What should every runner bring? Options

[TheMadderHatter]

I'm going to be GMing SR4 in the medium-near future, and it has been suggested, agreed with, and asked for by the players that I create a sort of gear cheat sheet; a list of things they will likely find very useful/necessary to be a functioning citizen of the Sixth World's shadowrunning populace. I got started and realized that it's an interesting problem in its own right to find a happy medium between carrying everything you could find useful and leaving as many nuyen, and thus BP, available for items and Attributes more in line with their specialty.

In short, I'm trying to come up with a core runner gear set they can all build on to get well-equipped characters, thus avoiding the problem of, say, the party face showing up unarmed and unarmored to a run, or the mage forgetting to buy a commlink and wondering why he never gets any calls.

Below is what I've got so far:

Defiance EX Shocker taser
Taser Darts(10)
Survival Knife
Armor Vest
Sony Emperor commlink w/ Renraku Uchi OS
Certified Credstick
Glasses w/Image Link
Datachips(10)
Stealth Tags(20)

So what should be added? What should be taken away? I'm not messing with the prices or forcing them all to get it or anything; this is purely a list of suggested gear for my new players.

[Glyph]

I think it's a bit too specific. You should make it a bit more general: a fake SIN/licenses, a commlink, and some kind of armor. Some kind of weapon, in all but the most secure areas; and at least one member of the group should have a rating: 6 medkit. Beyond that, gear becomes more situation-specific.

[Godwyn]

A towel (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

Actual clothes, not just armor.

[Critias]

A skillset and a mindset. Everything else is optional. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[TheMadderHatter]

So,

A commlink
Some kind of armor
Some kind of weapon
a fake SIN
fake licenses for any R gear

Is about right? Any advice to pass on about ratings?

[Critias]

So,

A commlink
Some kind of armor
Some kind of weapon
a fake SIN
fake licenses for any R gear

Is about right? Any advice to pass on about ratings?

A lot of that is going to depend on the game table/GM, and how much he wants to spend time on that sort of thing, really. There's no "right" answer, but I know that when I doubt I tend to go for the best SIN (and/or license) I can get within the availability rules. I'm paranoid that way.

[Rotbart van Dain...]

I tend to go for the best SIN (and/or license) I can get within the availability rules. I'm paranoid that way.

Not that it really matters by RAW – even "the best" fakes will get you busted.

[Fortinbras]

Survival Knife

I used to carry around my grand-dad's knife, a little 4" number, and even that got me weird looks from folk in this day and age. Now I carry either multi-pliers or a wine key. Both have a knife built into them and can be used for all small cutting jobs, but neither can be mistaken for proper weapons and they have other uses.

I'm sure there is a correlation for yesterday's commonality becoming today's absurd, but for gaming purposes, make tools look like tools and not weapons.

Above and beyond that ask your players what they have in their pockets. Now ask what they would carry if they had warrants out.

[Brazilian_Shinob...]

So,

A commlink
Some kind of armor
Some kind of weapon
a fake SIN
fake licenses for any R gear

Is about right? Any advice to pass on about ratings?

You forgot the towel (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

[Ascalaphus]

An instant-disguise. http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2869/18...ninjalesson.jpg or preferably something more sophisticated. Sometimes you need to make sure you can't be identified easily.

A subdual weapon, such as a taser. Useful if you want to interrogate the enemy, or when killing would cause more trouble (like a police officer) Tasers have the important advantage of not being Restricted.

A deadly weapon. Preferably not too absurdly illegal, in case you get searched by the cops. If you can get off with just a fine that's nice.

Tag eraser

Soap that will wash out bloodstains. To clean up a crime scene or just your own clothes so you don't look like you were in a fight.

Several different anonymous credsticks. For bribes and emergency purchases.

A vehicle with a Pilot that you can call to pick you up when you want to leave. A motorcycle will do but a car can hold bodies of injured teammates, prisoners or corpses.

A leatherman or other compact multi-tool.

Rating 6 medkit. Seriously, it's not expensive, and you'll cry if you don't have it when you need one.

[mmmkay]

An instant-disguise. http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2869/18...ninjalesson.jpg or preferably something more sophisticated. Sometimes you need to make sure you can't be identified easily.

Too Funny!

A subdual weapon, such as a taser. Useful if you want to interrogate the enemy, or when killing would cause more trouble (like a police officer) Tasers have the important advantage of not being Restricted.

A deadly weapon. Preferably not too absurdly illegal, in case you get searched by the cops. If you can get off with just a fine that's nice.

It seems strange to me that tasers are not restricted, but stun batons are restricted. Similarly shuriken and throwing knives are not restricted, but just like with tasers it doesn't mean you can just get into anywhere while carrying one.

