Hey, I've been thinking about a house rule and wanted your opinions on it before proposing it to my group:

Gas masks cover the whole face and cannot be used with a helmet. However, helmets come designed for most standard respirators to clip onto them and thus can be used together.

Really simple. Thoughts?

Two things:

First, why? What are you trying to accomplish with this rule? Is your campaign suffering from rampant, gamebreaking munchkinism wherein the PCs wear gas masks and helmets at the same time?

Second, it's grossly unrealistic. Gas masks can absolutely be worn with headgear. Military gas masks are specifically designed not to impede a helmet.

I'm trying to implement a reason for respirators. At present no-one uses them as when on a run gas masks are flat out better and when not on a run you're unlikely to get gassed.

Also what do you mean by helmet? modern combat helmet? Special ops one? Baseball helmet? Motorcycle? Most types of civilian type helmets I would say can't easily fix a gas mask, but anything intended for combat/security/military would absolutely incorporate the ability, if not replace it entirely ala full security/military grade armor helmet.

Dress up how many other people simply use respirators, and no one uses gas masks, when air pollution levels go up. When the team is wearing gas masks just as openly, have the others that meet them give strange looks and/or remarks.

If the players are keen on being discreet and low-key, they'll learn.

The 'Helmet' listed in equipment doesn't differentiate, but I assume it's a civilian make considering how easy it is to acquire. The only 'Military' helmets are part of suits that can be upgraded with chemical seals, negating the need for either gas mask OR respirator.

That's funny. Considering there is all of one gas that is Inhalation Only, we've all been arguing that Gas Masks are relatively useless when your resistance test is usually going to be made at whatever level your armor's chemical resistance mod is rated (Max 6, so an R6 Respirator for 100 Nuyen more is equally effective and not limited to tank quantity). Amusingly, the chemical resistance quality (the armor mod appears to be the only item associated with it) is listed in the toxins section as providing resistance to both inhalation and contact vector toxins (even though the armor mod description itself only lists contact).

That's because all chemical resistant armors also come with an Ascot tie that is not only snazzy looking but can be held over the mouth and nose to act as a temporary protection vs Inhalation.

Except that many city environments are so polluted in the 2070's that something is required if you want to actually breathe something other than rampant pollution.

Fashion Statement and Chemical Protection all in one package. Double Duty is the Best Duty.

Have people look at them funny, all the time. Especially when they attempt to eat/drink through their masks.

actually, based on the fact that there are still steampunk outfits & such & that masks & rebreathers are a common part of many steampunk outfits, it may not be as weird or jarring as people may think.

Dress accordingly. If you're wearing a gas mask with the latest NAN fashion, you will draw the looks.

Now if said gas mask is accordingly styled, along with the rest of your steampunk ensemble, then you'll probably be fine. But if you're in an area where steampunk isn't exactly that common, you'll probably still get the looks anyway.

yeah but the same could be said about wearing a Tux to a Punk Concert

I think you might be making a problem over a minor issue. So one piece of gear is blatantly superior to another. How many street samurai use laser sights instead of smartlinks?

They are used a bit differently, though. A gas mask is something you wear when breaking and entering a corporate compound. A respirator is something you wear to deal with the ubiquitous pollution of the sprawl. They are similar in function, but not in what they are used for. A gas mask will attract a lot more (negative) attention in most places, and is a lot less portable when you are casually dressed and out on the town.

You know, this whole camoflage thing for me doesn't work very well."

"Why is that?"

"Well, because you go into the jungle, I can't SEE you! You know, its like wearing stripes and plaid! For me, I want to do something different. You know, if you go in the jungle, make a statement! If you're going to fight, CLASH!"

------------


points for those can remember this quote

..for B&E Chameleon suit, FFBA (w/hood), Ballistic mask + Death mask ( works as gas mask) and if needed various PPP armor..

Given the replies here I think I might be blowing this a bit out of proportion.

This is why I run house rules past Dumpshock before letting them near my players: Dumpshock points out the holes in my reasoning and stops me looking like a complete moron.

Now Capacity of a helmet, usually refers to built in features that do not overly compromise the overall design and form of the object.

But what about external add-ons?

Namely the classic Beer Helmet.

Welding on two can/cup holders with flexible straws for siphoning the liquid goodness within.

Yeah Concealibility goes to heck, but the thirst quenching goodness is worth the price.

Projected Sales for the CAS market alone expected to be very good.

Wireless Bonus: Hat reports on liquid content levels, alerting user when running low on either side.

