Essa Rig

Essa Gauntlet Rig

Wondrous Item (worn, weapon arm)

The standard Essa delivery platform — fits on the weapon arm, turns vials into force output.

A calibrated Essa-processing harness fitted to the weapon arm and woven into the armor's kinetic framework. The Gauntlet processes vial energy into force output through trained channeling. Any creature can attune to a Gauntlet and use its base strike — subclass training unlocks the full Technique list. Three variants exist: the standard Essa Gauntlet (Essa Knight, Edge Knight), the Hexslinger Gauntlet (ranged channeling), and the Tracker Gauntlet (Warrant, with integrated Scan).

In the World

The Gauntlet is the most common Essa hardware in the Shatterds. Tier 1 and 2 units sell openly at licensed Forge vendors with a standard weapons permit. Tier 3 requires Guild credentials or military authorization. Tier 5 is Empire-issued to licensed Essa Knights only — never sold, always serial-numbered. Possessing a Tier 4+ unit without authorization is a licensing violation in all Empire territory.

Key Property: Calibrated Strike

While holding an Essa vial, once per turn you may consume the vial to deal bonus force damage equal to Rig Tier × 1d4 on one weapon attack. No Feedback Save required.

Properties

Burn Buffer

The Rig absorbs incoming Burn before it reaches you. Mark on the Rig's own Burn track instead of yours. Buffer resets on Short Rest. When the Buffer is full, Burn goes to the wearer normally. The buffer also absorbs force damage from failed Feedback Saves (1d6 per EP) before it reaches the wearer. Capacity by tier: see tier table.

Modification Slots

Empty slots that accept Modification Modules. Swapping a Module requires a visit to a licensed Forge or 8 hours downtime + a Rig Maintenance Kit + INT check DC 14. See tier table for slot count.

Calibration Lock

Any creature other than the attuned user who attempts to activate the Rig's properties must succeed on a CON save (DC = 8 + attuned user's PB + their CON modifier) or take 2d6 force damage and gain 1 Burn. On a success they can use the Rig but with disadvantage on all activation rolls.

Subclass Bonus — Rig Current

Essa Knight and Edge Knight attuned practitioners gain: full Technique access, Rig Current passive (+CON mod force on every weapon attack), Iron Overcharge at Level 5 (+1d6 force once per turn, free), and Reaction Techniques at vial + 1 Channel Slot.

Tier Table

Tier	Name	Rarity	Levels	Strike Bonus	Mod Slots	Burn Buffer	Approx. Cost
1	Awakening	Uncommon	1–4	+1d4 force	1	1 / short rest	500 gp
2	Bonded	Rare	5–8	+2d4 force	2	1 / short rest	2,500 gp
3	Resonant	Very Rare	9–12	+3d4 force	3	2 / short rest	15,000 gp
4	Ascendant	Legendary	13–16	+4d4 force	4	3 / short rest	60,000 gp
5	Apex	Artifact	17–20	+5d4 force	5	4 / short rest	Not sold

Tier Upgrades

From → To	Material Cost
Tier 1 → 2	2,000 gp in refined components
Tier 2 → 3	12,500 gp
Tier 3 → 4	45,000 gp
Tier 4 → 5	Not possible through standard means

Variants

Hexslinger Gauntlet

Subclasses: hexslinger

Calibrated Strike applies to ranged weapon attacks, not melee
Range: Calibrated Strike works at up to 60 ft
Essa Knight / Edge Knight subclasses cannot use this variant
All Gauntlet Modules apply; additional Hexslinger-specific Modules in the Hexslinger class document

Tracker Gauntlet

Subclasses: warrant

Calibrated Strike damage is Rig Tier × 1d4 piercing (not force)
Integrated Scan function: 1/short rest, activate Sn1 Scan for free (no vial, 30 ft range)
Warrant subclass only
All Gauntlet Modules apply; additional Warrant-specific Modules in the Warrant class document

Modification Modules

Force AmplifierCommon

Pulse Strike deals +1d6 force per activation

Thermal VentCommon

Burn Buffer recovers +1 point on Short Rest

Rapid FeedUncommon

Consume a vial as Bonus Action (separate from Technique)

Signal DampenerUncommon

Disadvantage on checks to detect your Essa output

Pulse ScatterUncommon

Burst accepts T1 Glow (removes T2 minimum)

Arc ConductorUncommon

Chain arc range +15 ft; secondary targets save at Disadvantage

Reach ExtensionUncommon

Melee Technique range increases to 10 ft

StabilizerUncommon

Concentration check DCs for Techniques reduced by 4

Strike CapacitorRare

1/short rest: after Pulse Strike, next attack this turn needs no vial

Feedback SuppressorRare

All Technique Feedback Save DCs reduced by 2

Apex LensRare

Pulse Strike damage: EP × 1d8 → EP × 1d10. Tier 4+ only.

Overcharge CellRare

1/long rest: spend 1 EP beyond PB Cap on one Technique (illegal)

Chain RelayRare

Chain Technique hits one additional target at no extra EP cost

Phase AnchorRare

Step Technique (M3) does not require line of sight

Empire Context

Tier 1–2: Sold at licensed Forge vendors. Requires standard weapons permit. Tier 3: Guild credentials or military authorization required. Tier 4: Imperial supply lines and high-level Guild contracts only. Tier 5: Empire-issued to licensed Essa Knights only — not sold, serial-numbered. Possessing a Tier 4+ Rig without authorization is a licensing violation in all Empire territory. Possessing a Tier 5 without Empire issuance records is a high criminal offense.

gauntletrigessavialsforceessa knightedge knighthexslingerwarrantmagic item