Also what weapons are not absurdly illegal? I couldn't come up with any that were not Forbidden and not Restricted that were deadly. I mean I suppose tasers could be deadly, but I don't think you meant that.

Soap that will wash out bloodstains. To clean up a crime scene or just your own clothes so you don't look like you were in a fight.

Is this soap listed in Arsenal somewhere?

[Ascalaphus]

It seems strange to me that tasers are not restricted, but stun batons are restricted. Similarly shuriken and throwing knives are not restricted, but just like with tasers it doesn't mean you can just get into anywhere while carrying one.

There are some strange design choices in the Restriction ratings. But in this case I think that tasers are considered less-lethal and nice for young ladies afraid of rape, while a stun baton is mean for law enforcement and corpsec.

Also what weapons are not absurdly illegal? I couldn't come up with any that were not Forbidden and not Restricted that were deadly. I mean I suppose tasers could be deadly, but I don't think you meant that.

A typical gun is R, and you get some trouble with it. But a sniper rifle is way more serious, and if you get caught with a monowhip you're in deep shit.

Is this soap listed in Arsenal somewhere?

I think you need C Squared for that. Household items aren't dealt with in huge detail, but I wanted to point out the usefulness of ordinary items.



Also: duct tape and tie wraps. Stuff to tie people up with has become standard gear for my characters, regardless of setting. And they're so versatile.

[mmmkay]

What is C squared?

Edit: E/m.

[Saint Sithney]

I think it's a bit too specific. You should make it a bit more general: a fake SIN/licenses, a commlink, and some kind of armor. Some kind of weapon, in all but the most secure areas; and at least one member of the group should have a rating: 6 medkit. Beyond that, gear becomes more situation-specific.

Yeah, try to remember that you're telling a story. Do you expect them to carry a survival knife? Why? Were they going to be picked up by a giant bird and dropped in an unknown wood? If so, did you want them to have a survival knife? If you did, what's stopping you from giving them one?

"You didn't bring a flashlight? Well why would you? Your commlink has a light built in. TA-DA!"
Assume whatever you need to assume in order to give characters the kind of knowledge that players don't have.

If players, on the other hand, are gearing up specifically to defeat certain plot things, (like carrying around FAB III grenades so that if you ever pull the old "cabal of mages" thing, they can put the kibosh on the whole arc,) then that's straight up competitive anti-gaming bullshit. So, as long as you don't punish players for not thinking of things which maybe they don't know about, (having very little experience as a magical troll vampire were-dragon assassin living in the future,) then hopefully they won't metagame your plots to death with over-planning and ridiculous OOC choices.

[Brazilian_Shinob...]

(having very little experience as a magical troll vampire were-dragon assassin)

This sounds a lot like a D&D character than a Shadowrun character.

[jaellot]

(having very little experience as a magical troll vampire were-dragon assassin living in the future,)

Sounds like a relative or buddy of a dwarf video-clerk/assassin I once had played in a game I ran*...

My group is a huge fan of Narcojet, or whatever it is in SR4.

There used to be a site, Blackjack's SR or something, and he had alot of in character writings about this sort of stuff, too. One thing I thought was interesting was to have a pack of smokes. Your cyberware filters should keep you from dying (from the cigs) and if you were having to wait a long time for some one or thing, it at least made you look less suspicious than just twiddling your thumbs.

*- Note: This character was actually never ran. The potential player happened to work in a video store at the time, and kept changing his mind so much on what to play he literally erased through the character sheet. In the span of time he was working on his character, another player/buddy of ours and I got to joking about the whole thing. Probably had to be there...

[Yerameyahu]

Don't forget to Search a little. There have been several iterations of this thread. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Zyerne]

If I suggest to my players that they all carry non-lethal weapons I'll get laughed right off the table. They're already having enough trouble with the pacifist dwarf bounty hunter (who's carrying every nonlethal weapon in the book)

[Yerameyahu]

If it's a bounty hunter, there are great reasons besides pacifism for that choice. Like… not losing the bounty. But, anyway, your players are stupid. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Carry Stick-n-Shock.

