What does +2 (quality) bonus mean?

[Rick_Smith]

Hi all,
I bought Ultra-Tech for 4th edition, and several items have the following:

+2 (quality) bonus.

What does the '(quality)' mean.

The item obviously gives a +2 bonus to the skill roll, but I'm wondering what the quality modifier means.

Warm regards, Rick.

[Varyon]

I think it's just clarifying the bonus is due to, well, the quality of the gear. UT17 has this to say: "A gadget’s quality grade is always followed by “(quality)” in item descriptions, e.g., “provides a +2 (quality) bonus to Electronics Repair (Armoury) skill.” Quality is basic if there is no bonus, good if the bonus is +1, fine if at least +2 but less than +TL/2, and best if +TL/2."

This can be useful a few ways. The GM might want to have there be certain effects that reduce a gadget's Quality but won't drop it below Basic, for example (so you know to only apply the penalty to (quality) bonuses). It also allows for distinctions if other sources of bonuses come up, like magic - depending on the metaphysics of the setting, (magic) and (quality) bonuses might stack, or you might only be able to use the highest, and of course if you have something that negates your enchantment, it's useful to know how much of the item's bonus is from that and how much is from the innate quality of the item.

[Rick_Smith]

Thanks Varyon!

[Kromm]

Some gear gives a bonus just for existing. For instance, if you have any GPS receiver, you get +3 to Navigation.

Quality modifiers (p. B345) are for the quality of the specific item in your hand, and stack with whatever bonus that kind of gear gives innately. That GPS might range from -1 or -2 (quality) for a $25 no-name model bought online to +2 to +4 for units that cost thousands of dollars; thus, the final modifier would range from (+3)+(-2)= +1 to (+3)+(+4) = +7. It's always good to have a GPS, but it's better to have a well-made GPS.

Note that a few items of gear change cost, weight, power requirement, Size Modifier, Legality Class, etc. in exceptional ways alongside quality, so they're listed as different items. Tool kits are a good example, ranging from -2 (quality) if mini, through no modifier for portable, to +2 (quality) for a workshop. You can't buy a "fine" workshop for +2 because it's already "fine" for +2. This illustrates why "(quality)" is attached.