I was curious what others like to do for starting gear.

Do you have certain favorites that you buy regardless of archtype? Or items you think are "must haves" for a particular archtype?

Are there any items you think are the best buys, the ones that find the sweet spot between function and value?


Or maybe we can take it a step further and design "gear packages", best buys at different BP brackets. 15 BP, 20 BP, 25 BP, etc.

Eye recording unit. I've yet to make a shadawrunner without one.

Just off the top of my head...

Rating 4 fake SIN: I think that's the highest you can get at Chargen within the standard rules.
Meta-link Commlink with Vector Xim OS: a fake throw-away commlink, for my fake ID. I also purchase a real commlink, which most of the time I would have off or in hidden mode.
Lined Coat: closest I can get to the Secure Longcoat of SR3.
Subvocal Microphone: pretty standard.
Trauma Patch: Comes in handy.

After that, guns, clothes, lifestyle, transport. Sometimes I buy a bunch of utility gear, sometimes I don't, depending on how lazy I'm feeling.

-DrZaius

I think it's RTGx4 for availability actually. So RTG 3 SIN.



I'll add one myself.

Contacts with Image Link, Smartgun and either flare comp or vision magnification.

I usually go for vision magnification.

Vision enhancement > Vision magnification

It was, originally. Shortly after the 1st printing, it was erratta'd to Rating*3, allowing you to start with an R4 fake SIN.

1) If you're going to post in the thread at least contribute to the theme of it.

2) Vision Enhancement is +4 availability. Contacts start at base 6, and smartgun is +4 as well. Leaving only enough for a +2 enhancement, which Vision Magnification conviniently is. Image Link adds none, and the whole package works out to exactly 12 for availability.



That being said, Vision Enhancement I usually grab on a pair of glasses or goggles along with Thermographic Vision and Flare Compensation.





Haven't read the errata in a while, thanks for the tip.

1) That was my intention, didn't mean to come out as snide or whatever. I just feel like Vision enhancement is much more useful in the games I usually play.

2) Good point, I didn't think about the "contacts" part of the deal, although I tend to get cybereyes if I really want to have Smartlink all the time (unless my character is awakened or emerged, I always get cybereyes). With contacts I'll usually go with Vision enhancement 3 and Flare Comp, and then grab a pair of glasses and fit in the Magnification, Smartlink and usually Low-Light. Often skip magnification altogether.

I also never leave home without the survival knife. GPS, lighter, micro-smuggling compartment, "several accessories" and a glow-in-the-dark blade ? I want it !

Autopicker. RIFD Tag eraser. Restraints can also be useful, but this is the kind of item you usually think about when you need it and don't have it...

No worries.

I usually end up with both Vision & Auditory enhancements myself as well.




I play mages a lot so Vision mag does quite a bit for LoS.




Yeah, I'm a big fan of the survival knife myself.

For burned out mages definitely cybereyes, skillwires and some muscle upgrades. (though this is a pretty rare archetype )

It's rating x3 under the newest erreta.

Contacts (R: 3) w/ Image Link, Flare comp & Vision Enhance (wear everywhere)
Glasses (R: 4) w/ Lowlight, Thermo, Smartgun & Vision Mag (wear outside/combat)
Ear Buds w/ Enhanced, Dampers, & Select Sound Filter
Public & Private Commlink (keep them totally seperate)
FFBA (pure cheese)
One or two of all four of the main patches (you never know)
Good folding or spring knife (sometimes you have to cut things)
Vibro Axe with chromed skull, blinged to the max (ok, not really)

Tell me about it. My never ending pet project is to make a truly great burned-out mage for SR4.

Anyway...

My short must of must-haves (for a dedicated professional 'runner, mind you):

• Fake SIN: This is your main identity for when you're working. Ideally, you'll have all the necessary licenses and permits for your gear. Get the best rating possible.
• Fake SIN: If you can afford it, a second Fake SIN should be used for lifestyle and non-work related purposes.
• Concealable Pistol: choose a Taser, Hold-Out, or Light Pistol with concealable holster. Preferred non-lethal rounds include Capsulize Pepper Punch or Stick-N-Shock. Even if you can't use a Pistol, consider carrying one for show.
• Backup Weapon: Knives, survival knives, and extending clubs are good choices. Ideally, it should be something legal that you'll get minimal hassle for.
• Working Commlink: This commlink is used only for work and is typically kept in hidden mode. Load it up with your essential work-related programs. If you can afford it, get an agent or some IC.
• Decoy Link: Because you're goign to need something to broadcast with in public, secure areas, you should cosider a Decoy Link. A Disposable Commlink or a Metalink with Vector Xim OS are the most cost effective options. General switch it out as often as you can afford to. This should be associated with your "working" identity.
• Private Link: If you have a dedicated SIN for paying bills and such, or you're are incredibly paranoid, you need a third comllink. Any low-end or middle-of-the-road model should suffice. Use this for your public profile, the SIN you use to pay your rent and stuff. Never take it with you on a job.
• Programs: Beyond the common use programs, which you should consider investing in eventually, there are a few hacker programs worth dropping some green on. Chief among them are Stealth, ECCM, and Decrypt, all of which can be useful. Data Bomb, Armor, and Biofeedback Filters are also good choices. Leave the other combat programs to the hackers unless you know what you're doing.
• Personal Electronics: Assuming you don't have implants to cover the following, consider this setup:
  
