Technical

AX.GHW.04.01.04

The Technical Talent covers modern technology operation, manipulation, and bypass, computers, electronics, security systems, surveillance infrastructure, mechanical systems, and improvised technical work in the field. Wit + Technical for analysis and construction; Speed + Technical for fast bypass under pressure.

Core Talent: A character with Technical and no Focus can operate standard technology, bypass common security, and work with electronic systems at a functional level. They are not specialists in any specific area.

Focus: Computer Systems

Scope: Network penetration, database access, encrypted communications, system administration exploitation, digital forensics, social engineering through digital channels, surveillance system access.

Mechanical Effects:

+1D to Technical rolls involving computer systems, networks, and digital data
The character can access unsecured or lightly secured digital systems (Threshold 1–2) without a roll. Secured systems still require a roll but at the full bonus.
With 2D+ in this Focus: the character can perform digital cover-up operations, removing logs, altering records, scrubbing evidence from digital systems, as part of Veil management. This covers the digital evidence trail that physical scene cleanup cannot address.

Practical Notes: The digital cover-up capability at Focus 2D is specifically relevant to Veil maintenance, every scene involving a smartphone, security camera, or networked system potentially produces digital evidence. A character with this Focus can address that evidence systematically.

Focus: Security Systems

Scope: Physical security system bypass, cameras, motion sensors, electronic locks, alarm systems, biometric systems, safe cracking, vehicle security. Both defeating existing systems and designing effective countermeasures.

Mechanical Effects:

+1D to Technical rolls involving physical security systems
The character can assess a security system's coverage and identify its gaps without a roll (Wit + Technical vs Threshold 2 for sophisticated systems; automatic for standard commercial systems)
With 2D+ in this Focus: the character can defeat security systems without triggering them, standard bypass leaves a log or evidence of forced entry; this Focus's 2D application removes that trail. A character bypassing a camera system leaves no record of the gap.

Practical Notes: Access to locations (crime scenes, institutional archives, government facilities) is a consistent investigative challenge. Security bypass capability directly enables the investigation layer of most scenarios.

Focus: Surveillance

Scope: Setting up, operating, and defeating surveillance systems, covert cameras, microphone placement, tracking systems, counter-surveillance (detecting whether you are being watched), mobile surveillance during foot pursuits.

Mechanical Effects:

+1D to Technical rolls involving surveillance deployment and counter-surveillance
The character can place surveillance equipment that requires a Threshold 4 Notice roll to detect (normally Threshold 2–3)
With 2D+ in this Focus: the character automatically detects passive surveillance systems in their environment without a roll (they notice the camera angles, the unusual placement, the vehicle that was there yesterday). Active surveillance (a person following them) requires a Notice + Tactics roll but at +1D.

Practical Notes: Surveillance capability is both an offensive (monitoring targets) and defensive (detecting when the characters are being watched) tool. The passive system detection at Focus 2D is particularly valuable in environments where government or criminal surveillance of the characters is plausible.

Focus: Forensic Analysis

Scope: Technical examination of physical evidence, material analysis, tool mark examination, document authenticity, trajectory reconstruction, chemical residue analysis, device examination (IEDs, communication intercepts, unusual artifacts).

Mechanical Effects:

+1D to Technical rolls involving physical evidence analysis
The character can conduct basic material analysis in the field with minimal equipment (Wit + Technical vs Threshold 2 for common materials; Threshold 3–4 for unusual or supernatural compounds)
With 2D+ in this Focus: the character can examine a supernatural artifact or object and determine its general function and origin type (not full identification, but "this is Shadow-origin binding object" vs "this is fae-crafted" vs "this is a human-made ritual component"), Wit + Technical vs Threshold 3

Practical Notes: Works well alongside Medicine (Forensics) Focus, the two cover overlapping investigation territory from different angles. Forensic Analysis is stronger for physical and artifact evidence; Medicine Forensics is stronger for biological evidence and cause of death.