"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
- Obligatory Arthur C. Clarke quote.
In the world of Ground Zero, nanotechnology is everywhere. The air itself is full of tiny self-replicating machines that drift on air currents. Invisible to the naked eye, these nanites are nearly undetectable. You could swallow a thousand of them and never notice a thing.
In fact, your characters do it all the time.
The very basic principles of nanotechnology have become a matter of global folklore and legend. Everyone knows that there are small machines that do things, even if you can't see them. Questioning this is not unlike questioning the fact that most of the time, things fall down if you pick them up. Indeed, the evidence is there for all to see, hear, and (disturbingly often) feel.
Impressions about the actual nature of these machines - who created them, what powers them, and whether they should be used or shunned, feared or trusted - vary wildly. There are deeply religious societies that would torture to death any blasphemer foolish enough to claim the nanomachines were originally man-made. Some believe them to come from beyond the stars, and still others believe them to be little demons. Still, practically everyone knows of their existence, even though most are unclear on the details.
There are some primitive enclaves (such as the Nightwind tribe from the Tribal Defenders campaign) that have so lost their way that no oral tradition or written record remains, and they remain ignorant of even the most basic features of the world they inhabit. They may well consider demonstration of nanotechnology to be magic or divine intervention, just as they would think of anything else outside their worldview.
Of course, they wouldn't be so far from the truth...
Nanotechnology is a broad term that refers to many different potential disciplines. In Ground Zero, nano is powerful and pervasive; there are many different effects that are possible. The various applications of nanotech are defined as follows:
Personal nanotech refers to the ability of some nanowielders to manifest special powers on demand. Nanonoaugmentation improves a character's physical or mental abilities, providing bonuses as long as they remain active.
The new skill 'Knowledge (Nanotech Lore') covers...
Knowedge (Nanotech Lore) is a class skill for the thinker class.
The following special items utilize nanotechnology or are created using special nano techniques:
Nanofiber Robe: This light robe is made of nanotech-spun fibers. It has an armour bonus of +4, a maximum dodge bonus of +6, and no armour check penalty. It is still considered light armour, but is so fine that it can be worn as normal clothing. The robe weighs 12 ½ pounds.
(*** MORE TO COME. ***)
The secrets of creating many nanotech items have been lost, but due to their exceptional construction they have survived the centuries since the Crash.
(*** MORE TO COME; scribe from d20 Future. ***)
The following advanced classes grant additional nanotech abilities:
Additional advanced classes might be posted eventually.