The title is a nod to Tim O'Brien's stories about his time as a US GI in Vietnam, where he describes characters and events by describing the objects people carried. I am also fascinated by the serious gear list Pete Vernon just updated.
So I started thinking... if I were travelling the subsector for a long while, what would I be carrying?
Let's put some edges around this. Here are some assumptions I'm working with:
My first pass at "the things I carried"
A durable bag - something along the lines of a far future version of the Kelty Redwing 50 tactical. I think that bag is resistant to weather, sudden depressurization, and is as secure as a high TL bag can be.
Handcomp - I’m imagining being in the Clement Sector, so a handcomp and not a mobile comm for me. The comp would be loaded up with the usual suspects - games, entertainment, a persona program (you know, just to talk to and bounce ideas off of), translate, local databases of worlds I’d visited, and so on. Nothing crazy.
I’d have an eardot to compliment my personal network "constellation" - a tiny bit of cybertech implated so I could hear comms or whatever in my head and talk under my breath and be heard by whomever I was linked to, like Baxter (see below).
Tablet computer - as high-end as I could manage, with Intellect and other assorted software, backups of all my handcomp files.
Shemagh - truly a bit of kit with a thousand uses.
Nanodrone - something palm-sized and somewhat durable my tablet could control, so I could get great footage of the places I visited and leave on all the public servers I logged onto as part of my travel journal.
Base layer - in my own travels here on Earth, a merino wool (or better) baselayer is invaluable. Sometimes the cold sneaks up on you and with the right layers and shell you’re good for a pretty wide range of temps.
Expedition footgear - These are rugged low-rise boots that are fine for hiking or walking around the arcology. I’d also carry a pair of crushable “church shoes” for those few dress up situations, and flip flops for my time aboard ship.
ID card - The kind that can load whatever IDs, membership cards, medical data, transferable credits, and whatnot I want, send the data to readers, and all those far future ID things.
Credit wafers - Probably just me being silly, but I’d have a couple wafers with transferable value (in the Clement Sector that’s Hub Federation Credits) secreted in my gear so losing my bag or another single piece of kit didn’t ruin me financially.
Sunglasses - Because of course. These would be linked to the handcomp and the tablet
Toiletry bag - I could buy most of the supplies as I went but having a few things on hand can be invaluable. My small medkit goes into this toiletry kit.
A solid carabiner - To hang that bag from. Random, I know.
Paperback - This also sounds random and I can have a million paperback novels on the tablet, but just like the carabiner I’ve always carried a paperback with me as I’ve traveled on Earth, so why not. When I finish I leave it somewhere and pick up a new one.
Traveller’s belt - a simple medium-width belt I could hide items in that also holds a short ceramic blade. I can imagine never needing it, but you know the old saying - better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. One of those credit wafers would be in there.
Hoodie/shell combo - in the far future, my hoodie and shell are amazing in that they can change color or pattern, help act as an antenna for my gear that links to the world net, be that extra amount of memory storage, self-cleaning, and help to monitor my biosigns and health. You know, all the usual features of higher TL clothing. As I mentioned with the baselayer, I’d be all about layers and combos with the few items of clothing I’d bring. One buttondown, one pair of jeans, necessary socks and undies, some merino tshirts. A ball cap from either my time back in the service, or my time as a volunteer medic.
uplifted cat - again, because I’m travelling around the Clement Sector and such companions are a thing. My uplifted cat (Baxter) can’t speak with an audible voice, but is wired via vet mindcomp to link with me and anyone he chooses. Maybe I don’t tell everyone he’s uplifted, and I feel like he’d be great companionship on my travels, as well as a great way to keep sharp senses attuned for trouble or mischief. Of course he'd have the supplies he'd need and become accustomed to. Mostly this means his own collapsable dishes for food and water, and a mat to lay on.
waterbottle - the one I have here on earth shines a UV light to kill bad stuff, so I can only imagine what my waterbottle of the far future can do.
--
Gear crate - something durable and secure that travels with me, not quite the size of a steamer trunk. It stays in the hold and goes into a locker when I’m in port or wandering around planetside.
I can imagine keeping the following things in the crate that I’d want to have on hand, but probably wouldn’t need constant access to:
Pistol, hoster, mags and ammo - in some places it’s legal and even necessary, some other places not so much. I don’t plan on shooting anyone or being shot at, but just like the blade… better to have one on hand that I’m familiar with.
Filter mask - I wouldn’t spend too much time on planets with tainted air, but better to have one than to rent one. Yuck.
Diplo armor - something concealable under that hoodie would be just fine.
A black sportcoat - because you never know when you’re going to be invited to the embassy.
Tailored vacc suit - almost ostentatious, but mostly because I can’t get into the idea of wearing something from the ship’s locker, something rented, or something I’m not intimately familiar with.
Another credit wafer
A backup ID
--
What's on your list? What would be the things you carried as you wandered the subsector?
So I started thinking... if I were travelling the subsector for a long while, what would I be carrying?
