From tiny friendly orbs to autonomous death machines, drones are simple mechanized creatures that dutifully carry out their digital orders. They may be shiny and new fresh from the package, or they may be sentinel drones patrolling long abandoned facilities on forgotten worlds, collecting data for creators that no longer exist.

Most drones are linked to an accompanying device, typically a datapad or a wrist mounted data screen, that acts as the drone’s control device that requires the use of a free hand to operate. A creature wielding a drone’s control device can use a bonus action to command the drone to perform a simple action such as “attack”, “scout and report back”, or other easily processed tasks which it does to the best of its ability on its next turn in initiative which is always immediately after its controller’s initiative.

If a drone’s control device is destroyed (AC 14, 10 hit points) or the signal between a drone and its control device is jammed the drone becomes confused as per its malfunction feature.

Equipment, such as armor and drone ports, and some class features may alter the nature of a drone’s control, such as allowing for actionless verbal commands or other benefits or alterations to drone controlling. The statistics for all drones are detailed in Chapter 9: Alien Bestiary.

Containers don’t change much in their shapes and sizes as technology advances, but they do get lighter, stronger, and sometimes less expensive. Containers marked with ^* are ruggedized, with an AC of 15 and 30 hit points, and shield their contents in a hard vacuum.

Arguably the key technologies of not only the modern world, but most science fiction ones as well, communications and computing are all about data: generating, transmitting, interpreting, manipulating, storing, and concealing it as the need arises. 

Data Wafer. Data wafers are miniature storage devices about the size of a fingernail. The standard capacity is 1 petabyte.
Holders in the forms of rings, pendants, and other jewelry are often used to avoid losing them.

Personal Communicator (ICD). Individual communication devices are very common in most societies. A typical device allows its user to communicate by video, audio, or through text, can connect to whatever society-wide network exists, and runs a selection of useful programs. A personal communicator is typically a small device controlled with hand gestures, but it may take the form of a heads-up device that combines a monocle or visor with an earpiece, a wristwatch, or even a badge worn as a pin on the lapel. 

Portable Computing Device (PCD). These devices are designed for scenarios where a larger viewable area and/or a bit more processing power than an ICD is desirable. They may be a folding device with a separate keyboard or other control panel and screen, or they may look like a giant ICD (this latter type is sometimes referred to as a datapad). In some worlds, they may also be worn on the arm, generating a user interface out of projected light that can be interacted with by multiple appendages at once.

Signal Jammer. These devices interfere with the signals generated by wireless networks of various types. Signal jammers are usually found in the possession of militaries and clandestine organizations, but criminals, security services, and hackers employ them as well. The listed cost is for a small version that fits in a backpack or briefcase, but larger ones that require vehicles or even towers to employ also exist. The portable version covers roughly 4 city blocks, making it impossible to get a wireless network signal in or out of the area while it is active. Setting the jammer up takes a minute. Once it is set up, activating or deactivating it takes an action. 

Workstation Computing Device (WCD). Dispensing with portability entirely, these larger-scale computers are used on desktops or ship’s terminals. They have a lot of processing power and are favored by those who need it like engineers, programmers, gamers, hackers, and those responsible for creating media such as video and music. 

Weapons and armor are not all there is to survival — effective medical care, reliable communication, or the right cyberware at the right time can all mean the difference between living to share stories at the end of the day or being sent home in a small box. While most of the items found in Adventurer’s Guide are still available if one knows where to look, many of them have modernized versions listed here. The following section describes general and specialized gear commonly used by voidrunners.

Technology advancements do not bypass the humble garment, and never had. Throughout time people have sought to make their clothing more suited to the way they live their lives, and with the improvement of technology, more specialized garments emerge.

