01-15-2018, 09:04 AM | #301 |
Join Date: Feb 2009
|
Re: [Modern Firepower] Technothriller gear for secret DHS team in 2017
Pawn shops try to avoid accepting junk, so any binoculars for sale would pass their inspection.
They would certainly allow you to handle the binoculars inside the store. Usually unless someone looks disreputable they would be let go try the item out in the parking lot Most but not all pawnshops I've shopped at allow a 24-48 hour returns window to test your purchases and bring them back if need be |
01-15-2018, 09:47 AM | #302 | ||
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Iceland*
|
Re: [Modern Firepower] Technothriller gear for secret DHS team in 2017
Quote:
And I don't know if they'd notify the buyer (or even realise this). Same goes for various subtle forms of damage that might result in an effective -1 or -2 to spot fine details or colours, use the binoculars for range finding or some other task. Quote:
If that can be done at less than -4 penalty from any of Soldier, IQ-based Guns (Longarm), IQ-based Observation or Armoury (Small Arms), Taylor could do it expertly. Relying on his default from Mechanic (Motorcycle) or Photography would be less impressive... If IQ-based Observation or Photography can do it at full skill or at most a very small penalty, then O'Toole and Rubio can both examine their own optics to see if they are fully functioning. If there were a -3 or -4 default to find subtle flaws caused by hard use, however, they are not skilled enough at skill 14-15 to rely on it. O'Toole has Electronics Repair (Surveillance) at skill -14 and Electronics Repair (Security) at skill -15, which might also include lens repair, at least for optical surveillance equipment. Of course, if Scrounging is any good for coming across the exact optics we need, whether in mothballed stores at the base or at a pawn shop, Taylor has Scrounging -26. Unfortunately, he would not have been allowed to look up old friends-of-friends among the Ft. Bliss NCOs and use his Carousing, Savoir-Faire (Military) or just his really high Reaction Bonuses with career military (especially special operators and snipers) to get favours, as that would compromise security. Stay away from anyone who'd know him or even knows of him. The team lead, Special Agent Rubio, has local Area Knowledge -14, Currrent Affairs (People) -16, Merchant -16, Streetwise -17 and Sex Appeal -20 if it comes to finding bargains or negotiating a good deal for something we actually have to pay for. Being Beautiful, a former E-6 and having Savoir-Faire (Military) -14 would help her get someone at Ft. Bliss to loan us something, maybe. Carousing -17, Fast-Talk -16 and Sex Appeal -20 might also help with getting some NCO in supply to overlook some necessary paperwork and loaning her binoculars (and maybe a spotting scope). O'Toole would be able to get anything available from Onyx Rain inventories, with his Administration -16 and Savoir-Faire (Police) -16. He also has the Networked Perk. That certainly won't help. Around ten hours after their shopping finally ended (counting an emergency after dinner run for stuff the the team lead finally authorised), the PCs were in Mexico. That's right from the closing of most pawn shops and they'll have left before most stores were likely to reopen.
__________________
Za uspiekh nashevo beznadiozhnovo diela! Last edited by Icelander; 01-15-2018 at 12:22 PM. |
||
01-15-2018, 03:35 PM | #303 |
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Iceland*
|
Compact surveillance binoculars
It looks like at least O'Toole will have personal binoculars, bought with his own money. I've penciled in the Leica Ultravid BCR 8x20 Compact Binoculars (Bulk 0 (Holdout +1); Weight 0.6 lbs.; Cost $730; MinST: 7†; Reduce -3 / -6 in range penalties; increases penalties for mirage or other atmospheric distortions by -1 past 1,000 yards).
Other options are: Zeiss Victory Compact 8x20 T: Bulk 0 (Holdout +1); Weight 0.5 lbs.; Cost $510; MinST: 7†; Reduce -3 / -6 in range penalties; increases penalties for mirage or other atmospheric distortions by -1 past 700 yards. Zeiss Victory Compact 10x25 T: Bulk 0 (Holdout 0); Weight 0.55 lbs.; Cost $700; MinST: 8†; Reduce -3 / -7 in range penalties; increases penalties for mirage or other atmospheric distortions by 1 past 700 yards. Bushnell PowerView 8x21: Bulk 0 (Holdout 0); Weight 0.45 lbs.; Cost $30; MinST: 6†; Reduce -3 / -6 in range penalties; adds 2 to darkness penalties, -1 penalty to spot fine details, increases penalties for mirage or other atmospheric distortions by -1 past 300 yards, -2 past 1,000 yards. Bushnell Legend Ultra HD Compact 10x25: Bulk 0 (Holdout 0); Weight 0.6 lbs.; Cost $160; MinST: 8†; Reduce -3 / -7 in range penalties; adds 1 to darkness penalties; increases penalties for mirage or other atmospheric distortions by -1 past 500 yards. Pentax 6.5x21 U-Series Papilio II: Bulk 0 (Holdout 0); Weight 0.65 lbs.; Cost $125; MinST: 6†; Reduce -2 / -5 in range penalties; adds 1 to darkness penalties; increases penalties for mirage or other atmospheric distortions by -1 past 500 yards. Swarovski Pocket CL 8x25 B: Bulk 0 (Holdout 0); Weight 0.8 lbs.; Cost $900; MinST: 7†; Reduce -3 / -6 in range penalties; +1 to