The Cluttered Datastore
This issue of the cluttered datastore features submissions from Ray Macey , Glenn Royer , Cullyn Savill , Arclight , Kwyndig , Psybre , and Yagathai . To submit items to the cluttered datastore, use the submission form at http://tss.dumpshock.com/tss-cd.html

» Well, after some slight hiccups with our Matrix access, we're back, offering rundowns of new and interesting gear, along with a new section covering all sorts of magical stuff. As usual, keep the comments civil, and if you've got some interesting stuff, share the wealth, and pass it along to us!
» NuDawn

Electronics

Ares TechMan Wearable Computer

Composed of two parts, headset and a pocket computer. The headset consists of stereo headphones, a mounted minicamera, a microphone and a hi-res monacle. The computer is just a regular pocket computer with 100Mp of memory. You could plug it into cyberterminals, decks, simsense players, but it only gives audio and limited visual readout, no other senses. Commands would be issued to the module via a natural language command processor.

For example, to scan a crowd for a face that's stored on a chip you would say - "Computer, scan area for visual pattern stored on memory module under file name 'Target'"

Decking can be done as if it the user was a turtle, but you could jack it into a rigged vehicle and get diagnostics reports and sensor readouts. No datajack bonuses are given. Also, smartlinked guns could plug into the computer, allowing for the normal smartgoggle bonus.

Name Weight Avail Cost SI
Ares TechMan Wearable Computer 2 5/10h 3000¥ 1.5

» The one overriding problem with this is that the angle has to match EXACTLY for the image identifier to work properly, since it's not a Trideo camera, and a trid image doesn't get interpreted properly by the image processor. In other words, if the guy's standing right in front of you, but his trid image is rotated so that the back of his head is the actual angle of view, the computer won't recognize it. Another thing with this is that it tends to go "crying to momma" when it gets sensory input it doesn't recognize, since apparently the original sensor software was designed for playback analysis, and if the input data isn't understood, it tends to embellish, which can lead to fatal mistakes.
» Jonesy

Behring Chemical Alarm

A small device constantly analyzing the surrounding air. When detecting a hazardous agent, it either activates an audio alarm or a small red LED. The Behring Chemical Alarm can also be linked to a computer system so an alert can be broadcast to a remote workstation.

Name Weight Avail Cost SI
Chemical Alarm 0.1 8/6d 500¥ 2

» These things are used by lab techs to let them know when they've fragged up. But they can also be tuned to detect simple molecules, like carbon dioxide. I did a midnight run against a small company and their alarm system went off when the chemical alarms mounted near the doors detected my breath.
» Graht

Dataline Reader

A device attached to the exterior of a fiber-optic cable, this device slices open the casing and reads the pulses of light. Due to signal degradation, a Rating of 3 or higher is required to access sound, and a minimum Rating of 6 is required for video. This device is extremely hard to detect, requiring a physical inspection of the lines. A transceiver version is available, add (500 * 1 + Point of Flux) to the price.

Name Weight Avail Cost SI
Dataline Reader - Rating + 3/10 days 3000¥ x Rating 5

» Don't believe the hype about them being so hard to detect. Putting one of these in place introduces noise into the fibre, degrading it's effectiveness, which can be a giveaway to those paranoid enough.
» Static

Dr. Odd's Shock Spheres

Developed by the eccentric mad scientist/shadowrunner Dr. Odd, these small, golf ball-sized silvery spheres are equipped with a miniaturized capacitator that packs a hefty charge. A barely perceptible hairline crack circumscribes the sphere, dividing it into two hemispheres. A quarter-twist of the hemispheres in opposite directions arms the sphere. After arming, impact triggers the weapon, releasing the capacitator's electric charge into the first conductive surface to touch the sphere's surface; typically, whomever it is being thrown at.

Used spheres can be recharged with an Electronics roll (TN 6) and access to the appropriate tools. Use caution, however, in retrieving spent spheres. It's impossible to tell just from looking at one whether or not it has discharged.

