For Day 2 of the RPGaDAY 2025 Challenge our prompt is…. Prompt? Uh… yea. Let’s give it a twist instead by designing a sci-fi engineering tool for characters to use. I’m keeping this system agnostic so you can drop it into any science fiction roleplaying game.
Here is one of the new items presented in the Engineering Section of Issue 39,247 of the Spacers Catalog and Bargain Basement Yearly by Crapola Inc.
Introducing the Mark IV version of the Programmable Reconfigurable On-demand Multi-function Portable Tool or P.R.O.M.P.T. for short. Designed by the team of Allyce, Auroro and Noxx who had previously developed the Neural Duct Tape and the Tachyon Muffler.
The Mark IV P.R.O.M.P.T. has three times the battery length of the Mark III and re-charges 27% faster from a standard interface power port. The memory has been increased to include 95 more common and exotic engineering tools which become instantly available from it’s short-range programmable matter paddle field. Just use your P.R.O.M.P.T. to scan the engineering challenge and the hand-held device will present three possible engineering tools extruding from the top of the device to assist the engineer with their duties.
So how much would you pay for this? Well before you answer, there’s more. Now the Mark IV P.R.O.M.P.T. can link up with other Mark IV devices to coordinate repair efforts. Tired of filing those pesky engineering reports? The Mark IV is now Interstellar Organization for Standardization Alpha-60009 certified so it can link up with your primary shipboard computer. This allows your engineer to provide exact reports on the repair jobs and close the assigned duty tickets upon completion.
Mark IV P.R.O.M.P.T. Statistics:
Weight- 200 grams
Length- 24 cm *
Width- 12 cm *
Programmable Matter Extension Length- 1-8 cm
Battery Life
Constant Use- 59 days
Standard Use- 128 days
Internal Processor- Holly V Pro
Maximum Programmable Matter Tool Storage Limit- 287
ISO Alpha-60009 Certified
HBZZ Cybersecurity Enabled
*= without programmable matter tool extensions
Pre-Installed Programmable Matter Tools:
Reverse Polarity Enabler
Metric Hyperspanner
Duotronic Probe
Regulated Coil Spanner
14B Dispenser Cleaner
14F Dispenser Cleaner
Flux Coupler
Interlink Sequencer
Quantum Flux Regulator
Sonic Screwdriver
Interested in expanding your engineering toolbox? Authorized accounts can order directly from the catalog or by visiting one of Crapola Inc.’s many retail locations on Earth, Neptune, Venus, Ganymede and Titan. And remember, if we don’t sell it, then it’s not Crapola!
The art was last minute as the idea struck me today. Did this entry bring a smile to your face while reading it? Tell me about it. This article is open for discussion on the TardisCaptain dot Com Discord server. You can also email me at Carl (at) TardisCaptain.com with any comments.