Whispers from the Other-Verse: Miscellaneous Equipment

The following article lists some useful miscellaneous equipment for use in modern, post modern, cyberpunk, near future and Post apocalyptic games.

It is not possible to list all of the things that characters (both NPCs and PCs) may make use of in the course of a game as the list of items available in the modern day runs to entire volumes. GMs should therefore exercise their discretion when deciding what is and isn't available, how easily and at what cost. We have included a small selection of some items that we felt may require a little explanation of their effects in game play, but on the whole, this is left to the GM for reasons we have mentioned.

Purchasing costs for these items vary greatly from place to place and from one year to the next, the GM should decide what any given item costs in their game at any time, or may let players look it up online and pay the gong rate.

Item

Notes

Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Used to warn people of the presence of Carbon Monoxide in the air. Often found in underground instillations or in domestic buildings with Gas appliances. Portable, hand held, versions are also available.

Climbing gear

A collection of crampons, pitons and other small items used in conjunction with ropes (see later) to aid in climbing. The use of climbing gear gives a +20% bonus to climbing rolls.

Craftsman's Tools

Available for a wide range of skills, a tool kit containing the right tools for he job lends a character up to +25% on appropriate skills when used.
These may include EMT (Emergency Medical Technicians) first aid kits for medical skills, carpenters or engineers tool kits for relevant skills and so on

Bags and backpacks

Made in a wide range of sizes and qualities, everything form a small handbag (purse, in American parlance) up to a military kit bag or Bergan. Used to store and carry other items.

Breathing Mask

Often referred to as a gas mask, the breathing mask will keep the user safe from airborne toxins and agents while in use. The masks are hot and uncomfortable to wear for any length of time and the filters in the mask need to be replaced or maintained regularly. Use for over an hour or two continuously is not recommended and use for more than 4 is usually not possible without changing the filters

Dust Mask

Usually used by workmen dealing with anything that might be an irritant to breath in but is not inherently toxic. Dust masks reduces the amount of particulates that the user breathes in and may increase the exposure time needed to be effected by gas by between 10 and 25% depening on the quality of he dust mask

Fire Extinguisher

A range of these portable extinguishers are available, from foam to CO2 based, aimed at helping the user put out small to medium fires.

First Aid Kit

A small kit with bandages, dressings and other minor medical items. Using a first aid kit infers a +10% to a characters “First Aid” skill, but the kit is usually only good for between 2 and 5 uses before it runs out.

Flares

Usually used to signal distress on board water-born vessels or by expeditions into remote locations and wilderness areas. Flares can be of various colours and can be hand held or launched.

Flash light

Referred to as a torch in the UK and parts of Europe. They come in various strengths and some come with coloured gels which makes the light less obvious form a distance to third parties.

Geiger Counter

Used to detect radiation and warn the user of it's presence and at what levels

GPS

Global Positioning equipment that uses a satellite signal to tell the user exactly where they are on the planet. Early models were designed for use in cars and included road maps, later versions could also be hand held and even installed on mobile phones or tablet computers as apps.

Laptop Computer

They come in a wide range of specifications, from quite basic machines to very powerful ones. Almost all are Wi-fi enabled (but need to find a wi-fi network in the area) some will have their own wi-fi generators built in (although this is more common in tablet computers and mobile phones).

Listening Device

Used by private detectives, law enforcement and governmental agencies to eavesdrop conversations by plating them somewhere in a room they are unlikely to be detected and the tuning in via the receiving equipment located elsewhere. Range is typically only a mile or two.

Mobile phones

By the early 21^st century mobile phones had become almost ubiquitous in the first and second world and were quite common in the third world. Increasingly sophisticated, most would be internet capable (using the 3^rd or 4^th generation mobile phone network or local wi-fi) by 2010.
Cheap models can be easily purchased worldwide, high end models are available in mist areas as well.

Night Vision Goggles

Used to allow the user a degree of vision goggles without the usual penalties associated with not being able to see. Range is far more limited than normal human daylight vision, but over short distances the user can see fairly clearly (in most models the image is monochrome and green)

Radio

There are a number of different forms of radio available, form AM?FM radios that allow the user to receive radio transmissions on those bands (usually used for tuning in to radio stations) to DAB radios which can also be used to tune in to internet radio stations.
In addition 2-way radios such as walkie-talkies, C.B radios and other forms of radio communications device are also available.

