Technothrillers

T ec h no thr il l er s
A Tr u e2 0 E s pio na g e r o l ep l a yi ng to o l ki t
B y M ic ha el D a u m e n, Pa tr ic k S m i th

Cr edi t s
Development: David Jarvis
Written By: Michael Daumen, Patrick Smith
Editing: David Jarvis, Erica Balsey, Patrick Smith
Cover: Jason Walton
Interior Art: Jason Walton
Graphic Design and Layout: David Jarvis
Proofreading: Erica Balsey, Patrick Smith, Matt Kaiser, Peter Aronson

D ec l a r a tio n o f O p e n G a m i ng Co n t e n t
The following is designated as Prod uct Identity, in accordance with Section 1(e) of the Open Game
License, Version 1.0a: all character and place names and descriptions, all art and images.
The following text is Open Gaming Content: all text not previously declared Product Identity.

Co p yr ig h t I n fo r m a tio n
This PDF utilizes and expands on Open Gaming Content found in the System Reference Document.
Reality Deviant Publications and Technothrillers: A true20 Espionage Toolkit is copyright 2008
Reality Deviant Publications. All rig hts reserved.
Produced under license from Green Ronin Publishing LLC. Reference to other copyrighted
material in no way constitutes a challenge to the respective copyright holders of that material.
Green Ronin, True20 Companion True20 Experts Handbook, True20 Adventure Roleplaying, and
their associated logos are trademarks of Green Ronin Publishing, LLC.

2
 Technoth rillers
Ta b l e o f Co n t e n t s
Credits ................................................... 2
Chapter One ........................................... 4
The Role of the Team ............................... 4
The Man behind the scenes ...................... 5
Missions ................................................. 6
MacGuffins ............................................. 6
The Narrators job .................................... 6
Expect the Unexpected ............................. 7
Chapter Two: .......................................... 9
The Agent Role ........................................ 9
Abilities .................................................. 9
Saving Throws ....................................... 10
Skills .................................................... 10
Feats ..................................................... 11
Adding the Adept .................................... 11
Skill Modules ......................................... 11
Gambling ............................................... 11
Interrogation .......................................... 12
Craft Skill Specializations ........................ 13
Chapter Three : ...................................... 14
Feats ..................................................... 14
Tradecraft .............................................. 15
Chapter Four ......................................... 19
Assembling the Tools – Planning .............. 21
Special Results ...................................... 21
Task List ................................................ 22
Other Steps ........................................... 29
Conducting the Op .................................. 31
Variables ............................................... 32
The Defenders Response ......................... 33
Failing a Skill Check ............................... 33
The Hackers Role ................................... 33
Chapter Five ......................................... 35
Gear ...................................................... 35
Toxic Substances .................................... 40
Vehicles ................................................ 40
Customizing Gear ................................... 42
Chapter Six ...................................... 62
Campaign Frameworks ....................... 62
Counter terrorism ........................... ... 62
Narcotics and Smuggling .................... 62
Corporate Espionage ......................... 62
National Espionage ........................... 63
NCB proliferation ............................ ... 63
The Score ...................................... ... 63
Chains of Evidence ............................ 63
Antagonists ....................................... 63
Shadow Agencies ........................... ... 63
Crime Syndicates ............................... 64
Amoral Corporations ....................... ... 64
Hackers ............................................ 64
Rival Teams ...................................... 64
Terrorists .......................................... 64
Chapter Seven .................................. 65
The Patron .................................... ... 65
Adventures .................................... ... 66
Leeward Group .................................. 66
A Dark Patron .................................... 66
Enemies ........................................... 66
The Tam Tong .................................... 67
La Famiglia Vianera ........................... 68
As-Sumut Oil ..................................... 69
Makumbe .......................................... 69
Sudamerikanic, S.A. .......................... 70
Global Eye ........................................ 70
Sample Mission / Adventure ................ 71
Iconic Characters ............................ 73
Appendix A: ..................................... 77
Open Gaming License ....................... 86
3
Technothrillers
C HA P TER O N E -I NTRO D U C TIO N
Five pairs of eyes were riveted to the odd
picture on the screen: what would certainly
have been the top floors and penthouse of a
swank apart ment tower – had it not been sitting
atop a gleaming blue sea. Troxler began:
“That structure is the Hans a Dream.
In 1988 the Norwegian state oil company
decommissioned it and sold it to financier
Alejandro Kron. With a great deal more of
his money, Kron towed it out of the North Sea
into the Baltic. It’s been there ever since. The
man only moves it when the inevitable falling
out with the host city occurs. The last time it
Technothrillers and other heist movies have
been a screen staple for 40 years. Recently,
the earliest films have seen a renaissance
of big-ticket remakes, reintroducing suave
heroes like Thomas Crown and elaborate
setups such as those presented in The Italian
Job and Ocean’s Eleven. Television is no
stranger to this type of story. Espionage
programs like Mission Impossible, The A-
Team and McGyver are classic favorites.
Most recently, Hollywood has breathed new
life to technothriller dramas by introducing
post-Cold War heroes like Sidney Bristow
and villains such as Arvin Sloan in the hit
series; Alias.
The technothriller is popular because
stories often fluctuate between cerebral
plots and tense action within a few short
frames, leaving the audience guessing what
will happen next. Typically, just as much time
is spent planning the operation as is spent
carrying it out, not to mention responding to
any unexpected problems which so often crop
up during any aspect of a given operation.
Generally speaking, a team works with one
goal in mind. This isn’t to say that individual
members don’t have their own reasons for
taking on the mission. Furthermore, team
members have weaknesses that their enemies
will surely try to exploit in order to prevent
the success of the mission in questi on.
Technothrillers: A True20 Espionage
Toolkit attempts to recreate the flavor of you
favorite spy movies or television shows using
the highly popular True20 game system ;
published by Green Ronin . These rules will
4
happened was in Riga, Latvia in 2001. Now
it’s near Kaliningrad, in the Russian exclave
between Lithuania and Poland. Kron’s been in
touch with some pretty seedy characters and
has an interesting tale to tell. The rumor is he
has access to the NATO protocols for sonar
activity in the Arctic Ocean, and is happy to
share them with whoever is interested.
Peters looked up from his laptop screen, a
smirk on his face. “I have to imagine he’d be
annoyed if that data was erased.”
“Yes, he would. Which is why you’re only be
going in to rewrite some of it.”
reward players who create intricate and daring
plans to best ruthless and powerful enemies, and
dole out harsh consequences for poorly planned
missions. Technothrillers allows Heroes to frame
some of the obstacles they might encounter,
and also provides the means to overcome them.
Narrators are encouraged to bring their own ideas
to the game as well. Whether inspiration comes
from newspaper headlines, the pages of fiction or
big and small screens alike, the goal is to create
action-packed espionage thrillers which will keep
your players on the edge of their seat!
Th e Ro l e o f th e
T ea m
Technothrillers focus on stories which revolve
around groups of elite specialists who are
typically assembled to pull off complex, even
“impossible ” missions. In many ways this is also
the traditional setup of most roleplaying games.
Although there are differences that stem from
genre and the genre, a Narrator can use some
basic assumptions to lay the foundation for most
campaigns.
Each team member should have a particular
specialty or at least be competent in one or more
fields, such as computer use or infiltration. At least
one member should be the “go-to guy” for certain
tasks the team expects encounter during a given
mission. This way each player gets some time
in the spotlight as their heroes perform mission-
critical tasks.
In short, each Hero is vital to the su ccess of the
operation.
 Technothrillers
That said, all is not lost if a party lacks certain
vital skills. The Narrator may design adventures
around the shortcomings of the group to ensure
the team has a reasonable chance of success.
This book provides a toolkit the play ers can
use to avoid problems involving the use of
skills the team lacks. Alternatively, the group
can always hit up their information network and
hire freelancers - specialists in everything from
electronic surveil lance and hacking, to wet work.
While the option to hire outside the team can be
attractive in situations where the Heroes need
immediate help, the team should be aware that
these individuals always have their own motives.
It isn’t uncommon to see a mission go bad when
the team – desperately needing help – hires
unscrupulous or unprofessional individuals. The
use of free-lancers in context of a story directly
relates to another important factor for campaign
design: Each ch aracter should have a colorful
background.
How did these individuals get involved in the spy
game? Where did they learn the skills they know?
Did they go rogue? Maybe they are disavowed ex-
CIA or KGB operatives who have been recruited
to any number of terrorist groups throughout the
world. Who knows them - those that they have
helped, and those they have crossed? These ties
may seem insignificant, but they are the glue that
holds unrelated missions together and enriches
the campaign as a whole. Additionally, these little
tidbits of information help to provide a Narrator
a we alth of inspiration when designing future
missions.
Th e M a n B ehi nd th e
Sc en es
The Heroes also need solid reasons for staying
together and doing what they do. It’s not enough
to simply say that a mysterious patron is behind
missions and expect the Heroes to blindly hop
on board. Always keep in mind that, in a techno
thriller, nothing is as it seems. While the patron
might initially ap pear benevolent in his reasons
behind hiring the heroes, that façade tends to
fade over the course of a campaign. Questions
begin to nag at the heroes.
Why does this guy back their missions with
little say in how they are carried out? Is the boss
accumulating power piece-by-piece for some other
goal? Who are his benefactors? Is the organization
everything it seems or a smaller part of a larger
operation? Most importantly, is the team being
set up to take a fall? The answers to these and
5
other questions can (and should) be revealed
over the course of a Technothrillers saga.
Talented Narrators will exploit the Patron/
Team dynamic to build in depth, exciting
campaigns full of intrigue. Money doesn’t
always need to be a motivating factor when
it comes to securing the cooperatio n of the
Heroes. Perhaps the patron has offered some
other reward such as clearing a Hero es’ good
name, or providing an antidote to a lethal
toxin in a team member ’s blood. Maybe the
team’s reputation has fallen so low that they
can’t find work elsewhere. Information can
also play a factor in the heroes’ decision to do
a job for the patron.
For instance, the team might need to acquire
a set of blue prints for a weapons manufacturing
facility they were hired to infiltrate by another
group. The problem is, the data is on a server
farm controlled by a rival organization. The
person who owns the server farm will give
the team the info they need, but they have to
get her something in return – a list of all MI-6
operatives currently operating in So uth-East
Asia.
Even less respectable motives are useful
hooks for an adventure. A potential backer
might compel the team’s compliance by
threatening to kill one of the Hero’s friends or
family. In this type of scenario the heroes will
likely split their efforts, performing the job to
by time for other team members to ensure the
targets are safe. And of course, it creates the
possibility that a patron becomes the target of
the Heroes in a monumental climax.
If all players are willing, it’s also possible
for a Hero to be the patron. With this setup,
the patron character should have proven his
worth before the others consider following his
orders and furthering his aims. Stronger ties
between characters – perhaps the team is all
related or served in a military unit together
– may also explain this arrangemen t. Even
so, the patron characters should design his
character with this in mind, even if it means
foregoing other benefits. The other team
members should always retain the freedom
to decide how to run their characters and
the rewards should be evident and fair to
everyone.
 Technothrillers
M i s sio n s
All Technoth rillers missions tend to follow a
basic framework. Generally speaking, the
team initially learns of the target and where
i t is located. As they get deeper into their
plans, they find out more about its owner
and how they might be able to penetrate
the more secure areas of his or her base of
operations.
Eventually, the Heroes start discovering
the problems they will encounter during
the operation, and began planning their
activities around solving them. This cycle of
revelation and solution winds up the tension
as the deadline for starting the mission
l ooms. Unanticipated variables factor into
the mission; Villains change their plans
at the last moment; A specialist brought in
to help the team at a particular time starts
acting strangely, causing the team to wonder
which side he’s really on.
By the time the mission begins, the
team should have a good idea of what the
conditions on the ground will be and what
they will hav e to do to achieve success. The
Heroes need to get in, do their job and get out
safely. Even though the missions appears
to have gone off without a hitch, there is
always the possibility that a character left
something behind, opening the door for future
retribution by their target. Retribution can
take many shapes. Enemies might design an
operation designed to trap the team. Clues
l eft behind form a trail leading the enemy
back to the Heroes’ door, resulting in a full-
blown strike on team members by rival agents
or assassins. Friends and family members
might suffer as a consequence of the teams’
failure to clear their tracks.
M a c G u f fi n s
The grandfather of the techno thriller,
Alfred Hitchcock, was fond of using the
term “MacGuffin” for a plot device in his
movies. This is the ultimate motivation for
an operation. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter
what it is, just that the party wants it and
someone else wants to deny them it.
A MacGuffin could be anything at all so
l ong as it provides a reason to attempt the
operation. Keep in mind, however, that if
the target has no intrinsic value, it will prove
difficult for the team’s benefactors to justify
6
using so many resources to acquire it. There’s no
reason why the MacGuffin can’t be a large sum of
money, but there are other options. In the modern
spy game money is less important than cutting-
edge technology or sensitive data. Classified
information can prove extremely valuable to the
right people. In the modern world, governments
and organizations are always trying to get the
upper hand on their perceived adversaries.
Acquiring advanced technology and sensitive
information is the best way to accomplish that.
Finally, it is possible for the target to be a person.
A team may be called on to rescue someone dear
to a member or perhaps important to the world at
large. A corporate defector may want to make the
move to a new company, and need the team’s help
to do so. Unscrupulous teams may be not even
be trying to rescue a human target; the victim may
have been sentenced to death in absentia, and
the Heroes are carrying out the sentence.
Th e Na r r a to r ’ s Jo b
These rules are intended not only to allow
characters to pull off amazing missions, but also
to let the players enjoy those tense scenes of
preparation that make the operations possible. It
makes little sense for a group to use these rules if
they do not achieve this goal. Thus, the Narrator
needs to make sure the players know they will be
rewarded for doing the kinds of things everyone
sees in techno thriller movies.
Before introducing a mission, the Narrator needs
to make sure that Heroes have the resources
needed to tackle a job. If she wants them to
assault a carefully-guarded compo und in the
wilderness, someone on the team sh ould have a
skill set that allows them to function effectively in
the wild. Likewise, once the team decides that
special equipment will help them, t he Narrator
needs to ensure that they can arrange for delivery
of this gear, or discover some way to build it from
scratch.
On the other hand, a Narrator should examine
the skills and tradecraft secrets that the players
select before planning the mission. Skills and
tradecraft secrets determine what each player
wants their characters to do effectively – meaning
that they should get chances to put this expertise
to good use. The discussion on defenses focuses
on skills that would come in handy when faced
with various security systems.
These rules allow enough flexibility for a Narrator
to approach each mission with a variable level
of preparedness. If she has a list of interesting
defenses and complications ready, it will be easy
 Technothrillers
to reveal them to the team during their planning.
However, she can also start with a blank slate,
having the entire group fill in the blanks as the
planning proceeds. There are many places in
which the players themselves will be able to add
their own input to the process, which helps keep
their interest up.
In a sense, these rules might be construed as
railroading. After all, the team will have to follow
a sort of script to defeat all the challenges placed
before them. Ideally, however, this is a railroad
that was partially constructed by the players
themselves! They know where it leads, which cars
are on the track with them, where the tunnels and
rickety bridges lie, and where the loud whistle is
on the engine that’s so fun to blow.

Exp ec t P l a y er s
to Exp ec t th e
U n exp ec t ed
Although there are countless variations on a
Technothrillers operation, nearly every observer
can legitimately rely on certain assumptions.
Narrators should be willing to take some of these
at face value, and turn others on their head to
catch players off guard.
*The Narrator will be viewed as an adversary.”
Obviously, because she is managing hostile
Narrator Characters, this is true in its strictest
sense. But every player realizes a Narrator
can stop an operation dead on a whim or allow
a Na rrator Character to act on knowledge he
wouldn’t have access to. Sometimes, this isn’t
even intended. The trick is to endanger everyone
and everything while ensuring the possibility of
success at all times – and communicating both to
the players.
*The technological solutions work. “Thinking of the
gadget that will overcome an obstacle is the easiest
part of a plan. The hard part consists of inventing
or acquiring it and then getting the item where the
group needs it to be. Even if its intended function
becomes unnecessary because of changes in the
plan or operation, a suitable alternative use will
present itself during the mission.
*Things do not always go according to plan.”
Unexpected obstacles will arise. Maybe a
key factor that the party is relying on suddenly
changes. Flexible plans will allow teams to make
last-minute changes and adapt to the fluidity of the
situation. A Narrator should take this assumption
to its logical conclusion only, introducing wrinkles

7
Technothrillers
that can be considered in contingency plans
– or that lead to exciting scenes.
*Something is not what it seems.” A critical
Narrator Character is planning to betray the
team. There is a hidden complication, or one
that was misunderstood when first identified.
This can even apply to an error-free mission,
which by definition is unexpected! The key
is making sure that the same scenarios don’t
recur – or if they do, the team knows about
the deception and accounts for it in the
operation.
*No setback is meaningless.” Errors that
make the operation deviate from the plan
can be blessings in disguise when situations
change. If a Hero dies, it should be only
after doing something meaningful such as
saving another life, or fixing a fatal flaw.
Who knows, the team member left for dead
might even come back as an adversary in
the future.
*The operation should eventually work.
These are not horror games; players expect
that they will triumph in some form. Setbacks
often provide a warning for similar situations
in the future , or hint of alternative ideas that
lead to success. Remember that Narrators
are as much a part of the audience as the
players are – which means that they, too,
want the mission to succeed.

8
 Technothrillers
C HA P T E R T WO - H E R O E S
“You four are the best I have. Luca, you’ve been with the Leeward Group since Burt was alive.
I’m sure you know enough of the men in NATO’s naval command to have a personal stake in
the job. Between the docks and the criminals in Kaliningrad you’ll have plenty to do. Peters
will handle the computing responsibilities. You’ll also have to come up with software and a
database that can masquerade as the real deal. It has to fool me, too, so you have your work
cut out. Intan, you’ll be getting into wherever needs getting into. The hard part will be figuring
out just how to maneuver you into position. Veasey is point man. I know it will be your first
time, but I have complete confidence in you. Anyone sitting here who doesn’t, might want to
leave now.”
The room was motionless. If a spectator looked hard enough, he might have seen
Troxler ’s lips twitch into what could be charitably called a smile.
“This is an important one, folks. No gold or glory, just the satisfaction in keeping this
crazy world a little less so.”

