Alpha Dawn - Star Frontiersman

10
Starting
Gear
All the players are assembled, and you’re getting
ready to roll up your characters. One of the players
selects a technician character, complete with
robotics and technician skills. Another player
creates a field medic. The last creates a military
specialist. When it comes to starting equipment, the
technician character really makes out. He begins
play with a tech kit and a robcomkit, not to mention
the normal rolled starting funds. The medic starts
off with a medkit. So what does the military
specialist start off with? An auto pistol and a night
stick is about all he can afford. And he specializes in
beam weapons! Funny thing is – the technician and
the medic can both start off with the same
weaponry. Fair? No.
This rule proposes to make a modification to the
standard rules that state a character begins play
with any tool kit required for the skills he possesses.
It elaborates on the assumption, and makes it a bit
fairer. Like all articles in the “New Rules” section of
this magazine, its use is strictly optional.
Military PSA
A character with a Military PSA should be able to
start off with the tools of his trade, just as those in
the less militant professions. The table below
summarizes. Only equipment from the core Alpha
Dawn game is shown in the table below. Referees
may substitute equipment from their own campaign
settings, as long as the it sums up to 500Cr:
MILITARY PSA TOOLKIT TABLE
Skill Starting “Tool Kit” Options
Beam Weapons 1) Electrostunner
2) Sonic Stunner
3) Albedo Suit
Gyrojet Weapons 1) Gyrojet Pistol and a Gyrojet Rifle
2) Civilian Skeinsuit and Gyrojet Pistol
3) Two Gyrojet Pistols and 10 spare
Pistol Jetclips
Melee Weapons 1) Civilian Skeinsuit
2) Albedo Suit
3) Military Skeinsuit, Electric Sword,
Shock Gloves
Projectile Weapons 1) Auto Pistol and Auto Rifle
2) Military Skeinsuit and Auto Pistol
3) Military Skeinsuit and Needler Pistol
Thrown Weapons 1) Civilian Skeinsuit
2) Albedo Suit
3) Military Skeinsuit, 10 knives, 5
doze grenades, 5 smoke grenades
Demolitions 1) Military Skeinsuit, 6 Variable
Timers, 3kg Tornadium D19, and 2
fragmentation grenades
Martial Arts 1) Civilian Skeinsuit
2) Albedo Suit
168
Technological PSA
Two of the three skills in the Technological PSA
already begin play with standard tool kits. That
hasn’t changed in this rules option. The last skill,
Computers, is more difficult.
Computers are far more expensive than 500Cr, and
there exists no core Alpha Dawn piece of computer
equipment that a computer specialist could use that
falls under the “tool kit” cost. Therefore, a small
step away from the core Alpha Dawn equipment list
is required.
TECHNOLOGICAL PSA TOOLKIT TABLE
Skill Starting “Tool Kit” Options
Computers Basic Portable Computer (see below)
Robotics Robcomkit
Technician Techkit
Basic Portable Computer
The Basic Portable Computer is a limited computer
system. It’s portable, and allows collection of data
(names, addresses, comments, etc.) as well as
providing a link (via chronocom networks) to send
and receive text and voice messages. It has
integrated timekeeping, alarm scheduling, and
calendar programs, and can act as a dedicated
simple word processor, spreadsheet, and database
with surprisingly adequate query capability. It is a
very capable computer, but is limited in capacity. It
has the equivalent of ½ Function Point, weighs 1kg,
and fits in a shoulder-bag with all of its accessories.
It can be replaced for 500Cr on most civilized
Frontier worlds.
NOTE: This equipment is repeated in the optional
equipment descriptions later in this section.
BioSocial PSA
As with the technological skills, two of the three
Biosocial skills already have starting tool kits. The
psychosocial skill, however, provides a little trouble.
Since the skill deals with people instead of with
equipment, this leads to an interesting solution:
henchmen. The following table provides a list of the
tool kits provided by each of the Biosocial skills.
BIOSOCIAL PSA TOOLKIT TABLE
Skill Starting “Tool Kit” Options
Environmental Envirokit
Medic Medkit
Psychosocial 1) One bodyguard (prepaid for 12 days)
with level 1 in one of the following
skills: Beam Weapons, Martial Arts, or
Melee Weapons.
2) Two bodyguards (prepaid for 12 days)
with Level 1 Projectile Weapons skills.