Commonly used items/gear

[gaghiel42]

Has anyone ever taken the time to compile a list of most commonly used weapons/armor/gadgets etc?

I have my own little block of gear that I will just use as the generic 'best choice' items to hand out when my players say "Whats a good Cal 2 gun?" or whatever caliber/item it happens to be...

I'm curious to see what other GCs have come up with as far as either personal preference or just based on total usage by players as to what gets used the most.

I'd love to have myself a list that I can just pull out and say "The agency has these items readily available, gear up using these for now..."  or as a handy thing to pull out and use for when the party stumbles on an agency safe house, or a weapon locker, etc.

[spinningdice]

I did start to do this at one point but I can't find the file right now. Basically (I only got around to weapons) I chose one of each type of weapon of each caliber to be standard choices, either because I thought they were optimal choices or because of widespread usage (optimal in my games basically means as good as possible without having a crapload of upgrades which I'd have to explain).

[gaghiel42]

Mostly Im curious as to what all the various GCs chose.  It'll be fun to compare sets.

[Desertpuma]

I'll have to wait until I get home and I'll post what my LSpy character and the others on his ring had for Possessions plus preferred choices.

[MilitiaJim]

I've got a couple in mind that I personally take:

Cal II handgun is the M1911.  I think it's in the book as the Colt .45
Cal III handgun would be the Mk 23 Socom.  Takedown is sweet, and the Mk 23 comes kitted out already.

Cal II SMG would be the Ingram MAC-10 in .45
Cal III SMG:  UMP-45 or an upgraded MAC-10

Not really any reason for machine guns before Cal IV. 

[Crafty_Alex]

My picks for the best gear, per category by caliber.

Cal I
Kits: Skill I kits
Electronics: Goggles
Gadget: Miniature gear pick
Resource: Unmarked weapon (handgun)
Security: Liquid skin patch x 3
Tradecraft: PR 1 dossier
Vehicle: Racing motorcycle
Melee weapon: Broad Sword
Ranged Weapon: Baretta 93R service handgun

Cal II
Electronics: PR 2 laptop
Gadget: Damage reduction
Weapons: Colt 1911 or FN Five-Seven
Resource: Broad reconnaissance
Security: Raid jacket with modern ballistic helmet
Tradecraft: PR 2 cover identity
Vehicle: Exotic sports car
Melee weapon: Maul
Ranged Weapon: Colt 1911 OR FN Five-Seven OR Magnum Research Deserted Eagle in .50 service handguns

Cal III
Electronics: Headset radios (encrypted)
Gadget: Attribute boost
Resource: Bag full of guns
Security: Average low profile armor with modern ballistic helmet
Tradecraft: PR 5 Immunity Legal Help
Vehicle: Armored truck
Melee weapon: Long Sword
Ranged weapon: RSA AK-47 assault rifle

Cal IV
Electronics: PR 4 Laptop
Gadget: Invisibility
Resource: Private hospitalization
Security: Trendy low profile armor with modern ballistic helmet OR Dragon Skin with modern ballistic helmet
Tradecraft: Improved knockout poison
Vehicle: IFV
Ranged Weapon: KRISS XSMG heavy submachine gun OR Barrett REC7 assault rifle

Cal V
Gadget: Regeneration
Resource: Medical assistance
Security: Interceptor body armor
Tradecraft: PR 5 Pardon legal help
Vehicle: Gunship helicopter
Ranged Weapon: Auto Assault 12 automatic shotgun OR Barret M107 in .416

[Alphastream]

I have a file of my favorite vehicle picks, with upgrades, by category (off-road, city, 6+ PCs, etc.) and caliber.

I could e-mail it to you or post it somewhere, depending on what you prefer. It is in Excel.

Teos

[Leeking208]

Alex, I still don't see the appeal of the Dragon Skin, or any real use for the interceptor beyond as an alternative to riot gear as full armor at cal IV. (Statistically speaking vs cost on the dragon skin, having the stats is nice though)

The cal II modular tactical armor is almost identical to the dragons teeth except that it benefits from the ability to add trauma plates, and the average low profile armor, also caliber II, is statistically superior in every way that I can see except DR which is identical (though I always thought the average low pro was a bit overpowered).

And the interceptor is pretty weak compared to the tactical jacket (cal III) lower dr, higher movement penalty and higher acp. Basically all I can see it as is as a replacement for riot gear as general full armor.

Well I guess the +4 str for carrying capacity is nice on the Interceptor and as I said having an alternate armor to riot gear as full is nice. But I jus don't get the cost of the Dragon Skin vest.