  • Contacts (3) with Image Link, Smartlink, Vision Magnification
  • Glasses or Goggles (3) with Low-Light (or Thermographic, if you have natural Low-Light), Flare Compensation, and Vision Enhancement (3)
  • Earbuds (2) with Audio Enhancement (3) and Spatial Recognizer
• Body Armor: Buy armor that is optimized for your Body score and that you can get away with wearing to as many places as possible. Armor Vests, Auctioneer Business Clothes, and fancier outfits like the Steampunk line are ideal.
• Tools of the Trade: If you have specialized skills, such as mechanical skills, you should consider investing in the tools to use your skills. Sounds silly, but I've seen more than a few folks needing to bum tools to do their work.
• Personal Vehicle: Even if you don't drive much, invest in some kind of personal vehicle if you can afford it. Nothing is more embarrassing than being late to a meet because the crosstown shuttle got caught in a traffic snarl.
• Certified Credsticks: Get a bundle of these if you can. They're still used just about everywhere and are virtually untraceable, making them ideal for bribes. Some higher-end establishments might give you a raised eyebrow, but legal cred is legal cred.
• Medical Supplies: Medkit (6), Biomonitor, and assorted slap patches. You never know when you might need them.

And if that's not enough, the ultra-paranoid should consider an "Oh Shit Kit" for when everything goes to Hell and you need to skip town, now. Your emergency kit should include, at a minimum:

• Fake SIN: Clean and never used.
• Commlink and Accessories: Clean and never used. Load it up with legal programs. Skip the hacker stuff unless you have the licenses to back them up.
• Legal Weapons: Taser and knife or extending baton are good choices. You may have to check them at the door of some establishments, but no one should give you too much heat for them.
• Nuyen: Ideally, you'll have a mix of online account (associated with your clean SIN) and certified credsticks.
• Disguise Kit: Latex Facemask or Nanopaste Disguise, take your pick.
• Plane Ticket and Passport: Either an "open" flight reservation, arrangements for a charter service, or an agent ready to book the first available flight out of town. Get a passport (legit, if possible) to help smooth your exit.
• Medical Supplies: Medkit (6), Biomonitor, and assorted slap patches. When you're on the run, you definitely need to have medical supplies on hand, especially if you might have taken a bullet.

Flash-pak.

Add it to any of the lists above.

I love Paws' "oh shit kit" I need to make me one of those now.

My almost universal gear:

fake SIN-natch
fake licenses-concealed carry, private investigator
microwelder-the uses boggle the mind
pocket flashlight-do I really need an explanation?
flash-pak-instant distraction
wire clippers-again, obvious
autopicker-alot cheaper than lockpicking skill
armor vest-good protection, great concealability
camou suit w/armor helmet-suit is dark blue, add combat boots and velcro patches and viola instant professional-looking entry gear
grapple gun-because I watch too much Batman and Kim Possible
medkit-natch
vehicle-natch
GPS
handcuffs
zipcuffs
skinlink
electronic paper

I would agree with most the paranoia...er... I mean ideas listed above.

If you can afford it, I would also pay for a safehouse and/or a cheep car you can park in the long term parking at any local airport. You load your bug out bag and other contigency gear therein, set up the commlink to autopay the rent or parking fees and only go back once in a blue moon to make sure your stuff is okay. If you are so inclined visit the place on the astral so no one knows you've been (unless of coarse they are watching the astral).

Also, any good throw away SIN should have a pistol permit and a clean heavy pistol attached. In Shadowrun you need to dump your ID over the bridge with any murder weapon, so if you plan on having a throw away gun you better have a throw away SIN.

What I always get:

1-2 fake SINs, rating 4+(we don't use Availability limits at chargen, remember.) 2 rating 5+if i can afford it.

Fake Licenses, rating 6. Depending on what my character needs a license for. We blended the licenses into things requiring less paperwork, so we have them for Implants, Melee Weapons, Firearms, Mil-Spec, Class X Magic, Explosives, and Chemicals. I never had to take all of these at once, my current sam has Implants, Melee, and Firearms, for example.

Survival kit and survival knife.

Multi-tool. (we just priced a bunch of basic things and tossed this on the equipment list. Comes with knife, pliers, wirecutters, a fork, spoon, magnifying glass, and everything you'd find in a pretty nice swiss army knife/tool.)