Technothrillers is designed to work in a modern,

high-tech setting. The characters involved tend
to be highly competent in their fields of choice.
Any unusual powers tend to be the result of super
science or an original application of standard
technologies. Thus, the Adept is traditionally not
a part of most campaigns.
It is probable that most campaigns will be able
to do with only two roles. The True20 r ules are
flexible enough to present a variety of c haracter
archetypes based on the Warrior and Expert – let
alone custom roles created with the concepts
found in the True20 Companion. However, owing
to the importance of skill checks in the mechanics
presented here, Experts will likely be capable of
playing a greater part than Warriors.
Because of the potential loss of one character
role, a new one is presented here for use in
Technothrillers games, or other settings with
espionage related themes. Agents must be
prepared for a variety of challenges and quite
rounded in their approach to besting them. To
this end, they possess tradecraft secrets in lieu of
powers. Many of the classes offered in the Modern
Adventures section of the True20 Companion (as
well as the Specialist in the Space Adventures
Section) can also play an important part in games
of this type.
Additionally, there are ways to incorporate the
effects of powers in a techno thriller while still
maintaining the particulars of the genre. If the
Narrator is willing to accommodate the intricacies
of incorporating magic or psionics into a game,
nothing prevents this decision.
Th e A g e n t Ro l e
Agents are the cream of the espionage
community, responsible for running the
operations that advance their nation’s and
agency’s causes. Some agents choose to
focus on the ability to handle any social
situation, others emphasize technical or
scientific skills for an edge, and some focus
on physical skills for strenuous missions.
Agents must prepare for nearly anything
that might go wrong during the course of an
operation. Agents have the following traits:
Abilities
Agents wind up in situations that require all
abilities, from charged social situations to
deathtraps and covert missions with grueling
physical obstacles. High Charisma and
Wisdom will most often help them flourish
in high-stress environments. Conversely, it
is probably easiest to mask one’s weakness
in Strength, by relying on gadgetry and
weapons, than in any other characteristic.
Foolproof (Cor e Ability)
An agent can spend a point of Conviction to
automatically improve the result of a Plan -
ning montage roll one step. This can turn an
otherwise failed roll into a useful outcome,
achieve an even better result for a positive
roll, or mitigate a disaster. An agent can use
this ability once per planning montage.

9
Technothrillers
Tr a d ecr a ft
Agents can develop and use certain tra -
decraft secrets, described in detail b elow. An
agent can choose to acquire a tradecraft se -
cret in place of a feat, either starting feats or
those acquired by improving in level. A start -
ing agent can have up to three tradecraft se -
crets (at the cost of taking no starting feats),
one secret a nd two feats, or any combination
adding up to the agent’s starting number of
feats. Each time the agent gains a level the
player has a choice of taking a new feat or a
new tradecraft secret.
B ui l d i n g Th e A g e n t
Using the role construction rules from the
True20 Companion , an Agent has the follow -
ing components:
Combat Progression: Medium (3)
Power Progression: Slow; Narrow Power
list (0.25)
Skill Progression: 6 Ranks (1.5)
Saving Throw Progression: Two Good,
one Normal (0.25)
Feat Access : General and Expert (0)

S aving Throws Skills

Agents vary in their Fortitude, Ref lex, and
Will save bonuses. Choose two of these
three to be the character ’s good save, with
the other as a normal save, consulting
the appropriate column on the table. For
example, your agent’s Fortitude and Reflex
saves might be good, while her Will save is
normal. At 1st level, her base Fortitude and
Reflex save bonuses would be +2, while her
base Will save would be +0.
Choose 6 + Intelligence score starting skills
(minimum of 1).
Agents gain 6 + Int skill ranks per additional level
(minimum of 1).
Virtually all skills are important to one sort of
expert or another. Agents tend to pick certain
areas where they specialize, such as athletic
or outdoor skills (Acrobatics, Climb, Jump, and

Ta b l e 2 a : S a v e P r o g r e s s i o n s
Level Combat Good Save Normal Save Reputation
1st +0 +2 +0 +0
2nd +1 +3 +0 +1
3rd +2 +3 +1 +1
4th +3 +4 +1 +1
5th +3 +4 +1 +1
6th +4 +5 +2 +2
7th +5 +5 +2 +2
8th +6 +6 +2 +2
9th +6 +6 +3 +2
10th +7 +7 +3 +3
11th +8 +7 +3 +3
12th +9 +8 +4 +3
13th +10 +8 +4 +3
14th +10 +9 +4 +4
15th +11 +9 +5 +4
16th +12 +10 +5 +4
17th +12 +10 +5 +4
18th +13 +11 +6 +5
19th +14 +11 +6 +5
20th +15 +12 +6 +5

10
 Technothrillers
Survival, for example), interaction skills (Bluff,
Diplomacy, Perform, and Sense Motive), or
scholarly skills (such as Craft, Knowledge, and
Notice).
Feats
All agents have Firearms Training, Weapon
Training, or Skill Focus as a starting feat.
Choose 3 additional starting feats from the Agent
or General categories, or substitute a tradecraft
secret for one or more starting feats.
A d di ng th e A d ep t
Most modern settings allow the use of Experts and
Warriors. These rules introduce the Agent as a
third class, for groups that feel otherwise limited
by a selection of only two roles. That said, True20
is a game about possibilities, and one of those
possibilities is adding unusual powers into the
techno thriller genre. Invisibility would certainly
make an infiltration easier, as would the ability to
change facial features or control another ’s mind –
unless one has the supernatural means to detect
or prevent such activities.
As an example, you could use these rules as a
frame work for gritty science fiction Technothrillers
in a dystopic - Orwellian future world where secret
agents hunt down psychic renegades, pitt ing their
psychic training against that of their adversaries
in an ongoing saga of control vs. freedom.
Nothing in these rules prevents the introduction
of adepts into a Technothrillers setting. However,
many powers will have long-standing effects on
their usefulness. In some cases, certain True20
powers could make some stages of an o peration
trivially easy, such as subverting a Narrator
Character to help the party, or interfacing with
the c omputer of a target location. Players are
extremely versatile when it comes to exercising
a character ’s powers. Such ingenuity could
eventually subvert even the most devious
Narrator ’s plans for the team.
Narrators should be just as careful allowing
Narrator Characters access to powers as well.
For example, an opponent who employs (or is)
a powerful telepath could theoretically detect
any hostiles attempting to penetrate a facility. A
natural way to counter such an antagonist is to
kill the psychic before he interferes ( generally
not a traditional part of preparing for techno
thriller missions due to the fact that teams should
be ghosts if they do the job right). But such
unorthodox solutions might be necessary to ensure
that players have an enjoyable experience.
Some players may even find a mix of powers
11
and technology hard to accept in a genre
predicated on hard science. There are only
a few examples of characters in film and
books that straddle both worlds, as they tend
to mesh poorly or deviate from the norm. If
that’s what everyone wants, they’re probably
in for a treat. Regardless of her conclusion,
the Narrator should let the players know
what options are available to them and their
competition before starting a campaign.
Another solution might be to a llow a
technological basis for certain powers. The
list of powers available to Adepts includes
many that can be emulated by scientific
means. For example, a holographic
projection device would allow the team to
use the Illusion power.
S kil l M o d ul e s
True20 skills are designed to cover a wide
range of activities. But there are some
specialized tasks which may come up in
the context of a techno thriller that deserve
mention. In addition to what appears here,
there are sections on the Knowledge skill in
Chapter 4, as well as rules for parachutes
and skis, as well as some other equipment
in Chapter 5.
Ga mbling
Gambling encompasses a range of activities,
from mindlessly putting coins into a machine,
to bluffing opponents in a high-stakes card
game, and finally to researching scoring
trends in professional sports. As a result,
different games require different skills.
To join or start a game, a character must
first pay a stake. The character sets the
purchase Difficulty of the stake if he or she
starts the game, or the Narrator sets it if
the character joins a game. Stakes run from
penny-ante (Difficulty 4) to astronomical
(Difficulty 24). A Hero cannot take 20 when
purchasing a stake; otherwise this is treated
like any other transaction.
If the stake is within the character ’s means
(it is equal to or less than his or her Wealth
bonus), the character stands no chance of
winning any significant amount. The character
might come out ahead, but the amount is not
enough to affect his or her Wealth bonus.
Since paying the stake didn’t cost any points
of Wealth bonus, the character doesn’t
lose anything either. If the stake is higher
than the character ’s Wealth bonus (before
 Technothrillers
applying any reductions from purchasing the
stake), the character gets a +1 bonus on his
or her skill check for every point the purchase
Difficulty is above the character ’s Wealth
bonus – representing the fact that a gambler
might not have exhausted his stake entirely.
The skill that determines how well a player
does depends on the type of game. The chart
below summarizes the various types of games
a hero can play. Note that since games of
chance are essentially random, the check is a
straight d20 roll. Winner-takes-all tournaments
will involve one or more opposed checks,
instead of a fixed Difficulty, either made all
at once or in a bracket. However, players do
not add the difference between their stakes
and Wealth ratings to their checks. There are
a number of challenges specific to each type
of game that a hero may attempt to boost his Hand check opposed by an opponent’s Notice
winnings. Each is risky in its own way. check. A Hero can add the margin of victory to the
skill roll with a successful check. Failure risks
B luff being accused of cheating.
In return for a -5 penalty to playing a winner- If the character beats all other participants, she
take-all game, a Hero can try to bluff his wins and gains an increase to her Wealth bonus
opponents into making poor decisions. This depending on the margin of success. Determining
allows a gambler to make a Bluff check opposed the rewards for a winner-takes-all game works
by an opponent’s Sense Motive check. With a a little differently: only the final winner gets to
successful check, a Hero can add the margin make this calculation. If all the skill checks were
of victory on either side to the skill r oll. rolled at once, use the margin of victory plus the
number of opponents. In case of a bracket, add
R es ea rch the margin of victory of all successful checks.

In return for a -5 penalty to placing a par-

mutuel bet, a Hero can consult racing forms and I n t er r o g a tio n
Internet sites for inside information, allowing The Intimidate skill governs forceful attempts
a gambler to make a Gather Information check to get information out of unwilling subjects.
at the Difficulty of the game. A Hero can add
the margin of victory to the skill roll with
a successful check. Check Result Difference Wealth Bonus In crease

1-9 +1
S leig ht o f Ha nd
10-19 +2
In return for a -5 penalty to playing a table
game, a Hero can try to manipulate his 20-29 +3
cards or chips into maximizing his bluff 30-39 +4
his opponents into making poor decisions,
allowing a gambler to make a Sleight of 40 or more +5

Ty p e Examples Skill/Ability (Difficulty)

Games of Chance R o u l e t t e , s lot machines, keno none (12-16)

Ta b l e G a m e s c r a p s , b l a c kjack, baccarat Knowledge: Popular Cultu re (15)

Pari-Mutuel Games s p o r t s b e t s , racing Knowledge: Current Events (20)
W i n n e r Ta k e s A l l p o k e r, c h e min-de-fer Knowledge: Popular Cultu re (*)

* o p p o s e d c h e c k i n s t e a d o f a f i x e d Difficulty

12
 Technothrillers
But force is never the only way. Once a team
has a potential witness in a position to provide
information, the Narrator should determine
that Narrator Character ’s attitude towards the
Heroes. Also, the interviewee should have one
weak stance and one strong stance toward two
of the following methods of questioning. An
interrogation attempt receives a +5 bonus or -5
penalty depending on that stance.
Treat each attempt as an hour ’s worth of
negotiation, using opposed checks. If the
interviewer succeeds, the target’s attitude
improves as in would in a standard social action.
A subject with a Friendly attitude towards the
questioner will reveal truthful information,
including the fact that someone is ignorant of
the information sought. Note that a Confession
is started by the target, who tries to provide a
compelling story from the outset. An interrogator
who fails the check receives false information
they nonetheless believe, or that the
victim knows nothing. Method Questioner ’s Skill Target’s Ski ll
Confession Sense Motive Bluff
Roug h M ethod s
Hostility Intimidate Concent rati on
Ruthless interrogators have an Persuasion Diplomacy Diplomac y
unpleasant bag of tricks they can Trick Bluff Sense Mot iv e
use to improve their efforts. The
use of truth serum and polygraphs is
century techno thriller, some anticipated
discussed in the Equipment section below; other
uses of the Craft skill will have little utility
techniques like sleep deprivation should require a
beyond a hobby skill. Listed below are
Will save on the part of the captive. Failure results
ten specializations which apply to m odern
in a +5 bonus to the questioner ’s skill check. The
characters. The Narrator should b e willing
Narrator can select a Difficulty depending on the
to apply these broadly; for example, Wr itten
thoroughness of the tactics.
Word for forgery of diplomatic paper s, and
Torture is often used during a Hostile Demolitions for handling a nuclear de vice.
interrogation. If you allow this in your game, use
Automotive: ground vehicles of all types
the following rules.
Watercraft: vehicles that travel in, un der, and
The user selects the Damage Bonus for a
over water
Toughness save against nonlethal damage, but
selects the level of lethal damage inflicted (in Aerospace: transportation through th e air and
other words, the rating on the Damage Track). beyond
If the victim fails the Toughness save, apply the Mechanical: from small engines to heavy
result normally; t his could mean a victim passes machinery, including firearms
out, ending the session! Results of Dazed or
Electronic: computers and other electrical
Staggered give the torturer a bonus of +2 or +4,
applications
respectively, to an interrogation, until the subject
gives in or loses consciousness. If the save Construction: civil engineering an d large-
succeeds entirely, however, the victim receives scale fabrication
a bonus to subsequent skill checks equal to the Chemical: the synthesis of complex molecular
margin of victory. compounds
Polygraph operators monitoring someone who has Demolitions: creation and use of explosives
been tortured lose the bonus to Gather Information
checks provided by this equipment. Fine Arts: sculpture and painting and other
visual artistic media
Cra ft S kill Sp ecia liza tio ns Written Word: composition of prose , poetry,
and technical writing
Since True20 covers other eras beyond the 21st

13
Technothrillers
CHAPTER THREE – GILT A ND FLASH
“I’ve already made inquiries about the possibility of interdicting the Hansa Dream on the
high seas,” Troxler explained. But Kron has a legal team that has managed to sk irt around
anything but the most outlandish accusations – piracy and such. Which would make the ac -
cuser look pretty foolish.”
The team all knew how uncomfortable that would make Troxler.
“What about customs?” asked Jacob Veasey. “Any angle with the Russian authori -
ties?”
“No, they have better representation than I ever had.” It was a joke – delivered to
one of his former solicitors – but offered with deadpan delivery. “This has to be a standard
entry, with one of Peters’ little tricks once you get it. Are you two up for it?”
While the room went silent, Intan and Peters’ gazes met for several seconds, sizing
the other up. Then they both burst out laughing at the same time.

Just because Technothrillers focus on non-
supernatural situations doesn’t mean that
characters will lack interesting options. This
chapter discusses some useful additions
for a character ’s bag of tricks, including a
list of tradecraft secrets for agents to use
when planning and executing missions.
F ea t s
Most examples of technothrillers are
cinematic: in that what appear to be
“realistic” characters are larger-than-
life heroes and villains. These feats are
designed to give traditional characters a bit
more pizaz z than a typical spy.
B leeding Ed g e
Prerequisite : Knowledge (technology) 5
ranks or more
Descriptio n: You are familiar with the most
recent technologies of his or her fields.
They can attempt to build Complex items in
the field without a toolkit.
Ca utio us O b s erver
Prerequisite : none
Descriptio n: You have a +3 bonus when
participating in Recon or Infiltrate activities
during a planning montage.
Cover Id entity
Prerequisite : none
Descriptio n: The character has an
established cover for use during missions.
His Reputation score can be added as
a bonus against any attempts to discover his
identity.
Discriminating Buyer
Prerequisite : no other contact
Description: You know where to find rare items
more cheaply than normal. Any modifiers to
purchase Difficulties derived by an object’s rarity
are halved when the character attempts to buy
something. This should not be used solely as a
way to acquire personal gear.
Expr ess D elivery
Prerequisite : no other contact
Description: You can acquire gear more quickly
than normal. Reduce any intervals fo r looking for
equipment by one-half day (to a minimum of one-
half day).
Ga mbler
Prerequisite : none
Description: You may add +3 to all skill checks
when Gambling using the rules in Chapter 2.
Gold en Gun
Prerequisite : no other Golden Gun.
Description: Choose a particular brand of
firearm (or, if the game uses gene ric weapon,
the character ’s designated weapon). You can
add your Reputation to the Combat rolls with this
weapon.
Ha ndym a n
Prerequisite : none
Description: You have a +3 bonus when

14
 Technothrillers
participating in mock-up activities and fabrication
during a planning montage.
Hard to Cr a ck
Prerequisite : none
Description: Yo u can add +3 to all skill checks
when subject to Interrogation using the rules in
Chapter 2.
Hard to Kill
Prerequisite : none
Description: Once per combat, you can add
your Reputation to a Toughness save.
Inq uisitor
Prerequisite : none
Description: Yo u can add +3 to all skill checks
when attempting Interrogation using the rules in
Chapter 2. This does not apply to torture.
Living o ut o f a Suitca s e
Prerequisite : none
Description: You know all the shortcuts of travel.
The travel time for any trip taking longe r than a
one-half day interval is reduced by one.
Sig natur e Skill
Prerequisite : no other Signature Skill.
Description: Choose a character ’s trained
skill. You can add your Reputation when
performing checks with this skill.
Star e Down the Barr el
Prerequisite : none
Description: You can make an Intimidate
check when facing an opponent armed with a
gun. This antagonist must make a Will save
at this roll’s Difficulty to do anything but cover
the character. A third party can end this effect.
The hero must be aware of the presence of the
gunman for this feat to have any effect.
Stingy Buyer
Prerequisite : no other contact
Description: Characters with this feat have
leads on acquiring gear more cheaply than
normal. All purchase Difficulties attempted by
this character during a mission are reduced by
one. This should not be used solely as a way
to acquire personal gear.