Diver's Suit. This kit includes a wetsuit, swim fins, an oxygen tank, and a diving mask with rebreather. It allows a diver to stay submerged for an hour before needing to change oxygen tanks and gives them advantage on Athletics checks related to swimming. Light armor can be worn with a diving suit, without issue but medium armor tends to make swimming exhausting, requiring a DC 13 Constitution save every minute to avoid gaining a level of fatigue. Heavy armor generally sinks the character wearing it, rendering swimming impossible.

Ghillie Suit. Favored by snipers and others highly-reliant on stealth in natural surroundings, a ghillie suit is made up of shaggy-looking fabric strips hanging from a mesh suit. It makes the wearer look like a pile of loose vegetation when still. A ghillie suit only works in the environment it was designed for, but in that environment, it grants advantage on Stealth checks. It is worn over armor.

Optical Camouflage Cloak. This hooded cloak contains an array of sensors and a fiber optic mesh that mimics the look of whatever the user is standing in front of. It does not grant true invisibility, but the wearer has advantage on Stealth checks based on sight and can use the Hide action even when directly observed. The user has a passive Stealth score of 17 even in open environments and bright light as long as the cloak is active. It is worn over armor.

Tactical Clothing. Favored by militaries, emergency services personnel, and field repairmen alike, this clothing comes in a variety of colors and camouflage patterns and has a large number of convenient pockets to keep equipment in. A camouflaged version grants an expertise die to Stealth checks in a corresponding terrain type.
It includes pants and a shirt worn underneath armor and a vest which fits over body armor, allowing the wearer to keep up to 8 lbs. of items with individual weights of no more than 1 lb. easy at hand. Retrieving an item stored this way can be done as a bonus action or action.

Weapons and armor are not all there is to survival — effective medical care, reliable communication, or the right cyberware at the right time can all mean the difference between living to share stories at the end of the day or being sent home in a small box. While most of the items found in Adventurer’s Guide are still available if one knows where to look, many of them have modernized versions listed here. The following section describes general and specialized gear commonly used by voidrunners.

Clothing . It is assumed that all voidrunners have basic clothing, or the uniform of an organization to which they belong. For those who wish to spend a little more, the following options are available.

Communications and Computing . Arguably the key technologies of not only the modern world, but most science fiction ones as well, communications and computing are all about data: generating, transmitting, interpreting, manipulating, storing, and concealing it as the need arises. 

Containers . Containers don’t change much in their shapes and sizes as technology advances, but they do get lighter, stronger, and sometimes less expensive.

Drones . From tiny friendly orbs to autonomous death machines, drones are simple mechanized creatures that dutifully carry out their digital orders.

General Gear . Technological equipment, vehicles, and even beings need to be maintained and built, and those with the knowledge — and implements — to do so have a hand in shaping the future.

Jetpacks . They’re dangerous and impractical, but still the dream of freeform personal flight has always been a technological penultimate goal. Unless otherwise noted, the jetpacks provided here can be worn alongside light or medium armors, but do not provide enough lift for takeoff when wearing heavy armors.

Medicine . Advanced medicine is another hallmark of many science fiction settings, with medical technology and procedures that can cure many ailments and injuries.

Security Gear . Police, soldiers, spies, and similar professions are frequently thought of mostly in terms of weapons and armor, but there is a lot of other specialized equipment in the arsenal of these types of professionals.

Scientific Gear . Heroes are not always made so because of their ability to fight; scientists have long been revered by sapient societies who admire those who push the frontiers of knowledge past their current boundaries. Like any task, doing so is easier with the right tool.

Survival Gear . The universe is a big place, and those who wish to see unexplored parts of it would do well to pack accordingly. As technology advances, so too do the means to traverse and survive in hostile environments.

Toolkits . In addition to the less-technological tools in Adventurer’s Guide, these toolkits allow you to perform specialized tasks such as repairs on the specific type of equipment or vehicle or the collection and interpretation of detailed scientific data.

Musical Instruments . The musical arts grow and innovate as artists gain access to new technologies and new potential sounds. Musical instruments are a type of tool, and the following instruments have been added to the list of instruments found in Adventurer’s Guide.