Slap patches, a rating 6 medkit, and a couple of refills for it.

Commlink(regular), and a little throwaway cheap one. Skinlink and subvocal mic on all.

Extra clothing and armor. My typical armor loadout for my sam/a close combat type I might play is FFBA Level 2, Armor Jacket, Shin/Forearm Guards/Vitals protector. I always have some kind of armored suit on hand for having to go nice. I also pick up a duster for some characters, and my main armor has as much chemical/fire/insulation/nonconductive increases it can hold.

Weapons as appropriate for character. All guns come with regular, gel, and APDS. I set aside one gun(usually a shotgun or the Ruger), with some AV rounds as well, even if I have a bigger piece of bang-bang. I usually don't play extreme gun nuts(I do have one gunslinger specialists, however-but they are small arms.) If I have the money(hey, sometimes I play a backwoods or brokeass dood who doesn't have much), I customize these with Custom Look, grips, and the like, for flavor. (Kael, being an armorer, has custom look 2 on a couple of things and a lot of trademark bits.) Even though custom gear can be linked back, it seems to work since we don't go overboard playing Paranoiarun. (Nothing wrong with that style, but our games are a little bit more mohawky-manga-esque.) I always do make sure to have some low-key, uncustomized stuff, like a ceramic knife, etc.

Flash-bang grenades. Hell, I need to restock these in game soon. Kael's had to chuck a lot of them, but they've done wonders for him and the team.

Lots of certified credsticks.

Pimped-out contacts(we still use the old rules for them), though if I have cyber I always get the most important ones as implants anyhow(if I use cyber, I make it a point to get thermo, flare compensation, and a smartlink if they use guns implanted.) I do keep a set of glasses or something as well(I don't have a problem with loading contacts with most things, due to technology being able to fit things in small places, but I have a problem with Ultrasound being in anything smaller than glasses, for some reason. Dunno why.)

Earbuds with the works as well. IMO, these increases should not take that much room and we use the old rules.

Regular lifestyle, and always a safehouse. I set the safehouse up at Comforts: 1, Entertainment: 0, Security: 3, Neighborhood: 2, and Necessities: 2. If i have money left I get it a positive quality that makes it a bit more off the grid. So it's a lower-lifestyle place, blends in very well, and is very secure, but it has no real frills. It's a safehouse, it doesn't need frills.

Climbing gear, a gasmask, a backpack and a respirator.

Personal odds and ends. I always make it a point to list these for my characters. Kael, my current guy, has a sterling silver whiskey flask that belonged to his old friend who as killed, a silver and black cigarette case, and his wire-rimmed glasses. This varies from character to character.

That about does it. Of course, different characters are different-a hacker will have different things, B&E different, etc, but this list here is a standard loadout for about anyone with a fair amount of nuyen to their name. (More backwoods types have more of the raw basics-ID, Licenses, a weapon, medical supplies and some survival stuff.)

• Cyber eyes/ears (get Display/Audiolink, an Recorders for free. Also you can't get dampener unless you get cyber or adept ability)
• Firewall 6
• Encrypt 6 with Optimize 2 and Ergonomic options
• cyber commlink (either in the head or in a cyberlimb)
• Some sort of reaction enhancement (Synaptic Booster or MBW)
• Auto-injector if I have a cyberlimb

Some very nice entries by paws2sky and ElFenrir.

That "Oh Shit Kit" is priceless.



Yeah, absolutely.



I've decided to add "High Lifestyle".

Unless you have a particular theme for your character, or enjoy down and out, I can see no reason not to spend the 2 BP on a High Lifestyle.

The x500 multiplier for your starting nuyen will love you and using 1200 nuyen to add +12 to the roll is always worth it (so it becomes {4d6+12} x500). You instantly transform 1200 nuyen into 6000.

Sure there is. Default lifestyles mid and up are "please keep your PAN in broadcast mode at all times" locations, and high lifestyles are likely to have roving security patrols who check into SINs of the residents as well as their visitors.

So far I've gotten away with it using fake SINs, but that's a very good point actually.

Where is that piece of information from?

For me, i go with all the Fake ID's Licenses etc (all rating 4) to solidify his identity but after that it really depends on character

For a Combat type:
-Something to increase initiative passes. MBW, wired reflexes, synaptic, drugs. whatever suits the character
-DocWagon contract
-FFBA+heaviest armour they can wear with their body and not be arrested on site (walking downtown in heavy milspec is probably not a good idea...)
-Personalised grip on any combat weapons.
-Sniper/sport rifle. Why get close when you can shoot them for half a mile away?
-An easily concealable sidearm with stick'n'shock or Capsule rounds w/narcojet

Mechanic/rigger/hacker
-Drones. Lots.
-Facilities relevant to skills (shop usually)
-at least 2 disposable commlinks
-Van

I dont think there are really any other "standard" things i tend to use

A Monofilament Chainsaw, for those tough interogations.

