Gambits

Gambits are the equivalent of spells in Hypertech. Given the setting, they’re not magical or supernatural in nature. Instead, they represent the fantastic abilities of highly skilled and adventurous individuals. Like spells, they’re all about manipulating the world to suit the needs of the moment. They work like spells, empower characters like spells, but they’re all about the person pulling them.

Hypertech changes the terminology a little. Gambits are pulled, not cast. Cantrips are called “tricks.” In general, though, gambits work just like spells. They usually take your action to pull, and the one pulling the gambit has a gambit resist DC that’s calculated just as a spell DC would be.

Gambits generally cost gambit slots and can sometimes be improved if pulled with a higher-level slot than necessary. All the familiar rules apply.

That said, gambits differ in a few key ways. Most gambits don’t require chanting and weird hand movements. Instead, they require communication with the rest of the team, careful use of weapons, or fiddling around with a piece of equipment. “Spell” components are not employed. Alternatively, the right technology is needed when a gambit would require it to function. An Engineering gambit might require explosive charges to create an explosion. A Tactics gambit might require radio or other verbal contact with the squad. As with your characters, you’ll figure out the rest in time.

With gambit descriptions, you’ll find things only slightly adjusted from your typical spell descriptions.

The main change is that this book specifies both target and range for most powers. This added specificity helps with brevity and clarity for these more lightweight effects.

One important addition you’ll notice particularly in Tactics school and Vehicles school gambits is the use of squads/squadrons as possible target.

In general, gambits are designed for cinematic, adventurous fun. Gambits are meant to be easy to implement in game, with little need for lookup and careful reading. Even when gambits are based on existing spells, the versions here will tend to be much shorter and to the point.

Should the GM prefer, the original versions can be substituted for our abbreviated form.