Conceal Damage Weight Avail Cost SI Legality
10 (Str-2)M (Stun) + 10S (Stun) 2 6/48 Hours 75 1.25 6-D

» There's several groups knocking out cheap rip-offs of the original Dr. Odd's design, now. You get what you pay for - but you already know that, don't you?
» NoName

» I've got an adept friend who uses these things alot. They work great unless you're dealing with someone wearing body armor.
» Hall, Great

Lafton Optronics M456MK1

Resting above the left eye, the M456MK1 features a compact ultrasound emitter and a monocular visor operating on only one battery. The advantage of the M456MK1 is obvious: you can carry out your mission with normal vision but keep an eye out for enemies disguised by magical means. The system can mount on a face mask or helmet mount.

Name Weight Avail Cost SI
M456MK1 0.2 8/4d 5,500¥ 3
Face Mask 0.1 4/48h 500¥ 1
Helmet Mount - 4/48h 300¥ 1

» This thing works as advertised. It can be a little disorienting right at first, so I recommend getting used to it in a non-combat environment.
» Griffyn

» Unless your enemy is using Improved Invisibility, in which case it isn't worth the cardboard box it comes in.
» Graht

Gear

Behring Chemicals Acidizer

Normally a acid dispenser for laboratories, this pistol-shaped device can be deployed to burn through locks. The device is constructed of light-weight polymers with a detachable plasteel canister with a acid resistant inner coating.

The standard acid distributed with the Acidizer can create a 1 CM cubed pit per combat term in non reinforced metal.

Name Weight Avail Cost SI
Acidizer 0.2 10/6d 150¥ 0.5

» Contrary to what you'll see on the trid, acid turns out to be a horrible weapon. Shoot a lock with this stuff, and the lock will soon be slag. Hit a person, and they'll get damage...after an hour if they didn't clean it off. If you must use this to defend yourself, shoot for the eyes. Or better yet, just throw it at them, it'll do more damage.
» SwiftOne

» Locks aren't the only thing you can use this little beauty on. A healthy squirt to the engine block, manifold, brake pads, or lug-nuts are all just little ways of telling that hostile rigger or police patrolman that you care. Planning ahead to disable a vehicle that's likely to pursue you will make your getaway that much smoother.
» D-Lux

FireMax Jellnite

A fire-starting jell that cannot be detected after fire has burned down completely. Enough for 10 uses, available in a squeezable tube or as single use cubes.

Name Weight Avail Cost SI
Jellnite 0.1 4/24h 10¥ 1

» Buy this from the right people, and it will come in a toothpaste tube. Great for family travel!
» Ral

» Just make sure you don't confuse it with your toothpaste <grumble>.
» Graht

» Be careful to make sure the room will burn. Friend of mine thought he was home free after he tried to roast a not-so-friendly mage's lab who had some ritual materials on him. Turn's out the mage's place used that new fire-retardant drywall, and only suffered a large scorch mark. That's all that was left of Billy too, after the spell hit him.
» SwiftOne

Gut jar

Back then when organic drugs were smuggled into the country more often, these tiny cylinders were swallowed to smuggle the contraband through customs. Will not show up on most scanners.

Name Weight Avail Cost SI
Gut Jar - 2/24h 10¥ 0.5

HimalaTek Ascenders

A mechanical ascending device. Supports a maximum weight of 150kg, with a speed of 0.75m per second. The internal batteries recharge when descending.

Name Weight Avail Cost SI
Ascender 0.2 4/24h 250¥ 0.8

» Where does he get all those wonderful toys?
» Joker

» ???
» SwiftOne

» One thing to watch out for, though, is the fact that they are a long way from being easy to recharge any other way, so I hope you have a convenient building to hang from once it's all over with.
» Mountaingoat Mel

Kaercher Decon3000 Kit

The manufacturer of the worlds most often used cleaning agents and producer of the worlds first decon praying device for individual use now markets his third generation of decontamination kits. The Decon3000 is a small cylinder holding a micro emulsion and pressured air. Enough to decontaminate 2 metahumans or a small vehicle.

