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Dumpshock Forums _ Shadowrun _ Do you armor for the environment?
Posted by: Snow_Fox Jul 12 2011, 03:44 PM
In SR we plan if we go to the tropics or somewhere special but do you adjust your gear in your home town depending on the weather?
RL I'm planing on going out on my bike later and it's supposed to be RL temp in the upper 90's today. There is no way I can wear my usualy bike jacket. I'll be risking heat stroke in my usual leathers. seattle has, I think pretty steady temps but Philly can be at the brutal ends of the psecturm . Anyone wearing an armored jacket in summer here or NYC is going to be having regular chats with Doc Wagon drivers. I'm guessing the same is true in Texas or even parts of the border states even like Tennesee. could you ever wear heavy gear in LA? New Orleans?
Posted by: Blade Jul 12 2011, 03:52 PM
There have been temperature regulated armored clothes for quite some time in SR.
It'll be conspicuous but you can still wear that heavy black trenchcoat in summer.
Posted by: HunterHerne Jul 12 2011, 04:01 PM
I tell my players to keep that in mind. If they want to wear the heavy armoured wear in the summer, they need to pay for the climate adaptations, and they usually just wear whatever PPP/form-fitting gear they have that can be easily hidden for a simple ride around town/johnson meet (if in a public place)
Posted by: CanRay Jul 12 2011, 04:02 PM
A good reason to perform Shadowruns in Winnipeg: Armour makes really good winter weather! Especially Lined Coats, the synthleather cuts the wind nicely and the ballistic lining works really well to keep you warm!
Don't forget your kevlar toque and gloves!
Posted by: HunterHerne Jul 12 2011, 04:03 PM
Don't forget your kevlar toque and gloves!
Yes, but that is true of anywhere in Canada.
Posted by: CanRay Jul 12 2011, 04:11 PM
No. No. Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo...
Winnipeg has harsh weather by even Canadian standards. You will *NOT* look out of place with bulky attire, be it from winter clothing or gear underneath it. (Layered clothing is the most popular way for locals to handle things, with a oversized light leather jacket overtop everything to cut the wind. I prove myself "Another damned immigrant" by having different coats and wearing what's appropriate.).
The rest of Canada, yes, cold weather in Winter, but not nearly as bad. It's the wind chill. I grew up in the mountains of Northern Ontario, and even I'm still adjusting to Winnipeg six years later. Hell, I heard a couple complain about how the Winters weren't nearly as bad as in "The Old Country", I asked where that was, "Siberia" was their answer.
Summers in Canada are pretty decent, but you can get away with a bit of light armor with the comment "I'm from Texas" or some other rationalization. I know a few folks from the Caribbean who never felt warm for their entire stay in Canada (Even the summer.).
EDIT: I also suggest Winnipeg as a township near the area is a T-Bird stop in canon, and it's near a border which allows for lots of shenanigans. Especially as Aztechnology is a major proponent in that country up north of the UCAS.
Posted by: Raven the Trickster Jul 12 2011, 04:15 PM
Not so much Vancouver, but otherwise yeah that would be true of most of Canada in winter.
My group runs in LA (thus far without the stupidity of the paparzzi), and thus far the whole heat thing hasn't really come up. Then again I don't think anyone in my group actually uses an armor jacket. The troll in our second group will, but then again, who is going to tell a troll what he can or can't wear? 
Personally my character's non-run wear is an armored t-shirt and jeans, obvious forearm guards designed to look like leather bracers and shin guards worn under the jeans. If he's expecting trouble he throws an armored vest on under the t-shirt, but that starts to look pretty obvious.
Posted by: Brainpiercing7.62mm Jul 13 2011, 10:09 PM
While I would tend to agree that armouring *down* for warm weather should happen.... well, there just aren't any game mechanics in the game to punish you for not doing it. And as far as I'm concerned, there are SO many logical or other errors in the game, I certainly won't apply common sense to a field where I could really DIE if I do.
Occasion appropriate is the limit. Weather... phht, it's a distopia, as far as I'm concerned it's cold and rainy all the time.
For those who like their realism, but still don't want their characters dying... how about this as a house-rule suggestion:
Whenever you voluntarily apply common sense and thereby gimp yourself, you get one bonus use of edge for the duration of the run. (That is, at the same number of dice you normally get.)
Posted by: CanRay Jul 13 2011, 10:26 PM
Smart Insulation Orthoskin Upgrade, well worth the cost!
