Nanomanipulation

Nanomanipulation is the process by which objects are taken apart at the atomic level and then put back together in a new form. Nanomanipulation is used broadly in human society in place of unskilled factory work, recycling, and ore refining. A nanofabricator can be the size of a satchel bag at the smallest or the size of an airplane hanger at the largest, and is capable of taking apart and reassembling anything that can fit wholly inside of it. The nanofabricator cannot add or destroy mass, only manipulate. It also cannot perform elemental transmutation - that is, it cannot turn one element into a different element.
Despite the limitations, the nanofabricator is a wondrous piece of technology. When fed raw materials of the appropriate type, it is capable of creating nearly any item.

Utility

Nanomanipulation can be used in a variety of ways:

• Transmutation: The nanofabricator can transform any item into another item of the same type and value. For example, a nanofabricator could transform a speedboat into an omniterrain cycle, or any light weapon into another light weapon. The nanofabricator must have blueprints in order to create items. The mass of the desired item must be equal to or less than the mass of the starting item.
• Refining: The nanofabricator can transform raw materials into an equivalent mass of refined materials. For example, a nanofabricator could combine iron, chromium, and carbon and instantly create stainless steel. 
• Manufacturing: A nanofabricator can take all of the requisite materials and combine them to create finished industrial products, machines, food, or anything else. The nanofabricator must have blueprints in order to create items. The mass of the desired item must be equal to or less than the mass of ingredients. Categories of items are listed below: 

1. Electronics Materials: Electronics equipment requires a variety of rare mined metals to function, including copper, lithium, silver, and gold. 
2. Heavy Metals: Weapons, armor, and vehicles require sturdy metals in order to function. This includes carbon, but also iron, tin, zinc, tungsten, and titanium. 
3. Textiles: Textiles can be fashioned out of ambient air and any carbon, as most textiles are made of carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen. 
4. Biomass: Sleeves and food can be produced from fabricators, and it requires biomass. Biomass can be gathered from any living thing. The most popular source of biomass on Nordic Frog Beach is seaweed. 
5. Alien Alloys: Some items not produced on Earth require alien materials in order to be properly replicated. These alien elements are not well-understood, and can only be scavenged from Maeglin installations. 
6. Other: Some items (such as the Resonance Sword, which requires a Resonance Gem from Crystal Cave) require special materials to fabricate. Consult with your GM to determine if your desired product requires any special materials. 

By default, a nanofabricator is equipped with the blueprints to create nutrient paste and all inexpensive and moderately priced items. However, skilled designers can create blueprints for any item, or even replicate abilities that no existing item is capable of. Designing the blueprint for an expensive item is a difficulty 5 Intellect-based task. Designing the blueprint for a very expensive item is a difficulty 7 Intellect-based task. 
An item that copies the function of a low-tier ability can also be created as a difficulty 8 task. A mid-tier ability can be copied as a difficulty 9 task, and a high-tier ability can be copied as a difficulty 10 task.