Jump to content

THE MODERN EQUIPMENT CATALOG - The Tools You Need to Get the Job Done


Trifletraxor

Recommended Posts

modern-equipment-catalog.jpgIf the professionals demand it, you’ll find it here. The Modern Equipment Catalogue gives you all the best military, police and survival equipment along with all the tools you need to get the job done. It contains chapters on:

Tactical Gear: Body armour, tactical carrying equipment, holsters and weapons accessories;

Survival and Outdoors Gear: Specialist clothing, personal protective equipment, outdoors gear, as well as combat first aid equipment - medical equipment, for the primary reason that your character will need it;

Communications, Electronics and IT: Communications equipment, surveillance, audio and vision gear, IT equipment, navigation and signalling and detection and tracking equipment;

Tools and Technical Equipment: Forensic kit, lock picking and breaching equipment, and a wide selection of other tools;

Sea, Air and Land: Kit for the specialist – airborne gear, marine and underwater gear, climbing equipment and man-powered vehicles.

No role-playing game or supplement can match this. Inside are nearly a thousand items of equipment, comprising an unparalleled selection of the finest gear available. Alongside detailed descriptions and numerous photographs you’ll also find guidance and Basic Roleplaying rules suggestions for including items in your game.

By Domenic de Bechiand and Rob Thomas. 220 pages. Published by Chaosium December 2009.

Edited by Trifletraxor

Ef plest master, this mighty fine grub!
b1.gif 116/420. High Priest.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Looking at the previews of this, I'm not sure what to think of it... It doesn't strike me as "Solo of Fortune".

Are there any worthwhile rules on using surveilance gear, ECM, grenades, sniper gear, concealed holsters, quickdraws etc? Are there vehicles in there? Weapon stats? Body armour?

Does it have rules for boosted reflexes and sub-dermal armour?:D

Has anyone bought this and can tell me something?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Looking at the previews of this, I'm not sure what to think of it... It doesn't strike me as "Solo of Fortune".

Are there any worthwhile rules on using surveilance gear, ECM, grenades, sniper gear, concealed holsters, quickdraws etc? Are there vehicles in there? Weapon stats? Body armour?

One would hope. I would have to assume (without seeing it) that some of the rules for sniper gear and body armor would be pulled from Cthulhu Now and/or Delta Green.

Does it have rules for boosted reflexes and sub-dermal armour?:D

That would be added in the main supplement that Mike would produce. ;)

Has anyone bought this and can tell me something?

Awaiting info as well. :D

SDLeary

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I couldn't take it anymore and picked up the PDF. I am very happy with the purchase.

First right off the bat, there are no new weapons, other than those items that could be used as weapons as a secondary function. This didn't surprise me when I saw the amount of detail provided for all the other equipment. To do this same amount of detail for weapons would take another book of this size. If I had to guess, I bet that is what they're working on now.

Here are some of the the Chapters and an overview of their contents.

Tactical Harnesses and Holsters

This includes information for drawing a weapon and how a specific holster and it's location modifies DEX ranks when drawing a weapon as well as how concealable it is. I want to take a moment to add that all items of equipment possesses information based on real world data and provides actual photos of said pieces of equipment. I don't know who Blackhawk Products Group is, but I'm glad they're on our side. This chapter contains lots of information on things like ammo pouches as well.

Body Armor

This includes information on body armor and helmets. Additional gaming information is provided for the fact that armor effects projectile weapons differently than it does melee weapons and low velocity projectiles. I like the fact than in the case of armor that doesn't cover the entire location, like a helmet for example, there is a percentage chance of protection. Yes, that means another die roll in combat, but I can except that for this level of reality. Helmets for example possess a 90% coverage from behind, unless a Nape Protector is attached, then its 100%. The all have different coverage from the front based on model. I'll take this chance to say I ways very happy that the authors made sure everything balanced with what is found in the core book as far as AP, ENC, etc are concerned. I really didn't want this to turn into GURPS, where armor could stop so much damage that blending genres of different tech levels was too much in the favor of high tech characters.