Name Weight Avail Cost SI
Decon3000 5 12/4d 2,500¥ 3

» Heh. Used one of these once to hose down a team mate. And not because he was contaminated, but because he hadn't taken a bath in about a week <grin>.
» Graht

» You forgot to tell them that afterwards I took that can and shoved it up your [0.01 MP deleted by sysop]
» Magaga

» It was worth it Magaga, it was worth it.
» Graht

Raiton Chaffer

The Chaffer is a cost effective way to jam ultra sound detection equipment. It can be loaded into any standard grenade launcher and when fired disrupts into a 5x5m cloud of shredded plastic Mylar.

The Raiton Chaffer's jamming effects last for 3 combat turns.

Name Weight Avail Cost SI
Chaffer 0.1 6/72h 200¥ 2

» This thing also does some pretty impressive things when combined with a high-intensity spotlight and a dark night...
» CameraMan

» The only time I've seen these used was as confetti generators when a local go-gang held a block party. Fun party <big grin>.
» Graht

Shark Chain

Made from non-oxidating steel, this is the ideal protection against sharks and other predators.

Name Weight Avail Cost SI
Shark Chain Body+2 8/4d 2,500¥ 2

» Megalodons will just swallow you *grin*
» Shark Boy

» "other predators", namely guard animals. Be wary though, while the chain prevents most of the damage from a bite, it doesn't keep you from being thrown and dragged around. The same chain that prevents the damage also gives them a really good grip. Pretty useless against bullets.
» SwiftOne

» Being thrown and dragged around is often the least of your problems. Since it's a mesh, the chain is effectively fabric and flexes just like fabric, and thus offers almost no rigidity. Which basically means that it doesn't protect you from getting crushed. So that Piasma's tusks may not gore you, but it's jaws can still crush every bone in your body.
» Munin

» But the suit comes through it okay :)
» SwiftOne

» Be wary of cheap knock-offs. Any idiot with a drill and some pliers can make chainmail. But that doesn't mean that it'll stand up to teeth or claws. The honest to Jim "Shark Chain" (tm) has welded links that are unlikely to open or fail. ArcoTek (CAS) offers "DiveShield" (tm), which is a similar product, but has links that are forged as a single piece (which means they make the entire suit pretty much in one go), but the price is astronomical because the process is difficult. You get what you pay for, though.
» Bayou Jack

Tesa Corporation Tire strip

A sheet of plastic that molds when in contact with a catalyst stick. Hardens in 1 minute. Used by Lone Star forensics to secure tire tracks for later identification.

Name Weight Avail Cost SI
Tire Strip - 4/24h 50¥ 1

» A creative mind can come up with many uses for this
» SwiftOne

Tai's Magical Goodies

» Hoi there chummers,

As it so happens, NuDawn needed some spells and other assorted magical goodies for this here fine publication. It just so happens that I'm in a position to provide just such knowledge. Further, I also owe her for some events that you nosy parkers are just going to have to live without knowing.

So what relevance does this have to you? Well, obviously it means that I have scrounged up a few formulas, some adept powers, and even a new metamagical ability making the rounds and put them all in one place for you to peruse.

Go to it and enjoy,

» Tai.

Manipulation Spells

Emotion Paint

This transformation manipulation spell was invented by a blind mage who used it to aid her in an 'astral painting' art form that she invented. This art involved painting items with certain emotional imprints that conveyed meaning and feeling via the astral imprint, rather than visual cues. This spell allows the caster to embed certain emotions into an item, whether or not the mage is actually feeling the emotion. The number of successes determines the amount of fine control the caster has and the maximum number of successes a person viewing the item can achieve on the Assensing table ( SR3 p172 ) to read the emotions.

Type TN# Duration Range Drain
Mana 4 P (10 turns) Touch M

Ritual Cleansing

This transformation manipulation spell has the simple effect of destroying the ability of any given item to be used as a material link for ritual sorcery without visibly altering or damaging the item. This will work on blood samples, items from places and inactive foci (though activating the focus at a later point destroys the effects of this spell). The force of the spell limits the items that can be affected according to the Object Resistance Table ( SR3 p182 ). In the case if foci, the maximum force foci that can be affected is equal to the force of the spell.