I guess if there's "High Security" in your building, you might have trouble with those. Although if you use the advanced lifestyle rules from Runner's Companion, you can bypass those problems quite easily. Or you could also have the SINner negative quality, which is one of my personal favourites.

You always need a Fake Sin, a grenade and a commlink!

Some french guys from Shadowforums ( I'm one of them ) have made "Les Kit Bitos du Runner". In english, "The Dumb Ass Runner Kit". We have made several kits with that a runner always need and in game always says "holy shit, how could I not take this!"

The link : http://www.shadowforums.com/cyber-espace/spip.php?article207

The whole thing is in French. But we can make a new English Version, if you need.


( I say that i'm french, so you will excuse my poor english )

whenever I can work in, ie afford it

a place to live, and a place of work: the safehouse

a backup weapon,aleast 500, and armor in a hidden area or locker, just in case crap hit the fans & my PC needs to bolt and has lost everythging else
guess this is my version of the oh shit kit

like paws oh the shit kit, i will have to borrow some of it

work commlink
decoy commlink
ares predator
stun baton
armored jacket

That's a pretty serious list. Very nice.



While I can read, and agree with the items, it would be cool to see the reasons why people like them (something I'm interested in). But it would probably require quite a bit of time.




Your English is great, don't worry about it.

I'm an other guy from the Shadowforums, and i think that the idea of translating in english the "kit bitos du runner" is great.
The good thing is that, in the description of the kit, there is already the name of the items in english (and it french translation) so you here can already use it. Those kit come in very andy often. What you have to know is that every kit cost 1 PC (AKA 5000 nuyens) at character creation; that's the whole point of the thing, to have an andy lisy of gear for your PC, at the minimal cost.

I'll just translate here the name of the kit, so you can all see what use they are for :
Kit Bitos du runner = Dumb ass kit of the runner
Kit Bitos du BBE = Dumb ass kit of Break and Entering
Kit Bitos de la sécurité = Dumb ass kit of security
Kit Bitos de la sécurité matricielle = Dumb ass kit of matrix security
Kit Bitos de la grenade = Dumb ass kit of the grenade
Kit Bitos de l’infiltration = Dumb ass kit of the infiltration (is that good ? I don't know the exact word for it)
Kit bitos du combat = Dumb ass kit for figth

they are all avalaible here : http://www.shadowforums.com/cyber-espace/spip.php?article207 , and they all cost just one PC, so feel free to use it...

Is this enough, or do you feel like we should try and translate the whole thing?

Oh that's plenty, thanks.

Since all the names of the items are listed in both English and French, the title headings made things much clearer.

Nice work.

Runner Companion states that MOST of the middle lifestyle neighborhoods require to broadcast your SIN.

He's quite correct, however a fake SIN will sort you out. Here are some excerpts from Runner's Companion's Advanced Lifestyles.





And here's how you can work around it.



The categories for a high lifestyle are each 4 points, which means you could live there with a RTG 3 Fake SIN or higher.

There's also another option, which is living out of hotels in the high lifestyle. You can basically live in a different place every night and not have to worry about nosy neighbors.

You do have to be careful with your contrband however (in the High RTG neighborhoods as well).

I'm in the midst of designing a Mercury Comet with a hefty car bomb installed for storing my new characters "oh shit kit". The idea is that anyone who tries to steal or otherwise access the car will meet with a very large explosion, which happens to have the desirable side-effect of destroying all the evidence inside.

Yes please!!

I believe your starting 'required gear' depends a lot on your GM. If your GM is going to be a dickwad, and nail you over every minor thing, then you need to be paranoid. By 2 or 3 Fake SINs, an RFID scanner/eraser, a high level commlink (and a high firewall, analyse software, and IC galore.), at least one backup lifestyle, and all the survaliance/security stuff you can afford to prevent random B and E. Your guns should be all skinlinked and you need to tell your GM that you are taking paranoid-level precautions even when eating that candy bar.

I, personally, don't think that is very fun, so I let my players run a bit more loose. I am not going to get them randomly caught on a run because they hadn't read a bit of fluff text in a book that they may or may not have read. That is a sure-fire way to loose friends and alienate people. Of course, if they do something stupid, I will punish them for it, but not if it isn't their fault. I might have one spider hack their commlinks in a security zone once or twice, but I am not going to do it on every run, that would be both stupid, and annoy anyone who is NOT a hacker (like a street sam.) After all, as a street sam, you are expected to have good guns, but you can't if you are dumping all your cash into your commlink just to make it less hackable.