Still doesn't let you blend in with the crowd when you're wearing a heavy jacket while everyone else is suffering from the Texas Heat, however, and there would be social modifiers for that. At the very least, Cops would know who to target as "Looking to start some drek by walking around armoured up."
Posted by: HunterHerne Jul 13 2011, 10:56 PM
Still doesn't let you blend in with the crowd when you're wearing a heavy jacket while everyone else is suffering from the Texas Heat, however, and there would be social modifiers for that. At the very least, Cops would know who to target as "Looking to start some drek by walking around armoured up."
Hope your Street Sam isn't going out without the face as back up...
Posted by: CanRay Jul 13 2011, 11:38 PM
The rule of the game is to either blend in (Black Trenchoat) or stand out in a way that isn't overtly and obviously dangerous (Pink Mohawk).
Posted by: HunterHerne Jul 13 2011, 11:50 PM
And I stand closer to the Black Trenchcoat side of that meter. That said, if a character can come up with a convincing lie, and pass it off on the dice roll, I'll accept a little bulky armour. In some cases, my NPCs can get away with it, although the most prominent one for that is a Hobgoblin Gang chapter head who likes to break walls with a club in his spare time. The police don't normally bother him in his territory unless someone else has done the dirty work first.
Posted by: suoq Jul 14 2011, 09:57 AM
I don't see the problem with simply hitting up the armored clothing dealers locally and seeing what's available. The books are a starting place, not a limit.
Posted by: Ascalaphus Jul 14 2011, 11:18 AM
So, related to this:
We've got all manner of upgrades to clothing to deal with acid rain and all that. How often does environmental pollution and foul weather really occur in games?
I'm thinking about assigning each region (Seattle, LA..) an Environment&Weather table; every day, just roll 2d6 to see how the weather is going:
0-2: Totally placid; next weather roll at -2
3: Calm; next weather roll at -1
4: ...
5: Foggy
6: Smog (triggers Pollutant Allergy)
7: Nothing special
8: Acid Rains (triggers Pollutant Allergy)
9: ...
10: Rain without pollution
11: Heavy weather; next weather roll is at +1, civil air traffic shuts down
12+: Extremely heavy weather; next weather roll is at +2, air travel completely impossible
Or something like that. I recently became a fan of Random [...] Tables again. And yeah, that table looks harsh; meant to.
Posted by: Daddy's Little Ninja Jul 14 2011, 02:12 PM
My husband has a very old copy of the Dragon magazine that has aweather chart in it. Soemone with way too much timeo n their hand workedo ut the percentages of weather- temperature and precipitation for each month. He used his own location and then worked out a formula for temperature changes depending on how far north of south you go.
he said it worked fine for D&D but is less good for other stuff because it didn't allow for regional changes- like how Seattle is very wet.
Posted by: Megu Jul 15 2011, 05:34 AM
Yes. Last game I ran was set in Minneapolis and in winter, winter gear was important. It also helped conceal things, but that's besides the point. And this time, I'm doing Vietnam, so yeah, it's going to be something I'll enforce if people are trying to wear bulky shit. Besides, even without the environment, actual jungle-trained fighters are going to be doing circles around anybody doing that. Although the two characters I've received so far are a hilltribe guerrilla (still working out the details, but probably Central Highlands Montagnard of some sort) and the other's a centaur razorgirl loosely inspired by Rainbowdash, so maybe it won't be an issue.
Posted by: Snow_Fox Jul 15 2011, 12:04 PM
Yeah well Vietnam the GI's in the 1960's had armored vests and the modern troops in Iraq are wearing full body armor so it can be done without over heating but they stand out. You want to blend in your a shadowrunner, not a stormtrooper. And that armored jacket that looks like motor cycle leathers looks great in October is going to really stand out in July.
I have mentioned before but RL a couple of years ago I was in the town of New Hope PA, an artsy town along the Delaware, just north of where Washington crossed in 1776. Nice shops and restaurants and stuff. I was wearing a linen suit (skirt, blouse and jacket) and kept the jacket on because I had a (legal) gun on my hip. Going into a shop two old ladies were coming out. One looked at me and said "Oh my dear, take that jacket off, you're making me feel hot just looking at it." All I could think was "I'll make you feel much more uncomfortable if I do."
I was dressed, pretty much, for the place and the environment but still stood out. Image if I had my bike leathers on instead. She might not have said something but the 'witness' might have remembered me even more. Had something gone down I would just have been in her memory as the small woman with dark hair in a tan suit. If I'd been in leathers she certainly would have remembered me.
