Can a Kalo use a Gill Sheath implant to breathe outside of the water?

[Ascalaphus]

So most playable aquatic races are amphibious, but Kalo are not. And while armor can keep you breathing for a while, I want a backup plan for when it runs out. Looking at implants I noticed the Gill Sheath and I wondered if this lets a Kalo breathe outside the water?

Gill Sheath wrote:

Source Starfinder Core Rulebook pg. 211
Item Level 1; Price 95; System Lungs
An external lining striated with oxygen-filtering nodules coats the outside of your lungs. If you breathe in water, it filters into the lining, where the nodules extract the oxygen and deposit it into your lungs. This lets you breathe underwater or in the air. You still exhale normally.

Or does anyone know another way to survive outside the water indefinitely?

[BigNorseWolf]

Bag of holding full of water and an oxygen candle?

[HammerJack]

Connection inkling and learning life bubble, then casting it every few days?

[Pantshandshake]

I probably wouldn’t allow it to work, given that a completely aquatic creature doesn’t really have lungs to attach these to. I also generally don’t like when you can remove a negative racial quality for pocket change.

[Dracomicron]

Pantshandshake wrote:

I probably wouldn’t allow it to work, given that a completely aquatic creature doesn’t really have lungs to attach these to. I also generally don’t like when you can remove a negative racial quality for pocket change.

Is not being able to breathe water a "negative racial quality" for non-Kalo?

It absolutely works. You pay 95 credits to breathe in both water and air. I don't see a particular reason to screw over Kalo. They're already using their lung augmentation slot to do it. Armory is pretty clear that everyone should have the same access to the gear.

Quote:

This lets you breathe underwater or in the air.

Going by the strict text (which you have to do for Society play), this is 100% evidence that a Kalo can breathe out of the water with this augmentation.

[Pantshandshake]

It depends on the context. For this post, I assume the game is taking place out of the water. If you play a race that can’t breathe where the campaign takes place, that seems like a negative to me. Other races not being able to breathe underwater becomes a negative when they’re expected to adventure underwater for a significant amount of time.

For me, this is in the same neighborhood as ‘Can I play a drow with a 5 credit pair of sunglasses to negate light blindness?’ The forum had a ton of posts going both ways, and then I believe we got a substantially more expensive piece of tech to get around light blindness (from Armory? Or an AP? I forget the details.)

Strictly speaking, the text says you’re adding a layer of tissue that can process the oxygen out of water to the outside of your lungs, letting you breathe in both air and water. If you’re going by the entire text, then what you’re saying is ‘If I add gills to these gills, the new DoubleGills™ work like lungs.’

But then, I don’t play Society, and my group doesn’t generally even play any of the APs. So, strictly speaking, in my almost 100% homebrew Starfinder games, I would not allow this to work, but YMMV depending on group, DM, playstyle, and game universe.

[Hmm]

Pantshandshake --

Kalos are a GM boon race, a reward for GMing Starfinder at Organized Play conventions. It would be sad if your reward race could not be used in 95% of the Starfinder society adventures.

DoubleGills™ for the win!

Hmm

[HammerJack]

For what it's worth, I think 95% is a pretty high estimate of the percentage of scenarios where you have to go too many days before cleaning your tank. Er... recharging your suit.

Though I was considering using a Black Heart on mine to get an extra emergency buffer. Partially because I had not considered double gills as an option.

[Dracomicron]

Double gills for double krills.

Or something.

[The Ragi]

Aeon Stones, Iridescent Spindle
Source Starfinder Core Rulebook pg. 222
Level 2; Price 740; Bulk —
Description: This aeon stone sustains you by negating the need to breathe.

A bit more expensive, but no room for arguments.

[Dracomicron]

The Ragi wrote:

Aeon Stones, Iridescent Spindle

Source Starfinder Core Rulebook pg. 222
Level 2; Price 740; Bulk —
Description: This aeon stone sustains you by negating the need to breathe.

A bit more expensive, but no room for arguments.

Always struck me as a needlessly dangerous thing to rely on. You're out there in a deep sea trench or in outer space, happily not breathing. Then some jerk snatches your Aeon stone and you suddenly have an unwelcome need to supply your blood with oxygen.

[The Ragi]

At least your armor environmental protection will be fully charged.

You could always get an Aeon Guard armor to store the aeon stone safely... well, not "always", but it is possible.

[Ravingdork]

I'm inclined to agree that the augmentation would work fine.

[Xenocrat]

If you've got access to Azlanti equipment there are options to avoid having your aeon stones orbiting your head.