I was wondering how many BR skills and tool types there are. The sourcebooks seem to conflict on whether the electronics and computer BR skills use seperate tools or one set called microtronics tools. Vehicles seem to all use the same tool set. Man and Machine adds chemistry and Biotech tools. I have heard of firearms and forgery tools, but haven't found anything about them. Also, Rigger 3 adds the weapon conversion kit, which comes at kit level only and is used to adapt personal weapons for vehicle mounting. Are there any other B/R skills or tools that I haven't found?

As far as skills go- everything that has B/R after the skill has a different kit, but a gunsmithing shop can do work on any firearm type. Chemistry and armor both have their own tools. Forensics as well (but could use a chemistry kit probably). any knowledge(science) could have a kit. really depends on just how specific you want to get- lots of fields could use teh same type of tools, but have their own 'kit' including a couple specialized tools.

Computer and electronics kits use different tools. some stuff will be the same though (screwdriver). vehicle kits are probably the same way. Microtronics is a type of tools, i think, not a specific kit.

The core rulebook says that computer and electronics use microtronics tools, and the sprawl survival guide mentions a microtronics kit being needed for forgery. But if you look at the equipment lists for the sample characters in the back of the core rulebook, you'll see electronics tools, computer tools, and vehicle tools. So there seems to be a consensus that all vehicles use the same tools, but computers and electronics are still up in the air. As for forensics tools, I haven't heard of that.

Forensics, generally speaking, hasn't been discussed or touched on in SR canon.

The tools involved depends primarily on the kind of evidence you're trying to collect.

-Siege

I allow people to pay extra (triple) to get a microtronics toolkit, which for the same weight, does both computer and electronics.

Thats a house rule however, the justification i use for it being the fact that both kits would have significant portions the same, and some extra cash can probably get more versatile tools.

Other than that suggestion, i agree with the above, that there is no hard and fast ruling in canon (Or the faq, as far as i know)

there was a discussion of real-world forensics principles in Lone Star, but no rules.

I kinda rule it as I see. Any electronic kits are triple, any car related kits are double, and med kits and general tool kits are normal (¥500). Ref: Sr3 288 Any problems I just stuff under one of the existing sets.

Just to point out -- microtronics kits are triple price to begin with: 1,500 nuyen per.

-Siege

The thing is, with all these specialised tool kits - it seems like one for every B/R skill out there - what the hell is a "General" tool kit for? Brushing your teeth?

Oh, no... that would be a wash kit...

The toolkit that has no General B/R skill.

What you find in your toolbox for around-the-house repairs and so forth.

-Siege

A general tool kit would be like one of those package tool kits you can buy at fred meyer.

A hammer, some screwdrivers going right down to the itty bitty ones, some sockets, pliers, a wrench, a little crowbar, a utility knife, a hex key set, wire cutters, maybe a hacksaw, a tape measure, a pipe-wrench, maybe a drill, etc etc etc depending on how big the kit is. Some of the most commonly used tools from various specific kits.

Maybe it would count as partial tools for various tasks? Some target number modifier.

An electronics kit will have specialized wire cutters and strippers, soldering irons, more small tweezers, an air can.

A carpentry kit more saws and power tools, measuring and marking stuff.

A car repair kit has more bolt manipulating tools, like those socket wrench extenders to get into tight spaces, and multiple wrench handles of different lengths.