In the end, the only thing I would say would be 'required' is a lifestyle. Everything else is situation dependent. Don't want to have a fake SIN? Maybe you live in the verge, and you buy enough security systems to keep your pad locked up tight (and by everything, including food, from the Crime Mall). Don't have a decked-out Commlink? Maybe you slave it to your Hacker's Link whenever you are on a run, or maybe you just buy disposable commlinks whenever your old one gets hacked.

On a side Note, I have a house rule that makes all my players happier. I say that there is readily available open-source or freeware software that allows up to rating 2 for any non-hacking program. That way you can get analyse, browse, and edit cheaply if you are not a hacker. Sure, they won't keep a hacker out, but they will help you out a bit. Players with knowledges in matrix data havens or with the software active skill might be able to find up to rating 3 . . . for free!

Check out Unwired, the side bar on page 110. It talks about Freeware and Open Source programs as an optional rule. Sounds a heck of a lot like your house rule.

-paws

I always try and pack a white noise generator cause you never know who could be listening.

Yeah, it is, except I reduced the caps. I also don't require my players to explicitly state that they are getting X programs, I just assume they are all pre-loaded into the commlinks.

First time i try to translate from french to english (it's a lot harder, in fact, and much more time consuming). Here is a english version of "les kits bitos". Feel free to use it, we'll certainly put it son on the link given upward as a PDF dowloadable file. But first, if you see any word, sentence, or saying that seem broken to you, please let me know that i can correct, english is certainly not my native language...

DUMB ASS RUNNER KIT

The goal of this article is to propose to you an ensemble of all crafted kit made to survive in the shadows. Those kits each have a theme and are aproximately 5000 nuyens worth (a little less sometime, but those kit are not made for people who like to argue).
This is a collaborative article made on the Shadowforums with the folowing people : Likoum, croaker, Penangol, Blade, Namergon, trop loin, mog, Frantz aka FENIX, Max Anderson, CCCP, Robin des Ombres, Cricket, Kaijuu AKA BlackEars, Azmodan, Taki, M. Jonson, Leoric, Sojiro, Burning Bones, GenoSicK Le Grand Méchant, Archaos, Frida Smith, Darfeld, Karel, Argento.
The debate was animated by me (Likoum) around a concept originally issued by Leoric and Le Dieu Fred. The writing of the article was made by Azmodan.

Generally speaking, this article will be broken in two parts :
- a commercial section in which the Dumb Ass team will present you the differents kits.
- a file to download which take the different kit in a printer friendly version [1]. This file will be put on line soon...

I'll finish with a few word about our customers engagment, before letting the hand to Azmodan.

CUSTOMERS ENGAGMENT FROM THE TEAM OF D.A.R.K. inc

1): No warrantie is provided by the team of D.A.R.K. inc, but a support will be given with the arrival of new gear in the shadows.
2): The D.A.R.K team engage not to screw you of more than 100 nuyens on a kit (all of them [2] cost almost 5 000 nuyens [3]).
3): The vast majority of the gear is not defectuous.
4): The D.A.R.K. basic kit answer a 70% of the case here you can say "Holy shit, how i could forgot to take this?"
5): If you take one examplary of each kit, you can deal with any situation or almost [4].
6): A paquet of bubblegum is given with each kit [5].
7): The D.A.R.K. team decline every responsability [6].

***

THE TRUE WORK OF THE D.A.R.K WORKER.
Thank you, dear Likoum, for this marvelous introduction. As you may have understood now, we, at D.A.R.K inc [7], have for sole and only purpose to make the life easier for you, runners, cause yes, it's to you that i'm talking to.
We can easily claim to be the only corporation today who adress directly toward the shadows, in order to make their live a lot easier. How? will you ask. By
offering you what's needed to get rid of every situation and make you an assured runner. Because for us, a living customer is a satisfied customer and a
satisfied customer is a client who come to see us again.
But enough talking, let me take you for a lttle tour around all of our D.A.R.K. kit. I'm sure that, wich can be you specialty,you'll find your hapiness.
Our kit a presented as follow : you'll find the name of the element composing the kit in english [8] and his french tranlation [9] (NT : i didn't put
the french translation in this text, I didn't feel the need), and the, it's rating (if applicable, because yes, we like to speak tech, too).

D.A.R.K. list :

D.A.R.K. of the runner : A basic kit, to avoid having to say "oh shout, that's no true, i forgot to buy that".
D.A.R.K. of break and entering : Need to borrow your neighbor's mowder, but he forgot to leet you the keys of his garden's shelter? here's what you need.
D.A.R.K. of security : You have a hint that your wife is sleeping whis your neighbor? Here is what you need to get them in flag.
D.A.R.K. of matrix security : Your neigthbor is the intrusive type, don't lem scry on your comlink.
D.A.R.K. of the grenade : Everything you need to make your neighbor understand that mownig early in the morning is not THIS goos for the health of the grass.
D.A.R.K. of infiltration : Need to get back your golf ball from the neighbor's bedroom? Here is what you need for him to not notice it.
D.A.R.K. for figth : The neighbor's son is sweeping around your daugther? Here is everything you need to calm down is fire.