Survival and Outdoor Gear

Lots and lots of stuff. As far as game information, I found the -10% modifier for actions involving fine manipulation, including using a gun while wearing gloves cool. Plus some gloves possess a removable trigger finger piece to negate the penalty. There is game related information for almost everything in the book. The section devoted to combat first aid is great. It notes different types of med kits and modifies First Aid rolls for burns, poisoning, invasive surgery etc.when using the correct kit, moving on.

Communications, Electronics, and IT

Some of the game specific rules; Communication with Radio and Satellite Transceivers, Conducting Audio Surveillance, Taking Surveillance Photographs and Conducting Video Surveillance, Navigating (this covers the use of GPS devices), NBC Detection, Conducting Counter-Surveillance, etc.

Tools and Technical Equipment

Information on everything from forensics to lock pocking. Some specific rules; Lock Picking and Breaking Into Cars, Breaching a Secured Door (for rules on breaching a wooden dungeon door, see Classic Fantasy), MagnumSpike Tyre Bursters, etc.) Lots and lots, and lots of tools and equipment.

Sea, Air, and Land

Information and equipment relating to Parachuting, SCUBA and Marine Gear, Immersion in Water, Climbing Skills, etc.

This book is chock full of equipment and the BRP information to use them in game. All it needs is an equivalent book on weapons to be complete. If either Domenic De Bechi or Rob Thomas are reading this, come out of hiding and talk to us, you did good.

For those of you that appreciate GURPS for the amount of detail it provides their players, even if you don't enjoy the system. Well BRP has attained that level of detail now, and didn't sacrifice playability to do it.

Oh, yeah, for those that have inquired, no cybergear. :)

Rod

Edited by threedeesix

Join my Mythras/RuneQuest 6: Classic Fantasy Yahoo Group at https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/RQCF/info

"D100 - Exactly 5 times better than D20"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That was it. :cool:

No seriously, I don't like to write an official review until I have a chance to read something cover to cover, and maybe take it for a test drive. That was just a preliminary. ;)

Join my Mythras/RuneQuest 6: Classic Fantasy Yahoo Group at https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/RQCF/info

"D100 - Exactly 5 times better than D20"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This book is chock full of equipment and the BRP information to use them in game. All it needs is an equivalent book on weapons to be complete. If either Domenic De Bechi or Rob Thomas are reading this, come out of hiding and talk to us, you did good.

Thank you.

For those hoping for cyber goodies I apologize. This is not the book for you as it deals with only real items available today. Dom and I worked very hard to be true to real item data and worked with all of the relevant companies to insure we had accurate pictures. Sorry to say that future projects we are considering do not include cyber.

Weapons are certainly on the wish list. We had hoped to include a chapter on melee weapons (lethal and less then) in MODERN EQUIPMENT CATALOG, but all of the companies we contacted refused permission and without pictures they were out. We have not given up on that front and hope to include them in a future book.

I would love to do a firearms book (or several) for BRP. Just a question of finding time and figuring out what to include. Don't think anyone (except maybe me) wants twenty pages of high-cap 9mm pistols that all have exactly the same game stats. By the same token, who would be happy with an M4 that is not loaded with optics, lights, IR pointers and the like. So much to include. So much to consider.

After the holidays we plan to dive into the next project and have no intention of it taking three years like MODERN EQUIPMENT CATALOG.

Rob

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you.

For those hoping for cyber goodies I apologize. This is not the book for you as it deals with only real items available today. Dom and I worked very hard to be true to real item data and worked with all of the relevant companies to insure we had accurate pictures. Sorry to say that future projects we are considering do not include cyber.

Weapons are certainly on the wish list. We had hoped to include a chapter on melee weapons (lethal and less then) in MODERN EQUIPMENT CATALOG, but all of the companies we contacted refused permission and without pictures they were out. We have not given up on that front and hope to include them in a future book.

