Page 274 - Chronicles of Darkness

made for use as a weapon, it can serve as one, causing zero versions may include infrared heat sensors, barometric scan-
lethal damage, but suffering a -1 penalty to hit. ners, or even more complex gear. Either way, the point of
surveillance equipment is to survey, detect, and otherwise
Personal Computer track who enters or leaves a location. Often, this also means
locking down breached zones. Unless someone knows
Dice Bonus +1 to +4, Durability 2, Size 3, Structure 2,
Availability • to •••• surveillance equipment exists and actively avoids it, his pres-
ence is noticed and recorded. If he tries to avoid it, contest
Effect: In the developed world, almost every household
has access to a personal computer. They can vary in size, his Dexterity + Stealth against the installing technician’s
Intelligence + Computer or Intelligence + Crafts (for digital
functionality, and price, from decade-old models that barely and analog systems, respectively). The technician may add
surf the web to high-end machines that process gigabytes of the equipment’s dice bonus. If the intruder scores more suc-
data per second. In today’s world, many lives revolve around cesses, he remains unnoticed. Otherwise, he goes on record.
computers. For some people, their entire careers and per-
sonal lives exist within digital space. The Availability of the Survival Gear
computer determines its dice bonus.
Dice Bonus +1 or +2, Durability 2, Size 2 or 3, Structure
Smartphone 3, Availability • or •••

Effect: Survival gear is the catch-all term for the various
Dice Bonus +1 to +2, Durability 2, Size 1, Structure 1,
Availability • to ••• kits of equipment needed to survive in harsh environments.
Effect: By themselves, smartphones can make calls, send This could include tents, canned foodstuff, raingear, sleeping
text messages and emails, take pictures, maintain an agenda, bags, sterile water, or any of the various things a person can
use to survive the world outside their cushy homes. They
and search the web. With a bit of software, the smartphone come in two levels: a basic level and an advanced level. The
becomes the multi-tool of the electronic age. While it cannot basic level offers +1 and subtracts one from the effective
accomplish the raw computing power of a full-sized personal level of environment, (see Extreme Environments, p. 97),
computer, higher-end smartphones can manage almost all while the advanced offers +2 and subtracts two from the ef-
the same tasks with ease. fective environment level. This does not help with a Level 4
Most major gadgets have been successfully replicated with
smartphone applications. GPS scanning and tracking are staples environment. A resourceful character can rig or scavenge the
necessary supplies for basic survival gear, but an advanced
of the amateur investigator. Facial recognition software finds a set of gear requires very specialized equipment. Basic survival
face in a crowd with relative accuracy. They can photograph and gear can assist with almost any environment, but advanced
transcribe text, then translate ancient tomes. They can store a survival gear must target one particular type of environment.
library’s worth of text and allow for automated searches. They
offer directions with photographic assistance. Even the value of Talcum Powder
a mindless video game on a stakeout is often underestimated.
Dice Bonus +2, Durability N/A, Size 1, Structure N/A,
Special Effects Availability •
Effect: Talcum powder can keep a baby’s bottom from
Dice Bonus +2, Durability 2, Size 5, Structure 3,
Availability ••• getting diaper rash, but it can also show the presence of the
Effect: “Special effects” is a catch-all term for the tricks unseen, and show evidence of intrusion if placed at a portal
and chicanery used by amusement parks and stage magicians of entry. If an area is dusted with talcum powder, a character
to fool witnesses. A character may use these as a distraction must achieve five successes on a Dexterity + Stealth roll to
or a defense. For example, the Pepper’s Ghost illusion is enter without a trace. Fewer successes will only obscure the
relatively easy to set up with the right tools. It uses a large specifics of their feet and hands. Some paranormal investi-
mirror and a sheet of glass, along with a model and a light gators use talcum powder as a way to give ghosts and other
source. It projects an illusion of the model’s reflection, and invisible entities a method for communication.
makes witnesses see a “ghost.” Ultraviolet Ink
In addition to the dice bonus, special effects generally fool
their audience at first. A witness will fall for the trick unless Dice Bonus +2, Durability 1, Size 1, Structure 2,
given good reason to be suspicious. This can waste valuable Availability •
time or lead the witness into a trap. Effect: Ultraviolet ink, or invisible ink, as it’s commonly
called, is an outstanding way to relay messages in plain sight.
Surveillance Equipment Since the naked eye cannot perceive the ink without an
ultraviolet light, a character can scrawl messages for other
Dice Bonus +2, Durability 2, Size 2, Structure 2,
Availability ••• recipients who are in the know. It also allows for secret infor-
mation to be passed around through mundane channels. If
Effect: Standard surveillance equipment usually consists
of motion detectors, cameras, and monitors. High-end someone’s being surveyed by nefarious forces, an ultraviolet
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Mental Equipment