D.A.R.K. OF THE RUNNER :

This kit is the base toolbox of every runner worst the name. If you don't have a least the following element, you do risk to get far. Let see what there is in it :
- Comlink Metalink (response 1/signal 2)
+ OS Vector Xim (firewall 1/system 1)
+ sim module + trode
This comlink will allow you to stay in touch in every situation, to participate in all your netmeeting with an astonyshing facility and to be able to contact
any relationshipwhen the time is come.

- Tag Eraser
Perfect to eliminate any tags left on the package that you just "get" that he will certainly contain.

- Survival knife
A survival knife with many possible use, it's alway when you not have it on you that you need it.

- Fake SIN (rating 1)
+ fake license (rating 2)
This fake SIN will allow you to take urban transportation safely and with your weapon, thank to the associated license. Beware, D.A.R.K. inc do not advise
you to use these in a security check who'll look deeper.

- Glasses
+ flare compensation
+ thermographic vision
+ vision enhancement (rating 3)
Thoses glasses will allow the enterprening runner to look everything with the accuracy needed, thank to the vision enhencer, without being blinded, thank to the flare compensator, and even to look in other vision mode, tank to the thermo vision.

- Gas mask
This is your assurance to keep a fresh and nice air in every situation. Do not use in case of bad breath.

- Gecko tape gloves
Those gloves will allow you to stick in every kind of surface in order to sucefully acces the high you want, become like this a true spider man.

- Medkit (rating 6)
Because a run don't alway goes without snag, here's what to fix them.

- Antidote patch (rating 6)
By the time running, you never know what can go into your body : here is what to efficienly clen it up.

- 2x Stimulant Patch (rating 6)
In case you feel a little ligth headed.

- Tranq Patch (rating 5)
In case you wich to make someone feel ligth headed.

- Trauma Patch
because sometime a run can go really wrong.

- Nanopaste Disguise (Small Container)/
Honestly, with all these camera everywhere, it's not a good idea to let a sample of your brigthest smile everywhere.

- Certified Credstick (Silver)
You need a proper way to deal with this cold hard cash you just hardly won.

- Mint taste D.A.R.K. bubblegum


D.A.R.K. OF BREAK AND ENTERING :

- Cellular Glove Molder
To copy the print you may collect, and to fool the bio-scanners.

- Keycard Copier
To copy any magnetic card left hanging.

- Autopicker (rating 6)
This thing pick any mechanical lock it may face, even if you know or not know how to do it.

- Tool Kit (Electronic)
As almost all lock are electronical, it's better to have what's needed to access it.

- Sequencer (rating 4)
Plug it in a digicode for it to test every access code possible.

- Chisel
A tool to open gate with strength.

- Miniwelder
To fuse or defuse anything you want.

- Wire clippers
for wires.

- Commercial Explosive 1kg
+ Detonator
For everything that resisted the above.

- White Noise Generator (rating 4)
To be sure no one listen to your conversation.

- Stawberry taste D.A.R.K. bubblegum

- Revenge of the American Ninja, the XIIth return simsense recording

- Electronic for Dumb Ass datasof

D.A.R.K OF SECURITY :

A few RFID tags...

- 20 Stealth RFID tags
Those tags emit only if they receve a certain wifi code.

- 20 Security RFID tags
Those tags are more difficult to erase.

... we'll fill with the following elements :

- 6 cameras
- 4 microphone
- 4 directive microphone
- laser microphone rating 3
- MAD rating 3
Magnetic Anomaly detector. To avoid that the anomaly be a predator in the pocket off this unarmed guy.
- cyberware detector rating 3
- 4 motion detector

- MCT FlySpy (very discrete, very efficient)
+ Autosoft clearsigth rating 3
+ laser microphone
This andy little drone will allow you to sneak everywhere. It carry a laser microphone, to easily listen at the windows in the upper level.

- Portable sensor pack
+ laser microphone rating 4
+ directive microphone
+ camera
A little box to wear anywhere with you. it can render you a lot of service.

- Ginger taste D.A.R.K. bubblegum

D.A.R.K. OF MATRIX SECURITY :

This kit is for a comlink having a response and a system at rating 3.See the explanation lower to know how to use this kit.

- Skinlink

- Resident software :
Analyze rating 3
Encrypt rating 3
Reality filter rating 3
Databomb rating 1

- Agent
Agent rating 2
Stealth rating 2
Track rating 2

- Fizz tast D.A.R.K. bubblegum (we don't know what fizz taste is, so our after sale service will not answer any question on the content of this kit).

