that has the bonus perk of latching onto walls for climbing or to ceilings for swinging about! :D
The best combo I've come up with so far has been maze-coring comms into my energy weapons - it basically means the weapon gains 1 Bulk and costs 10 more credits, and per the maze core rules, forces both of them to the higher capacity of the two, meaning I am currently carrying an 80 capacity laspistol/comm (which I never both switching to comm mode).