[Inncubi]

I actually asked something like this some time ago, and I ended up making an "Oh, Shit! kit"

Its a useful basis for extra gear runnners should have, even if a bit expensive. It can be put together after a while. This is for a strater runner and costs around 25K:

[ Spoiler ]

Oh, Shit! Kit:
Ruger Super Warhawk (SS; 6 (cy); 6P/-2AP; RC:0; 0-5, 6-20, 21-40, 41-60;Mods:)
Hammerli 620S (SA; 6 ©; 4P/0AP; RC:1; 0-5, 6-20, 21-40, 41-60;Mods: Integral Gas Vent I, Smartgun, HP ranges)
Armored Jacket (B/I: 8/6; e: 8 )
Disposable Commlink
Fake SIN (1-6) Rtg 4 Paid for Safehouse and locker where the kit is located
Fake License (1-6) Rtg 4 Oh, Shit! Kit: Permit for Hammerli
Biomonitor
Medkit R (1-6) Rtg 6
Medkit Supplies
Trauma Patch
2 x Tranq Patch (1-6) Rtg 6
2 x Stimulant Patch (1-6) Rtg 6
2 x Ration Pouch 3 days
Sleeping Bag
2 x Thermal Smoke Grenade
2 x Flash Grenades
10 x Plastic Restraints (per 10)
Flashlight
Latex Face Mask
Tag Eraser
120 x Regular Ammo 10 Full Clips for Hammerli and 10 Speed Loaders for Ruger Super Warhawk
60 x Gel Rounds 10 Speed Loaders for Ruger Super Warhawk
18x EX-EX Rounds 3 Speed Loaders for Ruger Super Warhawk
Credstick 1/3 starting rolled
Survival Knife
Swiss Army Knife
Safehouse (Squatter LIfestyle, 1 month prepaid)

As for basic gear, it depends. I'd go for something like this. This gear is for a character that is not a specialized hacker, but knows how to use the matrix fairly well (relevant skill groups around 3, but lacking cybercombat), including the main commlink this goes around 70K. Yes its expensive, but its also higly tweakable:

[ Spoiler ]

Main Commlink:
Type Novatech Airware
Resp 5
Signal 5
OS Type Novatech Navi
Firewall 5
System 5

Customizations:
Armor Case 10
Biometric Lock
Customized Interface
Environmental Resistance
Hardening 6
Simsense Accelerator
Personality Software

Programs:

Hacking:
Biofeedback Filter 3
Data Bomb 3
Decrypt 5
Defuse 5
Disarm 5
Exploit 5
ECCM 3
Sniffer 5
Spoof 5
Stealth 5
Track 3

Common Use:
Analyze 5
Browse 5
Command 5
Edit 5
Encrypt 5
Purge 5
Reality Filter 5
Scan 5

Gear:
Fake License (1-6) Rtg 3 (Security Consultant, Gun Permit for Savalette Guardian)
Fake SIN (1-6) Rtg 3 (Security Consultant, Donovan Sullivan Paid for main lifestyle and workshop)
Fake SIN (1-6) Rtg 3 (SIN #2)
Fake License (1-6) Rtg 3 (Security Consultant)
Fake License (1-6) Rtg 3 (SIN#2, Gun Permit for Raecor Sting)
2 x Commlink (Vector Xim with Metalink OS)
Software Programming Suite R 1-5 Rtg 5
Hardware Shop
Subvocal Microphone
BTL Hot Sim Module
Nanopaste Trodes
Sim Module
10 x Skinlink

Contact Lenses (1-3) Rtg 3
Image Link
Smartlink
Vision Magnification

Monocle (1-4) Rtg 2
Vision Enhancement R(1-3) Rtg 3
Ultrasound

Earbuds (1-3) Rtg 3
Audio Enhancements Rtg 3
Spatial Recognizer

2 x Certified Credstick w/ 1/3 each of starting 'yens
Grapple Gun
2 x Stealth Rope 100m
Catalyst Stick
Keycard Copier (1-6) Rtg 6
Glasscutter
5 x Jazz
Combat Load Vest
Wire clippers
Chemistry Kit
Hardware Kit
60x Regular Rounds 5 Full Clips for Savalette
140 x Regular Rounds 5 Full Clips for HK 227X SMG
50 x Flechette Rounds 10 Full Clips for Raecor Sting
40 x Taser Dart
Smart Pack
Swiss Army Knife
Survival Knife
Low or middle lifestyle 1 month

Armours Ballistic/Impact [encumbrance]:
Mission Outfit
Bal/Impact 10/11 [11]
Camouflage Suit; Mods: Thermal dampening 3,Biomonitor,Skinlink
SecureTech Helmet; Mods: MicroTransceiver,Skinlink
SecureTech Leg and Arm Casings
SecureTech Shin Guards
SecureTech Vitals Protector

Street Wear
Bal/Impact 12/8 [12]
Armored Vest
Lined Coat
Mods Concealable Holsters (x2)

Oh, Shit! Kit Bag:
Bal/Impact 6/2 [6]
Body Armour Bag

Meet Outfit
Bal/Impact 6/3 [6]
Synergist Business Longcoat +2 to concealed objects
Synergist Business Slacks
Synergist Business High-Collar Shirt
Synergist Business Suit Jacket integral concealed holster