Natur a l L ea d er Trad ecra ft Focus

Prerequisite : none Choose a known Tradecraft. You get a +3
bonus on all Tradecraft checks using it. You
Description: You have a +3 bonus when can acquire this feat multiple times. Each time
participating in Brainstorm and Drill activities you do, it applies to a different Tradecraft.
during a planning montage.
Voice of Authority
News ho und
Prerequisite : none
Prerequisite : none
Description: Hackers with this feat have a +5
Description: You have a +3 bonus when bonus when using the Stand Down or Prank Call
participating in Research activities during a routines to fool security during a mission.
planning montage.
Phr ea k Tr a d ecr a f t
Prerequisite : none Tradecraft secrets are similar to Adept powers
Description: You have a +3 bonus when in True20. They allow a tradecraft roll in lieu
participating in Hack and Simulation activities of some other attempt to make an operation
during a planning montage. succeed. In most respects, tradecraft secrets
are acquired and function as powers do in
Scho o l o f the A m erica s the standard rules. A Narrator wishing to
Gra d ua te keep these out of a campaign is encouraged
Prerequisite : none to expound on the Contacts, Connected and
Benefit feats presented in the True20 rules
Description: You can increase or decrease by instead.
2 the amount of the Damage Bonus inflicted by
torture using the rules in Chapter 2. The decision It should be noted that a number of these
to alter the damage bonus occurs after a victim tradecraft secrets are subtle in nature,
attempts a Toughness save – meaning the result representing a way for Heroes to em ulate the
of this save can change. characters in action-packed espionage fiction
or movies. To promote their use, a Narrator

15
Technothrillers
might consider exploiting their non-use as a
way to throw complications into the team’s
way. For example, a team that fails to cover
their tracks when traveling to the mission site
(by way of the Military Transport tradecraft,
for example), might have their movements
picked up by a long-term or potenti ally new
enemy.
A r m s M ercha nt
The Hero excels at procuring weapons and
military equipment. When attempting to
purchase them, the character can use this
tradecraft in lieu of a Wealth check. The
Difficulty remains the same, subject for
penalties involving restricted gear. However,
these penalties can be negated by an amount
up to his Reputation score if the character is
personally involved in the deal (in a face-to-
face meeting or through verifiable phone or
e-mail contact).
B la ck M a r keteer
The character is a natural at obtaining
illegal items such as drugs and untraceable
weapons. When acquiring these items,
the character uses this tradecraft in lieu
of a Wealth check. The Difficulty remains
the same and is boosted by any penalty for
using the black market. However, these
penalties can be negated by an amount
up to his Reputation score if the Hero is
personally involved in the deal (in a face-to-
face meeting or through verifiable phone or
e-mail contact).
Clea nup
Keeping evidence of illicit activities
undetected buys extra time for a team to
accomplish their mission – or get away.
If the mission goes sideways, it’s good to
know someone who can get rid of the bodies.
That’s what cleanup is for. An agent can call
in cleaners to return things back to normal,
or at least normal enough until someone
takes a closer look.
Task Difficulty
Remove evidence of entry 15
Dispose of body 20
Wipe down a crime scene 25
Sanitize a crime scene 30
Remove evidence of entry : Eliminates
fingerprints and signs that burglary tools
16
have been used. Can also apply to evidence that
a computer was accessed and data manipulated.
Dispose of body : Removes a corpse from its
place of death while destroying any indication
that it was there.
Wipe down a crime scene : While this does not
conceal that a crime has taken place, it hinders
investigators from trying to collect evidence about
the events and perpetrators of the deed.
Sanitize a crime scene : Removes all evidence
that anything unusual has occurred.
In general, the degree of success should increase
the Difficulty of anyone trying to investigate the
particulars of the scene or crime.
Computer Tim eshar e
The character can schedule time on a
supercomputer ’s processing calendar. These
uber-powered machines perform computations
that would take weeks on a typical computer.
Hackers can develop algorithms ahead of time
to bypass security systems. If the team knows
of a computer-based Defense, this can be used
to create a specific Countermeasure for it with a
successful tradecraft roll (Difficulty 15).
D efeat Polygraph
Heroes with this tradecraft can calm their bodies
during times of stress, preventing their own vital
signs from betraying them. A successful roll
against a Difficulty 15 allows the Hero to negate
any bonus from a polygraph used against him. If
the hero scores higher than a Difficulty of 25,
the interrogator does not know this is occurring
and is not likely to choose a different line of
questioning.
For ensic Lab
The Hero has access to a biomedical research
facility and can exploit it’s resources to detect
and analyze genetic material in order to craft
items capable of defeating biometric security
systems. If the team has a sample, it can be
used to create a specific Countermeasure for one
biometric Defense with a successful tradecraft
roll (Difficulty 15).
Jet Set
The agent can arrange transportation around the
globe with surprising efficiency. The Purchase
Difficulty for any ticket he or she purchases is
reduced by 2.
 Technothrillers
Task Difficulty
Lift Restrictions (Self) 10+Reputation
Lift Restrictions (Other) 15+Reputation
Overbooking 20
Lift Restrictions : If a Hero is prevented from
entering a coun try or crossing a border, the
character can navigate through the bureaucracy
and secure entry. She must be present at the
border to accomplish this.
Overbooking : If someone’s previous Wealth
check to purchase a ticket has failed (meaning
that it was somehow unavailable) The character
hero may roll again at the same difficulty.
Knowled g e Co nta ct
The character has access to a unique repository of
specialized information not generally available to
the public at large. Examples include the restricted
section at a major university or a database
maintained by a law enforcement agency. This
allows the agent to conduct Research tasks at a
+3 bonus.
Milita ry Tr a nsport
The agent has contacts in the armed forces that
can arrange a clandestine flight. Not only is this
cheaper, it allows characters to travel relatively
unnoticed.
Task Difficulty
Black Flight special
Clean Logs 15
Black Flight : The character can find room for
himself and possibly others aboard military aircraft.
Use the cost for purchasing air tickets as the
Difficulty for this tradecraft check; however, there
is no cost. For every five points the roll exceeds
the base Difficulty, an additional passenger can
travel with the agent. The time of travel remains
the same.
Clean Logs : Afte r taking a black flight, the agent
can erase any evidence of his team’s presence
aboard a military plane.
Pencil Pus her
The agent knows the procedures and loopholes
of administrative agencies, and can manipulate
them better than the rest of the public.
17
Task Difficulty
Police Suspicion 15
All Points Bulletin 20
S e a r c h / S u r v e i l l a n c e 25
Warrant
E x t r a o r d i n a r y 30
Rendition
Police Suspicion : The agent has an identified
person who is subject to an arrest warrant.
While not a law enforcement priority, nearly
any official interaction with a government
agency will create problems for the target. If
the victim is normally above reproach or has
an otherwise high status, the Narrator should
raise the Difficulty by his Reputation.
All Points Bulletin : As Police Suspicion,
above, except that law enforcement agencies
will actively attempt to detain the suspect.
Search/Surveillance Warrant : Th e agent
secures judicial permission to enter a location
or conduct electronic observation of a person
or place. If the location is the target site for
an op, the team’s Presence increase s by one
for every five points the roll exceeds the base
Difficulty,
Extraordinary Rendition : One person in custody
can be moved to another location against his
will. This can effectively prevent a Narrator
Characters from interfering with an op.
Additionally, the character can make a tradecraft
roll to counter the effects of heightened law
enforcement interest in a target, using the
same Difficulties.
Pr ess Coverag e
Influence over the media is a powerful, yet
understated tool. Agents using this connection
can manipulate how journalists portray an
event or person, often slanting it in a positive
or negative direction.
Task Difficulty
Paparazzi 10
Smelling a Scoop 15
W h i s p e r i n g 20
Campaign
News Blackout 25
Feeding Frenzy 30
Paparazzi : A thrill-seeking photographer will
haunt the site or subject, making a nuisance
of himself while distracting anyone nearby.
If this is done while the team is conducting
Technothrillers in a Hero’s home country; +2 if in a country allied
a planning task on site, their Footprint is to the Hero’s home nation; -2 if located in an
reduced by 1 for the duration of the task. unfriendly or hostile country; -3 if the government
is at war.
Smelling a Scoop : A news crew on the
lookout for an exclusive arrives to interview Skill Contact
witnesses, take photos, and gather
information. Characters with this tradecraft are versed in finding
Whispering Campaign : The target receives specialists for certain skills. The result of the
bad publicity from bloggers, editorials, and check determines how many ranks the specialist
other sources, harming his reputation in the has in the skill. Use the chart below to find out
general public. how skilled a contact is. If the Hero is searching
for someone versed in a single skill, only the
News Blackout : The press gets discouraged “Primary” columns are needed; the “Secondary”
from covering an event or person, allowing columns are for characters who would logically
relative freedom from prying eyes when possess another skill related to the main one. For
needed. example a forger might have Craft (Written Word)
Feeding Frenzy : The subject is fodder for as a primary skill and Computers as a secondary
every tabloid and infotainment program within skill.
driving rang e, making life miserable
Primary Primary Secondary Secondary
for those involved. Difficulty
Mod Skill Mod Skill
S a tellite R eco n 15 +1 +4 +0 +2
20 +2 +5 +0 +3
The character has connections
allowing him to schedule satellit e 25 +3 +6 +1 +3
fly overs and obtain high-resolution 30 +4 +7 +1 +4
photographs of nearly any location on 35 +5 +8 +2 +4
earth. With a successful tradecraft
roll (Difficulty 15), the team gains +1 Site.
This can be attempted once per mission. Smugg ler
S ecurity Clea r a nc e The agent has extensive connections with groups
that carry goods and people across international
The Hero has the right to obtain confidential borders. This comes in handy when certain items
information and/or visit sensitive locations are forbidden within a country, or someone does
in the control of his patron government. not wish to officially enter a region. If the tradecraft
This can be the leftover from a career in roll fails by ten or more, the authorities intercept
the military or intelligence. Regardless, the smuggling attempt, and those involved face
a successful tradecraft roll allows the the risk of detention and/or prosecution.
character to legitimately request access to
either category. Difficulty Task
15 Goods (per medium size shipment)
Diff. Information Location
25 Personnel (per single person)
15 Routinely Restricted Civilian
(internal records) Location Agents smuggling more than one item or person
at a time must add 5 to the Difficu lty for each
additional unit over the first.
20 Obtained from Other Military
Sources (flight data) Location
Military Location
25 Clandestine Intelli gence
(intel ligence) Location
30 Highly Sensitive Black
(earth-shattering Location
secrets)
Modifiers: Add +4 to a roll if the source is

18
 Technothrillers
CHAPTER FO UR – MIS SIO N RULES
The team had assembled in a second-story restaurant off of Victory Square, in view of both
the Konigsberg Cathedral and a factory making cheap Russian television sets. “It’s too cold
here,” sniffed Intan, although she had already acquired a sable-fur hat to match a Sultanna
Frantsuzova jacket. “I don’t relish the thought of doing any underwater work in these tem -
peratures.”
“I’m sorry, Dani, but that looks like a distinct possibility,” Veasey began. “Luca, at some
point I imagine you’ll need to take a look at the Hansa Dream from the bottom to find out.
I’ve already rented space for the compu ters, so we can begin setting that up immediate ly
– any questions, defer to Peters.”
The hacker nodded. “And you?”
Veasey flashed his winning smile. “There’s a baccarat tournament in two weeks. It’s not
Texas Hold-’em, but it sounds like I have enough time to figure out the difference.”

Although each operation will be unique, they that team members can enter the site unnoticed,
all have several similarities that Narrators and or amid so much chaos that guards will notice
players can rely on. These common trai ts allow their presence too late.
for the creation of rules to make a mission-based Ruse : an excuse which provides an acceptable
gaming session memorable. reason for the team to be on the site. In this
To Run a Succes sful Operation, you need: case, the group’s presence is known, but
A Target . Generally, Technothrillers involves a permitted.
team attempting to reach some point within a Effective Responses to Any Defenses . The
protected site. This location contains something team should find out as soon as possible during
important which can be removed or liberated, like the planning phase what sort of obstacles they
a prototype weapon or encrypted files pertaining will have to overcome. For each one, they
to a political figure. A person may be the target need some way to avoid or defeat it.
of an extraction or assassination. Extractions Countermeasure : In a techno thriller, a high-
enlarge the team, which might require a new exit tech solution to a defense always works.
strategy. If the team’s goal is liquidation of a The tricky part is coming up with the right
victim, they’ll need to find a way to dispose of any equipment in the first place, and getting it
evidence of wrongdoing and conceal the fact that where it’s needed.
anything unusual has occurred for as long as it
takes to get the hell out of dodge. Routine : Why build a laser drill to defeat
a padlock when a bobby pin will suffice?
A Way In and Out. The team members who will Sometimes, all a team needs is a high enough
get their hands dirty need access
to the target area. Unless the
operation is a suicide mission, most
operatives need an exit strategy
as well. There are three ways to
enter and exit a site, collectively
referred to as “Breaches.” A team
can plan to use the same Breach
in bot h directions, but defenders of
a penetrated site might make this
plan difficult.
Entry Point : a weak spot in the
outer perimeter of the site. Ideally,
it is in a secluded or hard-to-reach
area easily overlooked by guards
or security systems.
Diversion : a situation so disruptive