[Desertpuma]

One side note: the average low profile armor is Caliber III now as of the latest printing.

[Leeking208]

I was unaware of that, thanks for the info, it does make the old imbalance disappear,  however the concerns with the Dragon skin being very weak as a caliber IV pick is still valid. Does answer what's up with the caliber II interceptor.

[Crafty_Alex]

I was unaware of that, thanks for the info, it does make the old imbalance disappear,  however the concerns with the Dragon skin being very weak as a caliber IV pick is still valid. Does answer what's up with the caliber II interceptor.

The point is not to escalate the armor system thru the BFOG series beyond all silliness The Dragon Skin's main advantage, aside from the 'oh shiny!' factor, is a lower ACP, SPD penalty and weight IIRC. The armor has been the center of a lot of controversy of late, amid allegations of payoffs, hype, and outright false or unfair testing of the armor, and we wanted to show that in the system.

The interceptor's advantages are the modularity, and honestly, not everyone wants to run around in riot gear when they're playing a soldier The interceptor also takes Land Warrior, which is something the riot gear can't.

[Krensky]

Full blown Interceptor is also easier to move in then Riot Gear, and although it's slightly more expensive and bulkier then tricked out a Modular Vest, it's also not Restricted.

[Leeking208]

Like I said the Interceptor at Cal IV I did understand, the rest of the interceptor stats came together with  me being told what's what by desert puma and being reminded how badly I need to go over the errata again.

I appreciate the not ramping up the armor to silly using BFoG, as sometimes it's a bit much already. And largely the BFoG releases have kept the power levels of the new firearm equipment well within  the range of keeping my local munchkin going "oh that's cool but I think I'll go with the .50AE Desert Eagle". 

I suppose I was just wondering aloud, since you sort of gave it the Crafty Seal of Approval in your list and it really wasn't making any sense to me. I was mostly wondering what you were seeing in it that I wasn't, like the boost to carrying capacity in the Interceptor gear which I missed on my first (several) reads. 

[MilitiaJim]

Full blown Interceptor is also easier to move in then Riot Gear, and although it's slightly more expensive and bulkier then tricked out a Modular Vest, it's also not Restricted.

Interceptor isn't modular?  While I'm sure that riot gear is a pain to move in, there is all kinds of stuff you can hang off your IBA, and extras you can add.  (SAPI plates of various grades, DAPS panels, neck and groin panels, and then all the pouches that will clip right on to the vest.  It even comes with a little equipment vest if you don't feel like having your ammo strapped right to your armor.)

Though I do believe the SAPIs are, in fact, restricted items.  I recall seeing them as Gov't/LE only in the U.S. Cavalry catalog a while back.

[Krensky]

Full blown Interceptor is also easier to move in then Riot Gear, and although it's slightly more expensive and bulkier then tricked out a Modular Vest, it's also not Restricted.

Interceptor isn't modular?  While I'm sure that riot gear is a pain to move in, there is all kinds of stuff you can hang off your IBA, and extras you can add.  (SAPI plates of various grades, DAPS panels, neck and groin panels, and then all the pouches that will clip right on to the vest.  It even comes with a little equipment vest if you don't feel like having your ammo strapped right to your armor.)

Though I do believe the SAPIs are, in fact, restricted items.  I recall seeing them as Gov't/LE only in the U.S. Cavalry catalog a while back.

I was referring to the generic Modular Tactical armor in the SC2.0 core book. The Interceptor in This is My Gun comes in Vest (Cal II), Vest + Inserts (Cal III) and Vest + Inserts and Guards (Cal IV) varieties. None of them are Restricted in game terms, but the Modular Tactical armor vest and Modular Tactical armor vest + guards are. I was also mistaken, the Modular armor with guards and plates is more expensive then full Interceptor.

A Cal IV Security Pick will get you either an Interceptor vest with inserts and guards, or a Modular Tactical armor with guards and trauma plates. The Interceptor is cheaper, not restricted, has a higher ballistic DR, has Explosion resistance, but it has a higher ACP, move penalty, and complexity then Modular armor. Armor Basics  (Moderate) gives the Modular armor an edge for my play style, but the +2/2 and - 1 ACP Armor Basics (Full) give the Interceptor is nothing to sneer at.

As for Dragon Skin vs Modular Tactical armor/Interceptor (which is it's real world competition), Dragon skin has about the same DR as the Vest+guard+plates, a lower ACP, no Move penalty, weighs less, is cheaper, and isn't restricted. It does not have the Falling resistance, however. If I had a Cal IV security pick to spend on armor and it was available, I'd probably pick the  Dragon Skin vest.