Chapter 2: Gearing
Weapons were obviously the best way to ensure all my work making this new character didn’t go to waste. The best defense was to put holes in the people who wanted to kill you, before they got a chance. So, weapons.
Firearms/Heavy Weapons
Dice
Weapon
Cost
16
Mars Predator IV (Heavy Pistol)
Range: 5/20/40/60 meters
SA: 6P vs B-2 16/16
Personalized Grip, Integral Silencer, Skinlink, Internal Smartgun, Spare Clip x3
Ammunition: 15 (c)
Loaded: 15 rounds EX-Explosive ammo
Unloaded: 15 rounds EX-Explosive Ammo, 30 rounds Stick-n-Shock ammo
1455
14
Defiance EX Shocker (Taser)
Range: 5/10/15/20 meters
SS: 8S(e) v -1/2 I
Gecko Grip, Skinlink, Internal Smartgun
Ammunition: 4 (m)
Loaded: 4 Taser Darts
Unloaded: 8 Taser Darts
510
16
Shiawase Arms Monsoon (Asault Rifle)
Range: 50/150/350/550 meters
SA: 7P v B-2 16/16
FA: 16P or -9 DEF 14
Auto-Adjusting Weight, Electronic Firing, Gas-Vent 3 System, Melee Hardening, Internal Smartgun, Flashlight (Infrared), Shock Pad, Sling
Ammunition: 20 (ml) x6
Loaded: 120 rounds EX-Explosive ammo
3315
A Mars Predator IV was the one of the standard weapons everyone used, because it was a heavy pistol that did good damage, was cheap, and accurate. Upgrade it with some perks like a silencer, personal grip, and so on, and we’re golden. Then, EX-Ex and SnS ammo, so I could switch between blowing holes in people, and using taser bullets.
An actual taser was a good idea, too. Something I could keep concealed, even on stage. The Defiance EX was the most powerful taser available, and was completely legal. Perfect for a ‘civilian’ item.
But I needed some more firepower. The Shiawase Arms Monsoon was an assault rifle that basically had six barrels in a circle, with the bullets stacked in the barrels, like the old ‘metal storm’ technology. Smartgun to make it more accurate. Load up with the EX-Ex ammo, and that’s enough for ranged options.
Melee Weapons/Unarmed Attacks
Dice
Weapon
Cost
3
Attack of Will (vs. Spirits)
5P vs I
13
Ceramic Knife
4P vs I
Ceramic/Plasteel Components (Level 1), Personalized Grip
175
12
Hand Razors (Left Hand, Implanted Cyberweapon)
4P vs I
10
Hand Razors (Right Hand, Implanted Cyberweapon)
4P vs I
13
Katana (Two-handed Sword)
6P vs I-1, Reach 1
Personalized Grip
1100
11
Unarmed Strike
3S vs I
Melee was easier. Ceramic combat knife and my hand razors for up close work. The attack of will and unarmed stuff were baseline for all characters. But then I picked up a katana, with a personalized grip. Because a sword is a better negotiating tool than clawed fingernails, and had a better reach.
Thrown/Projectile Weapons
Dice
Weapon
Cost
11
Flash-Bang Grenade x3
Range: 12/24/36/60 meters
6S, 10m radius, vs I-3
90
11
Smoke Grenade x3
Range: 12/24/36/60 meters
Smoke, 10m radius
90
Forget diamonds. Grenades are a girl’s best friend. At least so long as you aren’t in the radius. I picked up a couple flash-bangs, and a couple smoke grenades. Good for getting out of a bad situation, and weren’t something that set off the same alarms as the high-explosive.
Armor & Shields
Worn
Item
Cost
No
Clothing (0/0 Armor)
175
Dermal Sheathe (Alphaware) (+2/+3 Armor)
Yes
Form-Fitting Full-Body Suit (+6/+3 Armor)
Only half rating (Round down) applies to armor Encumbrance
1600
Yes
Lined Coat (6/4 Armor)
Color Changing, Fire Resistance 3, Holo Hood, Nonconductivity 3, YNT Softweave Armor
Reduce highest armor rating by wearer’s STR for determining armor Encumbrance
3045
No
Second Skin (4/1 Armor)
Nonconductivity 3, Transparent Ruthenium Polymer Coating
6600
Yes
SecureTech Forearm Guards (Discrete) (+0/+1 Armor)
200
Yes
SecureTech Shin Guards (Discrete) (+0/+1 Armor)
150
Yes
SecureTech Vitals Protector (+1/+1 Armor)
200
Yes
Women’s Modez Shoes (+0/+0 Armor)
400
Armor was another big part of staying alive. I got a bunch of different pieces, so I could mix and match sets. The ‘normal clothing’ was something to cover the Second Skin piece, when I wore it, since that was basically just a skin-tight bodysuit that could go completely clear. Great for a civilian hoping to boost her defense, but not much for blocking rifle rounds. That’s why I got the lined coat and the full-body suit of form-fitting armor and the discrete SecureTech armor pieces designed to be worn under clothes and armor.