Weapons:
Shock Gloves (Reach:0; 5S (e)/-1/2 AP)
Raecor Sting (SS; 5 ©; 6P (f)/5AP; RC:0; 0-5, 6-15, 16-30, 31-50;Mods: Nonmetallic, flechette)
Savalette Guardian (SA/BF*; 12 ©; 5P/-1AP; RC:0; 0-5, 6-20, 21-40, 41-60;Mods: Can BF with a complex action, Smartgun)

Mission Guns:
Defiance EX Shocker (SA; 4m; 8S(e)/-1/2AP; RC:0; 0-5, 6-20, 21-40, 41-60;Mods:)
HK 227X SMG (SA/BF/FA; 28 ©; 5P/0AP; RC:(1); 0-10, 11-40, 41-80, 81-150;Mods: Retractable Stock, Smartgun, Sound Suppresser)
(I forgot to add the Narcojet, but is deffintely useful. VERY)

Now, the necessary explanations:
Some guns don't have licenses. This is intentional, these weapons are used when during runs, that way the cops nor corps have any records on them. These guns should be customized often to avoid them being tracked as having been used in different crime scenes (barrel changes, for example).
Guns with licenses are the everyday ones. Those he uses for personal protection and only pulls out in situations when he can confront LS or KE and say: I shot in self-defense. These guns should /never/ be associated to /any/ shadowrun he is in.

Avoid killing if possible. Use Narcojet and tasers whenever possible while on the run. Its easier for your conscience: it keeps you saner longer.

He has various outfits, again, know when to use them. Blend into the general populace. Use your "perception" enhancers rarely, they make for a bothersome life and you don't need to live wired all the time.
Switch identities. This makes it more difficult for anyone to track you. Include as a lifestyle cost new SINs and licenses all the time. Never, never, own more than one gun in one identity

The extra commlinks exist as decoys. His professional one is used only during runs, the rest of the time it's off. Eventually you'll want to improve those. Start with the one in the "Oh, Shit! kit": the sooner oyu improve it, the safer you'll be.
An agent running constantly with Analyze, Track and Nuke is a good way to improve your main 'link security.
For teh extra ones, go with a simple constant analyze.

This guys doesn't use highly customized weapons, but rather good generic ones: easier to replace.
For history reasons the only one I wanted to pimp out badly was the warhawk. His trusty gun to bring down trolls.

Yes, lots of guns and redundant gear, this was done on purpose. This guy doesn't depend on only one gun or trick: he is a runner, able to blend in a lot of situations adequately.

There are lots of things for this guy to go to, or to change. Depending on type of character: mages can drop the programming suite and go for a magical lodge. Reduce the cost of the main commlink and get a focus. But as far as gear goes, this covers a lot of things.

He does lack a vehicle and getting drones would help too. These are things to plan for.

EDIT: He lacks Stick and Shock, the reason: in my campaigns they aren't used. This guy tries to stick to the BBB, with some exceptions as this makes it easier for him to be approved by Gm's

[imperialus]

It's been a while since I've been on the player end of things but my characters always used to carry a rucksack with some variation of the following in it.

Duct Tape
Zip Cuffs
Maglight
Multi-Tool
Garbage Bags
Disposable "flats" clothing
Energy Bars
Candy Bars
Electrolyte Water
Cigarettes
Zippo Lighter
Bleach hidden in a re-purposed bottle of hand sanitizer
SARS mask
Mirrorshades.
Leather Gloves.
Latex Gloves.
Ballcap

[Fortinbras]

Soap that will wash out bloodstains. To clean up a crime scene or just your own clothes so you don't look like you were in a fight.

What's on my mind right now ain't the soy cafe in my cup, it's the dead ork in my garage. When you pulled up did you see a sign in my front lawn that said "Dead Ork Storage"? NO! Cause storing dead orks ain't my fraggin' business!

[Tanegar]

I used to carry around my grand-dad's knife, a little 4' number, and even that got me weird looks from folk in this day and age.

No wonder people looked at you funny, you were carrying around a four-foot knife sword! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[MortVent]

I always liked the walking stick for many of my characters.

Either a cane with a fake limp at times, or a full out staff with a bit of fake mage/shaman fetish wear on (aka the wannabe mage look).

Both the club/staff are legal, and with the right skill set lethal (and the staff has reach baby..)

though my last childish character had a nice solution to combat: slap patch antidote 6 vs Pepper punch, drop pepper punch gas grenade, go to town with defiance taser as a melee weapon or taser as needed. Roller blade away leaving a bunch of gangers trying to figure out how to explain getting thier butts kicked by a 12 year old

[CanRay]

Duct tape. Swiss Army Knife. Imagination.

And more duct tape.