Magical Technology

Mana-Masker
A new development by Avalon corp, the Mana-Masker is a device about the size of Darth Vader's chest plate, which contains microscopic bacterial organisms which are nurtured inside and given various electrical impusles that allow them to simulate emotions.

In game terms, this helps mask an astral signature of an individual or his foci. This device can fool any mechanical way of detecting astral signatures (such as the Shinra PKE but not mages using astral vision). The rating of the device rolls against the rating of the one looking for signatures, and if successful it hides the auras of foci and individuals (but not sustained or quickened spells) on the person. The mana masker must be worn on the outside of the body, and may be apparant to others.

Aura-Bomb
A special kind of grenade by Avalon corp, this sends out sprays of microorganisms into the air in the form of smoke or mist when it detonates. While this does nothing to normal people, anyone astrally perciving (or any machine doing so) will be overloaded with the auras, and be unable to distinguish one aura from another (being effectively blind). What's more, astrally projecting creatures and unmanifested spirits will be unable to move through the effective area due to the life forms everywhere. This is sometimes used to set false alarms with PKE readers, or to hide mages (amongst the mess).

M-Death
This is a special drug which, when injected, temporarily removes all magic from the subject. The subject becomes unable to summon spirits or use magic (though ones already in the field still owe their survices). Their aura is completely surpressed during this time. It takes 6 successes on an assenssing test to realize that the aura viewed is being concealed by drugs, but they cannot tell the true aura or essence/magic scores. This prevents critters from using regeneration and other abilities, but helps them sneak past any form of astral viewing, mechanical or otherwise.

This drug is in very high demand due to its possible weapon use, but Avalon has been very protective in its production, specifically using a method which requires awakened plants so that the drug cannot be easily replicated. It is not really addictive (2, day). This even conceales magical auras on the target (such as active spells and foci).

Ranged Weapon Foci
Avalon finally "perfected" the ranged weapon foci. A projectile weapon (such as a slingshot or bow, but not a firearm or laser weapon) can be imbued as a ranged weapon focus. (Treat it as a weapon with reach +3!). Whenever the weapon is to be fired as a focus, the user's magic is reduced by 1 (meaning that your standard starting mage has 6 shots at best, including misses). When the magic reaches 0, the mage must check for magic loss and all sustained spells and abilities (like astral projection) are lost. The lost magic points restore at 1 per hour. When using this in astral combat, the weapon need not fire "actual" projectiles. The mage may choose to use the weapon without expending magic but it does not act as a weapon focus (for damaging creatures or overcoming regeneration from death) when this is done.

Metamagic: Ranged Focus Expert
With the creation of the Ranged Weapon Focus, Avalon mages developed a metamagic technique which would allow magic only to be lost on a successful hit, not when the shot misses.

Metamagic Ranged Focus Master (requires ranged focus expert)
The most advanced mages have learned how to channel their magic so that only enemies who suffer a wound from the ranged weapon foci cause magic loss to the mage, those who resist the damage completely cause no ill effects to the mage.

Avanlon Emancipator
This taser weapon fires a ray of electrical discharge at a target, doing 5L stun damage. It can hold 20 shots before needing a recharge and is the size of Han's Blaster. Spirits and astrally active creatures take no damage from this specially charged beam. This is not the main use of the device, however. When fired at a device which houses a trapped spirit (such as a mako battery or a spirit trap) the device must make an rating test TN 8. If it has more successes then the person firing the weapon got, it is fine. Otherwise it explodes, causing everyone within 10 meters to resist 10S damage, and the spirt(s) within are freed instantly, who usually flee, but sometimes may attack their prior captors.

Large reactor devices (such as Mako reactors or giant Spirit Trap containment units) usually have special shielding devices rendering them immune or resistant to such handheld devices.