Gambit Schools

Arsenal Tricks

• Custom Ammo
• Freeze Ray
• Mobile Shot
• Take Aim

Level 1

• Double Tap
• Electric Jolt
• Flame Blast
• Seeker Missiles

Level 2

• Cryo Blast
• Dead Aim
• Longest Shot
• Spray Fire

Level 3

• Disabling Shot
• Flashbangs
• Head Shot
• Heavy Rocket

Level 4

• Create Opening
• Drop Mine
• Find Ammo

Level 5

• Arcing Fire
• Knockout Poison
• Shoot First

Level 6

• Arm the Unarmed
• Grenade Cache
• Tunneling Blast

Level 7

• Bigger Gun
• Robotic Scrambler

Level 8

• Gas Canister
• Scorched Earth

Level 9

• Nuclear Option
• Squad Armaments

Deception Tricks

• Camouflage
• Distraction
• Liar’s Tongue
• Pick Pocket

Level 1

• Blind Spot
• Cloud of Smoke
• Disguise Self
• Fool’s Gold

Level 2

• Sand in the Eyes
• Stealth Mode
• Survivable Surrender
• Unfair Trade

Level 3

• Blinding Attack
• Hide the Bodies
• Play Dead
• Switcheroo

Level 4

• Counterfeit
• Disruption
• Impersonation

Level 5

• Misdirection
• Old Friend
• Straight Faced Lie

Level 6

• Cloak
• Illusion of Safety

Engineering Tricks

• Breaking
• Mending
• Push the Limit
• Targeted Attack

Level 1

• Enhancement
• Improvise Grenade
• Liberation
• Quick Fix

Level 2

• Boost Defenses
• Boost Weapon
• Locate Weakness
• Shunt Power

Level 3

• Analysis
• Compromise Integrity
• Personal Shield
• Shield Pass

Level 4

• Core Disruption
• Gravity Manipulation
• Plant Explosive

Level 5

• Rebuilding
• Remote Bomb
• Restoration

Level 6

• Grounding
• Guards and Wards
• True Seeing

Level 7

• Alter Gravity
• Etherealness

Level 8

• Antiscience Field
• Control Weather

Level 9

• Meteor Swarm
• Superscience

Influence Tricks

• Enemies
• Fast Friends
• Mockery
• Silver Tongue

Level 1

• Apathy
• Charm Person
• Command
• Thrill of Battle

Level 2

• Brief Alliance
• Calm Emotions
• Enthrall
• Suggestion

Level 3

• Body Language
• Fear
• Inspiring Presence
• Local Guide

Level 4

• Intimidating Presence
• Shadowy Manipulations
• Sow Chaos

Level 5

• Entertainment
• Magnetism
• Read the Room

Level 6

• Confidence Building
• Disinformation
• Grit

Level 7

• Inspirational Oration
• Urban Legend

Level 8

• Defection Glibness

Level 9

• Cult of Personality
• Summons

Medical Tricks

• Anesthetize
• Inoculation
• Poisonous Aerosol
• Stabilization

Level 1

• Contaminant Analysis
• Disease
• Injection
• Remote Treatment
• Wound Treatment

Level 2

• Advanced Treatment
• Cryogenic Stasis
• Cure
• Enhance Trait

Level 3

• Bolstered Defenses
• Defibrillation
• Mass Anesthetic
• Mass Remote Treatment

Level 4

• Life Support
• Mutagenics
• Toughening

Level 5

• Contagion
• Greater Cure
• Mass Wound Treatment

Level 6

• Medical Marvel
• Mind Transplant
• Virulent Disease

Level 7

• Regenerate
• Resurrection

Level 8

• Antiseptic Field
• Decrepitude

Level 9

• Mass Heal
• Playing God

Splicing Tricks

• Break In
• Computer Intrusion
• Freeze Robot
• Hack Weapon

Level 1

• Jamming
• Robotic Command
• Trace Source
• Virus

Level 2

• Compromise Defenses
• Download Security Procedures
• Slave Robot

Level 3

• Data Delve
• Lock Down
• Reprogram
• Targeting Systems

Level 4

• Automation
• Encryption/Decryption
• Scramble

Level 5

• Connection
• Firewall
• Immersion

Level 6

• Mass Robot Mastery
• Minor AI
• Root Control

Level 7

• Back Door
• EMP

Level 8

• All Traffic
• Black Out

Level 9

• Major AI
• Network Blast

Survival Tricks

• Concealment
• Make Do
• Never Lost
• Resistance

Level 1

• Endure
• Longstrider
• Lose the Tail
• Observation

Level 2

• Adapt to Survive
• Find Traps
• Lay of the Land
• Traversal

Level 3

• Hunt
• Nondetection
• Protection from Energy

Level 4

• Freedom of Movement
• Tame Beast
• Track Creature

Level 5

• Insect Lure
• Survey

Tactics Tricks

• Cover Fire
• Focus Attacks
• Footwork
• Quick Assist

Level 1

• Assault Counter
• Disperse
• Rally

Level 2

• Attack Formation
• Brace for Impact
• Defensive Formation
• Fire at Will

Level 3

• Speculative Fire
• Suppressive Fire
• Surprise Drill

Level 4

• Fire Teams
• Hold the Line
• Recruitment

Level 5

• Rapid Deployment
• Rapid Egress
• Shock and Awe

Level 6

• Feint Reveal Weakness
• Sacrifice

Level 7

• Last Stand
• Vertical Assault

Level 8

• Golden Bridge
• Pincer

Level 9

• Masterful Coordination
• Unfathomable Plans

Vehicles Tricks

• Barrel Roll
• Bug Out Lag Roll
• Scissor Maneuver

Level 1

• Break Away
• Close In
• Gravity Defense
• Guns Pass

Level 2

• Buzz
• Hard Landing
• Search Pattern
• Sunblind

Level 3

• Close Maneuvers
• Dive
• Side Swipe
• Stay On

Level 4

• Impossible Landing
• Situational Awareness
• Under the Radar

Level 5

• Dangerous Maneuvers
• Evacuation
• Spinning Fire

Level 6

• Create Danger
• Ramming Speed
• Weapons Platform

Level 7

• Reap the Whirlwind
• Strafing Run

Level 8

• Escort
• Outmaneuver

Level 9

• Boarding Party
• Sun Dive
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