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I really like the idea of a mass effect omni tool https://masseffect.fandom.com/wiki/Omni-tools being used as the engineers custom rig (minus weapons function obviously. Considering you can somehow have a custom rig as an implant in your brain but still use it to make and modify things. I think this would be ok as a wrist mounted device (smart watch) but I'd like to see if others think it'd be ok as by the rules it must be in you, in your armour or handheld and this is a grey area in the handheld option.
So two questions ...
1) Would you allow a mechanics custom rig to function as a mass effect omni tool with the "core unit" being a wrist mounted watch type device.
2) Would you allow a custom rig to be upgraded with extra features provided the mechanic purchased them and they didn't count for the free replacememt.
For example buying a tier 4 computer or an x-ray scanner and including that computer/scanners functions as part of the rig with the understanding if the rig is destroyed and needs to be replaced you ONLY replace the base rig for free and need to buy a new computer/scanner to install into the new rig?
You can install a custom rig as a cybernetic augmentation to your arm. Either that, or just use the same rules as handheld in terms of drawing it from your pack, but 'drawing' the custom rig is freeing your hand and turning it on.
So, I would allow an omnitool, since you can basically make it in the rules already.
But I wouldn't allow combo items directly.
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For me, the answer is "Yes" and "Yes". The omni-tool is pretty clearly one of the inspirations for the Mechanic class, at least to me. Likewise, adding non-combat utility seems a matter of flavor more than game balance.
That said, I wouldn't allow the player to 'add' a computer to their custom rig, because the custom rig already *is* a computer. This shouldn't be an issue, since IIRC the custom rig's default stats already place it roughly equal to any computer they could legally purchase, anyway.
It duplicates a lot of the functions but I don't see the custom rig as a computer nor do I think its intended to be one as shown by things like . . .
If your custom rig is damaged, destroyed, lost, or stolen, you can kitbash a new one from any engineering kit, hacking kit, or other technological toolkit, reconfiguring the materials into a new custom rig with 1 hour of work. You can have only one custom rig at a time. If you create a new custom rig, your old one functions as a normal toolkit of whatever type you made it from and can no longer be used with your mechanic tricks.There's also the fact you only get certain abilities later and in a restricted format e.g.
Additionally, you can use your custom rig to communicate over an encrypted channel with your ship at a range encompassing a planet and its close orbit, allowing you to remotely pilot your starship from point to point on the same planet or to and from orbit (as well as use the encrypted communications functions of your expert and advanced rig at the same range). If you have a drone, you can issue commands to or directly control your drone over an encrypted channel at the same range.
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While most computers have access to remote systems and local infospheres, this connection does not necessarily extend to other devices. A computer that controls a comm unit can use that comm unit to send and receive messages but cannot use it to control devices. The range upgrade provides a secure, remote connection to a device which allows it to be controlled from a distance. Without this upgrade, a computer must be physically connected to the devices it controls with its control modules. Range I allows the computer to control a device wirelessly within 100 feet, and costs 5 credits (this includes the adjustments to both the computer and the connected device). Extending this range to 1 mile (Range I) costs 50 credits, while increasing it to planetwide (Range III) costs 100 credits (requiring an infosphere connection for both the computer and device).
Similar but the computer is any object you have a control module for and costs 100 credits for it while the control rig is only ship and drone and not till lvl 19 for a range of planetwide. Admitedly the lower levels of rig have a wider range but its still a long delay before you can use that ability and by the time you get it you'd have probably bought a computer with ship control at least with a planetwide range anyway. Same with coutermeasures the lockout/wipe you get at 19th level have special bonus rules only for a mechanic but the flip side is you don't GET lockout or wipe until 19th level a computer you could buy them (not that you'd want to) at 1st level.
Then you have the other abilities a computer can play movies, create documents, play games, browse the web, use spell chips, etc, etc. A custom rig is you have the appropriate toolkit for any engineer/computer use check you make. That's not necessarily the same thing. Take the following . . .
You can operate, manipulate, and hack into computer systems. If you don’t have physical access to a computer system’s user interface, you must use a hacking kit to access and manipulate the system.
A custom rig will count as a hacking kit for this check but I'm not sure it'd work as a computer to access/view the information you retrieve.
Quite possibly just my personal interpretation but I see the custom rig as a toolkit that can be used for any engineering/computer use checks but not a computer you can use for other things. Compare it to my laptop allows me to do all the computer stuff like post here but to assemble a new relay rack at work I need screwdrivers, screws, strippers, crimpers, solder, soldering iron, drill, etc, etc. The custom rig provides all those tools but not the laptop.