Matrix
Disposable Commlink
Response
1
System
2/1
Signal
3
Firewall
1
Initiative
4
Defense
2
DR
1
Damage
0/9
Programs
Mods
Cost
300
Novatech Airwave Commlink
Response
3
System
3
Signal
3
Firewall
3
Initiative
6
Defense
6
DR
3
Damage
0/10
Programs
Basic+ Suite (Analyze 3, Browse 3, Command 1, Edit 3), Iris Orb OS
Mods
Sim Module, Skinlink
Cost
2800
Commlink was next. Well, links. A burner that could be tossed if I needed to, and a mid-rank commlink with basic programs and firewalls. Enough that I wouldn’t be embarrassed to hold it. But I wasn’t going to be a matrix maven anytime soon.
Miscellaneous Gear
Name
Description
Cost
Holo Gloves
Display holograms above hands
475
Metal Restraints
Handcuffs
20
OXSYS Artificial Gill
Breathe underwater to 7m
1000
Plastic Restraints x10
Zip-ties
1
Respirator
Rating 6
150
Spectrum Permanent Polish
Nanite nail polish that changes colors on command
120
Subvocal Microphone
Subvocalize comms
50
Tag Eraser
Erase RFID tags
150
Some basic gear that was good for a variety of gigs, and some that could work in civilian life, too. But I was starting to run low on points. And I still needed to get contacts, and lifestyles, including a place to live and hang my hat. I’d skip the vehicle, pick one up with the post-chargen nucred they were giving me.
Identities
Name
Description
Casey Rhodes
SIN (NCSA), Weapons Permit, Driver’s License
Downtown Condo: Comforts (High), Entertainment (High), Necessities (High), Neighborhood (High), Security (High), Ambusher’s Delight, Friendly Neighbors, Network Bottleneck, No Privacy (Matrix) 3, No Privacy (Astral) 3, Well Made, Worse Neighbors. Cost: 2600 / month
Day Job (20 hrs / week): 12500 / month
Lina Lovely
Fake SIN 3, Fake Weapons Permit 3, Fake Driver’s License 3. Cost: 3600
Slums Apartment: Comforts (Low), Entertainment (Middle), Necessities (Middle), Neighborhood (Street), Security (Middle), Affiliated (Yakuza), Ambusher’s Delight, Green Plan, Loud Neighborhood, Network Bottleneck, Rough Neighborhood, The Building That Time Forgot, Trigger-Happy Landlord, Well Made. Cost: 0 / month, Permanent Lifestyle
Casey Rhodes was my ‘government name’, and the name my rock band paycheck was sent to. Had a nice condo downtown, though it was an open-plan affair, for the most part. Still, very well-made, and the neighbors were friendly. Pity about porn trid studio downstairs. But I was still making a profit just by doing my ‘normal’ job.
Lina Lovely was my fake ID’s name. An apartment in the slums to this ID, something where I could hide out if I needed to. I had the title to the apartment, permanently, but the building was owned by the Yakuza, so it was a bad place to hide from them. On the other hand, for everyone else I had a Yakuza bar downstairs, which would help keep them off my back.
Contacts
Name
Daxton Hamilton
Type
Fixer
Connection
2
Loyalty
2
Daxton ‘Handsome’ Hamilton used to be a Shadowman, a Street Samurai. Unfortunately, age started catching up to the old ork, and he wasn’t as fast on the draw as he used to be, and didn’t heal as quickly. When the Crash happened, he took that as his sign to hang up his sword. Instead, he works as a fixer, connecting Shadowmen to clients in need of their services. He has a reputation for only dealing with those who don’t have any obvious prejudices.
Name
Robert Thomas
Type
Shark Lawyer
Connection
2
Loyalty
2
Robert Thomas is the kind of lawyer who will take any case, so long as the nucred is good. This makes him a valuable contact when things get out of hand. It also means he hears a lot of information that is not admissible in court, and is willing to hire Shadowmen to help ensure his clients get the representation (and result) they paid for.