19
Technothrillers
roll on a skill check. The key to achieving
this consistently is practicing enough so that
they are relying on themselves, and not luck.
Routines offer skill bonuses on specific
checks, either to bypass security measures
or subvert Narrator Characters to your side.
Other Resources for Interesting Times .
Extra preparations prevent surprises from
wrecking a mission. It’s better to have too
many resources that to be caught in the field
without help.
Information : The currency of the 21st century.
The more you know about a location, its
owner and staff, the better prepared you will
be once a team hits the ground. Data can
be a tool, leverage, a weapon, and a savior
– sometimes all at once.
Mark : All sorts of Narrator Characters will
be involved with the mission. Whether this
means experts assisting in the planning
stages, or loose cannons present at the site
during the operation, a team may be able to
use the presence of a Narrator Character to
their advantage – or minimize the damage
one can inflict.
Money : Few teams begin planning without
a reliable source of funds. A large enough
bankroll solves many problems that might
arise, such as the ability to purchase
requisite gear, favors, and even the silence
of an individual. However, few patrons have
an inexhaustible supply. Even if they do,
they certainly aren’t advertising; not unless
they want someone to paint a big target on
their back. At the start of each mission, the
team should be aware of the Wealth bonus
they have to work with. If this shrinks to
dangerously low levels, individual team
members may consider using their own funds
as well.
Gear : Besides offering solutions to security
measures, the right equipment can provide
surveillance of a site. The best way to
respond to changing circumstances is to
have as many eyes on the prize as possible.
The team can place surveillance equipment
in the targe t area prior to an operation or
at the start of the mission. Vigilant hackers
might even have programs in place to help
them notice computer-related problems as
they arise.
Time : At some point, the planning has to
end and the mission begin. Few teams have
the freedom to dictate when an operation can
start; either it’s timed with the occurrence of
20
something else or it’s out of the party’s control.
The key is to maximize what the Heroes have to
work with. Characters typically use two eight-
hour intervals of each day to perform planning
activities.
Va r ia b l e s
These rules convert the afore-mentioned concepts
into numbers for ease of use. There are three
positive and two negative factors that affect every
operation.
Site is the degree of knowledge about the
target’s physical characteristics. It represents
the static condition of the location, from the
existence of sewer lines leading into the basement
to the schedule of guard changes. Research
and reconnaissance can boost this rating quite
high prior to actual entry. Unfortunately, once
a team hits the area, the assumptions they rely
on degrade quickly as defenders respond to an
intrusion.
Tactics reflects the accumulation of training and
procedures that the team can fall back on in the
event of unexpected problems. A team member
who has worked with the others in the group
knows how his comrades will act, and can use
that knowledge to further his own goals.
Presence measures the ability of the team to
perceive the dynamics of the target. In one sense,
it picks up where Site leaves off. A high presence
indicates quick and accurate awareness of a
location’s current situation. It includes passive
efforts like monitoring communications to active
moles on the inside concealing the in trusion.
Footprint is the unintended consequence of
Presence; a reflection of how obvious a team’s
existence is to a target’s security m easures. If
it rises too high, defenders will react – forcing a
team to consider scrubbing a mission, or making
it fail outright. Teams that have to address a
growing Footprint during an operation must often
expend resources better used to achieving the
main objective. The Narrator keeps track of this
variable.
Chaos incorporates the time-honored maxim that
no plan survives contact with the enemy. If things
go awry, entropy breeds more entropy and bigger
things start going wrong. Good plans can identify
potential problems and address them before a
mission, but teams always expect to encounters
difficulties they can only address in the thick of
the operation. The Narrator keeps track of Chaos,
and can convert large enough amounts of it into
sudden obstacles.
 Technothrillers
Security is a number set by the Narrator prior
to the mission. It represents at what threshold
a site’s defenders will detect unauthorized
personnel. If the team’s Footprint exceeds this
number at any time during the operation, the bad
guys will realize something is a foot.
Assembling the Tools -
Pla nning
How does a team get the resources they need to
pull off a mission? By preparing for anything they
expect to encounter, and more for good measure.
In most techno thriller movies, the planning stage
occurs in an extended montage, where each
teammate contributes something to the intricacies
of the process. Often, the development of the plan
takes up more screen time than the mission itself,
So it’s desirable to simulate a planning montage
in a techno thriller game.
Players should like it because that’s how it
happens in the movies, with tension rising as the
details are hammered out – and new complications
arise seemingly out of nowhere. Narrators should
like it because they learn what the players are
thinking, and can use this knowledge to create
exciting scenes: either by having the team face
what they expected, or by twisting things around
to catch them off guard.
These rules envision a collaborative planning
process with inp ut from both sides. Narrators
need not design the complex from the ground
up, d etailing every security system (unless they
want to). Players won’t have to plan in real time;
instead, they can concentrate on the big picture,
focusing in on particulars when they consider it
necessary. Either they will reach a point when
they feel ready to proceed – or their time will run
out, and the operation must go forward whether or
not they are set.
Most missions will begin with the patron hashing
out the basics: where the team will be operating,
what they are trying to do, and who’ll be trying to
prevent it. There can be a stage of travel to the
location, and the creation of a command post and
computer support for the mission. As the Heroes
find out more about what they’ll face, they can
try to identify par ticulars and create strategies to
defeat them, or concentrate on a general approach
to adapt to anything they encounter (a mix of
both is always best). In half-day intervals, team
members can contribute to each plannin g stage.
The Narrator can inject roleplaying possibilities
at any stage in the planning phase, as well as
ensure that the party will run into any interesting
set-pieces she devises.
21
This section lists the likely phases that
planners may have to do. Each phase boils
down to a skill check, but the results are
not as cut and dried as your typical attempt.
Some checks are destined to fail unless the
team sacrifices another resource to improve
the outcome. This decision hinges on what a
team is trying to accomplish, and how badly a
poor roll hinders that goal.
Some phases have prerequisites. In these
cases, the phases are designed to counteract
a specific problem facing the team (for
example, entering a compound from the roof
– which is protected by a pressure sensor).
Others phases such as Brainstorming can be
attempted when the party members feel they
are at a dead end.
Specia l R esults
Where a variable is listed, the amount
increases according to the entry in the table.
The other results are detailed below. Entries
in parentheses can only be selected if the
team has a prerequisite; for example, it is not
possible to devise a Countermeasure when the
Heroes have no Defense to tackle.
Ace in the Hole
An exceptional result in one or more planning
activities, this is a wild card with just about
any use by the team that the Narrator
deems possible. At the very least it can be
used to cancel a poor roll or an unexpected
roadblock.
Alert
The site is aware of a penetration attempt. All
personnel at the location will get a +1 bonus
to Notice rolls during the mission. In addition,
the defenders can attempt a single check for a
planted device.
Breach (Diversion, Entry Point, or Ruse)
A breach is a way in (or out) of the site. At
least one Breach is needed for every mission;
if the team does not want to fret about making
it to safety, a second breach is a good idea.
Capture
One team member is detained while conducting
the planning activity. The Narrator can use
this as a vignette to ramp up the tension, and
possibly divest a Hero of sensitive equipment.
However, this should not be permanent. In
fact, if a player comes up with an excuse
that satisfies the Narrator, that should end
the detention – to that end, it might be a
good idea to begin tasks on hostile ground
Technothrillers
with a pre planned alibi! Once the agent is
released, Narrator Characters that encounter
the captured character have a +3 bonus to
Notice rolls involving penetrating the former
captive’s disguise.
Complication
This is a catch-all for some change in the
parameters of the mission. It could be
something as simple as a delay in obtaining
gear, or something as bad as a new floor plan
in the target site. However, complications are
never insurmountable; in fact, with additional
planning the party can normally turn one to
its advantage. A good example is finding out
that a Narrator Character intends to betray
the party in some way – if they know the
specifics, they might turn the tables on the
betrayer.
Conversion
The team can convert Presence, Site or
Tactics into a Breach, Plant Device, or
Defense. The cost for such a conversion is
listed in Brackets.
Countermeasure
A technologically-oriented response to a
known defense. Because of the nature of
genre, countermeasures always work; the
difficulty lies in coming up with one, and
getting it w here it is needed in time. The
Narrator can provide the team with a detailed
pseudo-scientific explanation, or keep things
streamlined. Next to an Ace in the Hole, this
is probably the most desirable result to get.
Defense
An identified security system protecting the
target site. No team should begin a mission
without a Routine or Countermeasure for
every known Defense.
Fatal Flaw
A mistake in a Routine or Countermeasure
that will prevent its effective use. If it is
discovered in time, however, a t eam can
correct it.
Injury/Damage
One piece of equipment is destroyed while
in use. If a team is conducting a planning
activity without any gear, one participant
is injured and must spend time recovering.
See the section about Chaos in Running the
Operation, below.
22
Mark
A person of note present at the target site, or
otherwise possibly usable during the mission. It
could be a defender with a secret the team can
exploit, a potential ally, or a seemingly friendly
helper who will betray the party.
Plant Device
The team members participating in the task can
leave one piece of equipment at the target site,
either for surveillance use or other assistance
during the mission. That agent should make a
Hide check to establish a Difficulty for defenders
to detect it in the future.
Red Herring
Some piece of information acquired by the party
is false or extraneous. This is not as wasteful as
it seems, for the Narrator can use the revelation
as a springboard for other information.
Routine
This is a prepared drill for use against a known
Defense. It is the next best thing besides a
Countermeasure, since it gives them a fighting
chance. Mechanically, it lets a Hero add the
Team’s Tactics rating to whatever skill check is
needed to overcome the defense. Routines can
also apply for social interaction wit h a Mark, in
which case they are like a cover story or con.
Secret
The team unexpectedly finds information that may
become important in the future. It might help
them during the mission, or serve as useful data
for later in the campaign.
Task List
The most important parts of planning stage are
these eight tasks. Each task is essentially a skill
check with differing grades of success or failure
in increments of 5. Once the result is known,
the party can improve or worsen the result of the
check by agreeing to include a penalty or benefit,
respectively.
For example, if a failed Infiltration check results
in the possibility that the site goes on Alert, the
team can choose some other penalty to ‘improve’
the result to an increased Footprint.
 Technothrillers
Conviction cannot be used to improve a planning
roll (except for the use of an Agent’s Foolproof Ti m e
core ability), and the normal rules for Taking 10
and 20 do not apply. Consult the followi ng table
Given enough time, these rules will
to see how these results scale:
allow a team to circumvent the most
Result Failure/Success margin devious lair and fulfill its mission
(everyone expects this outcome anyway).
Disaster Failed by 10
However, a run of bad luck can make
Failure Failed by 5 even the most adept team miss a hard
Sacrifice Failed deadline. A narrator must consider the
Success Suceeded numbers and capabilities of the team, or
risk pulling the rug out from underneath
Achievement Succeeded by 5 their plans. One easy way to do this
Breakthrough Succeeded by 10 is by measuring the man-day intervals
available to the team against the number
of tasks that should be completed for the
mission to succeed.
R esea rch A character remains at his peak when
Prerequisite : Subject performing two eight-hour actions and
resting for a third such interval. If
Duration: 1 day necessary, however, agents can push
Difficulty: 20 the envelope by working even harder. A
hero can work his Constitution score in
Results :
such intervals without rest before risking
Disaster: Red Herring fatigue (a minimum of one). At the
Failure: Complication end of each additional period without a
break, he must make a Toughness save
Sacrifice: failure
with the Difficulty equal to the number
Success: Site +1; Mark; basic of consecutive hours worked, gaining
information fatigue as damage when they fail. One
Achievement: Secret; Entry Point; interval of sleep will erase all fatigue
levels.
Breakthrough: Ace in the Hole;
Defense (T) If the party starts to run short of time,
the team members will have to risk
The first step after acquiring a target is to collect bringing in outside help or calling the
information about it. The research task provides job off altogether. Conversely, a team
a chance for the players to get an idea of what with too much time on its hands can be
kinds of skills and activities might be needed to countered several ways. It’s perfectly
successfully complete the mission. They may reasonable to have known or unknown
also find out what sort of dramatic possibilities mini-deadlines in play before the mission
might arise. For example, they might discover that starts (for example, meeting a fence in
an old nemesis is working for the latest target. Milan in three days to buy the gear they
The Narrator can also find out what the group is need).
thinking based on the type of information they are
interested in.
Because this is the place to deliver the majority To attempt a research check, the party
of exposition, Difficulties should be fairly needs a tangible subject to research. This
manageable. A Narrator can create a list of rumors can include a person, location, a specific
to un cover, including false ones for failed rolls. Entry Point or Defense, or some other
If a Narrator doesn’t want to use the Research complication that has arisen during planning.
skill in the campaign – or she envisions too much Generally, only one attempt can be made per
reliance on it – she can structure these checks as subject. Research takes at least one man-
a series of Knowledge skill rolls, depending on day to accomplish, meaning that multiple
the type of information sought (see Sidebar). characters can either aid the primary
researcher ’s check or make their own check
to complete the task faster.

23
Technothrillers
If the operation involves a human target,
Research can reveal any number of tidbits
about the person including (but not limited
to) allergies, hobbies, sexual predilections,
favorite food, favorite alcoholic beverages,
and any other background information that
might be exploited during the mission.
Team Resources:
Mark (a prerequisite for another Research
check if necessary)
Entry Point (Breach)

With the basic information about Hansa

Dream and her enigmatic owner, the team
begins planning their heist. The first
step is to find out as much as possible
about the targets, ideally without attract -
ing attention to themselves. While most
of the team can conduct research from
their home base, Luca will travel to Kalin -
ingrad to scope out local help, and see if
any natives have run afoul of Kron – and
vice versa [Knowledge: Streetwise]. Pe -
ters is a bit wary of snooping around such
a formidable opponent, so will restrict his
inquiries to public channels that may con -
tain information about the Hansa Dream
[Knowledge: Technology]. Disaster: Alert
Luca is the first to reach Kaliningrad, Failure: Footprint +1
and immediately dives into the underworld
for information. His roll is 23, which he Sacrifice: Failure
decides is sufficient. The party finds out Success: Site +1
that there are several businessmen who
Achievement: Breach
have run up large debts to the casino. He
also meets a Russian mafioso who may be Breakthrough: Plant Device
able to help with logistics in Kaliningrad After the team knows where the operation will
[a potential Mark]. take place, one or more members can visit the
With In tan and Jacob aiding him, location to get a feel for it. This usually involves
Peters rolls a 26 on his check. With this
decent result, the Narrator reveals that
Luca decides to secretly explore the intake
the most likely way to enter the structure
port from the underwater side. Despite his
unobserved is through the former oil intake
experience as a frogman (the Narr ator allowed
chute, which has not been dismantled ye t
a synergy bonus for his ranks in S wim) , his
[Entry Point].
character rolls poorly – a 9, which would A lert
the defenders to the team’s mission. T he
R eco n Heroes consider their options, and decide to
move up one step and take a point of Footpr int.
Prerequisite : Location To compensate for this step, the Nar rator adds
a Defense. She decides that the under side of
Duration: one-half day
the Hansa Dream is protected against the r isk
Difficulty: 20 if private; 15 if of tampering with a hydrophone that will pick
public up the sounds of nearby divers. Now they have
Modifiers: Footprint their first clear-cut obstacle.
Results:

24
 Technothrillers
Kno wl d eg e C h ec k s
When trying to find out about a specific person, a character may rely on more than
one Knowledge skill. Here are the skill categories along with potential subjects for their
application.
Knowledge Category Type of Subject
Art Artists; Collectors, Patrons
Behavioral Sciences Doctors; Professors; Researchers
Business Businessmen; Entrepreneurs; Vital Employees
Civics Lawyers; Politicians; Peace Officers
Current Events Celebrities; Politicians; Military Personnel
Earth Sciences Scientists; Professors; Researchers
History Authors; Professors
Life Sciences Doctors; Scientists; Professors
Physical Sciences Scientists; Professors; Engineers
Popular Culture Authors; Celebrities; Artists
Streetwise Criminals; Peace Officers; Celebrities
Supernatural Authors; Occultists; New Age Personalities
Tactics Military Personnel
Technology Scientists; Engineers; Entrepreneurs [Defenses]
Theology & Philosophy Religious Figures

an innocent-looking trip to its environs without

entering into any restricted areas or risking any
illegal actions.
With any luck the PCs will come away with
knowledge about the physical character istics of
their target. The downside is, a botched job runs
the risk of blowin g the party’s cover.
A Stealth check is the best way to emulate a
Recon action, since it typically involves watching
from a safe distance. If the target is a public
place, or the team has a legitimate reason for
getting close to the site, the Gather Information
skill is also viable. The activity takes a half-day,
and the point man can receive assistance from
other characters.
Tea m Resources:
Mark
Entry Point (Breach)
Defense (hydrophone)
Footprint +1

25
 Technothrillers
Br ains tor m
Prerequisite : none (Defense)
Duration: 1 day
Difficulty: 18
Results :
Disas ter: Red Herring
Failure: Complication
Sacrifice: Chaos +1
Success: Conversion [5]
Achievement: Conversion [4];
(Routine)
Breakthrough: Conversion[3];
(Countermeasure);
Ace in the Hole
Once a team has acquired enough information
about their subject, they need to do something
with it. If the characters have exhausted
their current knowledge about the site – or
failed to glean anything at all – simply sitting
down and discussing the options never
Infiltrate
hurts. Mech anically speaking, Brainstorming Prerequisite : Location (Defense)
will at least let the party to convert points
Duration: one-half day
in Tactics, Site, or Presence into something
more concrete. Difficulty: 22
Modifiers: Site, Presence; Footprint
United again, the team sets up its Results :
Command Post [Tactics 1] while Peters Disaster: Capture
connects his computer equipment to the Failure: Alert
local grid [Presence 1]. With everything in
place, they sit down to tackle the problem Sacrifice: Footprint +1
of the hydrophone. With four of them Success: Presence +1
aiding Luca’s Knowledge (Tactics) check, Achievement: Plant Device; Defense
he rolls well, beating the Difficulty by 12.
Breakthrough: (Countermeasure);
With this Breakthrough result, they choose
Mark; Breach
a Countermeasure to the hydrophone. The
Narrator states that a low-speed drill might This task gets a more invasive view of the target’s
be able to mimic the sounds of a waste inner workings. One team member or small group
treatment plant discharging water into penetrates the site and snoops around. Because
the harbor. However, since none of the it involves actually penetrating at least one layer
characters have this item, someone must of security in the facility, the consequences of
buy a drill t o be modified. danger are typically higher.
As with the Recon task, the only prerequisite is
a target location. It is possible that PCs will be
able to slip in without notice. In such an unlikely
Team Resources: event a Stealth check can be used. If there are
Mark mechanical or electronic defenses to defeat, the
Narrator can call for Disable Device instead. More
Entry Point (Breach) often, however, the team will have some excuse
Defense (hydrophone) – with a Countermea- or quasi-legitimate excuse to be there, in which
sure case Notice or Gather Information can apply.
Diplomacy suffices for teams that must bluff their
Footprint +1 way onto the premises. Regardless of the skill
Tactics +1
Presence +1
26
 Technothrillers
used, this task takes approximately a half-day to
With his workstation ready, Peters will
complete.
spend a day snooping around the Hansa
Dream’s computer system, looking for any
Veasey decides to see as much of the inner additional obstacles. He rolls a 23 – which
workings of the Hansa Dream as he can on the would award the team a bonus to Site.
registration day for the tournament. Once the Deciding they have enough of this, the
formalities are finished, he wanders around team agrees to take something bad to move
anywhere that looks available, and a few places up to the next step – the ability to pick a
that don’t. The Narrator decides that Diplomacy Defense. The Narrator adds to the team’s
will smooth over any encounters with personnel Footprint, but also announces that Peters
who see him in a restricted area. He rolls very also found another Defense. Because
poorly, despite his bonuses, getting an Alert the ex-circus star Intan will be doing the
response. Since he doesn’t want the site in an infiltration, they decide a pressure sensor
uproar, he agrees to lose a point of Presence outside the server room will be a piece of
to move into the next worst category. A point cake. Since it sounds cool, the Narrator
of Footprint is added to the team’s eff orts as agrees, and the team decides that Intan
well. can develop a Routine to circumvent it on
her own.
Tea m Resources:
Mark Team Resources:
Entry Point (Breach) Mark
Defense(hydrophone) – with a Countermeasure Entry Point (Breach)
Footprint +2 Defense (hydrophone) – with a Countermeasure
Tactics +1 Defense (pressure sensor)
Chaos +1 Footprint +2
Tactics +1
Hack
Prerequisite: Presence +1 and Computer
Support; (Defense)
Duration: One-half day
Difficulty: 20 + 5 per previous attempt
Modifiers: Presence; Footprint
Results:
Disaster: Alert
Failure: Footprint +1
Sacrifice: Failure
Success: Presence +1
Achievement: Site +1; Mark
Breakthrough: Defense (T);
(Countermeasure)

The most useful way to use a team’s com puter

network is to hack the target’s com puter
systems (when applicable). A smooth hack can
alert a party to all sorts of potential problems.
Of course, hacking is a two-way street; a
disastrous run can lead security teams to
the PCs’ doorstep. A hack is usually done
once, although m ultiple attempts are certainly
possible. A Hacker ’s role is also vital during
the operation.

27
 Technothrillers
Mo ck- up Drill
Prerequisite : Site +1 and Defense Prerequisite : none (Defense)
Duration: 1 day Duration: 1 day
Difficulty: 20 Difficulty: 25
Results : Modifiers: Tactics
Disaster: Fatal Flaw Results :
Failure: Injury/Damage Disaster: Injury/Damage
Sacrifice: Failure Failure: Chaos +1
Success: Retry Sacrifice: Failure
Achievement: Tactics +1; Success: Tactics +1
Routine Achievement: Tactics +1; (Routine);
Breakthrough: Countermeasure Reduced Time (Routine)
If a team has identified a specific defense, Breakthrough: Ruse; Diversion
sometimes the only way to figure out how to
bypass it is to reproduce the defense in a
“ Practice makes perfect ” – the reason this saying
controlled environment. This way, PCs know
is so common is because it’s true. A team that
beforehand whether certain tactics will work
performs regular training improves their ability
and what happens if a plan goes sour. If
to function effectively, whether in response to a
a defense is particularly perilous, t he team
specific obstacle, or just in general. Any number
is poised to treat any injuries that arise as
of Heroes can perform a Drill task, which has no
well.
prerequisites; however, if the team is aware of a
A team can try to construct a mock-up for Defense, they can focus on a specific Routine.
every Defense they detect (it’s probably
overkill to build a Mock-up if a team already
has a Countermeasure in mind for a particular
Intan knows she will have to deal with a
Defense). The Craft skill (with a relevant
pressure sensor inside the Hansa Dream.
Although she is supremely confident that she
Peters, with some time on his hands, tries can overcome it, she does spend some time
to rig a pressure sensor in their command practicing. However, her roll is only 3 above
post for Intan to practice with. However, the Difficulty – in order to obtain a bonus when
he rolls poorly, missing the Difficulty by 1. needed, she needs to buy another step. The
Because they have other options, the team Narrator adds a point of Chaos, but she will
leaves the roll alone and looks for other be able to add the Team’s Tactics to her skill
ideas. check.