I would love to do a firearms book (or several) for BRP. Just a question of finding time and figuring out what to include. Don't think anyone (except maybe me) wants twenty pages of high-cap 9mm pistols that all have exactly the same game stats. By the same token, who would be happy with an M4 that is not loaded with optics, lights, IR pointers and the like. So much to include. So much to consider.

After the holidays we plan to dive into the next project and have no intention of it taking three years like MODERN EQUIPMENT CATALOG.

Rob

Thanks for taking the time to post to the forum Rob. I for one am very happy with my purchase. There were so many people asking questions about it that I decided to answer some of them. Now that you have arrived, I can get back to writing. :D

While your right, the average person isn't needing 20 pages of 9mm pistols all with the same stats, I hope you guys can put together a book of modern weapons with this level of detail, pictures or otherwise.

Congrats on a fantastic supplement for BRP, and a little hint on the subject of the next book can't help but to build some healthy enthusiasm. So out with it. ;)

Rodney Leary

Edited by threedeesix

Join my Mythras/RuneQuest 6: Classic Fantasy Yahoo Group at https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/RQCF/info

"D100 - Exactly 5 times better than D20"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you.

For those hoping for cyber goodies I apologize. This is not the book for you as it deals with only real items available today. Dom and I worked very hard to be true to real item data and worked with all of the relevant companies to insure we had accurate pictures. Sorry to say that future projects we are considering do not include cyber.

No worries here! It gives us a great starting point to extrapolate the 10 to 20 years for a "Cyberpunk" type game! Or, to just run in the modern period with current hackers, etc. We are, after all, pretty much at Gibson's starting point in terms of tech. I made the original "Solo of Fortune" reference tongue-in-cheek anyway! ;-)

Weapons are certainly on the wish list. We had hoped to include a chapter on melee weapons (lethal and less then) in MODERN EQUIPMENT CATALOG, but all of the companies we contacted refused permission and without pictures they were out. We have not given up on that front and hope to include them in a future book.

What seemed to be their hang-up? Anything you can comment on?

I would love to do a firearms book (or several) for BRP. Just a question of finding time and figuring out what to include. Don't think anyone (except maybe me) wants twenty pages of high-cap 9mm pistols that all have exactly the same game stats. By the same token, who would be happy with an M4 that is not loaded with optics, lights, IR pointers and the like. So much to include. So much to consider.

After the holidays we plan to dive into the next project and have no intention of it taking three years like MODERN EQUIPMENT CATALOG.

Rob

Honestly, I'm not sure a weapons book for a single system really makes sense. Despite my wish for more BRP supplements, this really only makes sense if its multi-system, like the old Firebird Ltd. The Armory: Vol. 1, or R.Tal's Compendium of Modern Firearms, both by Kevin Dockery. They had stats for MSPE (or was it Top Secret?), CoC, Morrow Project, and a couple of others.

Now, if its going to be revised/optional rules for firearms use, as well as weapons lists, I say go for it! :D

SDLeary

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Honestly, I'm not sure a weapons book for a single system really makes sense. Despite my wish for more BRP supplements, this really only makes sense if its multi-system, like the old Firebird Ltd. The Armory: Vol. 1, or R.Tal's Compendium of Modern Firearms, both by Kevin Dockery. They had stats for MSPE (or was it Top Secret?), CoC, Morrow Project, and a couple of others.

Two of my favorite books. Guns, Guns, Guns also had stats for several systems. Haven't seen anything like that in years and not sure the environment of cooperation exists in the gaming industry to even make it possible now days. What other systems would you be interested in seeing stats for? Cannot hurt to investigate.

Now, if its going to be revised/optional rules for firearms use, as well as weapons lists, I say go for it! :D

That almost goes without saying. If I am going to add noise suppressors to a game I want rules for them. Same goes for optical sights and all the other little bits that make firearms so much fun (I am a pretty serious collector and shooter). Challenge is adding new rules without over complicating a rather simple system - we tried to maintain that balance with MEC.

Rob

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Two of my favorite books. Guns, Guns, Guns also had stats for several systems. Haven't seen anything like that in years and not sure the environment of cooperation exists in the gaming industry to even make it possible now days. What other systems would you be interested in seeing stats for? Cannot hurt to investigate.