Posted by: Ascalaphus Jul 15 2011, 12:21 PM
You seem to have an interesting job 
Posted by: CanRay Jul 15 2011, 04:08 PM
If you had been in the leathers refusing to take them off, she'd likely have dialed 91, and had her finger hovering over the 1 button still.
Posted by: Shinobi Killfist Jul 15 2011, 06:21 PM
Actually Bike Leathers might not stand out in any weather. They are worn for safety, and it isn't that odd to prefer being too hot to having the flesh torn for your body.
Posted by: CanRay Jul 16 2011, 12:41 AM
My experience at least.
Posted by: Shinobi Killfist Jul 16 2011, 01:00 AM
My experience at least.
Maybe it is your attitude. If you think of them as straights I doubt you are putting off a good vibe.
Though honestly I suspect you are just seeing people noticing you are in bike leathers and interpreting that as freaking out. I've never noticed any issues when wearing biking leathers around any group of people. Posted by: Critias Jul 16 2011, 01:02 AM
All depends on the surroundings. Plenty of folks (including some who buy and wear those leathers in the first place) still equate riding leathers with biker gangs and motorcycle clubs and such. Whether the gear is practical or not, there are an awful lot of people who'll give someone a second glance, cross the street to avoid them, or hold their purse a little tighter when they see black leathers, vests, etc.
Posted by: CanRay Jul 16 2011, 01:02 AM
I was seven (maybe eight). Perhaps it was the attitude the group was giving off as well that I didn't pick up on at such a tender age.
EDIT: There's also a few issues with outlaw bike gangs (1%ers) back then until they were dealt with.
Posted by: pbangarth Jul 16 2011, 02:23 PM
Winnipeg has harsh weather by even Canadian standards. You will *NOT* look out of place with bulky attire, be it from winter clothing or gear underneath it. (Layered clothing is the most popular way for locals to handle things, with a oversized light leather jacket overtop everything to cut the wind. I prove myself "Another damned immigrant" by having different coats and wearing what's appropriate.).
The rest of Canada, yes, cold weather in Winter, but not nearly as bad. It's the wind chill. I grew up in the mountains of Northern Ontario, and even I'm still adjusting to Winnipeg six years later. Hell, I heard a couple complain about how the Winters weren't nearly as bad as in "The Old Country", I asked where that was, "Siberia" was their answer.
Summers in Canada are pretty decent, but you can get away with a bit of light armor with the comment "I'm from Texas" or some other rationalization. I know a few folks from the Caribbean who never felt warm for their entire stay in Canada (Even the summer.).
EDIT: I also suggest Winnipeg as a township near the area is a T-Bird stop in canon, and it's near a border which allows for lots of shenanigans. Especially as Aztechnology is a major proponent in that country up north of the UCAS.
But .... the rest of Canada??
I live in Toronto, and the weather here is tropical compared to Winnipeg. I've also lived in northern Alberta, where the winter cold is sentient and out to get you. Then there's the Northwest Territories where my nephew worked. He just smiles when I talk about the cold in Alberta.
Posted by: CanRay Jul 16 2011, 04:11 PM
I'm of the opinion that the First Nations People that were around in Winnipeg when the Europeans settled there had a big ass laugh, "Man, can you believe those idiot white men? I mean, we only visit there in the nice part of the year for trading, they're going to live there ALL YEAR LONG!" Of course, it's an Urban Reserve now, so I'm not sure how to take it from there...
I grew up in a mountain (Impact Crater-created valley to be exact) in Northern Ontario. The cold didn't even need to be sentient to get you, there was enough of it to be everywhere. In addition, most years there was enough snow to bury me standing up (I'm over six feet tall.).
And, yeah, the Territories, dear $Deity the Territories!
So, to sum up, if you're in Canada, body armour won't go noticed, and you'll still probably want to put a wind-proof greatcoat over it. (Or have a bunch of warm clothing under an armoured greatcoat.).
Posted by: Shinobi Killfist Jul 16 2011, 04:30 PM
It also probably depends on the style of bike leathers, your general appearance outside leathers etc. One of my friends can do a reasonable impression of a half giant and with his epic beard he might intimidate people with or without bike leathers. Showing up on the bike just seals the deal. The more racing style leathers though don't really intimidate people in the slightest. In SR though I suspect lots of people drive bikes for the money saving/energy saving benefits so leathers might be common, on the other hand GO Gangs are a bit more prevalent so they might give off a more threatening vibe. Depends on how you play it, but isn't that what the social skills are for. You can pull your self off as corp commuter biker by carrying your self in the right fashion, you come off threatening and they see the leathers as Go Gang guy.