specialization) is the normal way to complete Team Resources:

a Mock-up although Computer skill might be Mark
used for a high-tech Defense. Entry Point (Breach)
Any team member with the requisite skill Defense (hydrophone) – with a Countermeasure
can assist the point man with the check.
Additionally, the team is allowed to make Defense (pressure sensor) – with a Routine
a Wealth Check, using the skill Difficulty, Footprint +2
to represent acquiring materials for the
attempt. Tactics +1
Team Resources: Chaos +1
Mark
Entry Point (Breach)
Defense (hydrophone) – with a
Countermeasure
Defense (pressure sensor)
Footprint +2
Tactics +1
28
 Technothrillers
Sim ula tio n
Prerequisite : Computer Support;
O th er S t ep s
Tactics +1 or (Mark) or
(Defense)
Com m a nd Post
Duration: 1 day This is the initial setup of a safe place
Difficulty: 25 from which to direct the mission. It takes
2 man-days. Once it is complete, th e team
Results : receives a Wealth rating representing the
Disaster: Red Herring money allocated by the patron to use for the
Failure: Complication operation. Purchases made in the course
of the mission reduce this number, unless a
Sacrifice: Failure
character is specifically using his own funds
Success: Tactics +1 for something. Also, once a command post
Achievement: Presence + 1; is set up, the team gains Tactics +1.
(Routine) The command post is a physical location,
Breakthrough: Ace in the Hole and like all such places, vulnerable to
Computers have provided scientists with detection and penetration. The Narrator
de tailed models for decades. As the processing should consider using it for roleplaying
po wer of computers increases, so does the opportunities. Spies or police officials may
ca pability to factor in more and more variables. be looking for the team while they plan their
The Simulation task allows a team to establish mission. A rival group may be seeking to
what might happen without actually putting find the command post at the same time!
its members at risk. Of course, the risk that
the hacker is overlooking a crucial issue is
Computer Support
un avoidable. In the 21st century, a team needs cutting
edge processing power to fulfill its missions.
At the same time Intan drills, Peters works It takes one man-day to set up a fully-net
on a computer-driven simulation of the worked computer system (this can be done at
pressure sensor – perhaps the software will the same time as the command post). Once
reveal why his mock-up failed. Sure enough, it is online, the team gains Presence +1.
he’s in his element, and beats the Difficulty
by 8. However, because Intan has developed Travel
her own Routine, the team decides to reduce
his success by one step, removing a point Ops teams work in hot spots throughout the
of Footprint as well as gaining a point in globe, and need to be ready to fly around
Tactics. the world on short notice. Similarly, they
often have to bring specialists in one city to
the target site – as well as get them home
Team Resources: safely. The same considerations appl y when
a person is the target of a mission.
Mark
Rather than deal with the intricacies of
Entry Point ( Breach)
modern travel, it can be simulated in eight-
Defense (hydrophone) – with a Countermeasure hour blocks like other tasks. However,
Defense (pressure sensor) – with a Routine travelers can use three blocks in one day
if they are sleeping on long fligh ts and
Footprint +1
voyages. It only need come into play if the
Tactics +2 Narrator has the team on a tight schedule, or
Chaos +1 plans something unusual en route.
There are still other avenues to explor e before An automobile typically covers 500 miles
the time to start the mission: a Mark needs in a half-day increment; far enough to cross
to be checked out, and Intan will have to most states in the U.S. and Europe. This is
divine a way to link up with Veasey during the also the cheapest and easiest way to travel
tournament, or exit herself. Either way, things without being noticed. After two straight
are looking bright for the team. blocks of driving, however, a character must

29
 Technothrillers
take fatigue checks to perform additional for crossing a border includes any visa or travel
active tasks. fees, as well as bribes when needed. The Narrator
Train travel is also nondescript and safe. is free to make such crossings dangerous (or
High speed rail (prevalent in Western Europe simply more expensive) if a passenger is under
and Japan covers up to 1,000 miles in a any legal restrictions that would prevent such
half-day increment; in all other places the travel.
distance is 500 miles. If a trip is longer than Subverting a Mar k
one block, a character can use the second
interval to rest between other tasks. The Once a Mark has been identified, a team has
largest potential wrinkle of train travel is the to make sure he is willing to assist them. This
necessity to negotiate one or more border works like a typical social interaction; Narrator
crossings. Characters must have a Friendly disposition to
Air travel is the quickest way to get where even begin thinking of doing something risky.
a team is needed. The first half-day spent in The Narrator should set starting dispositions
a plane covers up to 2,000 miles. A second accordingly, and give the team a chance to
consecutive interval allows a traveler to fly improve poor ones. Generally speaking, such
5,000 miles, while a third – a full day of travel attempts take about a half a day. That said, if the
– will get a passenger to any point on the globe. Mark is proving exceedingly difficult to deal with,
As with train travel, characters can fulfill their turning him could take a few days.
rest requirements on the second leg of longer Alternatively, a team might count on a Mark’s
flights. The bureaucratic complexities of hostility when deciding what to do. This works
air travel are potentially less than with train well when the PCs know that a Mark will betray
travel, since only a single border crossing them at a crucial moment. The key is finding out
may be involved. However, the vagaries of enough information about the Mark to predict such
scheduling means that a character might get behavior. This can be revealed with a poor roll
held up in a backwater on a long trip . during the planning montage, or a good one when
Some forms of waterborne travel are worth researching the Mark.
mentioning. Ferry service links two coasts
that are not otherwise linked by road or
Acquisitions
rail. This includes places like Alaska and If a technological solution has been discovered,
several nations that border the North Sea. or a need for particular equipment arises dur -
Assume that one interval covers the length ing the planning stage, team members have to
of most trips. It is possible that a Hero might secure it. For a wide variety of common items,
travel via cruise ship, although this is more this is a simple task taking up negligible time
luxurious than exciting. Stage a mission on and (hopefully) cost. A Narrator should be will -
one instead. ing to have some materials on hand at the start,
There is always an incidental cost for travel. or provide easy access for most things.
For automobile travel, the cost is per vehicle; Finding other equipment takes at least one half-
other costs a re per ticket. The cost increase day interval to locate and obtain. The former in-
volves a Knowledge check, either
in a particular field (use the Re -
Tr a v e l C o s t s search sidebar for gui delines) or
Travel Mode Purchase Difficulty Streetwise if a character looks to
Car, 500 mi les 6 the black market. Use the pur-
Car, additional 500 m il es +1 chase Difficulty for this check, with
additional penalties if a Narrator
Ferry 5 feels the item is particularly rare
Train, 500 m il es 8 or difficult to sell. Of course, the
Train, add it ional 500 mi les +2 Narrator can simply pro vide the in -
formation if it is readily known or
Air, up to 2, 000 m il es 15
easily discovered. In the alterna -
Air, up to 5, 000 m il es 18 tive, when all rolls fail, the team
Air, over 5 ,000 mi les 20 must decide to create something
Per border crossed (not vi a car ) +1 from scratch or think up something
different.

30
 Technothrillers
P ur c ha s e M o di fi er s fo r U nu s ua l I t e m s
A Narrator can increase Purchase Di fficulties to reflect typical complications when buying
unusual items. Unsuccessful rolls may simply indicate that the object is simply unavailable
at the time. And when applying the effects of an expensive purchase on a bankroll, the
Narrator may want to omit penalties resulting from scarcity as opposed to higher prices.
Uncommon Items (vintage weapons, exotic items, fad goods); +1 to +3
Rare Items (event tickets, foreign weapons); +1 to +5
Very Rare Items (foreign collectible weapons, limited editions); +2 to +8
Unique Items (exclusive events, artwork); +4 to +12
Luxury Items (brand names); +1 to +5
Dealing with a fence or low-level black market; +1 to +3
Dealing with organized crime; +1 to +5
Restricted Equipment; +1 to +3
Law Enforcement Equipment; +1 to +5
Military Equipment; +2 to +6

Once someone knows where an item is, then
they have to get it. If the current owner is willing
to sell, a simple Wealth check does the trick. Of
course, a Narrator can make buying an item an
adventure in itself. The current owner may be
someone with a history involving one of the PCs,
for example, or be predisposed not to negotiate in
any case. The seller may be in another location,
requiring additional travel to reach it. There might
also be factors holding up a sale which the team
may or may not be in a position to surpass.
Ma nufa ctur e a nd R epair
Sometimes the right piece of equipment just isn’t
readily available. In these cases a team can try to
assemble what they need instead. The Craft skill
governs this activity, but substitute the following
durations:
Simple, half-day;
Moderate , 1 man-day;
Complex , 1.5 man-days,
Advanced , 4 man-days.
Multiple workers can cut down the length of
longer attempts. Similarly, a character can try
to repair gear that has been damaged during the
planning stage. These attempts always take a
single half-day interval.
Co nd uc ti ng th e O p
Eventually, the team reaches a point when it no
longer needs to prepare for an operation. In the
best circumstances, this is because they’ve done
all they can. In most cases, however, it’s be -
cause time has run out. Regardless, all the
players should have a rough idea of what the
Heroes need to do to achieve their goals. The
Heroes know who will enter the site, who will
monitor things from the relative safety of a
computer console and how the other members
fit into the scheme of things. They have identi-
fied the obstacles in their way, as well as any
Narrator Characters that might be involved
when they get there.
The Narrator knows these things as well.
Ideally, she has considered the sho rtfalls of
the plan and can convert them into exciting
scenes. If there are any surprises in store for
the team, she should have a rough idea of how
the players will address them. She should
also consider how on-site personnel will react
to the disruption the Heroes intend to unleash
on the premises.
The actual operation should involve periods
of roleplaying between vital skill rolls. If
individual PCs have their own objectives, they
should have a chance to further them. Likewise,
each member of the team needs some spotlight
time, whether to solve a problem or contribute
something important to the plan.
During the mission, a team can decide to use
Presence, Site, or Tactics as instant bonuses
to skill rolls. The selection of a particular
variable depends on the circumstances,
and is up to the group at large. If one team
member needs to rendezvous with another,
for example, Site would represent how well
the seeker recalls the layout of their target.

31
 Technothrillers
Presence might allow a hacker to monitor the
target’s own cameras to pinpoint the location C ha o s
of the guards. Event Chaos Cost
Once a point is used to help a roll, it is lost Injury various
from the team’s resources. The decision to Bad Weather 1
use one of these variables is up to each player
who calls for it, although a group might want Out of Ammo 2
to discuss contingency plans ahead of time, False Alarm 2
for when the ir carefully hoarded advantages Travel Restrictions 3
begin to dwindle.”
Out of Juice 3
The Narrator must also keep track of
Foil 3
Footprint and Chaos. When either of these
rise far enough, bad things happen. If the Betrayal 4
team’s Footprint ever exceeds the Security Backup Power Source 5
value of the site, the defenders become Red Alert 5
aware of the mission. The problem is that
the players can only manipulate their side Security Sweep 5
of the equation. Likewise, when the Chaos the worse. Ordinarily, this may not present
variable gets high enough, the Narrator can many problems to a prepared team; but things
open her bag of tricks and pull out something like monsoon conditions and lightning might play
interesting. havoc with sensitive gear and electronics.

Va r ia b l e s
The Narrator must also keep track of the
team’s Footprint and Chaos. These will rise
and fall as the party acts and the defenders
respond to them. If either gets too high,
things tend to fall apart quickly.
Whenever a team member does something
to attract attention, the Narrator can make
a Notice roll for the defenders. This should
not be the case when the party uses a
Countermeasure, since there are no skill
rolls involved. But if a skill check fa ils while
a team is trying to bypass a defense, the
Narrator should decide whether the attempt
might alert defenders. The team’s Footprint
acts as a positive modifier to these checks.
Chaos works slightly differently. The
following tab le represents a list of things that
might go wrong during the planning phase or
the actual mission, with a cost in Chaos. At
any time, the Narrator can reduce the current
Chaos by an amount on the table to make the
event occur.
Ba ckup Pow er So urc e
The site has an emergency generator or
alternate source of energy that mitigates the
effect of any attempt to cut power.
Ba d Wea ther
The climate takes an unexpected turn for
B etraya l
A Narrator Character the team expects to turn
does this now. Hopefully, the team has taken
this contingency into account.
Br ea kdown
A piece of gear the team is using malfunctions or
stops working. Someone will have to fix it before
using it again.
Cha ng e of Heart
A Narrator Character ’s attitude toward one or
more team members worsens by one step. The
Narrator can select this more than once at a time,
resulting in a drastic shift in thinking.
Fa lse A lar m
Defenders react to a problem entirely not the
cause of the heroes. A fire turns on the sprinklers
system, or someone smells smoke and calls
the fire department. This may not be much of
an impediment, unless the team was planning
something similar.
Foil
A new Narrator character is introduced
unexpectedly. She may be a potential ally, rival,
or enemy to the team, depending on the whim of
the Narrator. The team may have to change its
plans to find out more about her.

32
 Technothrillers
Injury
A team member gets hurt performing a task or
during the operation. The cost in Chaos is equal
to the damage bonus. Increase this cost by one
if the Narrator decides the wound would inflict
lethal damage.
O ut o f A m mo
One of the team members hasn’t brought spare
clips for his weapon.
O ut o f Juic e
One piece of equipment relying on a battery is out
of power, and the recharger was left at home.
R ed A lert
The defenders of a site have reason, logical or
otherwise, to think that an infiltration is going on.
They take steps to lock the site down and check
for unauthorized access.
Security Sw eep
The defenders of a Site make a check for
surveillance measures. This allows them to make
a single Search check to discover any planted
items.
Travel R es trictio ns
A change in laws prevents a trip from going as
smoothly as planned. Someone is delayed far
from the location where she is needed.
Th e D e f e nd er s ’
R espo ns e
The Narrator is always free to interrupt the
normal process of an operation to decide that
security personnel are taking proactive measures
against potential infiltrators. Obviously, combat
will need to be played using the standard True20
rules. But, as several entries in the Chaos table
indicate, there will be times when skill checks and
other activities should occur, also.
A typical defender is an ordinary character;
likely one whose abilities are less effective than
the average team member. It may even be easier
for the Narrator to decide what the average
skill bonus will be for various checks that she
anticipates using during an operation.
33
Fa il i ng a S kil l
C h ec k
If the party is relying on a Routine to overcome
a Defense, the rules of probability say that not
every attempt will succeed. A bad roll should not
cut the mission short (unless that’s something
the Narrator has specifically in mind). Instead,
turn poor rolls into opportunities for more
tension. Outcomes like injury and destruction
of gear can take the place of an outright flop.
At the least, the party can decide to let Chaos
and Footprint increase.
Th e Ha c k er ’ s Ro l e
One common failing of techno thriller scenarios
assumes that a hacker character ’s role ends
after the planning stages. However, console
cowboys are just as important during the
operation. The best way to make sure a hacker
remains engaged is to make his checks during
the mission rather than the preparation. Does
his keypad algorithm work correctly? He may
have simulated it, but once the hacker pits it
against the real security system, all bets are
off.
Also, a hacker will probably need to keep
abreast of several things during the mission:
the alertness of the defenders, audiovisual
systems, and any outside communications.
Concentration checks are a good way to
maintain simultaneous activities, even when
the character is far from danger.
In addition to activities in the planning stage,
a hacker has several tricks which can be used
during the mission. These are essentially pre-
existing Routines that each Hacker can use on
the fly. Some of these tricks will only work
once during the operation, while others might
be useful in a number of situations.
Cut Power
The hacker assumes limited control of the
electrical grid, and can shut off crucial
electronic components for needed intervals.
Since people tend to notice blackouts, this
risky strategy tends to work only once a
mission. Cutting power increases the team’s
Footprint by +2. Requires a Computer skill
check (Difficulty 15).
Technothrillers
S ta nd D own
The hacker patches into the security network
and cancels an alarm. Again, defenders tend
to treat repeated false alarms with suspicion.
Requires a Bluff or Intimidate check opposed
by a listener ’s Sense Motive.
Pr a nk Ca ll
The hacker overrides external communica -
tions and interacts with security personnel,
34
posing as police or other providers of assistance.
Initiating a prank call requires a Bluff or Intimidate
check opposed by a listener ’s Sense Motive.
A lgorithm
The hacker can write a program to circumvent the
security system. Leaving evidence of interference
in a computer system increases the team’s
Footprint by +1. Running an algorithm requires a
Computer skill check (Difficulty 20).
 Technothrillers
CHAPTER FIVE – TOOLS OF THE TRADE
Luca held up the wet suit that had just been delivered. “It is only rated to 5 degrees Celsius,
but based on the forecast for the next week, that’s more than enough. Once you’re in, the
garment reverses and can be disassembled. The right leg splits here and here to become a
wrap-around skirt, and the left comes off entirely for your sarong. With practice you should
be able to change in less than forty-five seconds, and meet Veasey after his tournament. Any
questions?”
Intan wrinkled her nose, with a swim flipper in each hand. “Are you sure I can’t attach any
heels?”

variations on the scrambler, using electronic

G ea r
Teams involved in pulling off Technothrillers
missions need to have the very best equipment
to rely on. The following items are a wide sample
of some of moder n gear a character might want to
use. It is designed to supplement the equipment
list in the True20 rule book. Hopefully, this list will
inspire opportunities for tension and excitement.
D escrip tio ns
Items in italics can be installed at a site with a
successful Plant Device result during the planning
stage. When functioning, they can either provide
a team with +1 to Presence, or reveal specialized
information. For example, a keyboard bug would
allow the team to find out what is being regularly
entered into a sensitive computer. Starred entries
contain devices suitable for use as a Defense at
a site.
KEYBOARD BUG
A keyboard bug is a micro-transmitter which
records keystrokes on a computer ’s keyb oard.
TEMPEST GEAR
TEMPEST gear is highly sensitive equipment
that can read the displays of nearby (100 feet)
computer monitors, capturing what the user sees.
A user must make a Computer skill check to
operate it correctly (Difficulty 20).
ANALOG SCRAMBLER*
Anyone attaching an analog scrambler to a
telephone receiver or radio renders their voice
unintelligible to users without their own. Someone
who has recorded the call can attempt to decode
it with the right software and a Computer skill
check (Difficulty 25).
DIGITAL ENCRYPTION SYSTEM*
Digital encryptions systems are more a dvanced
codes. Attackers must make a Difficulty 35
Computer skill check to defeat one.
NONVERBAL TELEPHONE
COMMUNICATOR
The nonverbal telephone communicator
sends bug-proof messages over a tel ephone
line. Available as a keyboard or a pad for
handwritten communication, similar t o a fax
machine. In order to decipher the message
without this gear, an interceptor needs to
succeed at a Computer skill check (Difficulty
30).
VOICE DISTORTER
This renders speech into a mechanical-
sounding voice, concealing the speaker ’s
identity. Listeners can attempt an o pposed
Notice check against the speaker ’s Bluff skill
with a
-15 penalty to recognize the unaltered voice.
Regardless of success or failure, the fact
that the voice is being changed is obvious.
VOICE CHANGER
Voice changers work in much the same way
as the voice distorter, but the output sounds
realistic. This device can alter the speaker ’s
gender and age. The penalty to defeat it is
the same, but attempts to do so should only
be possible if the listener suspects something
is amiss.
WIRETAP*
Wire taps are simple devices that allow a
listener to eavesdrop on a telephone line.
Taps installed outside of a building will not
set off bug detectors within.
LINEMAN’S BUTTSET
Lineman’s buttsets are portable phone
receivers that can monitor a line in use.

35
Technothrillers
G ea r
Item Purchase Difficulty Size
Keyboard Bug 13 Tiny
TEMPEST Gear 20 Small
Analo g Scrambler 12 Tiny
Digital Encryption System 16 Small
Nonverbal Telephone Communicator 15 tiny
Voice Distorter 13 Tiny
Voice Changer 14 Tiny
Exterior Wiretap 12 Tiny
Lineman’s Buttset 13 Tiny
Cellular Monitoring System 28 Small
Cell Phone Immobilizer 22 Small
DTMF Recorder/Decoder 10 Tiny
Laser Communicator 17 Tiny
Laser Microphone 21 Small
Starlight Scope 22 Tiny
Thermographic Viewer 26 Small
Shotg un Microphone 12 Small
Fiberscope 19 Small
Personal Radar/Laser Detector 14 Tiny
Military Radar/Laser Detector 31 Medium
Personal Bug Detector 10 Tiny
RF Bug Detector 15 Small
Nonlinear Junction Detector 28 Medium
Tap Detector 17 Tiny
Telephone Line Analyzer 28 Small
Spect ral Correlator 27 Medium
Countersound Bug Suppressor 30 30 Small
Portable Radio Jammer 19 Medium
Magnetic Media Disruptor 12 Small
Ultrasonic Mapper 5 Tiny
Tool Kit 15 Small
Polygraph 20 Medium
Brass Catcher 5 Small
Detcord 25 Small
Foam Explosive 35 Small
Frame Charge 20 Medium
Thermite Grenade 17 Tiny
EOD Robot 31 Medium
Mirco UAV 21 Small
Robot control unit 25 Small

36
 Technothrillers
CELLULAR MONITORING SYSTEM*
Cellular monitoring systems are tran sceivers
capable of monitoring or jamming up to 250 cellular
telephone numbers. This is automatic once a
particular number is captured, which requires an
initial Computer check (Difficulty 15).
CELL PHONE IMMOBILIZER*
Cell phone immobilizers are jamming devices that
affect all cell phones indiscriminately within 200
yards. Phone users can attempt to circumvent the
effects of a cell phone immobilizer with a Disable
Device check (Difficulty 20). A more powerful (and
illegal) version of this item is Medium-sized. The
size increase adds +5 to the Cost and Difficulty
to defeat it.
DTMF RECORDE R/DECODER
This device records a telephone’s keypad use,
revealing what other numbers the phone has
called.
LASER COMMUNICATOR
A pocket-sized in frared laser that can send voice
communications along a tight or wide beam. The
former cannot be intercepted unless the searcher
is within the line of sight of the beam.
37
LASER MICROPHONE
By bouncing a beam off a window pane, the
laser microphone can pick up sounds on the
other side of the glass.
STARLIGHT SCOPE
A pocket-sized telescope that magnifies
ambient light, allowing normal human vision
on most nights. It grants the use r Night
Vision (per the Feat); however, characters
are at a -2 penalty to Notice and Search
checks when using the scope. In addition,
users exposed to bright lights without an
opportunity to protect their eyes must make
a Fortitude save (Difficulty 25) or be blinded
for five rounds.
THERMOGRAPHIC VIEWER
The most advanced infrared viewer on the
market. It allows vision in total darkness, and
the user will not be blinded by powerful light
or heat sources. This confers Night Vision
per the feat, at double the normal range (or
four times normal human vision).
SHOTGUN MICROPHONE
A larger version of a standard microphone
that can pick up sounds in a cone.
 Technothrillers
RADAR/LASER DETECTOR
Reveals the use of EM devices in security
systems and radar guns.
PERSONAL BUG DETECTOR
This handheld device alerts the user when a
bug is being used in its vicinity (bu t cannot
pinpoint its location). It adds one to the
Search check of any user looking for such
devices.
RF BUG DETECTOR
This device h as greater range than a personal
bug detector, and can locate any transmitters
during use. It adds two to the Search check
of any user looking for such devices.
NONLINEAR JUNCTION DETECTOR*
The most sophisticated bug detector, which
can locate transmitters even when not in use.
It adds three to the Search check of any user
looking for such devices.
COUNTERSOUND BUG SUPPRESSOR*
By canceling sounds within a bug’s detection
range, the listener does not realize they
have been compromised. Listeners who are
aware of it can attempt to modify their bugs
to defeat it with a successful Disable Device
check (Difficulty 20).
PORTABLE RADIO JAMMER*
A small unit that emits static which will foul
devices using radio waves within a 250’
radius. Agents trying to transmit within its
range must make a Disable Devic e check
(Difficulty 25).
TAP DETECTOR*
This self-detects and jams active taps or
transmitters attached to a single telephone
line.
TELEPHONE LINE ANALYZER*
A more complex version of the tap detector
that can monitor more than 15 lines at once.
SPECTRAL CORRELATOR
A suite of equipment combining bug and tap
detection in a single package. It provides a
+2 bonus to Search checks when used for
either function.
MAGNETIC MEDIA DISRUPTOR
This device emits a magnetic pulse that
will erase floppy disks and magnetic tapes,
which will erase any data not burned into a
permanent form. Video and audio tapes, as
well as most computer memory not stored on
38
a CD, are all vulnerable.
FIBERSCOPE
A tiny camera at the end of a flexible wire, which
can be manipulated around corners and tight
spots. It is difficult to notice when used (Difficulty
20 + 1 per foot away the observer is).
ULTRASONIC MAPPER
A portable device that determines the dimensions
of rooms and other enclosed spaces quickly and
silently.
BRASS CATCHER
When added to a firearm, this bag stores spent
shells ejected after use.
POLYGRAPH*
A medical monitor that detects fluctuations in
a subject’s vital signs. Large enough changes
during a stressful interrogation can indicate that
someone is untruthful. This gives the user a
+5 bonus during interrogations and when using
Sense Motive against a subject’s Bluff skill.
DETCORD
Plastic explosive shaped into an unrollable
coil, which can be used as a fuse as well as a
conventional charge. Less potent than a typical
block of explosive.
FOAM EXPLOSIVE
Though weaker than other conventional explosives,
this formula is lighter and easy to conceal. One
can holds enough explosive to cover a Small sized
object.
FRAME CHARGE
A shaped charge of plastique designed to create
a human-sized hole through a wall with minimal
damage to anyone close by.
THERMITE GRENADE
This grenade burns hot and fast, suitable for
melting just about anything it touches without an
explosion.
EOD ROBOT
This resembles a miniature tank or car with a
large articulated arm instead of a cannon. The
arm is used to defuse explosives in situations too
dangerous for humans to handle. It can move
10 feet per round. Operators can use their Craft
(Demolitions) skill directly with it.
MICRO UAV
This is essentially a tiny airplane with a camera
for surveillance use.
 Technothrillers
Exp l o s i v e s Ta b l e
Type Effect Radius Reflex Save
Thermite Grenade +5 damage explosion 10 Feet 12
Detcord +5 damage explosion 20 Feet 15
Foam Explosive +5 damage explosion 30 Feet 12
Frame Charge* +10 damage explosion** 5 Feet 12
* increase damage by +5 for objects the foam is sprayed on.
** increase damage by +5 for the surface it is applied to.

R o b o t Ta b l e
Vehicle Strength Speed Defense Tougnness Size Cost
EOD Robot +0 5mph 10 10 Med 31
Micro UAV +0 30mph 10 5 Med 21

To xi c S ub s ta n c e s Ta b l e
Chemical Diffi- Primary Secondary Cost
culty
Acid per the True20 rules
Drug, Hallucinogenic 18 2 Wis 1 Dex 15
Knockout Gas 17 1 Con Unconscious 17
Nerve Gas 19 3 Con Death 25
Poison, Paraly tic 16 1 Dex Paralyzed 18
Tear Gas 15 1 Con Nauseated 14
Venom 14 2 Con 2 Str 13

39
 Technothrillers
Toxic S ub s ta nc e s
One way to prevent unauthorized access with
a minimum of manpower is to protect a site
with dangerous chemicals. These substances
can also be purchased by a motivated (or
amoral) team if needed.
D escrip tio ns
ACID
The True20 Rules contain mechanics for acid
exposure. One dose is sufficient to damage
a Tiny object of sensitive construction. Acid
is usable in liquid form only.
DRUG, HALLUCINOGENIC
Any drug with psychedelic properties that
affects the judgment of the user. Available in
liquid and gaseous form.
KNOCKOUT GAS
A gas such as chloroform or chloral hydrate
that renders victims unconscious.
NERVE GAS
Deadly gas that inhibits the most vital
functions of living things. Varieties include
VX gas and sarin.
POISON, PARALYTIC
Biological or industrial substances that
cause paralysis. Examples include puffer
fish venom and atropine. Available in liquid
form only.
TEAR GAS
Smoke-like vapor that inhibits vision and
causes nausea in its victims.
VENOM
A catch-all for animal poisons used by some
snakes, sea creatures (such as blue-ringed
octopi or lion fish) and insects (notably
spiders and scorpions). Available in liquid
form only.
V ehic l e s
There are a variety of vehicles usable by
modern characters that are not mentioned in
the True20 rule bo ok. Here is a short list of
additional transportation alternatives.
40
V ehic l e D e s cr ip tio n s
Moped
A low-powered motor scooter. One passenger
can ride with the driver, although both will be
standing.
Snowmobile
A personal vehicle with treads and skis for rapid
movement over snow, ice and frozen ground. It
can fit a driver and one passenger.
Jeep
A utility vehicle suitable for off-road travel. A
driver and three passengers can use one.
HM MWV
A larger version of a jeep. It can take four
passengers along with a driver and gunner for
a heavy machine gun (+6 autofire damage).
Some variants instead hold a recoilless rifle (+5
explosion damage).
RV
A spacious motor home with built in kitchen,
bathrooms and sleeping quarters. There is living
space for six persons, although as many as 25
people may fit inside.
Skis
Skiers can travel 50 feet downhill during the first
round of movement. For each additional round a
character remains mobile in this fashion, he adds
another 50 feet to his movement, to a theoretical
maximum of 1000 feet. Characters who cannot
ski can only fall to prevent this acceleration. This
slows their movement by 200 feet each round, and
inflicts falling damage of +1 per 100 feet of speed
– making it possible to remain falling for longer
than one round!
Practiced skiers can increase their speed by up
to 100 feet per round, remain at a given velocity,
or decrease it by 200 feet in one round without
making skill checks. Characters attempting
anything more extreme must make an Acrobatics
skill check of Difficulty 10, subject to the following
modifiers:
 Technothrillers
Maintaining speed over 500
feet/round
+0 Assa ult Boat
Unusual maneuver (jump, A low-slung inflatable boat used by marine
+10 units for quiet landings. There is room for the
slalom)
Slow by more than 200 feet +5 per additional pilot and five passengers with gear.
/round 50 feet Trawler
Accelerate by 150 feet/
+10 A fishing boat suitable for extended voyages.
round*
Speed (cumulative with +2 per 100 feet of A crew of five can operate one, although
others) movement there is room for fifteen more passengers
or fishermen. With large holds for hauling
* must already be traveling at least 150 feet/ their catch, they are notorious for packing
round communications and espionage gear for use
These modifiers are cumulative; for example, in international waters.
slowing from 300 feet to a complete stop requires
a Skill Check better than Difficulty 26. Failure Ultra lig ht
of these checks leads to a fall, or worse, if the A single-person aircraft capable of short
character is skiing down a heavily wooded slope. flights at relatively low altitudes.
Mini- Sub UAV
A small submersible vehicle suitable for one pilot A large drone plane that can both observe and
and three passen gers. They may be armed with a attack targets. They may be armed with either
single light torpedo (+6 explosion damage). missiles (+5 explosion damage) or a heavy
Unm a nned Sub machine gun (+6 autofire damage).

A robot vehicle piloted from the surface. All of

them have cameras and spotlights; many are
equipped with a mechanical arm (Strength +2,
Dexterity -1).

41
 Technothrillers
O spr ey
A tilt-rotor aircraft that can fly like a helicopter
as well as an airplane for longer distances.
A single pilot can serve as crew, although a
second person is recommended to man the
machine gun (+5 autofire damage). It can carry
24 passengers seated, or 32 when fitted for
para drops. It also features a personal winch
for extractions. It is possible to use these
on loan from the military; otherwise it would
possibly require a Difficulty 60 purchase!

Ha ng G lid er
A light framed glider wing that can carry one
person aloft for a short time. They can be
launched from slow-moving aircraft as well
as a decent height. However, they must rely
on launching speed or weather conditions for
power.

Pa r a chute
Handy for exiting from moving aircraft.
Using one requires an Acrobatics skill check.
Characters wishing to land within a designated
50-foot x 50-foot square/60-foot diameter
circle must beat a base Difficulty of 20. For
every ten points by which the roll exceeds
the Difficulty, reduce these dimensions by 10
feet. For every five points by which the roll
fails, add 10 feet.
Jumping characters take +5 nonlethal
damage upon impact. If they jump into an area
with heavy foliage, they will get entangled in
the trees unless they beat a Reflex Save of 20
(apply the character ’s ranks in Acrobatics as
a bonus to the roll). Damage is only +3, but more
falling damage might be in store if the parachute
is especially high up.
Cu s to m i zi ng G ea r
The techno thriller genre provides many
opportunities for adventure, and in every case,
you need equipment to get the job done. This
system provides a way to design custom gear
for use in missions or various types. It breaks
gear down into three basic categories: the core
component, add-ons, and the casing. Let’s take a
look at each of these categories in turn.

42
 Technothrillers
V e hi c l e Ta b l e
Vehicle Str Top Spd** Accel** Def Tough Size Stability** Cost
Land
Moped +0 6 2 10 5 Med 5 15
Snowmobile +5 6 2 10 6 Med 5 25
Jeep +10 5 0 8 10 Huge 10 28
HMMWV +15 5 0 8 12 Huge 10 40
RV +20 5 -1 6 11 Garg 15 33
Skis +0 * 2 10 2 Med 5 15
Water
Mini-Sub +0 6 0 8 7 Huge 12 50
Unmanned
+0 6 1 9 6 Large 10 39
Sub
Assault Boat +15 6 1 9 6 Large 7 26
Trawler +20 5 -1 6 10 Garg 15 41
Air
Ultralight +0 6 1 9 5 Large 10 25
UAV +0 6 1 10 6 Large 10 34
Osprey +15 6 -1 8 12 Garg 15 60
Hang Glider +0 * 1 9 3 Large 10 26
Parachute +0 Special 0 10 1 Huge 2 15
*See individual listings for special rules
** See Appendix A: Vehicle Chase Rul es for more information

43
 Technothrillers
The Cor e Co m po nent
Core components determine the primary
function of a piece of equipment. For instance,
the core component of a cell phone is a
communications system, while an RF (Radio
Frequency) scrambler ’s primary function would
be an ECM (Electronic Counter Measures)
component. Every piece of equipment has
a primary function. Any bonuses to relevant
skill checks are discussed in the component’s
description along with information about
damage (if the device has a weapon feature).
This component also determines the base
cost of a given piece of equipment.
A dd - o ns
Add-ons are peripheral devices which can be
used to further augment a core component.
These aren’t mandatory, but they do increase
the cost of the piece of gear. An example of
a typical add-on would be a satellite uplink.
Satellite uplinks allow any core component
capable of digitally sending or receiving
information the ability to do so via a satellite.
Each add-on has its own description that
provides details on relevant bonuses to skill
checks, as well as any pertinent information
about damage (if the add-on has a weapon
feature).
Ca sing
This category determines what the end product
is going to look like. Generally speaking,
the equipment’s casing is determined by the
parameters of the mission. A device’s casing
provides a base difficulty for any Notice
checks performed by the Narrator, modified
(if relevant) by the character ’s Sleight of
Hand check. Casings also determine the final
size of the device. No device can have more
than one casing.
G ea r Cr ea tio n
Pr o c e s s
Creating a pi ece of gear is simple. Ju st follow
these steps:
1. Choose your core component.
2. Choose any relevant add-ons.
3. Choose a casing.
4. Add base cost and all cost modifiers.
44
5. Make a Wealth check to purchase the device or
attempt to build it from scratch.
R eading the Entries
Size: The default size for the core component.
Available Add-ons : A list of potential enhanced
features that can be applied to the core
component.
Casing: Whether or not the component needs a
casing.
Base Cost : The Difficulty to purchase the
component. This will be modified by the size of
the casing and any add-ons selected.
Cost Modifier: The modifier increasing the base
cost of a core component.
Complexity : If a Narrator decides that the team
can assemble a component in the fiel d, this entry
lists both the degree of complexity for attempting
a Craft check to build the item and the relevant
Craft specialty.
Co r e Co m p o n e n t s
The following section lists components that are
used as a base to create specific types of gear.
Many of these devices can be used as-is, or
you can modify them with add-ons and casings.
Components that cannot be modifie d with add-
ons or casings will show it in their de scriptions.
A nti- S ecurity Co m po nents
Anti-security components are devices used to
bypass various locking mechanisms and other
elements found in most commercial and privately
owned security systems. This category also
includes clothing worn in operations involving
heists or infiltration missions.
Climbing Suit
A climbing suit consists of a pair of shoes, gloves
and a black spandex body suit with a hood. The
gloves and shoes are lined with a special adhesive
which bonds with concrete, steel and other
materials used in the construction of buildings.
The suit will hold up to 300 pounds without losing
any of its adhesive properties, providing a +5
bonus to Climb checks.
Size: Medium
Available Add-ons: None
Casing: No
Base Cost : 11
Complexity : Moderate (Fine Arts)
 Technothrillers
card is a base 10. Consult the table below for
Co nta ct L ens G ener a tor additional modifiers.
The contact lens generator creates a set of
Security Desired Security
lenses which can be used to fool a retinal scan.
Clearance Clearance Modifier
When the Hero uses contact lenses created
by the generator, the Narrator makes a Notice General access 5
check for the biometric security system at a A d m i n i s t r a t i v e 10
base difficulty of 10 + the score of the optical access
scanner ’s Gather Information check to create Total access 15
the scan used by the contact lens generator.
If the security system succeeds on th e Notice Size: Tiny
check, the system refuses to accept the Available Add-ons: Decrease Size,
retinal information. If the Notice Check fails, Performance Enhancement, Ad ditional
the system accepts the fake retina as valid. Storage, Satellite Uplink
Size: Tiny Casing: Yes
Available Add-ons : Decrease Size, Base Cost : 12
Data Transfer Capabilities, Performance
Complexity : Advanced (Electronic)
Enhancement, Intuitive, Additional Storage,
Wireless Glass Cutter (laser)
Casing: Yes
Much like a manual glass cutter, a laser glass
Base Cos t: 25 cutter is used to cut quickly and effectively
Complexity : Complex (Mechanical) through regular glass, storm windows, and
security-grade glass (bulletproof glass).
Da ta Ca r d Typical use of a laser glass cutter inv olves a
hero attaching the glass cutter to the window,
Data cards are used to gain access to various
programming the diameter of the intended
parts of a building, such as restricted areas of
hole into the device and then activating it. The
a research facility or even a room in a hotel.
laser makes the cut. All that is left is for the
The level of access granted to the owner of a
hero to remove the glass. The device takes
data card depends on the security clearance
one round to cut a hole large enough for a
of the owner. Heroes can access any locked
Medium-size person to fit through.
room in a building allowed by the data card
without needing to make any Disable Device Size: Tiny
checks. Available Add-ons: Muffled, Ranged Use,
Size: Diminutive Masterwork
Available Add-ons: None Casing: Yes
Casing: No Base Cost : 0
Base Cost : 10 Complexity : Complex (Electronic)
Complexity : Complex (Electronic) Glass Cutter (m a nua l)
Da ta Ca r d R ea d ers/Writers A manual glass cutter is a circular hand-held
device used to cut through regular glass found
These devices will scan a working data card,
on the outside of most homes and businesses.
copy the security information it contains to a
If used in combat, the device is considered
storage drive, attempt to decrypt the security
a one-handed improvised melee weapon and
clearances, and download the information to a
does +1 slashing damage due to the sharpness
blank data card with the needed authorizations
of the blade. The device takes 2 rounds to
approved. To determine whether or not a
cut a hole large enough for a Medium-sized
data card reader/writer successfully obtains
person to fit through.
the required information, make a Gather
Information check. The base difficulty to Size: Diminutive
analyze and decrypt the information on a data Available Add-ons: Muffled, Masterwork

