Runner Essentials, ...what does every runner need? Options

[Aria]

I've been creating a number of characters recently and I have to admit that gear usually comes a dim last in my thinking when it comes to a build. In particular commlinks as they are something fairly new to me (SR3 always used to buy a microtransciever for shadow work and a mobile for downtime and contacts).

What is a realistic commlink for an average runner (not a rigger or hacker)? Do you need firewall and encryption at 6 (or at least as high as possible) or will a 400BP hacker breeze through that if they want so just something to keep the noobs out is enough? Do you need to run an agent to keep that all important hub out of their grubby little digital mits?

Are there other pieces of essential kit that every runner should have? I remember a notable article by Blackjack that mentioned a packet of cigarettes as nobody suspects someone lurking if they have a fag in hand?!? Can't find the link any more but hopefully some of you remember the site?

Fake SIN 3 and a low lifestyle safe house? (Don't take your work home with you!!!)

Any thoughts or comments extremely welcome (IMG:style_emoticons/default/spin.gif)

Thanks

A

[SleepIncarnate]

A handheld sensor with rating 6 radio signal scanner is required, so is a tag eraser. As for commlink, that depends on the game you're playing. For my non-tech characters, I tend to go with the middle ground link and OS, the Novatech Airware running Renraku Ichi (if memory serves correctly). A rating 6 medkit is also pretty essential, and I'd also recommend a rating 6 respirator, along with some kind of glasses or goggles. Respirator + glasses/goggles = easy way to obscure your face for runs, that also provide functional uses. I would recommend a rating 4 SIN since it's the best you can get at creation without qualities (or go all out for rating 6 if you want to take the restricted gear quality for it, there are worse reasons for that quality, but better ones as well). A low lifestyle safe house isn't bad, or hell, even a squatter one. Depends on what your main lifestyle is. I would use the more advanced lifestyle rules for that. You don't need too much in the way of entertainment or food at the safe house if you don't actually stay there unless necessary, so can put more into security and the like.

[sabs]

For non tech characters:

avalong (4/4) commlink
with Firewall/System of 4
R3 Agent if i'm tight on money (r4 if not)
All the common programs at 4
Attack, Armor, eccm at 4

1 of the 600 nuyen commlinks, with r2 system, firewall, browse, encrypt, editm - attached to one of the r2 sins.

contacts: image link, flare comp, smart link
glasses: lowlight, thermal, magnification, enhanced vision 3
subvocal mic

r4 SiN
2 R2 SiN

Form Fitting Body Armor
medkit 6

the /goal/ btw as I get paid is to upgrade to:

Commlink: Response 6, Signal 4, System 6, firewall 6, 2 Agent 6, All common at 6, (2 attack 6, 2 armor 6, 2 analyze 6) These 6 Ergonomic.
Tied to a R6 SiN with all the trimmings (this is my primary identity)

2 secondary commlinks at 3/3 with a rating 3 agent, and basic programs (this is my stroll around town commlink)
Tied to 2 different R4 SiNs. These are my stroll around town ids.
Both of which are supporting seperate low or medium lifestyles (depending on the cashflow)

[Stingray]

investing for bike/car is also good idea.
easily concealable handgun ( and spare)

[Yama King]

I disagree about a bike or car. Public trans and walking. Takes longer but keeps you in shape! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

You can always jack a car for a run as well.

Your own car can come after your first big payoff. Or several small ones.

Street Doc or Street Shaman w/ heal contact. As high a loyalty as you can afford.

[Stingray]

I disagree about a bike or car. Public trans and walking. Takes longer but keeps you in shape! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

You can always jack a car for a run as well.

Your own car can come after your first big payoff. Or several small ones.

Street Doc or Street Shaman w/ heal contact. As high a loyalty as you can afford.

Carrying a several bags filled w/weapons,ammo,armor and restricted eq. in the KE obvserved
bus SOMEHOW get you in trouble, i just wonder why.. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/eek.gif)

[Yama King]

Well played sir.. well played.

I normally play mages so I travel light. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

But you do have a point.

[Machiavelli]

All nice things, but i really never leave the house without this ones:

Body-odour-reducing cigarettes
Desinfection-spray
Duct-tape
Cable ties
Chewing gum
Dog-cookies
Lighter

[KarmaInferno]

A pink mohawk.





