07-12-2022, 08:09 AM | #1 |
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2022
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Kits.
I'm making a character in BL23C and gave him a basic survival kit. The kit didn't give a bonus to survival rolls, it contained an itemized list of contents, each item was on the equipment list and described in its own entry. So basically it was a bundle deal with a small cost discount.
Other kits for things like medical or technological work were abstract in nature, with a cost, weight and bonus for skill use. They were not itemized or described in detail. So, one kit was fully itemized and described in detail, the others were fairly abstracted. Which method do you prefer for 'kits' in rpgs? Detailed or abstract? I'd rather use detailed for rpgs, except in cases where detailed items are very impractical. While you could list every pill, inch of suture, bandaid etc in a first aid kit it's kinda impractical. |
07-12-2022, 08:41 AM | #2 |
Join Date: Oct 2007
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Re: Kits.
As far as I'm concerned, the only reason to spell out the contents of a kit is if there are variations and those variations have a large impact on gameplay mechanics.
I do consider "these items are included, so you don't have to buy them separately" a gameplay relevant reason. |
07-12-2022, 09:15 AM | #3 |
Join Date: Jun 2013
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Re: Kits.
I generally favor an itemized list - largely because you can often use parts of a kit for off-label applications. If a medkit has scissors for cutting the gauze, you could use them to cut something else, while if it has needle and thread, you could dip the needle into that vial of poison you found and surreptitiously poke someone with it to deliver said poison... or bend the needle into a hook and tie the thread on more securely to improvise some fishing gear.
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07-12-2022, 09:22 AM | #4 | |
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2022
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Re: Kits.
Quote:
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07-12-2022, 01:43 PM | #5 |
Wielder of Smart Pants
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ventura CA
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Re: Kits.
I like being able to get through the boring shopping as quickly as possible. Getting a list of standard gear is a feature, IMO.
I like systems that say that your character can just start with this list of sensible items, or you can spend x monies if you like boring pretend shopping. |
07-12-2022, 06:48 PM | #6 |
Join Date: Sep 2007
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Re: Kits.
The itemized list can be interesting just for color or sparking the imagination, but having lists of every conceivable item isn't worth the hassle to me -- especially if you get gigged for overlooking some random thing in your assembled kit of 20 or 40 individual bits. For gameplay in most rule sets, you mostly just need to know if you have appropriate tools to avoid penalties or get bonuses, not match up specific problems with specific items in the kit. ("I'm sorry, you bought a 40w soldering iron whereas you really want the 25w to work on that little PCB... that's a -1.")
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07-12-2022, 09:51 PM | #7 | |
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2022
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Re: Kits.
Quote:
Let me make a few minor excerpts from the book to illustrate. The basic survival pack contents. This backpack contains these listed items: Body Rehabilitation Injection (BRI), heat or coolant survival suit, five (5) days of food cubes and nutrient pills, slap bandage, binoculars, compass, rope (50 m), web gear, short range emergency transmitter (2*km range, c100), combat knife. The engineer's toolkit. The kit purchased is specific to one engineering skill (biological, computer, device, power, or structural). They are not interchangeable and a kit must be purchased for each skill in order to get the bonus for that skill. Engineering Skill Check modifier: +20. I really think they got it just about perfect. |
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07-13-2022, 06:31 AM | #8 | |
Join Date: Jun 2013
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Re: Kits.
Quote:
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07-13-2022, 11:43 AM | #9 |
Wielder of Smart Pants
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ventura CA
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Re: Kits.
[ guess I mostly prefer itemized lists, except when it's a thing that primarily enables one skill.
So "Adventurer's Kit (backpack, bed roll, 50' rope, mess kit, flint and steel, etc." and "Electronics toolkit" are both good. What I really don't like is just a big catalog of stuff, a significant chunk of which everyone should get, and could have been grouped together, but instead I have to go through and pretend to buy pretend things ala'carte. |
07-13-2022, 11:02 PM | #10 |
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2022
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Re: Kits.
I just had a funny thought about detailed item kits. Anyone see Dr. Strangelove when Slim Pickens was itemizing the contents of the bomber 's survival kits?
''Survival kit contents check. In them you'll find: one forty-five caliber automatic; two boxes of ammunition; four days' concentrated emergency rations; one drug issue containing antibiotics, morphine, vitamin pills, pep pills, sleeping pills, tranquilizer pills; one miniature combination Russian phrase book and Bible; one hundred dollars in rubles; one hundred dollars in gold; nine packs of chewing gum; one issue of prophylactics; three lipsticks; three pair of nylon stockings. Shoot, a fella' could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff." I've been in game groups I'd be AFRAID to give these kits to... |
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