Let's put some edges around this. Here are some assumptions I'm working with:
- I have a TAS/Explorer's Club membership (because why not)
- I'm am comfortable, able to afford this kind of travelling
- I'm imagining a reasonable facsimile of myself as the character travelling
- My goal is to move about and "see the subsector" for at least 2 years
- I'm touring any subsector I want, during peacetime
- I can bring up to .5dTon of stuff with me
My first pass at "the things I carried"
A durable bag - something along the lines of a far future version of the Kelty Redwing 50 tactical. I think that bag is resistant to weather, sudden depressurization, and is as secure as a high TL bag can be.
Handcomp - I’m imagining being in the Clement Sector, so a handcomp and not a mobile comm for me. The comp would be loaded up with the usual suspects - games, entertainment, a persona program (you know, just to talk to and bounce ideas off of), translate, local databases of worlds I’d visited, and so on. Nothing crazy.
I’d have an eardot to compliment my personal network "constellation" - a tiny bit of cybertech implated so I could hear comms or whatever in my head and talk under my breath and be heard by whomever I was linked to, like Baxter (see below).
Tablet computer - as high-end as I could manage, with Intellect and other assorted software, backups of all my handcomp files.
Shemagh - truly a bit of kit with a thousand uses.
Nanodrone - something palm-sized and somewhat durable my tablet could control, so I could get great footage of the places I visited and leave on all the public servers I logged onto as part of my travel journal.
Base layer - in my own travels here on Earth, a merino wool (or better) baselayer is invaluable. Sometimes the cold sneaks up on you and with the right layers and shell you’re good for a pretty wide range of temps.
Expedition footgear - These are rugged low-rise boots that are fine for hiking or walking around the arcology. I’d also carry a pair of crushable “church shoes” for those few dress up situations, and flip flops for my time aboard ship.
ID card - The kind that can load whatever IDs, membership cards, medical data, transferable credits, and whatnot I want, send the data to readers, and all those far future ID things.
Credit wafers - Probably just me being silly, but I’d have a couple wafers with transferable value (in the Clement Sector that’s Hub Federation Credits) secreted in my gear so losing my bag or another single piece of kit didn’t ruin me financially.
Sunglasses - Because of course. These would be linked to the handcomp and the tablet
Toiletry bag - I could buy most of the supplies as I went but having a few things on hand can be invaluable. My small medkit goes into this toiletry kit.
A solid carabiner - To hang that bag from. Random, I know.
Paperback - This also sounds random and I can have a million paperback novels on the tablet, but just like the carabiner I’ve always carried a paperback with me as I’ve traveled on Earth, so why not. When I finish I leave it somewhere and pick up a new one.
Traveller’s belt - a simple medium-width belt I could hide items in that also holds a short ceramic blade. I can imagine never needing it, but you know the old saying - better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. One of those credit wafers would be in there.
Hoodie/shell combo - in the far future, my hoodie and shell are amazing in that they can change color or pattern, help act as an antenna for my gear that links to the world net, be that extra amount of memory storage, self-cleaning, and help to monitor my biosigns and health. You know, all the usual features of higher TL clothing. As I mentioned with the baselayer, I’d be all about layers and combos with the few items of clothing I’d bring. One buttondown, one pair of jeans, necessary socks and undies, some merino tshirts. A ball cap from either my time back in the service, or my time as a volunteer medic.
uplifted cat - again, because I’m travelling around the Clement Sector and such companions are a thing. My uplifted cat (Baxter) can’t speak with an audible voice, but is wired via vet mindcomp to link with me and anyone he chooses. Maybe I don’t tell everyone he’s uplifted, and I feel like he’d be great companionship on my travels, as well as a great way to keep sharp senses attuned for trouble or mischief. Of course he'd have the supplies he'd need and become accustomed to. Mostly this means his own collapsable dishes for food and water, and a mat to lay on.
waterbottle - the one I have here on earth shines a UV light to kill bad stuff, so I can only imagine what my waterbottle of the far future can do.
--
Gear crate - something durable and secure that travels with me, not quite the size of a steamer trunk. It stays in the hold and goes into a locker when I’m in port or wandering around planetside.
I can imagine keeping the following things in the crate that I’d want to have on hand, but probably wouldn’t need constant access to:
Pistol, hoster, mags and ammo - in some places it’s legal and even necessary, some other places not so much. I don’t plan on shooting anyone or being shot at, but just like the blade… better to have one on hand that I’m familiar with.
Filter mask - I wouldn’t spend too much time on planets with tainted air, but better to have one than to rent one. Yuck.
Diplo armor - something concealable under that hoodie would be just fine.
A black sportcoat - because you never know when you’re going to be invited to the embassy.
Tailored vacc suit - almost ostentatious, but mostly because I can’t get into the idea of wearing something from the ship’s locker, something rented, or something I’m not intimately familiar with.
Another credit wafer
A backup ID
--
What's on your list? What would be the things you carried as you wandered the subsector?
Last edited: