One thing I was surprised to see completely lacking was any kind of equipment beyond weapons and armor, even if only a simple half-page table listing the names of common items and appropriate weights for encumbrance purposes. While it's reasonably easy for experienced GMs and players of fantasy rpgs to come up with the basics themselves, the game unfortunately completely fails to mention how to assign equipment to characters as far as I can tell (I'm assuming it's a "Pick what's appropriate." approach like HEX). Given that it's also clearly expected to be sold to at least some newbies (hence the What is Roleplaying blurb inclusion), this may cause some purchasers a problem. Even among existing gamers, it's nice to have a quick short reference to look at during chargen.

Personally, I plan on creating a listing of appropriate basic fantasy gear (I've already got notes underway), but rather than having Players simply pick what they think is appropriate, restricting them to only a few picks each when the game starts so as to reinforce the harsher nature of survival in the After. That then forces them to look to their survival and scavenge/improvise more then they might otherwise.

cheers!
Colin

Hullo, Colin,

Yes, the Equipment lists for things other than weapons and armour, are not in the main book. Aopparently, according to the folks at GMD, this stuff was omitted partially due to space, so I am really looking forward to your equipment lists and all.

Resricting the players to a few items, rather than "whatever you like, if you can afford it, given the harsh conditions of the After, is a good solution, and I have taken that approach to some degree myself. It works rather well, as it gives the players the feel of the world of DESOLATION so much more, and makes them a bit more...desperate.

It's not going to be extensive or detailed. It will, literally be a short, half-page table of entries like this:

General Gear
Blanket, Wool, Wt: 4 lb.
Rope, 50 ft., Wt: 5 lb.
Whetstone, Wt: 1 lb.

cheers!
Colin

If there's anyone who can do a smashing job of it, it would be you, Colin.

I was toying with the idea myself, as part of creating a Desolation version of my Character Creation Cheat Sheet (currently a work in progress), but I will gladly cede the task to one such as skilled as you, sir.

Hullo, Colin,



As Nestor said, if anyone can do a bang up job of this, Col, that would be you. I look forward to seeing the final list for this. (And don't forget the lockpicks and all!)

Yeah - the lack of even simple equipment was probably our biggest regret and most difficult cut. It is something that we plan on releasing as a PDF download on the website.

It is something we hope to make amends for with a robust section in the upcoming Survivors book - including not only some standard equipment, but also some exotic and setting specific equipment.

Hullo, Matt,



Excellent news to hear, on both counts! Looking forward to the Survivors book, for sure.

Okay, here's the basic list of 45 items. Took a little longer than expected as I had to research some weights.

General Gear
Amulet, Religious, Wt: n/a
Belt Pouch, Leather, Large, Wt: n/a
Blanket, Wool, Wt: 4 lb.
Book, Parchment, Leather Covers, Wt: 2 lb.
Bucket, Wood, Wt: 3 lb.
Candles x12, Wt: 1 lb.
Climbing Pitons x6, Wt: 1 lb.
Cooking Pot, Iron, Small, Wt: 6 lb.
Craftsman’s Toolkit, Basic, Wooden Chest, Wt: 20 lb.
Dice, Bone, Pair, Wt: n/a
Drum, Wood and Hide, Wt: 6 lb.
Flute, Wood, Wt: 0.5 lb.
Gourd Canteen, 2 pints, Wt: 3 lb. (full)
Grappling Hook, Wt: 2 lb.
Hammock, Canvas, Wt: 5 lb.
Ink, Glass Vial, Wt: n/a
Lantern, Brass and Glass, Wt: 5 lb.
Lock Picks, Leather Roll, Wt: 0.5 lb.
Lyre Harp, Wt: 3 lb.
Magnifying Glass, Wt: 1 lb.
Manacles, Iron, Wt: 2 lb.
Mirror, Metal, Small, Wt: n/a
Ocarina, Clay, Wt: n/a
Parchment, Blank Roll, Wt: 1 lb.
Pestle and Mortar, Wood, Wt: 1.5 lb.
Playing Cards, Deck, Wt: n/a
Rope, 50 ft., Wt: 5 lb.
Sack, Burlap, Wt: n/a
Saddle and Harness, Wt: 20 lb.
Saddlebags, Leather, Wt: 4 lb.
Scroll Tube, Leather, Wt: n/a
Shovel, Wood, Iron Edge, Wt: 5 lb.
Skis, Wood, Wt: 5 lb.
Slingbag, Leather, Wt: 3 lb.
Snowshoes, Wooden Frame, Wt: 5 lb.
Tambourine, Wt: 2.5 lb.
Tankard, Wood, Wt: 0.5 lb.
Tent, Canvas, 1-Man, Wt: 15 lb.
Tinder Box, Wt: n/a
Torch, Wood and Rag, Wt: 1 lb.
Twine, Ball, Small, Wt: 0.5 lb.
Walking Stick, Wood, Carved, Wt: 1 lb.
Waterskin, 4 pints, Wt: 5 lb. (full)
Whetstone, Wt: 1 lb.
Whistle, Metal, Wt: n/a

Hullo, Colin,

Excellent basic list of equipment, and one that I think we can build on for the game. Exactly what I was hoping you would come up with. I'd give you a Rep point or some such, but we don't have these here!

I've had the desire, since I started to read the physical rulebook, to make notes on the equipment and clothes that one finds in every illustration in the book, but haven't had the courage to do so, yet.

Okay, added the Dif and a few notes to the equipment now:

Basic Equipment Dif Wt Notes
Amulet, Religious 2 n/a
Belt Pouch, Leather, Large 1 n/a
Blanket, Wool 1 4 lb.
Book, Parchment, Leather Covers 3 2 lb.
Bucket, Wood 1 3 lb.
Candles (dozen) 2 1 lb.
Climbing Pitons, Iron (half dozen) 3 1 lb.
Cooking Pot, Iron, Small 1 6 lb.
Craftsman’s Toolkit, Basic, Wooden Chest 3 20 lb. +2 Craft: Specialization
Dice, Bone (pair) 2 n/a
Drum, Wood and Hide 3 6 lb.
Flute, Wood 3 0.5 lb.
Gourd Canteen (2 pints) 1 3 lb.
Grappling Hook, Iron 3 2 lb. +2 Climbing rolls
Hammock, Canvas 3 5 lb.
Ink, Glass Vial 3 n/a
Lantern, Brass and Glass 3 5 lb.
Lock Picks, Leather Roll 4 0.5 lb. +2 Lockpicking rolls
Lyre Harp 4 3 lb.
Magnifying Glass 4 1 lb.
Manacles, Iron 3 2 lb.
Mirror, Metal, Small 2 n/a
Ocarina, Clay 3 n/a
Parchment, Blank Roll 3 1 lb.
Pestle and Mortar, Wood 2 1.5 lb.
Playing Cards, Deck 3 n/a
Rope, 50 ft. 2 5 lb.
Sack, Burlap 1 n/a
Saddle and Harness, Leather 3 20 lb.
Saddlebags, Leather 3 4 lb.
Scroll Tube, Leather 3 n/a
Shovel, Wooden, Iron Edge 3 5 lb.
Skis, Wood (pair) 4 5 lb. 25mph (downhill)
Slingbag, Leather 1 3 lb.
Snowshoes, Wooden Frame 4 5 lb. Move normally on snow
Tambourine, Wood, Deerskin, and Brass 3 2.5 lb.
Tankard, Wood 1 0.5 lb.
Tent, Canvas, 1-Man 3 15 lb.
Tinder Box, Leather Case 2 n/a
Torch, Wood and Rag 1 1 lb.
Twine, Ball of 2 0.5 lb.
Walking Stick, Wood 2 1 lb.
Waterskin, Leather (4 pints) 1 5 lb.
Whetstone 2 1 lb.
Whistle, Wood 3 n/a

Between that and the new weapons I posted, I think that's me done with creating new gear for Desolation. Onto writing some Warlands tribes next.

cheers!
Colin