-k

[Doc Chase]

A towel.

[Semerkhet]

I've been creating a number of characters recently and I have to admit that gear usually comes a dim last in my thinking when it comes to a build. In particular commlinks as they are something fairly new to me (SR3 always used to buy a microtransciever for shadow work and a mobile for downtime and contacts).

Starting with an aside: Back when I was running SR3 a number of years ago my team attempted to put together a high-quality set of communications gear for use in runs. Once they put together the custom micro-transceivers with good encryption it worked out to something like 35k nuyen each. This was 1999 and even then it was obvious that the rules and setting were getting pretty creaky with age when it came to projecting future comm gear. House rules can help, but I'm glad SR4 cleaned up a lot of those issues.

What is a realistic commlink for an average runner (not a rigger or hacker)? Do you need firewall and encryption at 6 (or at least as high as possible) or will a 400BP hacker breeze through that if they want so just something to keep the noobs out is enough? Do you need to run an agent to keep that all important hub out of their grubby little digital mits?

Non-hackers won't have this right out of chargen, but any group with a hacker should very quickly have hacker-level commlink stats through pirated software. Anyone in the team not running a 6 Firewall during a run is a liability. Also, some of the most portable and useful loot from defeated antagonists are their commlinks, so the team should have a good supply of spare commlinks after a few missions.

Are there other pieces of essential kit that every runner should have? I remember a notable article by Blackjack that mentioned a packet of cigarettes as nobody suspects someone lurking if they have a fag in hand?!? Can't find the link any more but hopefully some of you remember the site?

The pack of cigarettes is a nice touch, but personally I don't require that level of inventory detail from my players. If the character's Shadowing/Infiltration skill is up to the job then they thought of details like the cigarette smoking. I certainly don't discourage players from adding details like that on their own and I may give bonuses if appropriate, but I don't require it.

Fake SIN 3 and a low lifestyle safe house? (Don't take your work home with you!!!)

Must have at least one decent fake SIN to start with. Safe houses are essential but I wouldn't sweat it too much in chargen. Once play begins the hacker in the group can spoof Lifestyles to maintain a few safehouses for the team.

Other things, some already mentioned:
-Neuro-stun and CS grenades are super-effective against armored(but not chemsealed) opponents.
-Respirator or armor with chemseal (so you don't get NS and CS used on you)
-Set of fancy clothes for meets in high-class establishments.
-Low-light vision mod by any means necessary.
-Team needs at least two vehicles that can carry the whole group. One to fit in AAA-B security areas and one for C down to F in the Barrens. Failing that, a Contact that can get the group temporary access to vehicles on short notice is essential. Public transport is no good for getting into the worst areas of whichever plex you're in and its also no good for when a quick getaway becomes necessary.
-Flyspy or similar surveillance aerial microdrones are near essential for keeping "total situational awareness" on runs. Have the hacker tie those feeds into the rest of the teams' HUDs for bonus fun.
-Related to HUDs mentioned above, all the team members need to have an AR HUD and the ability to silently and hands-free manipulate that HUD. For magical types this probably means nanopaste trodes.
-LAES in some form so you don't have to kill everyone who can identify you in a line-up.

Lots more I'm probably forgetting. Hope this helps.

[Doc Chase]

A wad of cash and a good camera can take care of what Laes would.

You pay them off, and take their picture. They decide to rat on you...

...Well, usually implied violence is all you need.

[Semerkhet]

A wad of cash and a good camera can take care of what Laes would.

You pay them off, and take their picture. They decide to rat on you...

...Well, usually implied violence is all you need.

Absolutely, but LAES has added benefits. It will guarantee that even if the person you questioned is caught and tortured by your enemies they will be totally incapable of revealing anything about you, what you asked them or what they told you. All they will know is that they blacked out, which is suspicious but not terribly useful to the antagonists.

[Doc Chase]

Absolutely, but LAES has added benefits. It will guarantee that even if the person you questioned is caught and tortured by your enemies they will be totally incapable of revealing anything about you, what you asked them or what they told you. All they will know is that they blacked out, which is suspicious but not terribly useful to the antagonists.

o.O Just what are you breaking into that requires every person who may have laid eyes on you to involuntarily disavow any knowledge of your existance? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

[SleepIncarnate]

Duct tape, even in 2072 it's the miracle tool

[Kliko]

I use the rating 4 personal comm-unit in sr3 period. Good enough encryption for tactical security, some eccm and decent enough range at flux 2. Once you get your hands on BattleTac^tm you can even run your network through them. They clock in at (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nuyen.gif) 12k (and that includes the street index 2). You can add signal boosters if you need the extra range...

