Arcanamiruim Sage and Spell Chips

[jabberwoky]

Assume for the moment that I am a Mystic with the Arcanamirium Sage archetype, and is high enough level to use the Spell Gem Manipulation ability. Can I use spell chips instead of spell gems?

Pact Worlds, pg. 183 wrote:

Spell Gem Manipulation (Su)- 6th Level

Once per day, while holding a spell gem in your hand, you can cast the spell encoded within the gem using a spell slot of the same level or higher, just as though you were casting one of your spells known. The spell must be on your class’s spell list and cannot require expensive materials as part of its casting. If the spell normally requires an expenditure of Resolve Points to cast, you must expend the same number of Resolve Points to use this ability. Using a spell gem this way doesn’t expend the magic encoded within the gem. If you aren’t a spellcaster, once per day you can instead cast a spell from a spell gem as though you were a spellcaster (expending the magic normally), as long as the spell gem’s item level isn’t higher than your character level.

You also gain access to augury, using the same rules as for gaining access to identify in the magic item scholar alternate class feature.

Starfinder Core Rulebook, pg. 215 wrote:

Spell Chip

Price: 110% of component spell gem
It is possible to create spell gems (see page 224) in the form of chips that can be slotted into a computer system. A user capable of utilizing an equivalent spell gem with access to the computer in which such spell chips are installed can cast the related spells whenever controlling the computer and gains a +2 circumstance bonus to any skill check involving these spells. Spell chips cost 110% of a spell gem (page 224) with the same spells. When a spell is expended from a spell chip, the chip itself is not destroyed, and the spells can be reloaded into the spell chip for 90% of the normal price of a new spell chip.

By RAW, it appears that since Spell Chips are a type of Spell Gem, they should be able to be used with Spell Gem Manipulation if the chips are held in their hand and do not require expensive materials as part of the casting. Is this interpretation correct?

[Garretmander]

I would say that a spell chip is the same as a spell gem for abilities and prerequisites.

[Pantshandshake]

I would say they're different things that have different purposes and are not interchangeable.

I mean, it doesn't seem like spell chips are meant to be cast from your hand, they have to go into a computer and then you use the computer to cast the spell on the chip.

You're basically saying there's no difference between me writing something on a piece of paper so you can read it and writing something on a CD or a floppy disk so a computer can read it.

[Belafon]

Sure looks like it. Per your quote, Spell Chips are

CRB page 215 wrote:

...spell gems in the form of chips...

I don't know why you'd want to, though. The whole point of the Arcanamirium Sage ability is that you don't expend the spell gem. If you buy spell chips, you're increasing your cost by 10%.

[jabberwoky]

Belafon wrote:

Sure looks like it. Per your quote, Spell Chips are

CRB page 215 wrote:

...spell gems in the form of chips...

I don't know why you'd want to, though. The whole point of the Arcanamirium Sage ability is that you don't expend the spell gem. If you buy spell chips, you're increasing your cost by 10%.

True, but spell chips are reusable and multiple spell chips can be accessed in one hand, whereas spell gems are not reusable, and only one can be held in a hand at a time.

Spell chips are a module for computers, so if a Mystic creates a Tier 1 computer with the miniaturized upgrade, the computer has a bulk of L, meaning it can be installed into an Easy Access Port (armor upgrade), meaning it can be accessed whenever you have a free hand. And because it is a handheld computer, you can plug it directly into your nervous system with a Standard Datajack, so you can always have access to the computer, and the modules. And since there is no upper limit on how many modules you can place inside a computer (by RAW at least) you could theoretically have instant access to an infinite number of spell chips at your disposal, provided you have the credits to buy them, and that your tier 1 computer is not destroyed or hacked.

Whereas you need to physically draw out a spell gem (meaning you need to get the Quick Draw feat if you want to save on action economy) to use it.

And the Arcanamirium Sage ability is only usable once per day. Using a spell gem without that ability destroys it, whereas the spell chip isn't destroyed, and you can refill it with a new spell for only 90% of the cost.