[RPG] Are UPBs reusable

craftingstarfinder

Are UPBs (universal polymer bases) reusable?

In my mind, I'm envisioning a versatile and creative Android mechanic using his integrated custom rig for not only item creation from UPBs but disassembly, as well. It's only after spending a couple weeks growing attached to the idea that I've come to realize there's nothing explicitly stated that says something constructed from or with UPBs can be disassembled, its components returned to their default state.

On one hand, it seems like the whole point of such a commodity would be its versatility and customization potential. On the other hand, "I made this grenade out of a thousand pairs of underwear" kind of speaks for itself.

Has anything been officially ruled one way or the other? I've looked around a bit, but haven't had much luck. It's times like that I always find myself back here, perfect answer in hand, so here's to hoping that trend continues.


The UPB is the basis for most technology in Starfinder. Each UPB is

a tiny multifunction component, not much larger than a grain of rice, capable of being configured to act as a brace, capacitor, circuit, diode, fastener, insulator, lens, modulator, pipe, resistor, and dozens of other constituent parts.

According to the book, they can be

spun out into fabric, broken down into component chemicals, reconstituted into new chemicals, or supplemented with base materials

for other, larger projects.

Emphasis regarding chemicals mine. That bit was what got me thinking about all of this in the first place.

Best Answer

Page 235 if the Core Rulebook explains how you go about creating items using UPBs.

  1. When creating an item, you must have UPBs of an equal price to what you are creating.
  2. At the GM’s discretion, you can scavenge similar items, to contribute 10% of the scavenged item’s cost towards creation.

Based on that rule, it would appear to seem that UPBs aren’t universally reusable and once used can’t return to their default state. Once turned into some item, you can only reuse that item to contribute towards the build cost of a similar item.

That said, the definition of similar items is at the GM’s discretion. Maybe you have such a talented and knowledgeable mechanic that you know there are in fact several generally misunderstood similarities between say, the mechanics of a pile of 1000 pairs of underwear and a hand grenade.

The rules don’t seem to allow a 1-to-1 conversion of UPBs in objects, but have a chat with your GM to see how flexible you can be about item similarities for the 10% scavenge rule.