[KarmaInferno]

Oh! Don't forget Dikote and an Ally Spirit!




-k

[Semerkhet]

o.O Just what are you breaking into that requires every person who may have laid eyes on you to involuntarily disavow any knowledge of your existance? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

It's mostly because it just leaves fewer loose ends.

The team breaks into mid-level megacorp exec's home and questions him regarding a very sensitive topic.

Scenario A: The team disables security and breaks in wearing masks using voice distortion and questions the guy. They get what they want, threaten him with retribution should he mention the incident, tie him up with duct tape, and leave. Victim is eventually released by family/friend/housekeeper and probably calls the cops or his own corporate security. Based on what the team questioned him on he has a pretty good idea of what they're after and notifies corporate security of the potential problem. Even if he doesn't notify the "authorities" the team just made an enemy that might, just might, have the resources to track them down and cause them grief.

Scenario B: The team disables security and breaks in and questions the guy. They get want they want and dose him with Laésal wine. They leave the guy lying on the couch cradling an empty liquor bottle and skedaddle, covering their tracks. Guy wakes up a while later and doesn't remember anything from the last 12-Body hours. Even if he is suspicious what is he going to do?

At 500¥ per dose they're not using it all the time but it is extremely effective for certain situations. Of course, you could always just grease the guy but that has its own set of consequences.

[Stingray]

It's mostly because it just leaves fewer loose ends.

The team breaks into mid-level megacorp exec's home and questions him regarding a very sensitive topic.

Scenario A: The team disables security and breaks in wearing masks using voice distortion and questions the guy. They get what they want, threaten him with retribution should he mention the incident, tie him up with duct tape, and leave. Victim is eventually released by family/friend/housekeeper and probably calls the cops or his own corporate security. Based on what the team questioned him on he has a pretty good idea of what they're after and notifies corporate security of the potential problem. Even if he doesn't notify the "authorities" the team just made an enemy that might, just might, have the resources to track them down and cause them grief.

Scenario B: The team disables security and breaks in and questions the guy. They get want they want and dose him with Laésal wine. They leave the guy lying on the couch cradling an empty liquor bottle and skedaddle, covering their tracks. Guy wakes up a while later and doesn't remember anything from the last 12-Body hours. Even if he is suspicious what is he going to do?

At 500¥ per dose they're not using it all the time but it is extremely effective for certain situations. Of course, you could always just grease the guy but that has its own set of consequences.

everything is fine IF team's Hacker/Technomancer remember to clean recordings of the incident from wageslaves cybereye's/Cyberears ..
(They both have Recording unit)

[Semerkhet]

everything is fine IF team's Hacker/Technomancer remember to clean recordings of the incident from wageslaves cybereye's/Cyberears ..
(They both have Recording unit)

Agreed. I was mentally including that under "covering their tracks." (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Marcus]

A towel.

Full points for Style.

Fake SIN R4.
Med Kit R6
breather (or other air supply)
A backup life style of some kind. (I'm a fan of the storage unit and/or cheap motel room)
Something to do at ranged Combat, something to do in melee Combat.
A think a 3/3 is fine commlink wise if you don't intend to hack. You also don't need Sys 6, but I would alway get Firewall 6.
Data Search! Even if you only have a 3. You can still make the roll (Never a bad idea!)
Armor! I suggest FFBA, as a very good place to start Add Non-Conductive and your heading in the right direction.
A Helmet with tented or reflective visor (it covers your face, it adds armor, it can and should have all kinds of cool vision tech.)
A fixer contact, (yes the rules require you to have at least one contact, but i have seen so many jokers show up a tables with out even one)
And someone in the party needs a Van (red strip is sadly optional :_: )

[Doc Chase]

Full points for Style.

Heh heh. Thank you. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I like doing these for the runner on a budget.