spot small details. Nikon ACULON Compact 8-24x25 Zoom Binoculars: Bulk 0 or -2 (Holdout -1); Weight 0.9 lbs.; Cost $150; MinST: 7† to 10†; Reduce -3 / -6 or -9 in range penalties; adds 1 to darkness penalties and increases darkness penalties by 2 on 24x zoom; -1 penalty to make out fine detail on max zoom; increases penalties for mirage or other atmospheric distortions by -1 past 500 yards, by -2 in max zoom. Bushnell Spectator 4x30 Xtra-Wide: Bulk 0 (Holdout -1); Weight 0.9 lbs.; Cost $65; MinST: 5†; Reduce -2 / -4 in range penalties; -1 to spot small details. Vortex Diamondback 8x28: Bulk 0 (Holdout -1); Weight 0.9 lbs.; Cost $180; MinST: 7†; Reduce -3 / -6 in range penalties; adds 1 to darkness penalties. Swarovski CL Companion 8x30: Bulk 0 (Holdout -1); Weight 1.1 lbs.; Cost $1,200; MinST: 8†; Reduce -3 / -6 in range penalties; reduce darkness penalty by 1; +1 to spot small details. Wingspan Optics Spectator 8x32: Bulk 0 (Holdout -1); Weight 1 lbs.; Cost $100; MinST: 8†; Reduce -3 / -6 in range penalties; increases penalties for mirage or other atmospheric distortions by -1 past 700 yards. Vortex Optics Viper Series 8x28: Bulk 0 (Holdout -1); Weight 1.15 lbs.; Cost $390; MinST: 8†; Reduce -3 / -6 in range penalties. Hawke Endurance ED 8x32: Bulk 0 (Holdout -2); Weight 1.2 lbs.; Cost $180; MinST: 8†; Reduce -3 / -6 in range penalties.
__________________
Za uspiekh nashevo beznadiozhnovo diela! Last edited by Icelander; 01-17-2018 at 03:49 AM. |
01-15-2018, 04:05 PM | #304 | ||
Night Watchman
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Cambridge, UK
|
Re: Compact surveillance binoculars
Quote:
Quote:
__________________
The Path of Cunning. Indexes: DFRPG Characters, Advantage of the Week, Disadvantage of the Week, Skill of the Week, Techniques. |
||
01-15-2018, 04:31 PM | #305 | ||
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Iceland*
|
Re: Compact surveillance binoculars
Quote:
Technically, the characters all have monthly salaries and haven't had a chance to spend them yet for February 2017. On the other hand, the monthly salaries for Taylor and Bell are theoretical, probably paid into the account of some cover ID, if they are paid at all, and they certainly have no access to the money. The monthly salaries, after taxes, are approximately: Dr. Anderson: $13,000 Special Agent Rubio: $6,500 Special Agent O'Toole: $4,500 Taylor: $1,300 Bell: $1,300 Dr. Anderson is getting fancy psychiatrist consultant money and Rubio is a GS-13, Step 10. O'Toole just became a GS-11, but he's been getting a lot of overtime recently. Unless someone fixes that for him now that he's on detached duty, he will probably only get $3,500-$4,000 per month from March onward. Not that the odds are very good that he'll still be in good odour with the US government by then... Quote:
__________________
Za uspiekh nashevo beznadiozhnovo diela! Last edited by Icelander; 01-15-2018 at 05:00 PM. |
||
01-15-2018, 04:59 PM | #306 |
Night Watchman
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Cambridge, UK
|
Re: Compact surveillance binoculars
They'll need to be steadied on or against something to be useful at full magnification. 10x is about as much as can be hand-held, and 8x is much easier. At 24x, just leaning them against a post or bracing them on a car window is starting to be inadequate: give them -1 for fine details under those conditions, and -3 or worse if they're just hand-held.
__________________
The Path of Cunning. Indexes: DFRPG Characters, Advantage of the Week, Disadvantage of the Week, Skill of the Week, Techniques. |
01-15-2018, 05:04 PM | #307 | ||
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Iceland*
|
Re: Compact surveillance binoculars
Quote:
Quote:
__________________
Za uspiekh nashevo beznadiozhnovo diela! |
||
01-15-2018, 11:31 PM | #308 |
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Wellington, NZ
|
Re: [Modern Firepower] Technothriller gear for secret DHS team in 2017
Actually, it's not nearly all of them - 4x40 was common for a long time and 4x32 is still fairly common. The former was really wasting collection area, but the larger lens would still allow for less distortion, etc. The common 3-9x40 only see loss of night vision at about x6 and above (so at +3 acc in GURPS terms).
__________________
Rupert Boleyn "A pessimist is an optimist with a sense of history." |
01-16-2018, 02:26 AM | #309 | |
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Iceland*
|
Re: [Modern Firepower] Technothriller gear for secret DHS team in 2017
Quote:
According to the claims made by manufactorers, anecdotally by users (and from my limited experience), modern top of the line coated lenses (i.e. Zeiss, Swarowski, etc.) allow so much more light than older or cheaper uncoated lenses that the top of the line 10x42 are brighter than uncoated 7x50.
__________________
Za uspiekh nashevo beznadiozhnovo diela! |
|
01-16-2018, 02:37 AM | #310 | |
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Berkeley, CA
|
Re: [Modern Firepower] Technothriller gear for secret DHS team in 2017
Quote:
|
|
Tags |
federal agencies, hans-christian vortisch, high-tech, jade serenity, modern firepower, special ops |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|