Nah, never hurts to investigate. Other than BRP... UA, Cyberpunk v.3 (as Mike hasn't come out with his own yet), ConX; GURPS and HERO also couldn't hurt. I'd say Shadowrun too, but they seem to have that angle covered quite well ;)

Those are the ones that come to my mind, perhaps others could suggest some? What I'd probably play though would be BRP, mRQ, and UA

That almost goes without saying. If I am going to add noise suppressors to a game I want rules for them. Same goes for optical sights and all the other little bits that make firearms so much fun (I am a pretty serious collector and shooter). Challenge is adding new rules without over complicating a rather simple system - we tried to maintain that balance with MEC.

Rob

Might want to take a look at some of the older discussions in the main forums. There have been a few lively discussions on firearms rules! :D

SDLeary

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Two of my favorite books. Guns, Guns, Guns also had stats for several systems. Haven't seen anything like that in years and not sure the environment of cooperation exists in the gaming industry to even make it possible now days. What other systems would you be interested in seeing stats for? Cannot hurt to investigate.

Rob

The only problem I have with it is that I only use one game system. If a book has rules for three systems and two of which I don't use, I'm paying full price for 2/3 of a book I won't be looking at. As the price of books is based on page count, I think this could be a problem.

I'd rather see three separate versions of the same book.

Rod

Join my Mythras/RuneQuest 6: Classic Fantasy Yahoo Group at https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/RQCF/info

"D100 - Exactly 5 times better than D20"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What seemed to be their hang-up? Anything you can comment on?

SDLeary

It was a very difficult process getting companies to engage and commit to allowing the use of imagery. Some (i.e. those we identified at the front of the book) were particularly helpful. Some (those that we couldn't get pictures for) either didn't reply or didn't give permission.

I suspect that a few of the people we contacted thought that the idea was a little crazy. However, I was quite surprised that some of the people wrote back and said that they had some experience of gaming and (typically) wished us well.

DdB

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Really pleased to see such a positive set of comments - thanks. Rob and I spent a heck of a long time working through it to get the content as we wanted it, always from the perspective of what we would want.

My biggest fear was that there might be too much detail. Hopefully there's a nice enough balance that lets you select it for your own needs.

DdB

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would love to do a firearms book (or several) for BRP. Just a question of finding time and figuring out what to include. Don't think anyone (except maybe me) wants twenty pages of high-cap 9mm pistols that all have exactly the same game stats. By the same token, who would be happy with an M4 that is not loaded with optics, lights, IR pointers and the like. So much to include. So much to consider.

Maybe not pages of pistols with the same stats, but if you threw in spot rules for ratings like recoil, concealment, how common a weapon is and varied the reliability some you could come up with quite a bit of variety for a bunch of 9mm pistols. You could even add footnotes for some weapons (very reliable in desert, unreliable in heavy humidity, etc) for more variety. Some people would eat that up. Pistol - Heavy just doesn't carry the same gravitas as Desert Eagle. I like my .454 Casul, y'know (no I don't really have one - but that is what I play games for:)).

I think some people would eat that up. I would.

Throw in some decent suppressive fire rules and I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

Help kill a Trollkin here.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My biggest fear was that there might be too much detail. Hopefully there's a nice enough balance that lets you select it for your own needs.

DdB

Well I myself believe this was accomplished. As mentioned in a previous thread, I am very familiar with and own just about everything ever published for GURPS. Often I find the amount of detail they provide overly complex, yet helpful for those that want to know specifics. You guys seem to have achieved the same amount of detail (more in some areas), yet left the overall complexity right where it was before. Maybe raised it a tiny notch here and there, but still within acceptable limits. So while I love my GURPS collection as being a way of looking at real world data in game form, I now have a book to do the same with, but will actually enjoy playing as well. :thumb:

Rodney Leary

Join my Mythras/RuneQuest 6: Classic Fantasy Yahoo Group at https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/RQCF/info

"D100 - Exactly 5 times better than D20"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...