Fake SIN R4.
Med Kit R6
breather (or other air supply)

One kit per person is overkill IMO unless you're running a DocWagon campaign (and those can be a pain in the ass). Have the rigger carry the kit in an emergency case on the support drone; then you have cover while you let it work!

Fake SINs are essential, unless you're staying in the Barrens. Totally agree. Also with the rebreather masks, they're cheap and useful.

A backup life style of some kind. (I'm a fan of the storage unit and/or cheap motel room)
Something to do at ranged Combat, something to do in melee Combat.
A think a 3/3 is fine commlink wise if you don't intend to hack. You also don't need Sys 6, but I would alway get Firewall 6.
Data Search! Even if you only have a 3. You can still make the roll (Never a bad idea!)

You can pick up a room at a coffin motel for cheap and use it to stash gear, just like the mausoleum in Terminator 3. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Everyone should have a pistol and a knife or a shock baton as backup. Always have a surprise ready! A Colt to surprise anyone while you're dressed to the nines for socializing, and the shock glove or a sap (or find a chair leg) to give people a nasty surprise.

I still don't know what to think about non-hackers having their commlinks fully kitted out to hack. Huggles McTroll doesn't need an Attack program, or a Data Bomb, or a Sleaze - that's what the Hacker's for. Let him/her mod out the phones.

Armor! I suggest FFBA, as a very good place to start Add Non-Conductive and your heading in the right direction.
A Helmet with tented or reflective visor (it covers your face, it adds armor, it can and should have all kinds of cool vision tech.)
A fixer contact, (yes the rules require you to have at least one contact, but i have seen so many jokers show up a tables with out even one)
And someone in the party needs a Van (red strip is sadly optional :_: )

Form fitting suggests custom fitted, which costs ducats. I'm old-fashioned, I'll stick with a stylish Lined Coat or a lightweight Armor Vest to add to pectoral girth. Could always Eastwood it with some boiler plate in a pinch. Helmet's not as necessary as it makes you stand out like a thumb with mushrooms, if you need to break up the profile then your rebreather mask will do the job. A pair of glasses, your cybereyes, or goggles will handle any of the vision mods one typcially needs, and for cheaper.

Yes, everyone should have a fixer contact. Preferably the same one, for the team. If they don't take one at chargen, hope the contact they do have has a friend of a friend who needs someone for a job, and go from there. Personally, I prefer arms dealers so I can get bulk discounts on my munitions. Gotta save where I can.

[Brainpiercing7.6...]

Yes, could someone please reiterate the actual USE of a tricked out commlink for a non-techie character? What I read in another thread revolved around using the agent to defend against any intruding hacker, but can't the team hacker just pirate a few of the softs, or send his duplicated agent to each of the team's commlinks?

[Lansdren]

Tricked out commlinks are the hight of meta gaming,


If your a runner you will take advice on stuff but most people will possibly just turn the damm thing off on a run rather then risk all the transmissions. If you have a hacker in the team and your back story is your all very tight and trust each other then sure saying I got the hacker to sort out my comms kit makes sense but thats not every runner in every game.

[Doc Chase]

Tricked out commlinks are the hight of meta gaming

Agreed. I generally feel it's more accurate that a good running team is going to use 'burner' commlinks that they can easily dispose of. Cricket Prepaid Mobile, 2072!

If your a runner you will take advice on stuff but most people will possibly just turn the damm thing off on a run rather then risk all the transmissions. If you have a hacker in the team and your back story is your all very tight and trust each other then sure saying I got the hacker to sort out my comms kit makes sense but thats not every runner in every game.

This is a point of contention.

The commlink is the central node of which your peripherals link to each other and to other people. The center of your tacnet, how you are able to communicate with offsite assets, and how you can order a pizza to the security desk in order to get those fraggers to turn the other damn way for just a bloody second.

I will say that some would rather go in cold, and some will rely on their hacker to slap down the opfor trying to hack in - after all, it's what they're paid for!

If your team has a hacker, let them optimize the commlinks to make their job easier. They'll probably cap out Firewall, optimize Signal, load a few legit/pirated programs to make your job easier, and perhaps a Search Agent and Agents Alarm & Hammer to slow the opposition so they can pop in and lay the smack down proper. Everyone should have a shiny, expensive commlink so they look good to the Johnson, but be prepared to walk away from any of it at a moment's notice.