45
Technothrillers
Casing: Yes
Base Cost : 5
Complexity : Moderate (Mechanical)
Gr a ppler G un
A grappler gun fires a grappling hook and an
attached cable up to 150 feet away. Alternately,
the grappling hook can be swapped out with a
dense magnet which will hold up to 300 pounds
without slipping. To use a grappler gun, make
a Ranged touch attack (Difficulty 10). Success
indicates yo u have affixed the grappling hook
or magnet to its intended position.
Size: Small
Available Add-ons: Decrease Size,
Masterwork, Muffled
Casing: Yes
Base Cos t: 10
Complexity : Simple (Mechanical)
Gr avity Ha r nes s
A gravity harness allows a character to hang
from two thick nylon cords (one on either side
of the torso) while keeping their hands free
to perform necessary tasks. The harness is
powered by a small motor which allows the
character to lower herself up to 100 feet
without making a climb check. The cords can
be retracted by remote control. When using a
gravity harness, the character must make an
Acrobatics check (Difficulty 10) to remain in
the desired position.
Size: Medium
Available Add-ons: Decrease Size, Base Cost : 25
Masterwork, Muffled
Casing: Yes
Base Cost : 15
Complexity : Moderate (Mechanical)
Fing er print Sca nner
The fingerprint scanner is used to digitally
scan fingerprints into a storage medium where
they are then transferred to a fingerprint
generator and prepared for output in latex
form. The effectiveness of a fingerprint
scanner is determined by the quantity of
the print obtained. To determin e if the
device func tioned properly, make a Gather
Information check. Use the following chart
to determine the difficulty of the fingerprint
scanner ’s G ather Information check.
46
Fingerprint Fingerprint
Information Difficulty
Full 5
Partial 10
Negligible 15
Size: Diminutive
Available Add-ons: Decrease Size, Data
Transfer Capabilities, Performance Enhancement,
Additional Storage, Wireless Access.
Casing: Yes
Base Cost : 25
Complexity : Complex (Electronic)
Fing erprint Generator
The fingerprint generator creates a clear latex
fingerprint which can be used to access rooms,
vaults, safes and even various types o f technology
protected by biometric security systems which
require a fingerprint identity scan. When the Hero
uses the latex print, the Narrator makes a Notice
check for the biometric security system at a base
difficulty of 10 + the score of the Fingerprint
scanner ’s Gather Information check to create
the scan used by the fingerprint generator. If the
security system succeeds on the Notice check,
the system refuses to accept the fingerprint. If
the Notice Check fails, the system accepts the
fingerprint as valid.
Size: Tiny
Available Add-ons : Decrease Size, D ata Transfer
Capabilities, Performance Enhancement, Intuitive,
Additional Storage, Wireless Access
Casing: Yes
Complexity : Complex (Mechanical)
Lock Pick
Lock picks are used to open common locks such
as pin tumbler locks, tubular pin tumbler locks,
lever locks and wafer locks. They are comprised of
a number of picks and tension wrenches. Disable
Device checks used to open these types of locks
require that heroes have lock pick s. Manually
picking a lock takes one round to accomplish.
Size: Diminutive
Available Add-ons: Masterwork, Decrease Size
Casing: Yes
Base Cos t: 5
Complexity : Simple (Mechanical)
 Technothrillers
Optica l Sca nner
The optical scanner is used to digitally record
a target’s retinal information into a storage
media for use in a contact lens generator. The
effectiveness of an optical scanner is determined
by the amount of retinal data obtained by the
device. To determine if the device functioned
properly, make a Gather Information check. Use
the following chart to determine the difficulty of
the optical scanner ’s Gather Information check.
Retinal Informa tion Retinal Data Difficulty
Full 5 networks the computer may be connected to.
Partial 10
Negligible 15
Size: Diminutive
Available Add-ons: Decrease Size, Data
Transfer Capabilities, Performance Enhancement,
Additional Storage, Wireless Access
Casing: Yes
Base Cost : 30
Complexity : Complex (Electronic)
Porta ble Cutting Torch
A portable cutting torch is used to burn through
various materials such as concrete, iron, and
steel. If used in combat, the device is considered
a one-handed improvised melee weapon and does
+2 fire damage due to intense heat.
Size: Small
Available Add-ons: Decrease Size, Additional
Storage, Submersible
Casing: Yes
Base Cost : 10
Complexity : Moderate (Mechanical)
Co mputer Components
Computer hardware components modify or
otherwise affect a given computer system. The
system in question might be a desktop computer,
a laptop, or even a server. The following are just a
few examples of the possible types of components
you can create for your computer systems.
Data b o m b Drive
This special USB flash drive is the hottest thing
on the streets for the modern hacker. It contains
a plethora of pre-made hacking programs, from
Trojan horses to logic bombs to password sniffers.
47
They run automatically upon insertion into
a USB slot, requiring no input to go about
their programmed tasks. With one of these in
hand, even relatively inexperienced computer
user becomes a hacker to reckoned with. The
data bomb drive has an effective Computers
bonus of +20; the Narrator rolls the data
bomb drive’s Computers check as soon as
it is connected to a system. Each upgrade
increases the effectiveness of the program,
adding +1 to Computers checks.
• Skeleton Key : The data bomb drive attempts
to open up full system access, including any
This is a defeat computer security task.
• Annihilation : The data bomb drive attempts
to eliminate all data on the system. This is a
degrade programming task.
Data bomb drives require at least a full-
round action to work, and may take longer
depending on how well-defended the system
is. Each upgrade increases the effectiveness
of the installed programs, adding a + 2 bonus
to the relevant Computers check.
Size: Tiny
Available Add-ons: Decreased size, Intuitive,
Upgrade, Satellite Uplink
Casing: Yes
Base Cost : 30
Complexity : Complex (Electronic)
Data L eech
When placed in close proximity to a computer
hard drive, a data leech is a piece of hardware
that will attempt to siphon all the computer
files and programs from the computer and
place them into an on-board storage drive.
The device has an effective Computers bonus
of +10. The Narrator rolls the data leech’s
Computers check against a Difficulty 20 plus
any relevant bonuses provided by th e target
system’s security. Success indicates the data
leech has copied the hard drive’s information.
Each upgrade adds a +5 bonus to the data
leech’s Computers check.
Size: Tiny
Available Add-ons: Decreased size, Intuitive,
Upgrade, Performance Enhancement, Satellite
Uplink
Casing: Yes
Base Cost : 30
Complexity : Complex (Electronic)
 Technothrillers
Fir e wa ll
A fire wall is the main line of defense against
attempts to hack into a computer. Fire walls
grant the user a +5 bonus to defend security
checks. Each upgrade grants another +2 bonus
to defend security Checks.
Size: Small
Available Add-ons: Upgrade
Casing: No
Base Cost : 10
Complexity : Moderate (Electronic)
R a nd o m Acc es s M emory
Random access memory (otherwise known as
RAM) increases the computer system’s speed for
loading, displaying and allowing manipulation
of applications (computer programs) and data.
Every stick of RAM increases the speed at
which a user can perform Compute rs checks.
Each upgrade reduces the time required to write
programs by 5 minutes for every additional stick
of RAM added to the system.
Size: Fine
Available Add-ons: Upgrade
Casing: No
Base Cost: 11
Complexity : Moderate (Electronic)
C o m m u n i c a t i o n s
Components
Core communications components are devices
which facilitate communication between one or
more individuals.
Cell Pho ne
A cell phone is a small handheld device used
for communication.
Size: Diminutive
Available Add-ons: Additional Storage, Data
Transfer Capabilities, Interface Capabilities,
Programmable, Secure Line
Casing: Yes
Base Cost : 9
Complexity : Moderate (Electronic)
Micro tr a nsc eiver
A micro transceiver is a miniature microphone
48
that allows the wearer to communicate with
another person or persons.
Size: Fine
Available Add-ons: Data Transfer Capabilities,
Satellite Uplink
Casing: Yes
Base Cost : 15
Complexity : Moderate (Electronic)
Laser Com municator
A pocket-sized infrared laser that can send
voice communications along a tight or wide
beam. The former cannot be intercepted
unless the searcher is within the line of sight
of the beam. Ranges are 4 miles for the tight
beam and 1 mile for the wide beam.
Size: Tiny
Available Add-ons: Long Range
Casing: yes
Base Cost: 17
Complexity : Moderate (Electronic)
Nonverba l Telephone
Com municator
This sends bug-proof messages over a
telephone line. Available as a keyboard or a
pad for handwritten communication.
Size: Tiny
Available Add-ons: none
Casing: no
Base Cost : 15
Complexity : Moderate (Electronic)
EC M (Electro nic Co unter
M ea s ur e) Co m po nents
Electronic Counter Measure (ECM) components
are used to affect the functionality of other
electronic devices, such as radio transmitters,
security cameras, and listening de vices.
Digita l Sig na l Scra mbler
A digital signal scrambler is a device which
scrambles digital signals, blacking out
security cameras and monitors in a three block
radius. A digital signal scrambler initiates
an opposed test between the operator of the
device and the operator or the targeted piece
of equipment. Both the Hero and the Narrator
make a die roll, adding the technology rating
 Technothrillers
(cost) of their respective pieces of equipment
Base Cost : 22
to the result. The highest result wins the test.
Each upgrade increases the power of the digital Complexity : Moderate (Electronic)
signal scrambler ’s signal, adding a +1 bonus to
any opposed tests. Radar/Laser D etector
Size: Small Reveals the use of EM devices in security
Available Add-ons: Decreased Size, Upgrade systems and radar guns.

Casing: Yes Size: Tiny

Base Cost : 25 Available Add-ons: Upgrade (increase size

to Medium; Cost +10)
Complexity : Complex (Electronic)
Casing: yes
RF Scr a m bler Base Cost : 15
An RF scrambler is a device that scrambles Complexity : Moderate (Electronic)
radio signals, preventing the targets from
sending or receiving information through radio Persona l Bug D etector
transmissions. An RF scrambler will attempt to This handheld device alerts the user when a
jam any transmissions within a 500-yard radius, bug is being used in its vicinity (but cannot
initiating an opposed test between the operator pinpoint its location). Battery life is 24
of the RF scrambler and the person sending the hours.
message being jammed. Both the hero and the
Narrator roll a d20, adding the technology rating Size: Tiny
(cost) of their res pective pieces of equipment to Available Add-ons: none
the result. Whoever rolls the highest wins the
Casing: yes
test. Each upgrade increases the power of the
RF scrambler ’s signal, adding a +1 bonus to any Base Cost : 10
opposed tests. Complexity : Simple (Electronic)
Size: Small
RF Bug D etector
Available Add-ons: Decreased size, Upgrade
Casing: Yes This device has greater range than a personal
bug detector, and can locate any transmitters
Base Cost : 25 during use. Battery life is 12 hours.
Complexity : Moderate (Electronic) Size: Small
Cell ula r Mo nitoring Sys tem Available Add-ons: none
Casing: yes
A transceiver capable of monitoring or jamming
up to 250 cellular telephone numbers. Base Cost: 15
Size: Small Complexity : Moderate (Electronic)
Available Add-ons : Decreased Size, Integral Nonlinear Junction D etector
Battery
Casing: yes The most sophisticated bug detector, which
can locate transmitters even when not in use.
Base Cost : 25 Runs off external current.
Complexity : Complex (Electronic) Size: Medium
Cell Pho ne Im mobilizer Available Add-ons: Integral Battery
Casing: yes
A jamming device that affects all cell phones
indiscriminately within 500 feet. Base Cost : 28
Size: Small Complexity : Complex (Electronic)
Available Add-ons: Integral Battery, Upgrade Mag netic Media Disruptor
(increase size to Medium; Cost +5)
Casing: yes This device emits a magnetic pulse which will

49
 Technothrillers
erase floppy disks and magnetic tapes. Voice Cha ng er
Size: Small As the voice distorter, but the output sounds
Available Add-ons: none realistic. Can be used to mask the gender and
age of the speaker.
Casing: yes
Size: Tiny
Base Cost : 12
Available Add-ons: none
Complexity : Simple (Electronic)
Casing: no
Ta p D etector Base Cost : 14
This self-detects and jams active taps or Complexity : Moderate (Electronic)
transmitters attached to a single telephone
line. Pha r m a c eutica l Co m po nents
Size: Tiny Pharmaceutical components are drugs commonly
Available Add-ons: none used to affect a single target’s resolve or current
state.
Casing: no
Base Cost : 12 Sodium Pentotha l
Complexity : Simple (Electronic) Sodium Pentothal, more commonly known as
“truth serum ,” is used by spies and other federal
Sp ectr a l Cor r ela tor agents during interrogations. It is a powerful
A suite of equipment combining bug and tap tranquilizer, capable of quickly rendering a target
detection in a single package. unconscious. A barbiturate, Sodium Pentathol
works by decreasing the subject’s ability for higher
Size: Medium
cortical brain function, consequently making it
Available Add-ons: Decreased Size, more difficult to tell a lie. People who have been
Integral Battery injected with a standard dose of Sodium Pentothal
Casing: yes must make a Fortitude save (Difficulty 20) or lose
initial and secondary damage of 2 Charisma. The
Base Cost : 27 duration of a typical injection is one hour. Highly
Complexity : Complex (Electronic) concentrated dosages of Sodium Pentothal will
knock a character out, while overdosing can cause
Digita l Encryp tio n Sys tem coma and death. Targets must make a Fortitude
save (Difficulty 25) or be rendered unconscious
A more advanced variation on the sc rambler,
for 10 minutes.
using electronic codes.
Size: Fine
Size: Small
Available Add-ons: Concentrated Dosage,
Available Add-ons: Integral Battery
Multiple Delivery Systems
Casing: yes
Casing: Yes
Base Cost : 16
Base Cost : 17
Complexity : Complex (Electronic)
Complexity : Moderate (Chemical)
Voic e Dis torter Liquid D elivery
When attached to a telephone receiver or
This component includes secure storage for a
microphone, this renders speech into a
hazardous chemical, as well as the means to
mechanical-sounding voice, concealing the
apply it to one individual (either topically or with a
speaker ’s identity.
hypodermic needle). This can be used to expose
Size: Tiny any liquid listed in the Toxic Substances table. A
Available Add-ons: none concentrated dosage adds 2 to the relevant Save
Difficulty.
Casing: no
Size: Fine
Base Cos t: 13
Available Add-ons: Concentrated Dosage
Complexity : Simple (Electronic)

50
 Technothrillers
Casing: Yes
Base Cost : 17
Complexity : Moderate (Chemical)
Gas Disp ersa l
This component i ncludes a pressurized container
for a gas and a nozzle which will release it in enough
of a concentration to affect a single individual.
This can be used to expose any gas listed in the
Toxic Substances table. A concentrated dosage
adds 2 to the relevant Save Difficulty.
Size: Fine
Available Add-ons: Concentrated Dosage
Casing: Yes
Base Cost : 17
Complexity : Moderate (Chemical)
Phar m a c eutica l Em ula tor
Another way to use powers in a Technothrillers
game is to allow their use via a chemical delivery
system. The following powers could be emulated
in the form of a drug: Bliss, Body Control, Calm,
Drain Vitality, Enhance Ability, Enhance Other,
Harm, Heart Shaping, Pain, Sleep. As with
the Power Emulator component, a player who
wants to use this component must come up with
an explanation that satisfies the Narrator. A Base Cos t: 13
concentrated dosage adds 2 to the relevant Save
Difficulty.
Size: Fine
Available Add-ons : Concentrated Dosage,
Multiple Delivery Systems
Casing: Yes
Base Cost : 17
Complexity : Moderate (Chemical)
Surveilla nce Components
Surveillance components allow characters to
observe targets in relative safety and secrecy.
Micropho ne A
A simple listening device, yet one of the most
important tricks of the trade. Its range is one-half
mile, and has a battery life of one week.
Size: Fine
Available Add-ons: Infrared Trans mission,
Contact, Data Storage, Long Range, Burst
Transmission, Passive
Casing: yes
Base Cost : 13
51
Complexity : Simple (Electronic)
Vid eo Ca m era V
In the era of personal video, cameras are so
small as to become almost unobtrusive – until
they capture something compromising. Its
range is one-quarter mile, and it has a battery
life of one week.
Size: Tiny
Available Add-ons: Data Storage, Long
Range, Burst Transmission
Casing: yes
Base Cost : 15
Complexity : Simple (Electronic)
Keyboard Bug V
This transmitter records keystrokes on a
computer keyboard. It is not as versatile as a
TEMPEST system, and must be placed on the
keyboard or computer to function. It can either
transmit like a typical bug, or allow access
Size: Tiny
Available Add-ons: Additional Storage, Burst
Transmission, Long Range, Trojan
Casing: yes
Complexity : Moderate (Electronic)
Laser Microphone
A laser microphone bounces a tight beam onto
a normal window, converting the vibrations
caused by sound on the other side into an
audio feed. This device needs to be used with
a clear line of sight between the unit and the
window. Its range is one mile, and operates
from an external power source.
Size: Medium
Available Add-ons: Long Range, Integral
Battery
Casing: Yes
Base Cost : 16
Complexity : Complex (Electronic)
Tracking D evice V or A
When attached to a person, item or car, a
tracking device broadcasts its location. Audio
versions of a tracking device emit a simple
tone or flashing light that changes when the
receiver gets closer. Video trackers provide
more specific information about distance and
 Technothrillers and tight spots. The cable can extend five feet
bearing, including GPS coordinates; the
from the integral video monitor. It has a battery
latter is also useful for team members that
life of 6 hours.
have to operate individually. Its range is 2
miles, and it has a battery life of 2 days. Size: Small
Size: Fine Available Add-ons: none
Available Add-ons: Long Range Casing: yes
Casing: yes Base Cost : 15
Base Cost : 11 Complexity : Complex (Electronic)
Complexity : Moderate (Electronic) A Requires Audio Receiver
V Requires Video Receiver
D TM F R ecor d er/D ecod er
Misc ell a neo us Co m po nents
This device records a telephone’s keypad
use, revealing what other numbers the phone This is a catch-all category for various components
has called. that should come in handy for a mission.
Size: Tiny
GPS R eceiver
Available Add-ons: Additional Storage,
Trojan A satellite-linked receiver that can pinpoint its
location nearly anywhere on earth.
Casing: no
Size: Tiny
Base Cost : 10
Available Add-ons: none
Complexity : Moderate (Electronic)
Casing: yes
Sca nner Base Cost : 15
A non-secure device that picks up audio Complexity : Moderate (Electronic)
transmissions and cell-phone conversations.
It has a range is one-quarter mile, and Audio R eceiver
typically operates from an external power
source. The basic component for receiving audio
broadcasts.
Size: Medium
Size: Tiny
Available Add-ons: Long Range, Integral
Battery Available Add-ons : Data Storage, Integral
Battery, Satellite Uplink
Casing: yes
Casing: yes
Base Cost : 11
Base Cos t: 10
Complexity : Moderate (Electronic)
Complexity : Simple (Electronic)
TEM P EST G ea r
Vid eo R eceiver
Special equipment which can read the
displays of nearby (100 feet) computer A simple television screen for picking up video
monitors, capturing what the user sees. It transmissions.
needs an external power source to operate. Size: Small
Size: medium Available Add-ons: Data Storage, Decreased
Available Add-ons: Integral Battery Size, Integral Battery, Satellite Uplink