I'm from California and the heaviest clothes I had was a long coat meant for rain and mist. When I moved to NY I stood out in winter because I was under dressed. They were like dude aren't you cold. That first winter was brutal as I learned to dress for the cold.
Posted by: CanRay Jul 16 2011, 05:37 PM
But, yeah, they were not wearing racing leathers at all. My Father had a "Cop Cut" jacket, in fact. (Watch the "Mad Max" series to see what that looks like.). I just wish I could fit into my leathers again.
Posted by: Brainpiercing7.62mm Jul 17 2011, 01:50 PM
The point remains that SR has specificallly civilian armoured "bike" clothes, like the Urban Explorer suit.
SR also completely ignores bike leathers that you pull over your normal clothes, which are actually the most commonplace type in Germany, I believe. You wear your normal clothes - even just shorts and a shirt, and then slip the leathers on top - and they are really well padded, too. If you're going at 100mph the wind will cool you off
. You could also stuff a ton of ballistic armour in those and go unnoticed. It would get weird to get out of a car in one those suits, though, so... if you're a shadowrunner in a warm climate, it might pay to use a bike. Might make it harder to conceal the machine guns, but... there are plenty of small guns that pack enough of a punch.
Posted by: HunterHerne Jul 17 2011, 02:27 PM
SR also completely ignores bike leathers that you pull over your normal clothes, which are actually the most commonplace type in Germany, I believe. You wear your normal clothes - even just shorts and a shirt, and then slip the leathers on top - and they are really well padded, too. If you're going at 100mph the wind will cool you off
. You could also stuff a ton of ballistic armour in those and go unnoticed. It would get weird to get out of a car in one those suits, though, so... if you're a shadowrunner in a warm climate, it might pay to use a bike. Might make it harder to conceal the machine guns, but... there are plenty of small guns that pack enough of a punch.
You know, I never understood why most players would want a machine gun anyway. If you`re already in over your head enough that you need it, the run is likely botched.
Yes, there are circumstances, like a military campaign, or the occasional cover fire where they are helpful. I would just prefer to have a shotgun/rifle or a sidearm in most cases.
Posted by: CanRay Jul 17 2011, 03:10 PM
Machine Guns are great when mounted on drones. Not so good when mounted on the sociopathic troll who really likes loud noises.
Posted by: Shinobi Killfist Jul 17 2011, 04:07 PM
Yes, there are circumstances, like a military campaign, or the occasional cover fire where they are helpful. I would just prefer to have a shotgun/rifle or a sidearm in most cases.
Depends on the campaign style. Not everyone is into the nothing goes wrong because we are super professional dudes. A lot of campaign styles have almost required fight scenes of sometimes large size. I know in 3e on they really made the push in the fluff to crap on all other styles of play than super professional dude and his super professional teammates but lots of people like different game styles.
Posted by: CanRay Jul 17 2011, 04:17 PM
And sometimes you want people to know you're coming for them, and what better way than to write your name in the wall with a belt-fed weapon system? 
Worked for Kane when he was hunting for Kat after all.
EDIT: There's times when you need to be calm, professional, discrete. And then there's times for when the lined coats come off, the combat armour goes on, and the dreky end of the stick is turned around...
Posted by: Shinobi Killfist Jul 17 2011, 04:30 PM
Sure you should be planning things out to some degree, but some campaigns rely on combat a lot. In our last SR campaign I was playing a character called Boomtown/AKA Joe Cannon a heavy weapons and demolitions expert based street sam. Who got his arm bit off when he shoved a crap ton of explosives down a queen insect spirits throat, and then since I was broke I went on about 6 runs before I could afford to buy a cyber arm(-2 die penalty since I was now shooting lefty). Fun campaign but not exactly the only carry a side arm style.
He used stealth and cons when he could, but lots of runs were physical infiltration style runs and once you are sneaking in and get caught I don't think the guards are going to go soft on you because you have a SMG instead of a machine gun when they attack you. Now if you are conning your way in or something where the machine gun breaks the run don't take it. But if you are relying on stealth and control of the security systems but if spotted are otherwise an obvious infiltrator big guns can help get you out alive.
The current campaign is a bit more professional in style and is also a lot of fun.