Name
Serena Ortega
Type
Simsense Star
Connection
2
Loyalty
2
Serena Ortega is an up-and-coming simsense star in the NCSA, with her blonde hair, blue eyes, DDs, and fondness for bikinis that leave little to the imagination, she’s quickly moving up the popularity charts. The fact that she actually has some acting ability helps, too. This means she’s always going to hear things in the entertainment industry, which could be a big help if you’re running in those circles.
Contacts were important. They were how you got jobs, and how you gathered information and arranged things so that those jobs went as easily as possible. A fixer was absolutely necessary. The lawyer was a good pick, as well, since even if I didn’t need someone to bail me out of jail, they heard things. And then I picked a simsense star, because I was going to be in entertainment, and someone in the field would be a good contact. And I still had a few thousand nucred to add to my post-chargen fun.
Karma Spent:
Increase Automatics to 5: 10 Karma
Increase Blades to 5: 10 Karma
Gain Exotic Melee Weapon: Fangs skill: 4 Karma
Upped two of my combat skills, and picked up a skill for biting people with fangs. I didn’t have fangs, yet, but I was going to change that. Either way, that took care of my carryover Karma.
Cyberware
Essence
Ware
Cost
0.11
Fang Implants (extendable) (Alphaware)
2400
Some catlike/canine fangs that I could extend or retract at will gave me those fangs I was missing. Plus, they helped complete the ‘catgirl’ look. They also gave me another option if I was in a bad situation.
Bioware
Essence
Ware
Cost
0
Minor Biosculpting (Breast and Butt)
500
0.1
Reflex Recorder (Blades): Add +1 to the rating of Blades skill
10000
0.08
Vocal Range Enhancer (Alphaware): +1 to social tests involving speaking, +2 to tests involving singing.
24000
Taking another look at the nucred I had, I decided to do some minor biosculpting to make my breasts and butt perfect. Then I went to upgrade my Vocal Range Enhancer to Alphaware, saving on Essence, then grabbed some Reflex Recorder bioware to add to my Blades skill. Gave me another die to all my blade attacks. Dropped my Essence to 0.85968, but that was above zero, which was fine.
Armor & Shields
Worn
Item
Cost
Yes
Armor Clothing (10/3 Armor)
Carbon-Boron Infusion, Color Changing, Delta-Amyloid Coating, Kevlar Threading, YNT Softweave Armor
1925
No
Steampunk Outfit (7/7 Armor)
Blouse, Corset, Petticoat and Skirt, Overcoat, Nonconductivity 3, Ruthenium Polymer Coating, Thermal Ankle Guards, Thermal Wrist Guards, Thermal Dampening 3, YNT Softweave Armor
12090
No
Quizzel Fairy Wings (+1/+1 Armor)
Accessory for Steampunk Outfit
Ruthenium Polymer Coating
9500
Next, I added a couple new outfits to my wardrobe. The Armor Clothing thing was a very fancy, very high-tech way of looking fashionable while still keeping people from shooting me too easily. Wasn’t great against blades, but the point was that it did not look like armor.
The Steampunk Outfit, on the other hand, was a full getup to make any fan proud, complete with gears and doo-dads and other things that looked fancy but did nothing. Except when they did. Like the lining in the wrist and ankles that would let me melt my way out of restraints, or the coating that allowed the thing to act like a Chameleon Suit. And the mechanical fairy wings that went with it not only boosted my armor a bit, but were also coated in the same setup. Massively expensive, but fun.
Firearms/Heavy Weapons
Dice
Weapon
Cost
16
Remington Roomsweeper (Heavy Pistol)
Range: 5/20/40/60 meters
SA: 5P vs B-5 16/16
Personalized Grip, Internal Smartgun
Ammunition: 8 (m)
Loaded: 8 rounds APDS ammo
Unloaded: 8 rounds APDS ammo
712
16
Yamaha Sakura Fubuki (Light Pistol)
Range: 5/15/30/50 meters
SA: 6S(e) v -1/2 I 16/16
BF: 8S(e) v -1/2 I 16/16
Folding Stock, Gecko Grip, Personalized Grip, Internal Smartgun, Sound Suppressor
Ammunition: 10 (ml) x4
Loaded: 40 rounds Stick-n-Shock
Unloaded: 40 rounds Stick-n-Shock
5440
Thrown/Projectile Weapons
Dice
Weapon
Cost
11
Throwing Knife x6
Range: 6/12/18 meters
4P vs I
120
Moving over to weapons, I picked up a Remington Roomsweeper ‘shotgun pistol’, and loaded it with APDS ammo, because sometimes you needed to punch through heavy armor. I grabbed the Yamaha Sakura Fubuki pistol, as well, and loaded the gun with SnS ammo. More taser bullets. Some throwing knives were a good pick, too. Simple, but quiet, which was useful in its own way.