Type TN# Duration Range Drain
Mana 4 P (15 turns) LOS S

Illusion Spells

Blur

This indirect illusion spell serves to 'fuzz' the appearance of the target in technological recording/perceiving devices. Any perception tests to recognise (not detect, just recognise) the target are increased by the casters successes to a maximum of the spells force.

Type TN# Duration Range Drain
Physical 4(V) S LOS L

Metamagical Abilities

Alter Signature

This is a metamagical power currently being taught by some of the less than legit magic groups out there. It's not easy to find someone to teach you, but it is possible.

This power allows the user to alter the astral signature left behind by the use of magic. It can alter any signature the user leaves behind himself, or that of anyone else. In either case, he can only alter the signature to that of another signature that the user knows.

To use the power, the must first detect an existing astral signature via normal means. He then performs a complex action and rolls a number of dice equal to his initiate grade against a Target Number equal to the force or rating of the effect that left the signature. One success allows the user to alter the signature.

At this stage the user must resist Force (M) drain where Force is equal to the Force or Rating of the effect that left the original signature. If Force is higher than the users magic attribute, the drain is physical otherwise it is stun.

If at a later stage someone attempts to read the altered signature, the GM should secretly roll a test as if the viewer was trying to break the users masking. If this test succeeds, the viewer sees the original unaltered signature as well as the 'forged' signature overlying it. If this test is unsuccessful, then the viewer sees only the forged signature and believes it to be the real thing.

Adept Powers

Thermal Chameleon
Cost: .5/level

Shamanic Adepts following reptilian totems were the first to manifest this power. The heat radiated by the adept's body becomes similar to that of its surroundings. This does not mean the adept is cold-blooded.

Increase perception tests made to detect the adept with thermal vision/sensors by 1 for each level of thermal chameleon power the adept has attained. In the case of active sensor tests and sensor enhanced gunnery, increase the adept's signature by 1 for each level of thermal chameleon. The adept may activate this power with a free action, but it takes one full combat turn to take effect. These effects are cumulative with other sources of thermal masking designed to decrease the character's thermal profile.

Ricochet
Cost: 1

The Ricochet power bestows upon the Adept uncanny to downright scary proficiency with firearms. When the Adept fires a pistol, rifle or any other kind of gun that shoots a single bullet (shot and flechette ammunition do not work), he or she can attempt to 'bounce' the bullet off sufficiently hard surfaces in order to reach hidden or covered targets.

The Adept may use this power at any time, as long as the target can be reached by bouncing the bullet any number of times off hard (Barriers of rating higher than the weapon's Power) surfaces in order to reach the target. Each ricochet takes away 2 points from the Power of the weapon and adds 2 points to the Target Number of the shot. When the Power reaches zero, the bullet loses its momentum and falls short.

Totems

Scottish Wildcat
(Felis grampia)

Exploitation of the laws that constitute ‘What exactly makes a wildcat?’ led to this reclusive species being hunted nearly to extinction. The species has existed since the Early Pleistocene era and is a survivor, despite man’s intervention. Unfortunately it suffers from a catch 22, where hybridization will lead to its destruction, but without it, their species will be extinct soon anyway.

Totem: Scottish Wildcat has problems finding trusting people. It calls more to metahumans, and usually in rural settings. Scottish Wildcat is ever eager for vengeance, and acts on impulse whenever it is sure of ‘whats happening’ and deals with revenge swiftly and brutally. Scottish Wildcat shamans almost always work alone, unless they have potential partners that they completely trust. Wildcat Shamans tend to be strong willed - Wildcat doesn’t choose those that can’t handle him, nor ones that are easily swayed. Stubborness seems almost a necessity.

Environment: Traditionally open ground and around moors, with plenty of game. Can be found near civilization, but will rarely live around populated areas.

Advantages: +1 dice to all combat spells. +2 dice (cumulative) for all spells used that will directly inflict damage onto someone the shaman is acting out revenge on. +1 dice for illusion spells. Disadvantages: Willpower (6) Test to not act out revenge immidately. -2 dice to all health spells.