Posted by: CanadianWolverine Jul 17 2011, 04:54 PM
May I make a suggestion on the issue of armor and local style?
Perhaps I am reading it wrong but in a setting with animated tattoos and what have you, what is stopping a shadowrunner from programing their camouflage/chameleon/modified suit to have patterns that look socially acceptable?
Beyond that, there are enviromental modifications as well, cooling/heating/sweat wicking systems, heck, there is probably a off the shelf or jury rigged setup so you can recycle bodily waste into energy or other useful byproducts as a back up to what your solar cells aren't grabbing from your enviroment.
Oh, and BC along the coast of the Pacific is really not any different than Seattle in most cases, sometimes they get frozen when I am still getting soaked by the downpour of the sideways rain. When it does manage to snow, it quickly melts and turns into flooded areas and a slush that will hydroplane you as quick as a wink, which of course has the rest of Canada wondering why an inch or two of snow gets us car accidents up the wazoo in our mountainous/hilly terrain when they are measuring their snow in feet. A military man once told me he had spent plenty of time on exercises on the prairies, the shield, and above the 60th parallel but he was never as cold as when he spent a night on a mountain on Vancouver Island because the wet air combined with the wind sapped heat from him in seconds regardless of what he was wearing.
That's why I laugh when I think of Seattle shadowrunners who don't have rain gear or at the very least a wet suit as a default in their gear.
Posted by: CanRay Jul 17 2011, 05:09 PM
I have a story idea that incorporates the most angry characters I have ever conceived of. One is Ice Cold (The Accountant From Hell), another two are Pink Mohawk (Nas and Pup the Dog Shaman), and one is Black Trenchcoat (I haven't worked him completely out yet but have mentioned him here.).
Clothing and armour plays heavily into the group and story, and you're able to tell what kind of person and personality the characters have just from what they wear. Especially when they change their outfits and you realize that all you've seen so far was them acting professional and discrete.
To play to the infamous trope "The Coats Come Off", when they gear up big time, and you see just how much they were holding back before, well, "Of Drek." is putting it mildly.
Currently, I only have a synopsis that I've shared with a few people about it... "Pure distilled awesome" is how it's been described.
But I got other projects first, and I have a dozen ideas like this. But it's a prime example of how clothing and armour can affect people's view of you, even when you don't need to take weather into consideration.
Posted by: Tymeaus Jalynsfein Jul 17 2011, 05:44 PM
Having been on the receiving end of such weather, in several countries in fact, while I was in the Marine Corps, I can totally understand where that sentiment is coming from.
Posted by: Blitz66 Jul 17 2011, 07:09 PM
Considering the availability of climate-controlled clothing, I don't think bulky clothes are necessarily out of place anywhere. Just say you wouldn't be without your air-conditioned overcoat in this heat. Hey, make it true, even. Winter and rain need less justification, but climate control on all your heavy gear is still a great idea.
Posted by: CanRay Jul 17 2011, 08:36 PM
What I wouldn't give for climate controlled coats IRL!
Posted by: fistandantilus4.0 Jul 18 2011, 12:10 AM
I've always wondered just how bulky SRs so called Armored Jackets are supposed to be. Even a standard police "bullet proof" vest is fairly bulky and can affect your movement unless you have one of the smaller ones that only covers the center mass area. The material's also fairly obvious.
Of course, armor isn't illegal in SR (the standard stuff anyway), and climate control would be nice. Heck , beyond even heavy armor. I'm from Cali and hate going out of state. Haven't found any place with better weather than San Diego.
That being said, I've been in Texas in July with flak and helmet. It sucks, but you can get used to it. Guys that go to the desert say pretty much the same thing. You can work with it, once you get used to how it feels. But I've noticed as I travel more that locals tend to know when you're dressing different. Seattle is a huge melting pot, so it would be less an issue there. As long as you had a serious rain coat anyways.
Posted by: CanRay Jul 18 2011, 12:20 AM
People are able to easily notice that I'm an "Immigrant" to Winnipeg because I have multiple coats, while locals layer (With an oversized light leather or pleather jacket on top, usually.).
Posted by: KarmaInferno Jul 18 2011, 01:04 AM
Worked for Kane when he was hunting for Kat after all.
EDIT: There's times when you need to be calm, professional, discrete. And then there's times for when the lined coats come off, the combat armour goes on, and the dreky end of the stick is turned around...
My main character either uses just pistols/SMGs, or machineguns. Not much in between.
Most day-to-day runner situations can be resolved with pistols.