About the way to use this kit, let's ask our consultant for D.A.R.K. inc, the professor Max Anderson :
MAX ANDERSON :
- First, take a skinlink. When you are in the middle of an operation, you need to stay in touch with all your gizmo, but you don't want that everybody know it. Beware however, don't forget that the skinlink only extend to the skin, so you can't, for exemple, use gloves for use the smartlink on your weapon.
- Then, use a Analyze rating 3 program. Just because it give your comlink 3 more dice to use to detect an intruder entry,wich is far from being nothing. And during an "on the fly" intrusion attemps, it count even more.
- An Encrypt rating 3 program is indispensable too. You don't want that anybody can listen to what you say to your teammates, don't you?
- An indispensable rating program. If the opposing hacker doesn't have a reality filter, he'll get a -1 penalty on all his trow made in your node... It's not a big deal, but has for the other, at this price, it's given...
- A rating 2 agent. Of course, it is not the best,but it can annoy the opposing hacker pretty much.
Load it with a stealts rating 2 program. With luck, the opposing decker won't see it.
Put it a Track rating 2 program, too. If the hacker doesn't detect the agent, it will track him down to his location so you can show him that your domain is
more about the gun than about the matrix. If the hacker see it, it can scary him and push him to disconnect.
- On top of that, let's add a databomb rating 1 program.

Now, let's see the step an opposing hacker have to take to acces your comlink :

1 - Detect your comlink (in stealth mode, without the number and with a stealth program runnig, it's far from easy).
2 - Enter in the comlink. For this, he have to succed in a hacking + exploit test against your comlink (treshold = firewall + system if he took is time, firewall only if it his on the fly. Your comlink can throw one or multiple test of firewall + analyze to see the intrusion).
3 - Break the encrypt of your comlink.
4 - Adapt to your reality filter (or not.. and gain the penalty).
5 - succed to desarm the databomb that you hace placed at the very entry of your comlink, hide by the stealth sofware. You can program the bomb to have different effect : crash the OS if you want to play it safe (but you have to accept to live without a comlink until you find the guilty), send the agent for the rest of the show, and many other possibility...
6 - Discover your agent, in which you can program two mode : Search (program : stealth and analyze, frequent check to the node entry) and Trace (program : stealth and track, once an alarm or the databomb is set, or if the agent notice something).
7 - Succeed in crashing or spoofing the agent to avoid the trace.

Nne of these action are extremely hard, but chaining them can be long and one mistake can blow the entire pass for the hacker. You just have to imagine setting the same configuration with high level software to see that it is posible to turn a node into something really hard to pass trough.
Off course, this kind of setting is resource consuming. To avoid this problem : two comlink, the first being a security bridge and the second being the one were you run all your program.


D.A.R.K. OF THE GRENADE

"To every problem, his grenade" Blade TM

RE USABLE :
- 2 Flashpack (2x200 nuyens)
- Ares Antioch with Airburst Link (600 + 500 nuyens)
- Gasmask

EXPANDABLE :

Mini-grenades (for the Ares Antioch) :
- 7x Flashbang
... If the problem is that the one shooting you actually touch you.
- 7x Fragmentation
... If the problem is someone else
- 7x High Explosive
... same as above, troll size or in a car
- 7x CS-Tear Gas
... If the problem is the crowd
- 7x Pepper Punch Gas
... Again, but this time with cough and irritation
- 7x Thermal Smoke
... if the problem is to hide behind something

Hand grenades (see the mini-grenades effect, they are the same) :
- 5x Flashbang
- 5x Fragmentation
- 5x High Explosive
- 5x CS/Tear Gas
- 5x Nausea Gas
- 5x Pepper Gas
- 5x Thermal Smoke

Rocket (sometime you just have to...)
- AZ Striker (one shot rocket launcher)
Sometime it's simplier to use one rocket than two grenades.

- Nitro taste D.A.R.K. bubblegum

- AR Game Grenadeer vs the World


D.A.R.K. OF INFILTRATION

- Camouflage suit
To blend into your surrounding, it's easier. Please note that you must chose at the buying the kind of camo. Default is urban day/nigth.

- Armor jacket/
+ Thermal Dampening rating 3
A vest who will not betray your hot blood.

- Grapple Gun
Perfect to reach the high.

- Stealth Rope
+ Catalyst Stick
Reach the unreachable without leaving any evidence (and the little stick to make it disapear).

- Rappeling Gloves
It would be stupid to arm your own hand with your own rope.

- Wire Clippers
Sometime, you have to cut the cord.

- Endoscope
+ Thermographic
+ Low-light
To peek a view where no one await you.

- Glue Sprayer
Just to much fun possible use to go without it.

- Frie taste D.A.R.K. bubblegum


D.A.R.K. FOR FIGTH

Glasses :
+ Anti Flash
+ Low Light
+ Smartlink
+ Vision Magnification
+ Skinlink
Good glasses, giving great help in any kind of figth.

Armor :
- Lined Coat
A long coat where you can conceal thing.