Rope

Useful for all sorts of things form climbing to tying people up or towing one vehicle behind another. Ropes are sold in various lengths and at various tensile strengths depending on their intended purpose.
Used in climbing they give a +40% bonus to a climb skill.

S.C.U.B.A Gear

Includes re-breather and oxygen tanks. Using these allows a character to operate underwater for as long as they have air in the tank (the length of time the air lasts varies on depth underwater, the activity carried out while using it and the size of he tank but a rule of thumb is around about an hour).

Tablet Computers

Small, portable devices with touchscreens, tablets are very popular among many humans and are fairly easy to buy in most towns and cities across the world. They vary in power and capability but all can connect to a local Wi-fi netork when one is available and some generate their own Wi-fi network via the 3 or 4g telephone system. Tablets are rarely as powerful as laptops, but the highest end tablets can match lower or even medium specification laptops.

Targeting Scope

Available in a range of sizes for handguns, rifles and other weapons. Use of a targeting scope can give the firer +5% to hit and can increase effective range by 10%.

Tent

Available in various sizes form 1 person to multi-occupancy, and from basic to luxury, tents provide water proof and wind resistant shelter that can be packed away and moved.

Thermal Clothing

Available in various sizes and weights deigned to help humans cope with cold to extreme cold temperatures. The highest rated thermal attire are Arctic survival suits which allow survival in all but the coldest of Arctic conditions.

Thermal Flask/Bag

Thermal flasks or bags come in a wide range of sizes and are designed to insulate whatever is in them so that they retain the temperature they were at when placed inside for longer – usually several hours longer. Very high grade ones keep things at the temperature they were when placed inside for a day or more.

Tracking Device

A small radio transmitter that can be tracked by compatible equipment (often sold with the tracking device) to let the person with the compatible receiver locate the tracker. Often used by private detectives and law enforcement to track a suspects vehicle.
The ranges vary but are usually only a few miles.

Ultra Violet torch

A torch that shines UV light, causing UV reactive items or bodily fluids to glow slightly so they can be seen.

Voice changer

Used to distort the users voice and make it harder to identify. Models can be of various levels of sophistication, making identification only slightly more difficult than usual up to many times harder.

Waterproof Clothing

Waterproof clothing is used to keep the wearer dry and comfortable in wet conditions. In most cases this a matter of comfort but in extreme conditions or remote areas of the world it can be a vital health precaution.

Whispers from the Other-Verse

Wednesday, 1 March 2017

Miscellaneous Equipment

No comments:

Post a Comment

About Whispers from the Other-Verse

Item	Notes
Carbon Monoxide Alarms	Used to warn people of the presence of Carbon Monoxide in the air. Often found in underground instillations or in domestic buildings with Gas appliances. Portable, hand held, versions are also available.
Climbing gear	A collection of crampons, pitons and other small items used in conjunction with ropes (see later) to aid in climbing. The use of climbing gear gives a +20% bonus to climbing rolls.
Craftsman's Tools	Available for a wide range of skills, a tool kit containing the right tools for he job lends a character up to +25% on appropriate skills when used. These may include EMT (Emergency Medical Technicians) first aid kits for medical skills, carpenters or engineers tool kits for relevant skills and so on
Bags and backpacks	Made in a wide range of sizes and qualities, everything form a small handbag (purse, in American parlance) up to a military kit bag or Bergan. Used to store and carry other items.
Breathing Mask	Often referred to as a gas mask, the breathing mask will keep the user safe from airborne toxins and agents while in use. The masks are hot and uncomfortable to wear for any length of time and the filters in the mask need to be replaced or maintained regularly. Use for over an hour or two continuously is not recommended and use for more than 4 is usually not possible without changing the filters
Dust Mask	Usually used by workmen dealing with anything that might be an irritant to breath in but is not inherently toxic. Dust masks reduces the amount of particulates that the user breathes in and may increase the exposure time needed to be effected by gas by between 10 and 25% depening on the quality of he dust mask
Fire Extinguisher	A range of these portable extinguishers are available, from foam to CO2 based, aimed at helping the user put out small to medium fires.
First Aid Kit	A small kit with bandages, dressings and other minor medical items. Using a first aid kit infers a +10% to a characters “First Aid” skill, but the kit is usually only good for between 2 and 5 uses before it runs out.
Flares	Usually used to signal distress on board water-born vessels or by expeditions into remote locations and wilderness areas. Flares can be of various colours and can be hand held or launched.
Flash light	Referred to as a torch in the UK and parts of Europe. They come in various strengths and some come with coloured gels which makes the light less obvious form a distance to third parties.
Geiger Counter	Used to detect radiation and warn the user of it's presence and at what levels
GPS	Global Positioning equipment that uses a satellite signal to tell the user exactly where they are on the planet. Early models were designed for use in cars and included road maps, later versions could also be hand held and even installed on mobile phones or tablet computers as apps.
Laptop Computer	They come in a wide range of specifications, from quite basic machines to very powerful ones. Almost all are Wi-fi enabled (but need to find a wi-fi network in the area) some will have their own wi-fi generators built in (although this is more common in tablet computers and mobile phones).
Listening Device	Used by private detectives, law enforcement and governmental agencies to eavesdrop conversations by plating them somewhere in a room they are unlikely to be detected and the tuning in via the receiving equipment located elsewhere. Range is typically only a mile or two.
Mobile phones	By the early 21^st century mobile phones had become almost ubiquitous in the first and second world and were quite common in the third world. Increasingly sophisticated, most would be internet capable (using the 3^rd or 4^th generation mobile phone network or local wi-fi) by 2010. Cheap models can be easily purchased worldwide, high end models are available in mist areas as well.
Night Vision Goggles	Used to allow the user a degree of vision goggles without the usual penalties associated with not being able to see. Range is far more limited than normal human daylight vision, but over short distances the user can see fairly clearly (in most models the image is monochrome and green)
Radio	There are a number of different forms of radio available, form AM?FM radios that allow the user to receive radio transmissions on those bands (usually used for tuning in to radio stations) to DAB radios which can also be used to tune in to internet radio stations. In addition 2-way radios such as walkie-talkies, C.B radios and other forms of radio communications device are also available.
Rope	Useful for all sorts of things form climbing to tying people up or towing one vehicle behind another. Ropes are sold in various lengths and at various tensile strengths depending on their intended purpose. Used in climbing they give a +40% bonus to a climb skill.
S.C.U.B.A Gear	Includes re-breather and oxygen tanks. Using these allows a character to operate underwater for as long as they have air in the tank (the length of time the air lasts varies on depth underwater, the activity carried out while using it and the size of he tank but a rule of thumb is around about an hour).
Tablet Computers	Small, portable devices with touchscreens, tablets are very popular among many humans and are fairly easy to buy in most towns and cities across the world. They vary in power and capability but all can connect to a local Wi-fi netork when one is available and some generate their own Wi-fi network via the 3 or 4g telephone system. Tablets are rarely as powerful as laptops, but the highest end tablets can match lower or even medium specification laptops.
Targeting Scope	Available in a range of sizes for handguns, rifles and other weapons. Use of a targeting scope can give the firer +5% to hit and can increase effective range by 10%.
Tent	Available in various sizes form 1 person to multi-occupancy, and from basic to luxury, tents provide water proof and wind resistant shelter that can be packed away and moved.
Thermal Clothing	Available in various sizes and weights deigned to help humans cope with cold to extreme cold temperatures. The highest rated thermal attire are Arctic survival suits which allow survival in all but the coldest of Arctic conditions.
Thermal Flask/Bag	Thermal flasks or bags come in a wide range of sizes and are designed to insulate whatever is in them so that they retain the temperature they were at when placed inside for longer – usually several hours longer. Very high grade ones keep things at the temperature they were when placed inside for a day or more.
Tracking Device	A small radio transmitter that can be tracked by compatible equipment (often sold with the tracking device) to let the person with the compatible receiver locate the tracker. Often used by private detectives and law enforcement to track a suspects vehicle. The ranges vary but are usually only a few miles.
Ultra Violet torch	A torch that shines UV light, causing UV reactive items or bodily fluids to glow slightly so they can be seen.
Voice changer	Used to distort the users voice and make it harder to identify. Models can be of various levels of sophistication, making identification only slightly more difficult than usual up to many times harder.
Waterproof Clothing	Waterproof clothing is used to keep the wearer dry and comfortable in wet conditions. In most cases this a matter of comfort but in extreme conditions or remote areas of the world it can be a vital health precaution.