If it's time to pull out the bigger guns, you are pretty much throwing subtlety to the winds ALREADY, might as well go with REALLY big guns.
Then again, this character has a tank gun in the rigged van, so he might be a wee bit biased about the utility of heavy weaponry.
As far as wearing flashy or memorable clothing, sometimes it's a GOOD thing. Many folks will be paying more attention to the outfit than the face of it's wearer.
"What did he look like?" "Well, he was dressed in great big army fatigues and his buddy was in bright pink leathers." "Did you get a good look at their faces?" "I'm sorry, I couldn't get past the pink."
-k
Posted by: Tymeaus Jalynsfein Jul 18 2011, 02:49 AM
Tank gun in the Van? Yeah, I'd agree that he is a bit biased.
Posted by: CanRay Jul 18 2011, 03:27 AM
Wearing outlandish clothing and distinctive items is an old trick to get people to not notice your face or other features. Flashy rings, loud shirts, and so on. And all easily disposed of in a dumpster with a little bit of petrol and a cigarette-matchbook "Timer".
That trick has been used since the... Forever.
Posted by: KarmaInferno Jul 18 2011, 06:37 AM
Was in a Missions game, where (no spoilers) we needed a distraction at a nightclub so the other party members could have a conversation with a fellow without the half dozen bodyguards in the room noticing.
So my PC turns his ruthenium polymer'd Armani suit to max bright white, and struts out into the middle of the dance floor and runs Travolta 12.7, after a few moments strobing his suit in time to the music. I think there may have been a conga line at some point. The PC ended up leaving the club with like two dozen phone numbers from folks of varied gender.
The rest of the party managed to meet with the NPC without a hitch.
-k
Posted by: CanRay Jul 18 2011, 06:56 AM
That... Has to be the most epic plan I have ever heard.
Posted by: Tymeaus Jalynsfein Jul 18 2011, 12:52 PM
Simply amazing to behold... Wish I had thought of that one.
Posted by: KarmaInferno Jul 18 2011, 01:01 PM
Hey, not all shadowruns have to be black ops mercs scowling in the shadows.
-k
Posted by: Tymeaus Jalynsfein Jul 18 2011, 01:08 PM
-k
Too True... Still, that was enlightened... Kudos...
Posted by: X-Kalibur Jul 18 2011, 11:55 PM
Of course, armor isn't illegal in SR (the standard stuff anyway), and climate control would be nice. Heck , beyond even heavy armor. I'm from Cali and hate going out of state. Haven't found any place with better weather than San Diego.
To harp on this and a couple other points, unless you're out in the mojave, it rarely gets to the point of being too hot for a riding jacket. And I certainly don't get any looks for it. Hell, I get more strange looks wearing scrubs than a black leather jacket with padding. (I blame it only being 6'3"). Hell, in San Francisco, it can be just as cold during the summer as the winter in the rest of the state just because of the offshore winds. But generally, runners in the LA area can wear pretty much anything and not stand out much, heh, even more so in West Hollywood.
Posted by: CanRay Jul 19 2011, 12:04 AM
Also depends on the person. I'm sure I'd melt in Texas. Hell, I'm almost melting right now, and this would probably be considered a frigid winter in Texas.
On the flipside, I've seen people dressed in so many coats they look like the Michelin Man and still freezing cold in a moderate Northern Ontarian winter.
Winnipeg, well, Siberians complain about the cold here.
Posted by: Critias Jul 19 2011, 12:09 AM
For me (here in Texas), I sure as hell feel like I'm dying when I armor up, and I've got a fairly nice Joe Rocket jacket, with tons of venting. When I'm moving, it's fine. When I'm stuck at a red light, or in those first (and last) few minutes, when I'm walking to and from my bike, though? Pure murder.
Posted by: Blitz66 Jul 19 2011, 01:53 AM
Keep in mind that Texas is huge, CanRay. Unless you're having wicked ice storms, your weather isn't colder than a Texas winter.
Figure you're probably joking, but I've known a couple Canadians who happened to be pretty dim, and they weren't aware that snow happened in the southern U.S. Among other things they weren't aware of, but that's a long story.
Posted by: CanRay Jul 19 2011, 02:00 AM
I was joking, yes. I know snow happens in the Southern US, and actually causes death. Not a joking matter.
As for Texas being "Huge", only in comparison to other US States (Other than Alaska). Provinces, now, those are huge.
Posted by: Blitz66 Jul 19 2011, 02:09 AM
Well, yes, but there's actually stuff in Texas.