Miscellaneous Gear
Name
Description
Cost
Goggles
R6 Goggles: Atmosphere Sensor R3, Barometric Sensor, Radiation Sensor R4, Radio Signal Scanner R6, Ultrawideband Radar R4
2825
Biomonitor
Measures wearer’s health
300
I made sure to grab some goggles, to accentuate the steampunk outfit, or just use on their own. Atmosphere Sensor, Barometric Sensor, and Radiation Sensor would help forecast the weather and tell me when I was around something hot in the ‘glow in the dark’ way. The Radio Signal Scanner could find bugs (not the crawly kind), which was always a boon. Ultrawideband Radar basically made a 3D map of the surroundings, letting you ‘see’ invisible creatures, but you couldn’t read a book, and it treated any solid surface the same, though it did have a limited ability to penetrate solid objects. Even without that, it was still very useful if I wanted to keep fighting after dropping a couple smoke grenades at my feet.
I also picked up a biomonitor, because the side effect of the Sideways infusion meant I was not going to be feeling any pain. That was fine, since it meant I wouldn’t take penalties from damage, but it was also a problem, since pain was part of how the body told you it was hurting. More than one person got sent to a reroll in the beta because they didn’t feel any pain, so they assumed they were fine, and could wait on healing up. I did not want to go out like that.
Suzuki Mirage
Body
6
Sensor
1
Handling
+1
Firewall
3
Pilot
1
Response
3
Signal
3
Initiative
4
Initiative Passes
3
Physical Condition Monitor
0/11
Armor (Vehicle)
4
Land Speed
20/50
200
Mods
Anti-theft System, Chameleon Coating, Morphing license Plate, Motorcycle Gyro Stabilization, Pimped Ride 2, Run Flat Tires, Spoof Chips, Vehicle Tag Eraser
Cost
21750
First, a high-end racing bike, done up to look like a black jaguar or other big cat racing down the road. It looked beautiful. More importantly, it looked like something a celebrity would ride, which was important, since looks mattered.
Leyland-Zil Tsarina
Body
8
Sensor
1
Handling
+1
Firewall
3/2
Pilot
2
Response
3/2
Signal
3/2
Initiative
5/4
Initiative Passes
3
Physical Condition Monitor
0/12
Armor (Vehicle)
10
Land Speed
20/40
100
Mods
Concealed Armor 10, Chameleon Coating, Morphing License Plate, Obsolescent, Run Flat Tires, Spoof Chips, Weapon Mount (Flexible, Concealed, Remote), Targeting Autosoft R2 (Heavy Weapons), Vehicle Sensors (Audio Enhancement 3, Flare Comprensation, Low Light Vision, Smartlink, Spatial Recognizer, Thermographic Vision, Ultrasound, Vision Enhancement 3, Electronic Vision Magnification)
Weapon
Ingram White Knight Light Machine Gun
Range: 75/200/400/800
BF: 8P or -2 Def -5 AP 6/6
BF-L: 11P or -5 Def-5 AP 6
FA: 15P or -9 Def-5 AP 6
Ammo: 100 (belt)
Loaded: 100 Rounds APDS ammo
Unloaded: 100 Rounds APDS ammo
Integral Sound Suppresor, External Smartgun
Cost
45050
Next, there was my ‘work vehicle’. A two-seater car, with a attack chopper cockpit setup, with the driver set behind and above the passenger. The older vehicle had lower stats on the electronics, but everything else about it was great. And the gun I mounted in a concealed mount would be great for ‘discussing’ things with people. Worth every nucred.
Contacts
Name
Layla Mason
Type
Army Captain
Connection
2
Loyalty
2
Captain Mason has served the NCSA Army for ten years. Unfortunately, loyalty and discipline has not translated into distinction and recognition from the organization, leaving her jaded. This leaves her more open to using ‘alternative methods’ and ‘outside contractors’. It also means she is less likely to take investigations into her activities without fighting back.
That also took me to the end of my ‘last life’ savings, so I decided to end the shopping spree there. Then, I picked an NCSA Army Captain as my free contact, before taking one last look at my stats. Everything looked good. Time to enter the game.