Characters aren't the only thing that can have stats and powers. Gadgets are can also be described by stats and powers. Artifacts are different from gadgets only in how they work, as far as the rules are concerned they are the same thing.

Most gadgets have stats. At the very least gadgets will have a PHYS(Body). Primary stats have a Level Cost of 5. If the stat can be used in place of the characters own stat the Level Cost of the stat is increased by 2.

Gadgets can have any of the powers a person can have but it is important to think about whether the power effects the person using the gadget or the gadget itself.

Gadgets are inherently less reliable than personal powers. Gadgets have a Reliability Number (R#), by default gadgets have a Reliability Number or 6. Lowering the Reliability Number increases the Level Cost of all stats and powers possessed by the gadget on a one for one basis (i.e. R#5 +1 LC, R#4 +2, etc). This works in reverse for raising the Reliability Number. No power or ability can have a Level Cost less than one.

Any time the character uses the gadget there is a chance that the gadget will jam. If the number rolled on the dice for a skill check to use the gadget is less than or equal to the Reliability Number the gadget jams and the character must spend an action 'fixing' it. For example if a character has a blaster gun with a Reliability Number of 5 and shoots a target he rolls his to hit roll (Cbt + Fire Arms + 3D6). If he rolls 5 or less on the dice the blaster jams and fails to fire. The character will have to take an action to unjam it.

For powers that don't have an associated skill roll (i.e. armor) roll 3D6 whenever the power is activated if the roll is less than or equal the Reliability Number the gadget jams.

Due to the inherent limitations of a gadget they have a reduced price. If a gadget can be taken away in combat by a disarm maneuver divide the final cost of the gadget by 3. If it can't be taken away in combat divide the cost by 2.