Posted by: CanRay Jul 19 2011, 02:10 AM
We got stuff. Rocks, trees, hydroelectric dams, ... ... ... Black flies!
Posted by: CanadianWolverine Jul 19 2011, 02:17 AM
Oh, hahahaha...
Oh man, someone please send Blitz66 on a run into any province, hell, even PEI, I want him to find out how little "stuff" is in a province. I suspect we would have to send out a search party eventually
But hey, when a Texan is missing fucking up things in a big way, there is always Alberta
Posted by: CanRay Jul 19 2011, 02:20 AM
So... We go from one group of overcompensating gun-toting rednecks to a different group of overcompensating gun-toting rednecks?
Oh man, my Ontarian is showing, isn't it?
Posted by: Blitz66 Jul 19 2011, 02:23 AM
See, if there was anything there, I could find my own way back.
Posted by: CanRay Jul 19 2011, 02:42 AM
Use distinctive looking trees and rocks.
Posted by: Blitz66 Jul 19 2011, 02:46 AM
Odd thing with trees and rocks. They look an awful lot like other nearby trees and rocks.
Posted by: CanRay Jul 19 2011, 02:49 AM
Only if you don't know what to look for. Also, a buck knife will fix that problem right quick.
http://youtu.be/kxTpIMK5NSo
Posted by: Blitz66 Jul 19 2011, 03:02 AM
Did cold weather survival training. Probably better suited to survive and appreciate it than most Americans. But needling Canadians is a favored pastime of mine. My eternal rival - until I inevitably triumph and slay him, naturally - is from Alberta. One of these years he and I are going to go on a training trip to the mountains nearest there. Exchange my fist fighting knowledge for his sword techniques.
But it's still lots and lots of not much up there.
Anyway, back in the topic, my players are clever enough to know I reward them for thinking about things their characters would, like comfort. And would penalize them if they pushed too hard without it, naturally. So whatever the game system, they opt for everything they can that keeps them warm, dry, fed, and watered properly. In Shadowrun, that's climate controls.
Posted by: X-Kalibur Jul 19 2011, 10:40 PM
I'd laugh my ass off to hear about a run in South America (Amazonia, whatever) with runners losing toes and whatnot to jungle rot.
Posted by: CanRay Jul 19 2011, 11:22 PM
Trench Foot, nasty thing!
Posted by: KeyMasterOfGozer Jul 20 2011, 12:30 AM
I see the Climate Controlled clothing a lot in this Thread. I have been looking through books, and I cannot find this Armor Modification. Where do I find it?
Posted by: HunterHerne Jul 20 2011, 12:38 AM
Haha. That will be a laugh. I'm particularily cruel, in that I occasionally call for random body checks (especially in cold or warm weather) to contract diseases (usually a mild cold is what I have in mind, but if they Glitch or crit glitch, it could be a lot worse). So far, no one has contracted anything, but one of these days...
Posted by: suoq Jul 20 2011, 02:11 AM
So far this year I've camped with the Boy Scouts in 0 degree F and 95 degree F (113 degree F heat index) (-17C / 35C / 45C).
I think in both conditions I would have been unable to properly operate the safety on my gun after 48 hours. In both conditions my brain and body began to shut down after prolonged exposure. I wasn't alone in that.
------------
In-Book items:
Smart Insulation - Upgrade for Orthoskin. Augmentation 68.
Climate Adaptation quality - Runner's Companion 112
Industrious Line - Arsenal 47 (Winterwear)
Polar Survival Suit - Arsenal 52
Insulation - SR4A pg 327 for cold weather
No clue about that climate control people are talking about.
Of all of the above, the Smart Insulation has the most appeal to me and if climate will be an issue, seems the best solution. Personally, I'd probably invest in the Electroshock as well.
Posted by: Critias Jul 20 2011, 04:33 AM
Man, I miss Scouting sometimes.
Posted by: Blitz66 Jul 20 2011, 04:51 AM
Wow, really? I was sure I saw it SOMEWHERE. Oh well. One way in which Shadowrun tech is falling behind modern tech, slowly but steadily.
Posted by: ggodo Jul 20 2011, 05:38 AM
I remember in House of the Sun Dermal Plating with abs sculpted on is popular in Hawai'i
Posted by: Blade Jul 20 2011, 07:47 AM
I'm pretty sure there's something about it in the Sprawl Survival Guide.
