Stashed on their mule.
A Lot Or A Little Equipment?
- Thread starter Diamond Cross
- Start date
Stashed on their mule.
howandwhy99
Adventurer
I love to buy gear, but I usually buy a lot of little stuff. In some games these are all game resources. Having a variety of resources helps with a variety of situations in my experience.
LOL.Powergamer.
In our games that would probably be a "Punknaught" with the works and extra pepperoni. A Punknaught, for those unfamiliar with CP2020 is an old truck or bus crudely armoured with whatever scrap metal and old flak jackets that can be found, armed with whatever firearms the occupants can muster and typically a crude hovercraft due to scavenged ducted fan motors strapped/bolted/welded/silly-puttied to the outside. Enough room inside for your buddies and all your gear. Not the fastest nor most elegant and traditionally as "quirky" as a mule team.
Your cautionary tale illustrates why my characters tend to have only what they can comfortably carry by hand even if they are traveling in/on something that can carry much more. Sure, they might have a house filled with antiques and handy stuff - perhaps even a selection of the sort of kits Jack7 mentioned - but when they leave that house, they travel light. Expecting a firefight? Strap on the sidearm and spare mags. Wait, you're off for a week's journey? Make sure you throw the pocket-sized cleaning kit (that has only the appropriate bits for the firearms you have) and an extra box of ammo into your pack or jacket pocket.
My characters (like me in real life) do have things they have on them at all times - pocket knives, watch and such.
IRL, my standard walk-about gear includes Leatherman pocket tool in pouch on belt, mobile phone, Swiss Army knife (the Leatherman hasn't got a corkscrew, the pocket knife does), USB data sticks, wallet, keys, comb, cigarettes and lighter. A watch as well, but I classify that as clothing. If my iPaq were working reliably, I'd carry that, too.
That's a lightened load. I used to carry pens, notebooks, business card case, pocket torch (flashlight) and assorted other bits of junk as well. Would carry a pocket torch still if my one weren't broken.
When travelling I always carry a small first aid kit in addition to my limited amount of clothes and small "toilet kit".
My characters also tend to have their pockets and belt pouches containing phones, pocket knives, multi-tools, portable computers, pocket torches, latex gloves and CPR mask etc. depending on their jobs and backgrounds. Small first aid kits are standard pack equipment, minimal clothes, Army-Surplus mess kit, larger torch and wet/cold weather gear. If the situation warrants: 3-person dome tent (small enough for one person to carry easily, spacious enough when pitched for a comfortable night's sleep), sleeping bag, compact gas cooker, pocket survival kit, mylar "space blanket" and firelighting kit.
If travelling by motorbike, add a small tool kit containing a tailored selection of tools - why carry an entire socket set when you only need 5mm, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm and 16mm for all the bolts/nuts on your bike except the wheel nuts? And the wheel nuts are taken care of by a couple of wrench/tyre iron combitools. One bit-driver and all the right screwdriver/hex-key bits...
That just leaves weapon(s), cleaning/sharpening gear, magazines and ammo if relevant.
Even when playing D&D, my characters had little more than pack, tent, bed roll, fire kit, spare clothes and weapons. Less if we were underground or living out of inns.
Never saw the point in carrying tons of stuff just in case we meet X monster (or Y or Z or most the rest of the alphabet, come to think of it...).
When I'm travelling light, I'm playing a character who can do anything I need them to at the drop of a hat: mages, psychics & wandering swordsmen with a knack for improvising.
When I'm travelling heavy, it's when I'm playing a character who doesn't have a diverse list of abilities: rangers, FBI agents & starfighter pilots.
When I'm travelling heavy, it's when I'm playing a character who doesn't have a diverse list of abilities: rangers, FBI agents & starfighter pilots.
LostSoul
Adventurer
A nice list. I would add a bullseye lantern and oil, candles, flint & steel. Torches can be put out with wind and sometimes you want to limit your source of light so as not to attract attention.
Also chalk - to mark your progess or write on walls and stone; ink - to write and splash on invisible creatures; perfume - to mask your scent; a mirror; a crowbar.
TarionzCousin
Second Most Angelic Devil Ever
However, nobody takes AmEx.Nah, all you really need is what we bikers call
The BMW Toolkit:
In addition to fixing your bike, it'll also get you food, accommodation, clothes, any equipment you might need...
Knew I should've chosen the VISA platinum...
Would be an interesting adventure in any genre to travel with nothing but the clothes on your back and some form of inexhaustible "credit" or a promissory letter from a patron...
"He doesn't fight but he's paid for food and lodgings for the whole party in every town we've passed through."
(Psi)SeveredHead
Adventurer
Travel light. If you're suffering encumberance, you're doing it wrong.
If carrying loot would cause you to suffer encumberance, you're doing it wrong.
If you need to use a mount, you're doing it wrong. If you need porters, you're ... well, you know.
If you use a computer to keep track of weight, you're doing it wrong, since the computer programs can't figure out that you're not actually carrying a tent into combat!
If carrying loot would cause you to suffer encumberance, you're doing it wrong.
If you need to use a mount, you're doing it wrong. If you need porters, you're ... well, you know.
If you use a computer to keep track of weight, you're doing it wrong, since the computer programs can't figure out that you're not actually carrying a tent into combat!
chitzk0i
Explorer
But that's the beauty of it! You can confidently walk into any restaurant, eat a meal, and when it turns out that they don't accept American Express, cajole and harangue them until they feel bad about not accepting the one form of money you have available.
