Thanks! It was actually kind of stuck in the pipeline for awhile. Written for SR4A but delayed and then went into limbo when SR5 dropped. Glad to see it's finally seeing the light of day.


Sendaz is on the right track. An earlier version had expanded Biotech skills including a dedicated Surgery skill (separate from Medicine) and an expanded role for Cybertechnology as the "tech" skill of the group so the rule is a bit of a throwback to that. The rationale being that upgrading medkits gets is a bit tricky. Medkits aren't just a device, a program or set of tools, but a combination of all three. Upgrading the software is easy enough, but after that its really a matter of selecting better tools and supplies, which in my mind speaks to a more technical or surgical skill. Or you could just use Hardware and call it a day.


I tend to agree with you. I have already been in contact with Jason Hardy and am compiling a list of errata.


Unfortunately as part of the "Options Line" the rules aren't allowed in Missions. But if I'm being honest, I've often thought the quality would be great for your Old Man Jones character. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Using Biotech to cause these wounds via aimed shots, or having a random chance to get such wounds which need to be stitched back together (like the severe wounds from Augmentation)?



As in, more syringes to keep track of?

Using an optional rule, after a certain threshold wounds of a severe enough degree continue accruing damage, similar to physical overflow. I imagine the intention is to keep a combat medic (or group of docwagon employees) busy.



I don't feel like I'm giving anything away by quoting here:
"Since medkits and autodocs play only a background role in most games, the basic rules presented in Shadowrun core rulebook, along with Arsenal and Augmentation, are streamlined for simplicity and ease of use. Although the basic rules assume that all medkits and autodocs have similar features and capabilities, there are some important distinctions. The following optional rules are designed for gamemasters and players who want more detailed game mechanics; they can also serve to clarify the basic rules."

So to answer your somewhat flip question; yes; but for people who are interested in that sort of thing. Again, I'm thinking the intention here is for a dedicated Docwagon campaign, or a similarly focused combat medic in a standard game. YMMV, but if I get something similar for riggers for SR5 I'll be tickled pink. I'll add the table on how medkit dice pools should be distributed given the type of kit and level of skill of the user is particularly neat.

Unskilled user with remote control = "Surgery Simulator 2072"
-DrZ

EDIT: I responded to the syringe question assuming it was a reference to that thread a few weeks ago about "Why do we have to buy individual syringes". If your question was not at all sarcastic then I take back any particularly harsh phrasing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cyber.gif)

Actually, if your recent thread was any indication, I think you will find this more to your liking. Rather than a system for tracking individual items (like disposable syringes or whatnot), it includes a table that gives broad examples of what you can find in medkits of different ratings. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

I don't know if you've noticed, but several of the last books have had such editing errors that directly impact game mechanics, even if you assume things like the Rainforest Carbine were intentionally statted as they are. The SR5 core book is full of them.

In this case specifically they do not.

Additionally, splatbooks have always had a reputation for adding stuff way above the power level of the core system, similar to the Rainforest carbine (the "Monkey-Grip" of firearms). It's a cost of doing business; there are only so many ways you can stat out a light pistol; eventually the cool one you write up in your splat book is going to be completely better than anything in the core game.

So, to summarize: the editing sucks. It should be better. In this particular case it's not that big of a deal (since it doesn't appear to change anything, and is easy to see what they intended). Of course, I am just referring to the mislabeled tables; there might be other stuff in there I haven't read yet.

just to clarify, about aging an such

if you're born a human and you morph (i forget the term and don't want to use the wrong one) into an ork or troll or whomever, you have the lifespan of a human still.

and if an ork female breeds with a human male, she may have a litter with a few humans, who have a high chance of morphing into ork's eventually. but those born humans have a longer lifespan, correct? And a troll and a human can be half brothers & have the same troll mother, but different fathers right? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Yes... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Are you serious? This isn't a 'there's only so many ways to stat a light pistol' thing. We're talking about the very first book past the core book with weapons in it.

There is no excuse.

I stated that splatbooks are notorious for providing unbalanced equipment (in fact, by their nature they are unbalanced because they are in addition to the core edition which presumably was created with balance in mind) and you respond by asking if I am sincere, because one particular case is egregious. So, I am, I guess? I think I'm going to stop responding to your questions; it seems to be that you are more inclined to point out things you actively dislike as opposed to things you enjoy, and I'm not particularly interested in having that kind of debate; I can let things like the Rainforest Carbine slide because it is within my power to ignore them- the entirety of the Shadowrun universe is not tainted beyond repair in my eyes as a result of it's existence.

@Method -

any chance of getting the description of Sugammadex (on the new drug table, but no write-up)?

Sugamadex is the stuff you need to reverse the poison Rock. It'S in the description of Rock.

Yup - thanks - just came to it!

Anyone interested in letting everyone know what kind of stuff is in this thing, gear wise?

Any Lethal Toxins with a restriction of 12 or less?

I heard it has Drones. I'm guessing Medical Drones with built in med-kits, surgery suites, etc. Any wheel chair drones? HTR related (IE: Combat, Not medic) Drones?

Anything especially cool or interesting?

I'm not asking for the stats, just a quick description of what's there.

Most of the gear is designed for medics (as you might imagine); things like autoinjection guns, hand held imaging devices, rapid infusers, etc. There are also some detailed examples about the contents and capabilities of medkits of various ratings and a bunch of expanded rules about how they work. As a side note, it corrects the whole "rating replaces skill" problem inherent with the SR4A medkit rules.


Yes, and a few others with more specialized effects. Also drugs that enable medics to do some cool stuff including counteracting certain negative effect of other toxins. Oh and some pathogens that do some other cool stuff.


Yes there a few drones, all medically oriented. No wheelchairs.


No. This was originally written for SR4A, so most Docwagon vehicles and a plethora of combat drones were already detailed in other books. Unfortunately, if you're looking for more generalized combat drones for SR5, this won't help you.


I think so (in my totally biased opinion) but it depends on what kind of stuff you like and what you think would add to your game.

Are there any plans to eventually consolidate some of these .pdf-only supplements into some kind of hardcopy release eventually? I am probably not alone in disdaining e-books and only wanting actual books, and I am starting to feel a bit left behind by all of these e-book only supplements of additional rules, qualities, gear, etc.

Considering that nowadays I personally don't have the budget to get a hard-copy of anything, I don't mind e-releases.

I'm not privy to that kind of stuff and I imagine most who are would be under NDA. You'd have to ask Bull or Jason H probably.

he's asking for them to offer print versions, not for them to stop offering PDF versions. you'd still get your e-release if they were to set up a POD deal or something like that no problem.

Call it Run&Bullets&Gun&Bandages Primer.

I think that depends on Catalyst being able to afford to print more books.

not really. POD services are a thing.

it would be expensive, undoubtedly, but doesn't require them to front the cost for it.

Yep, I was worried that one of the few kit solutions was replaced by "here is a detailed list of stuff inside a kit, tally anything you take and replace it using a big table of insane prices" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Method, since you wrote this I hope you can answer. How much is Red Masque supposed to cost and what is its availability? There is a stat line for Cypher but not Red Masque. Unless of course that stat line is supposed to be for Red Masque but then how much is Cypher? Both found on pg 21.

In keeping with convention, diseases and pathogens are not usually given a cost and availability because they generally aren't comercially available to the typical shadowrunner (cypher being an exception) and they tend to function better as plot devices. Obtaining enough Red Masque to mount an attack, or even just do research should really be the focus of an adventure (see NAN Vol 2 for ideas). If you want to use it more casually in your game, you'll have to talk it over with your GM.