Quote:Ok, I'd like to address this rule to start with. I agree that handwavium doesn't just create out of nothing. You do have to start with SOMEthing. However, shaping and altering is definitely in the cards. That's what a biomod IS, after all - people getting scales, tails, fur, shapechanging....that's all shaping/altering right there. Extremely drastic alterations would need justifications in my opinion, but it can be done. For the biomod I did, which was fairly extreme, I offered the idea that the handwavium actually consumed/used some of my extra mass to power the change - something I didn't see as unreasonable.
- Rule #2: expansion to Rule #1: the handwavium does not, in fact, build *anything*. It does not reshape *anything*. The way handwavium works is that you take an existing hardtech device, slap some handwavium on it, and the function of the device changes. If the item is broken, cracked, or flawed, those breaks *may* be fixed (though this tends to have a somewhat higher quirk cost.) There are some rare strains of the stuff that have interesting psuedochemical effects. Those can change chemical structure, but pretty much leave shape alone. Otherwise, what you get out is a goopier version of what you put in, with perhaps some interesting coloration. Short form - if you want a handwaved device - *any* handwaved device, then you have to *start with a device*.
You still can't get it to turn a pile of lumber into the Enterprise, but if you build a ship, I could see it making alterations - smoothing lines, changing colors (with all the other stuff out there, colors/animations/illusions are simple). For a device, I think you'd have to build something that would at least approximate what you're trying for - it might not work for what you want, as is, but it could give the handwavium a template and material from which to build a working structure. The stuff has a MUCH bigger database for science/engineering than we do. I'd guess that as long as it can figure out what you're TRYING to do, it'll give it a shot.
In my mind, as long as you have a template/item for the handwavium to work from, it can do a lot with just that. The more details you can fill in ahead of time, the easier it is, I'd say, but it can do a lot as long as it has matter to work with. Opinions?