Posted by: KeyMasterOfGozer Jul 20 2011, 03:23 PM
I'm not saying it's not there, but I wasn't able to find it this morning looking there.
Posted by: CanRay Jul 20 2011, 05:05 PM
It's a good way of getting around the issue. Especially Orthoskin with Smart Insulation!
Posted by: Tymeaus Jalynsfein Jul 20 2011, 06:08 PM
Only Sometimes. About as much as I miss the "Camping" involved with being deployed to the Deserts of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Kuwait. I have pretty much had my fill of it over the years.
Posted by: CanRay Jul 20 2011, 06:53 PM
"Join the Military, it's like the Boy Scouts, only people try to kill you. If you're lucky, it's not your own side!"
Posted by: Tymeaus Jalynsfein Jul 20 2011, 06:54 PM
Heh... Indeed. Not saying I did not enjoy the Military. I enjoyed the hell out of it. Just saying that I have put in my time in the wilds. I like Civilization, thank you very much.
Posted by: X-Kalibur Jul 20 2011, 08:03 PM
Posted by: HunterHerne Jul 20 2011, 08:08 PM
Complete with all the sexual deviance,
Posted by: CanRay Jul 21 2011, 06:15 AM
Please, there's sexual deviance everywhere you go. It's just exposed more in some areas than others, and a few folks are more honest about it.
Posted by: HunterHerne Jul 21 2011, 11:35 AM
Yeah, I know.
Posted by: Daddy's Little Ninja Jul 22 2011, 09:07 PM
My husband is English and was in the British army before coming to America. He is a re-enactor now and has to admuit that the hot weather is too much for him. Though I do not think most runners would wear a wool frock coat and bear skin hat.
"My northern european blood" he is fond of saying, keeps him from really doing much in the summer but in winter he is unstoppable. Or is he just trying to avoid restaining our porch?
Posted by: CanRay Jul 23 2011, 12:46 AM
I'm from the Northern Ontario Mountains (A valley to be exact), and moved to Winnipeg. We've had a record breaker here for heat, and a light t-shirt was too much for me. And it's not as hot as things are going for other folks in the US.
...
I think. Stupid ancient measuring system still confuses me and makes me go, "Why the hell isn't water boiling at that temperature!"
Posted by: Aku Jul 23 2011, 12:57 AM
...
I think. Stupid ancient measuring system still confuses me and makes me go, "Why the hell isn't water boiling at that temperature!"
Imagine feeling that weather! sometimes i walk outside and think the same thing!
Posted by: Angelone Jul 24 2011, 05:26 PM
The whole "northern European blood" thing is fairly accurate. I'm the same way if it's cold out I'm great get me in temperatures much above 70 and I'm done. It's been triple digits here the last couple of weeks. /sad dropbear
I could have sworn all armor had climate control, is it in the basic description maybe?
Posted by: Brazilian_Shinobi Jul 25 2011, 12:13 PM
Complain about heat when you come to Recife (Hellcife as we call it sometimes) where the lowest temperature of the year is 22ºC at night in July and the highest can go as much as 35ºC ALL DAY during summer
Posted by: Tymeaus Jalynsfein Jul 25 2011, 01:21 PM
Copmplain about the Heat when the average Swing Temperature is over 100 Degrees from Day to Night. 125-130 in the day, and below freezing at night. That really sucks. For reference: Kuwait, sometime between August and March.
Posted by: pbangarth Jul 25 2011, 01:24 PM
Same idea in the Andes mountains of Peru, up close to the equator. Though not quite so dramatic a change. It doesn't even need a full day-night shift. At 4000+ meters altitude, just walk into the shade and back out.
Posted by: Tymeaus Jalynsfein Jul 25 2011, 01:44 PM
Heheh... Yeah, that would suck, though I could see some benefits to that.
Posted by: CanRay Jul 25 2011, 10:26 PM
On the flip side to the equation, I have a Swiss Army Mountain Greatcoat (The same type that some bullets bounce off of) that I've worn only a few times here. Every other time, it'd be like walking around in an oven, even when it's well below freezing outside.
Posted by: Tymeaus Jalynsfein Jul 26 2011, 12:36 PM
There are definitely times, here in Colorado, that I would like to have something like that.
Posted by: Ascalaphus Jul 28 2011, 01:12 PM
If you're feeling mischievous as a GM, you can have a spell of freak weather, too. (I just got back from a weeklong holiday in Glasgow. The weather was sunny all week long; everyone was confused about it. I'd brought lots of bad-weather clothing of course...)
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