[Cosmos] Item - Technoweaver's Holocloak

The original holocloak concept was a scrappy code-loaded jacket developed by anonymous technoweavers, technomagically enchanted to evade the megacorps' omnisensors. Ironically, or perhaps inevitably, Figma Technologies has since produced upscale holocloaks marketed as stylish cyberwear.

—

Technoweaver's Holocloak
Wondrous item, technomancy, very rare (requires attunement)

This cloak functions as a holopad and a set of hacker's tools for you.

AccessNet.cmd. While wearing this cloak, you have advantage on ability checks you make to search the holonet for information.

CameraShy.exe. While wearing this cloak, you always have the benefits of a sensor cloak* spell.

CatFish.scr. While wearing this cloak, you can cast the disguise self spell, assuming the form of a Humanoid you have touched within the past 24 hours. For the duration, you have advantage on ability checks you make to impersonate that creature. Once used, this property of the cloak can't be used again until the next dawn.

Run Program. This cloak has 5 charges and regains 1d4 + 1 expended charges daily at dawn. While wearing the cloak, you can cast the jolting spark* cantrip and read disk* spells from it at will, and you can expend the required charges to cast one of the following spells from it (save DC 17): arcane firewall* (2 charges), charging current* (1 charge), Gridspace relay* (1 charge), silence (2 charges), or tracking program* (1 charge).

—

Uncommon Variant. The rare version of the cloak lacks the CameraShy.exe property and has a DC of 13 instead of 17. It has 3 charges instead of 5, regaining 1d3 charges daily at dawn.

Rare Variant. The rare version of the cloak lacks the CameraShy.exe property and has a DC of 15 instead of 17.

*See Cosmos 3 - Spells.

——

DESIGN COMMENTARY

Another item for the technomancer/hacker aesthetic that this theme is more about. Unlike the power glove, which is all about active hacking/intrusion, the cloak is all about protection and hiding, remaining anonymous.

The cloak functions as a basic device and hacker tools, which are just regular items. No real feature here.

AccessNet.cmd grants persistent advantage. Searching the holonet is typically an Investigation check, so it'll be used about half the time an Investigation check is normally used, especially less if in a location without net access. Depending on the GM, it may not even matter if the holonet is considered an advantage granter. Overall, somewhat minor feature.

CameraShy.exe grants a persistent 3rd-level spell, which functions like nondetection but for sensors. The power-level is halved (more or less) because it only covers one creature, but redoubled and more because it's permanent. We'll say ~1.5x a daily cast of sensor cloak.

Catfish.scr grants disguise self once, but you must touch a target. That situation can usually be engineered, so we'll say a normal 1st-level spell.

Run Program grants a cantrip and a (ritual) spell, plus 5 charges for spells. That's a total of 2 second-level spells and 1 first-level spell.

Overall, the cloak has these properties: 2 second-levels, 2 first-levels, a cantrip, a ~1.5x third-level spell, and a generally situational advantage. Very Rare staves in D&D offer 10-12 charges for a similar complement of spells (as well as other features).