Which book to use for equipment stats?

[dragonhawk]

This is aimed mostly at the Mongoose folks. I am trying to create an equipment price list for my own use for equipment from the various books. I have noticed that for some pieces, there is differences in the various stats (price, weight, protection, TL, etc.). Some examples of what I am talking about. Check out the Respirator and Filter Mask between the Core Rule Book and CSC as an example. What do you consider the primary source (Core Rule Book, CSC, etc.)?

 

[Lemnoc]

This is aimed mostly at the Mongoose folks. I am trying to create an equipment price list for my own use for equipment from the various books. I have noticed that for some pieces, there is differences in the various stats (price, weight, protection, TL, etc.). Some examples of what I am talking about. Check out the Respirator and Filter Mask between the Core Rule Book and CSC as an example. What do you consider the primary source (Core Rule Book, CSC, etc.)?

In a big universe with many planets and dozens of cities and hundreds of suppliers, does it matter? Sorry, I'm not trying to be glib or dismissive, but it seems to me that any definitive source is going to be rendered non-definitive by the particulars and peculiars of the setting. All parameters in flux.

 

[Nathan Brazil]

For me, no one source book has all the answers. It seems that from an editing standpoint, some but not complete cross checking was done. My example are Bows and Crossbows between Core, Mercenary, Scoundrel and CSC. There are differences between the sources either in skills used or the weapon characteristics themselves. Only one time did a book after the Core Rules outright say "This is an official rules change". That was in "High Guard" relating to fission power plants.

Some equipment functions differently between sources even when most stats match. Shields are my big one. In Core Rules, they modify the being hit and be used as weapons to cause damage. In CSC, they outright act as armor if you can get the shield to take the hit (requiring a totally separate roll after it has been determined you were hit).

So....I think that you should look at what looks cooler, better, easier or whatever works for you better between the sources.

 

[dragoner]

This is aimed mostly at the Mongoose folks. I am trying to create an equipment price list for my own use for equipment from the various books. I have noticed that for some pieces, there is differences in the various stats (price, weight, protection, TL, etc.). Some examples of what I am talking about. Check out the Respirator and Filter Mask between the Core Rule Book and CSC as an example. What do you consider the primary source (Core Rule Book, CSC, etc.)?

Personally I go from the CRB first, but then make lists due to each world and what would likely to be either manufactured there or imported, salting the mix with small things I consider relevant.

 

[locarno24]

I generally use the core rulebook.

CSC is great for adding slight variations into the mix if you need to, but I generally stick with basic rules for equipment anyway.

I figure that in real terms it doesn't really matter if you have a 30-shot clip-fed light tactical gauss rifle or a 30 shot drum-fed heavy assault gauss carbine; both are rifle-ish sized weapons that fling a lethal piece of metal at you very fast.

Getting bogged down in trivial details of equipment is a good way to lose the pace of a story, and definitely to lose the pace of a gunfight.

 

[Infojunky]

I use whatever Traveller book is hand at that moment... Sometimes a GURPS book... For generally equipment. If the player wants to be real specific I have them figure it out and show me. Maybe even fill out the equipment card (if the item in question needs one)....