Spell Delivery Items in SF2E

[Perpdepog]

So, we know that PF2E has scrolls--single-use spells, wands--daily extra slots of a fixed spell, and staves--charge pools to use on a flexible number of extra spell slots.
Those cover a fair amount of ground spell-wise, so I'm wondering how folks think spell gems, spellchips, and to some extent spell amps are going to work? Do you think they'll act the same, just renamed, or do you think there is room for more effects in a futuristic spell delivery system?

One niche I'd like to see something like a spellchip or something fill is application of spellshaping to a spell. We have wands that do this already, but you need to stick a fixed spell into the wand beforehand; there isn't, to my knowledge, a consumable that lets you apply a spellshape to a spell of a given level, for example. (Well, I suppose there are spell catalysts, now I think on it.) I also recognize that, even if we did get something new in this arena it might need to be fairly limited, otherwise it might devalue spellshape feats, which have already got pretty stiff competition sometimes.

I'd also like to see something like the inverse of a spell catalyst. Rather than a consumable that grants an effect, you have a permanent item that applies an effect to, say, any spell gem you slot into it. I think synergizing spell-delivering items with other equipment is one area where SF2E can really differentiate itself from its fantasy cousin, and depending on the flavor it could really hammer home the marriage of magic and technology. Something like a spelldrive, a more technomagical kind of wand that can have a shaping chip installed in it to alter the spell it, and only it, can cast, for example.

What other thoughts have folks got?

[Zoken44]

A spell Drive. It is a long tech defice (shaped like a staff for the same reason the save button is a floppy disk). Spell chips, which can be used to cast single use spells, can be plugged into the spell drive to basically make a modular staff. the item level of the spell drive determines how man chips it can select.

[Zoken44]

And a mod for energy weapons: A spell sling. In put a spell chip to basically turn your fire arm into a wand, cast a spell from a spell chip once per day. Changing chips is a one action activity that can be done at any time. Technically the Spell sling can cast be used to cast a second spell in a day, but if it does it consumes the spell chip, and is broken, and will need to be repaired.

[Driftbourne]

In my game, I've built a whole system around a wand with a handle are pistols, and staffs with a sight and trigger are long arms. Both use spell chips and batteries. The spell mod versions don't store spells but let you cast spells through them to mod the spells, and uses spell chips to store the mod and batteries to amp the spell. great way to put casting a spell into "cast gun."

[Driftbourne]

In my game, I've built a whole system for Starfinder around PF2e style wands with a handle are pistols and PF2e style staffs with a sight and trigger are long arms. Both use spell chips and batteries. The spell mod versions don't store spells but let you cast spells through them to mod the spells and use spell chips to store the mod and batteries to amp the spell. great way to put casting a spell into "cast gun."

[Calgon-3]

Why can't spells be transmitted over computer networks?

Why can't spells be transmitted as modulation on specially designed laser pistol (i.e. a spellgun)?

Spell chips could be single use items encoded to fire a spell once, like a scroll, then loaded into magazines that you shoot with your spellgun. Changing spells is just a matter of loading different spell chips into the magazine.

Can spells be mass produced, or do technical spell items need to be crafted one by one by technomancers?

[Calgon-3]

or put spells in the upgrade slots of your armor?

[Driftbourne]

Random thought on magic and technology. Species that live entirely under water would likely have used magic in place of electricity in tech, water and electrical tech don't mix well. Even today we have lots of electric tech items made to be used under water but we didn't have to make them under water as well.