*Raises Hand*... My Ganger uses a Laser Sight. Of course, he cannot afford the Smartlinked equipment or other hardware, and a Laser Sight is cheap. However, if I am going to use a Laser Sight, I often would rather use the Red-Dot Sight. No Laser to give you away, and the same bonus. Lets hear it for Retro.

Oh wait... You said Street Sam... My Unaugmented Street Sam uses a Red-Dot Sight.

Oh, I remember it!! Great movie, and the actors imitation of the fashion designer is hilarious!


"First of all, don't make fun of the weather here, and don't say the weather is the same all the time here. Because it's not. In fact, it's two degrees colder today than yesterday."

"Two degrees colder, me without my muff. "

Sorry... I still have no clue...

Robin Williams...

Movie was 'Good Morning Vietnam' a most excellent military comedy.

It was loosely based on an actual Armed Forces Radio DJ, though I imagine he didn't pull half of these stunts off (he WOULD have been shot )

Thanks, Forgarn and Sendaz... Pretty sad... I just watched that again a few weeks ago, and even knowing where the quote originated, I still do not remember it.

More realistic drawbacks if you really need to discourage it:

If you wanted to replicate the joys of running around with a protective hood on and breathing through what is essentially above ground scuba gear, you could penalize athletics tests or the like, or maybe make some sort of composure/athletics test check to avoid breaking the seal to suck sweet sweet air if things get frantic.

You could also modify certain perception checks since having a full face covering mask with a rigid eyepiece(s) can really cut down on the ole peripheral vision and ability to see things at a distance. Any "glasses" or "goggles" have to be worn on the outside of the mask to avoid breaking the seal, and that is going to distort their image some and reduce how much of the eyeball is looking through the cool parts.

Goes without saying that being able to smell anything through a gas mask would suffer a -6 DP penalty at least.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzjEQ3iEK-Q&t=0m43s




-k

Indeed... And after having many times Exercised/Run for Miles in Gas Masks in the Marine Corps... Any major exertion is generally more difficult (breathing in a Gask Mask under extended exertion is very difficult, even if you have trained to do so), and even your visual senses are muted. Don't really miss that at all.

Amen to that. Had to do it in the Navy (didn't have to run or anything) while sitting watch in CIC. Made it really hard to see the equipment readouts.

You missed out on the fun... In NCO School, we had a 5 mile run in Masks to the Gas Chamber, and then Gas Chamber training, while you are hot and sweaty and your pores are all open. REALLY do not miss that at all.

One of my co-workers passed out during the tear gas training. Just took a header and woke up with instructors yelling at him. Not a fun experience.

As for gas mask vs respirators, the latter are commonplace, the former are weird. If the GM plays up the social aspects, it'll be an issue. If they don't, then the mechanics make it an easy choice.

Never give Shadowrunners an easy choice.

When we are teaching people how to make soap and work with the lye, you have to use respirators or simple dust masks along with proper ventilation.

I also teach them that they can use a proper military gas mask, but it does make the neighbors nervous.

Good for a chuckle and helps break the stress of working with caustics a bit.

You use Respirators/Masks for making Lye Soap? I just make it outdoors on the patio, instead.
Which reminds me, I need to make a few more batches here soon.

We teach it for indoors and I prefer to side on the edge of caution with the students, some of whom still try to stick their face in it >_<, don't ask....

You only really need it when your making the lye solution portion, the dust in the air is just like sandpaper on the back of the throat when your inside and no mask, so yeah just make the lye outdoors in the morning and your good for the rest of the day without needing the mask.

Heh... well, they will only do it once.

... unless they somehow like it...

See we had that in boot camp. Only it wasn't a run to the chamber... they had us put the masks on, go into the chamber, and while we were doing pushups, squat thrusts, and jumping jacks, they dropped the pills on the burner. Then while you are gasping in the masks, after the chamber fills up, they make you take them off and stand there for 2 minutes. Then you can leave.

I agree about not missing it at all.

Memories...

Yeah, my battle buddy and I were numbers 29 and 30 in the "Confidence Chamber." That means we had to wait, masks off and held out at full extension, until the slow-sacks in front of us proved that they were breathing that drek in. We were absolutely dying by the time we got out of there.

Also, I recall doing ranges in pro-masks. I seem to remember having to use the night sight to hit anything due to the reduction in visibility. Also, learning why you only put one canister on a protective mask and sealed the other side. Interesting stuff.

Yep, that too... Boot Camp, Infantry School, Squad Leaders School, NCO School, Bi-Annual Qualification, Overseas Deployment Readiness Test... Etc. Got to know the Gas Chamber REAL well during my time in. After a while, you even get used to it (to some degree).