- Urban Explorer Jumpsuit (6/6) + helmet (0/2)
This kind of combi exist in any style. You can't go to a social event with it, but it goes anywhere else.

Alway usefull little gear :
- Fake ID rating 1 + Fake License rating 1
A fake ID and a fake license who won't stand a true check, but it's better than nothing.

- External smartgun
You can put it on any weapon

- Skinlink
To link the smartgun to the glasses without using a wifi interface.

- One dose of CRAM (Combat Reaction and Awareness Multiplied)
Winner don't use drug, yaer, sure, but still.

- Shock taste D.A.R.K. bubblegum

Ammunition and magazine :
- 5 ammo clip
- 150 standard ammunition (to kill)
- 50 EXEX ammunition (to kill more)
- 50 stun ammunition (not to kill)

Hand to hand :
- Shock Gloves
When you know how to figth and you have to take a troll on close figth, you're alway happy to have some shock gloves [10].


[1] We, at D.A.R.K. inc, use american managment, and we show it... Actually, we show it mainly...
[2] Almost all of them
[3] Except the one who are not
[4] Because the kit contain a great deal of various grenades
[5] And be well aware that the only commercial gesture we'll do, so don't try to nargue on the price
[6] Yes, yes, in any case and for every reasons
[7] Second exemple of our proud american managment
[8] Because our market is international
[9] Because we do not forget where do we came from
[10] Carefull : D.A.R.K inc could not be hel responsible if you attack a troll without knowing what you are doing

For my street samurai, things I pretty much always get:

• Cybereyes w/all the extras
• Cyberears w/all the extras
• Smartlink

I /usually/ like playing the big, tough sorts -- Dwarves and Orks, so in those cases add any and all cyberware I can get that do that. We don't use strict availability, so one thing I adore is Titanium Bone Lacing and Orthoskin. There's just something about bullets bouncing.

It would be interesting to have your opinion about this french things.

Thanks

I think it's a great list.

I love the idea of it being broken down into 1 BP (build points, I think you refer to them as PC) per package and by focus.

Very modular.

All around excellent work, and a very cool idea.

I really do like those D.A.R.K. kits, and the way they are sorted into nice and handy 5000 bundles is very nifty. It makes me realise how far you can make 5k go when you arent buying uber-cybertech or drones...

Yes, but if you are going to be using the Advanced Lifestyle rules, you could well choose a lower Neighbourhood and better Security or some other category.

There are a few things I would change in the D.A.R.K. pack but that's manly to remove redundancy of the armor supplied I would just tick out an Urban Explorer Jumpsuit + helmet to fill the roll of the stealth armor. The rest works really well. And my little gripe is very minor.

FFBA?

Form Fitting Body Armor

Can anyone do a quickie translation for the lazy amongst us?



It's a silly rule. Open-source software generally trades ease-of-use and perfection for draw-dropping power and interconnectivity. (I'm not even a particularly skilled Linux user, and there's no way I'm switching back.)

There are generally two given pieces of open-source software that do the same job. One is restricted in functionality and power (Rating 1 or 2) but generally pretty usable - a good example of this would be Ubuntu. On the other hand, you've got a piece of software which has a byzantine interface, has a huge number of quirks that must be memorized and accounted for, and requires manual patching and updates if not a comprehension of every iota of the code itself. These programs go all the way to rating 6, but require a computer AND software skill equal to the level of the program to use.

Nobody has really paid for any open-source software in years - there's nothing stopping someone else from stripping away the copyrighted logos and giving it away for free. Instead, companies pay quite a lot of money for software support to various open-source vendors like RedHat and IBM.

Yes, there is some redundancy in the pack. But you are not by any mean forced to buy each one. The point of those kit a simply to say around a table "i got the Runner D.A.R.K. kit and (for exemple) the Intrusion kit", and then the GM assume you have every thing you need (low rated, ok) to do the job, and will not trick you with something you cannot pass because you don't have the gear. After, if you would like to get back the, say, 1 000 nuyens worth of redundancy in the kit, say to your GM that you buy each piece you want if the kit over the time, and do the math.
This work very well for what i know, most of the people i know have now a "bitos kit" for the basic thing (where they are not specialized to) and buy real gear for what they are good at....

In fact i do not so much ask for feedback on the kit themselve (i know they are ok, we all use it on the shadowforum, and this is one of the most viewed page on the association site), but on the way i translated it from french to english, see if there is some big problem or misunderstanding in it, so i can correct it later. The PC = BP thing, for exemple....

I prefer magically active characters so i usually don't get cyber or bioware

usually the stuff I pick up without a thought:
leather armored jacket or leather long coat*
Colt Manhunter with hidden holster.
HK MP5
Honda turbo (or one of it's variants.)



*that's before I went to Seattle and saw how few people were wearing leather coats faced with all the dmapness.