Casing: yes Casing: yes

Base Cost : 20 Base Cost : 12

Complexity : Complex (Electronic) Complexity : Simple (Electronic)

Fib erscop e Robot Control Station

A fiber-optic camera with a highly A portable console for guiding a robot or drone.
maneuverable end that can peek past corners Size: Medium

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 Technothrillers
Available Add-ons: Integral Battery, Long RF D etonator
Range
A radio-activated switch for the detonation of
Casing: yes
explosive devices. This allows them to be set
Base Cost : 25 off from a safe distance.
Complexity : Complex (Electronic) Size: Tiny
Ultr a so nic M a pp er Available Add-ons: none
Casing: yes
A portable device that determines the dimensions
of rooms and other enclosed spaces quickly and Base Cost : 5
silently. Complexity : Simple (Electronic)
Size: Tiny
Power Emulator
Available Add-ons: none
Narrators who want the ability to incorporate
Casing: yes
powers without the supernatural can use this
Base Cost : 5 option. This is a catch-all for a technological
Complexity : Moderate (Electronic) device that can mimic a power chosen at the
time the component is designed. Not every
Mini To o l Kit power should be available for duplication using
this component! At the very least, a player
When this is purchased choose a Craft skill should be able to come up with a plausible-
specialty; it operates as half a standard tool kit, sounding explanation for how the power works.
reducing the penalty for using the skill without For example, forged documents might be able
tools by 2. to allow someone access to an area, e mulating
Size: Small a specific use of the Suggestion power.
Available Add-ons: Decreased Size, Versatile Here is a potential list of powers that might
be incorporated in this way: Combat Sense,
Casing: yes
Computer Link, Cure (any), Elemental Blast
Base Cost : 10 (Energy, Fire, or Sonic), Elemental Resistance
Complexity : Simple (Mechanical) (Cold, Energy, Fire, or Sonic), Enhance
Senses, Harm, Heart Reading, Illusion, Pain,
Multifunctio n Clo thing Suggestion, Truth Reading. Note that Sonic
is a special category for purposes of these
A normal-looking article of clothing can be rules.
improved to offer any of several features. Cost is
per the article of clothing plus the add-on. Size: Small

Size: Small to Medium Available Add-ons: Decreased Size

Available Add-ons: Double-sided, Armored, Casing: No

Sealed Base Cost : 12
Casing: no Complexity : Moderate to Complex (Electronic
Base Cost : Per article of clothing or Mechanical)

Complexity : Moderate (Fine Arts)

A dd - o ns
D eto na tor
Add-ons are additional modifications you can
All explosive devices, with the exception of a make to core components to increase the
frame charge, need a detonator to set them off. performance of your equipment. Once you
have chosen a core component, add the cost
Size: Tiny
modifier of the add-on(s) you wish to purchase
Available Add-ons: Programmable to the base cost of the core component. The
Casing: yes number of add-ons you may purchase for your
device is limited only by the cost and what
Base Cost : 4 is available for a given core component. The
Complexity : Simple (Mechanical) following are just a few possibilities of add-
ons that can be created for core components:

53
 Technothrillers
A dditio na l S tor a g e
This add-on increases the data storage
component by an amount equal to its original
storage capacity. For example, a fingerprint
scanner with additional storage can store data
for two fingerprints. The same component
with two additional storage add-ons can store
three fingerprints.
Cost Modifier: +2
Co nc entr a ted D o sa g e
Certain drugs can be concentrated for increased
effect, as listed in their descriptions.
Cost Modifier: +3
Da ta Tr a ns fer Ca pa bilities
This core component is able to transfer its
data to another device using a common data
format. It requires a physical connection to
do so unless the components both have the
wireless access or satellite uplink add-ons.
Cost Modifier: +1
D ecr ea s ed Size
Advances in miniaturization allow complex
devices to be offered in smaller package.
Each time this add-on is applied to a core
component, it becomes the next smaller size
(a Small object becomes Tiny, etc).
Cost Modifier: +4
Inter fa c e Ca pa bilities
A component with this add-on can i nterface
with other devices for added functionality. For
example, a laptop computer and cell phone with
interface capabilities can allow the computer
to connect to a cellular network. Interfacing
requires a physical connection unless both
components also have the wireless a ccess or
satellite uplink add-ons.
Cost Modifier: +1
Intuitive
The more advanced the technology, the more
complicated it is to use, unless it is designed
to be intuitive. By simplifying as much of the
operation as possible, the core component
can be activated and used as a free action.
Cost Modifier: +1
54
Masterwor k
This core component is finely made, providing a
+1 bonus on rolls made to use it.
Cost Modifier: +5
Muffled
This component works more quietly than normal,
requiring a Notice check (Difficulty 10) to hear.
Each time this add-on is applied beyond the
first, the Notice Difficulty is increased by 5 (to a
maximum of 30)
Cost Modifier: +2
Multiple D elivery Systems
In the field, not every drug can be injected into its
desired target. A multiple delivery system drug is
available in a form that can be quickly converted
into any mode of delivery: inhaled, ingested,
contact, or injected. The drug must be converted
to one of these forms to be usable; doing so is
a full-round action. Once converted, the drug
is stuck in that delivery form. This add-on can
also be used in chemical components to create
weaponized versions.
Cost Modifier: +2
Per for m a nce Enha ncem ent
The core component has been improved to work
faster. The device’s operation takes less time,
going from a full-round action to a move action.
Cost Modifier: +5
Progra m m able
A programmable component has a wealth of
additional functionality. The user is able to
preset a number of automatic conditions for the
device’s operation. For example, the user can
set the device to activate after a time delay,
activate automatically under certain conditions,
deactivate under certain conditions, or anything
else the device is able to do within the limits of
its design.
Cost Modifier: +4
Ra ng ed Use
This component can now be used up to 5 feet
away from the objects it affects.
Cost Modifier: +2
Satellite Uplink
Hundreds of satellites orbit the Earth, making
 Technothrillers
satellite connections one of the most reliable forms
of uplink. Items with a satellite uplink are able to
connect to the Internet or communicate w ith other
connected systems regardless of their location,
without the need for a hardwired connection or a
wireless area network.
Cost Modifier: +3
Secur e Line
This component’s connection is hardened against
interception and tapping. The difficulty of cracking
a secure line is increased by +5 each time this
add-on is applied
Cost Modifier: +2
Subm ersible
The core component can function even if
submersed in water or other liquids.
Cost Modifier: +1
Upgr a d e
Core components are improved by a generic
upgrade to performance and design as listed in
their descriptions.
Cost Modifier: +1
Wir eles s Acc es s
The component can access wireless networks,
allowing it to connect to other systems or
the I nternet without a physical conne ction. A
wireless network must be present, however, for
a component with wireless access to be able to
connect to anything.
Cost Modifier: +2
Infr a r ed Tr a ns mis sio n
The device transmits its data along an infrared
wavelength. This avoids normal bug detectors,
but c an only be used with a clear line of sight.
This is incompatible with the Data Storage add-
on.
Cost Modifier: +2
Data S tor a g e
The device records what it collects, instead of
transmitting anything. There is no danger of
it being jammed, although someone will need
to periodically access the device to u se what
it has recorded. This is incompatible with the
Long Range, Infrared Transmission, or Burst
Transmission add-ons.
Cost Modifier: -1
55
Long Ra ng e
This transmitter ’s range is doubled. This is
incompatible with the Data Storage add-on.
Cost Modifier: +1
Double- sid ed
The clothing is reversible, allowing for a totally
different look. Anyone trying to penetrate a
disguise having seen one side should have
their Difficulty increased by 3 when the clothes
are reversed.
Cost Modifier: +1
Ar mor ed
The clothing contains inserts for armor plates,
conferring a +2 Toughness bonus.
Cost Modifier: +2
Sea led
The clothing can double as a wet-suit for
underwater wearing.
Cost Modifier: +1
C a si ng s
A casing is a cover for a device that makes
it look like something it’s not. Being able to
sneak equipment into a research facility is
often critical to a mission. Walking through
the door with a bunch of high-tech gadgets
in plain sight just isn’t going to cut it. The
types of casings you can use for your gear are
endless.
You might modify a data leech to look like a
pack of gum or a compact. A microtransciever
might be fashioned to look like earrings, a cuff
link or a watch. Apply a couple of decrease
size add-ons to your RF scrambler and make
it look like an MP3 player. With this system,
you’re only limited by your imagination!
The size of the casing you choose determines
the final cost of your piece of gear. Consult the
following table to find cost modifiers based on
size.
 Technothrillers
prohibitively high in most cases, which means that
Ca sing Siz es the teams will need to drill excessively or look into
a fail-safe Countermeasure. Even then, these
Size Cost Modifier solutions will require a great deal of preparation
Large — to function. For teams assembling them in the
Medium +1 field, the relevant Craft specialty and complexity
are provided. Anything listed as “Advanced” is
Small +2
effectively super science.
Tiny +3
The Narrator should not consider this list
Diminutive +4 exhaustive. Part of the fun of Technothrillers is
Fine +5 listening to the impressive array of defenses, as
well as the team’s attempts to defeat them!
S a m pl e Ca sing s
EM Car Stopper
The following examples of potential casings
are by no means exhaustive. We encourage An electronic device that stalls vehicles which
you to get with your Narrator and develop pass over it.
new and interesting casings for your gear. Routine: Drive; Difficulty 30
•Large : Vending machine, refrigerator, Hack : Cut Power
desk, box, washing machine, dryer, stereo
components, speakers, suitcase, television Countermeasur e: Automobile shielding; Craft
(Automotive), Moderate
•Medium: Briefcase, clothing, laptop,
backpack, pants, shirt, shorts Noiseless Button Bomblets
•Small : Video camera, paperback book,
Virtually undetectable microphones spread over
toolbox, pencil sharpener, tie, shoes
a large outdoor area. Noiseless button bomblets
•Tiny: Camera, can of shaving cream, pick up and analyze any unusual sounds.
Thermos
Routine: Stealth vs. Notice; or Craft (Electronic),
• Diminutive: Dental floss, beeper, cell Difficulty 35
phone, lipstick, breath spray
Hack : Stand down
•Fine: jewelry, business card, coin
Countermeasure : Ambient camouflage ; Craft
(Fine Arts) Complex
D efens es
On the other side of the equation are
technological defenses that exist to deny
Countersniper D etection Systems
a team access to a Site and its sensitive A battery of sensors able to detect and analyze
locations. They range from devices that the trajectory of an incoming bullet (acoustic) or
have been used for centuries to things on the a muzzle flash (visual). Once it detects incoming
forefront of technology. A team will typically fire, it can pin down the location of a shooter.
discover their existence during the course
of the planning phase; then the hard part Routine: Craft (Demolitions); Difficulty 40
begins. Hack : Cut power
Some of these items appear as separate Countermeasure : Remote weapon system; Craft
entries in the equipment section. If there are (Electronic), Complex
any special rules, they will appear there. It
is entirely possible that the bad guys will try Lock
to use the same gear that the heroes depend
Locks are low tech solutions with some high-tech
on.
variations. The simplest systems – either a key
Each defense includes potential ways or combination mechanism – are not electronic
to circumvent them, either through the and cannot be hacked.
development of a skill-based routine, a
Routine: Disable Device; Difficulty 20-40
hacking attempt, or a countermeasure.
The Difficulties for defeating them are Countermeasure : Lockpick gun; Craft
(Mechanical), Simple

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 Technothrillers
Keypa d Lo ck Routine: Escape Artist, Acrobatics; Difficulty
A more advanced version of a combination lock, 40
which opens only to an alphanumeric password. Hack : Cut Power
Routine: Disable Device, Craft (Electronic); Countermeasure : Virtual Fence; Craft
Difficulty 25-45 (Mechanical), Complex
Hack : Cut power, Algorithm
Heartb eat D etector
Countermeasure : Password Generator; Craft
(Electronic); Advanced A portable suite of sensors that can detect the
vibration caused by a human heartbeat. Used
Cardkey Lo ck to determine the number of occupants inside
a vehicle or large container – to tell if there
The keys to these modern locks are plastic cards are any hidden passengers.
with a magnetic strip carrying the access codes.
Routine: Concentration; Difficulty 40
Routine: Disable Device, Craft (Electronic);
Difficulty 30-50 Hack : Cut Power

Hack : Cut Power Countermeasure : White noise generator;

Craft (Electronic); Advanced
Countermeasure : Datacard & Reader
Millim eter-Wave Im aging
Biosca n Lo ck
This technology uses high-spectrum E M waves
This lock analyzes unique biometric data about a to see images through solids and gases.
user (finger- palm- or voice prints or retinal scan), An active imager has a range of 100 feet;
only letting in authorized personnel. a passive system has only a 10-foot range.
Routine: Disable Device; Difficulty 30-50 Thankfully, they need a human operator to
analyze the image – but observers get a +20
Hack : Algorithm
bonus to their Notice rolls. Although they can
Countermeasure : Fingerprint/Retinal scanner; penetrate walls and smoke with ease, high
Biometric bomb humidity will block this viewer.
Circuit Wir es Routine: Stealth vs Notice
Hack : Cut Power
Both burglar alarms and some explosive triggers
are activated by the completion of an electrical Countermeasure: High-moisture environment;
circuit. Craft (Construction); Advanced.
Routine: Disable Device; Difficulty 35
Hack : Stand Down; cut power Meta l D etector
Countermeasure : Null resistor; Craft (Electronic),
A wand or door-frame that registers the
Advanced
presence of metal objects. If a handheld unit
Conta ct Pla te is used by a security guard, the guard receives
a +15 bonus to his Search check.
Similar to the con cept of the circuit wire, a contact Routine: Sleight of Hand vs Search (or
plate requires conductive or otherwise sensitive Difficulty 35)
material to activate.
Hack : Cut Power
Routine: Disable Device; Difficulty 35
Countermeasure : Composite materials; Craft
Hack : Stand Down; cut power (Chemical), Complex
Countermeasure : Baffle; Craft (Mechanical),
Advanced X-Ray Viewer
Fenc e Pro tectio n Sys tem Using similar principles, this camera looks
inside objects for contraband.
This is a string of sensors along a fence that Routine: Sleight of Hand, Difficulty 40
detect vibrations as well as attempts to cut it. The
sensors themselves are also protected against Hack : Cut Power
tampering.

57
 Technothrillers
Countermeasure : Composite materials;
Craft (Chemi cal), Complex

Ga s Tr a p
A sensor connected to a burglar alarm or
pressure plate can release gas from a secure
canister. This is an easy way to protect areas
that cannot be checked frequently by humans.
Any of the gases in the Toxic Substances
table can be loaded into such a device.
Routine: Concentration; Difficulty 3 5
Countermeasure : Gas Mask; Craft
(Chemical), Simple or HazMat suit; Craft
(Mechanical), Moderate

Minefield
The ultimate in passive protection. Characters
attempting to cross an area protected with
mines must make a Reflex Save every 30
feet of travel. Failure subjects them to +7
explosive damage. A character with 10 or
more ranks in Notice can add +2 to hi s saving
throw.
Routine: Acrobatics; Difficulty 30-45
Countermeasure : Mine detector; Craft
(Electronic) Simple

Mo tio n D etectors
microphones by muffling the vibrations caused by
This sensor detects changes in radar or sound.
infrared light bounced off of moving objects.
Routine: Concentration; Difficulty 3 5-55
Hack : Cut Power, Stand Down A nti-Laser Glazing
Countermeasure : Diffusion suit; Craft This window coating diffracts a laser beam,
(Chemical), Advanced preventing the beam from returning to the
microphone.
M eta llic M es h Co ns truction
Countermeasure : Penetrative receptor; Craft
A metal cage in the walls of a room will (Mechanical), Advanced
prevent bugs from transmitting any signals.
Filter ed O utlets
Routine: Cr aft (Electronic); Difficulty 40
Countermeasure: Teacup; Craft (Mechanical); Simple electronics that discover wiretaps and
Advanced bugs on a phone line.
Routine: Craft (Electronic), Difficulty 35
So undpro o fing
Hack : Stand down.
Baffled material and shielding prevents sound Countermeasure : Override Shunt; Craft
from leaving a structure or room. (Construction), Advanced
Routine: Notice; Difficulty 35
White Noise Generator
Countermeasure : stethoscope
A computer generates random sound patterns that
Triple G la s s disrupt eavesdropping devices.
Multiple panes of glass will defeat laser

58
 Technothrillers
Routine: Notice; Difficulty 30 Nig htinga le Floor
Hack : Algorithm
Another low-tech system, this floor is built
Countermeasure : Acoustic filter; Craft with a hook that squeaks when someone walks
(Electronic); Complex across it.
Ca m er a Routine: Stealth vs. Notice

A video monitor guarding a sensitive area. Hack : none

Routine: Stealth vs. Notice Countermeasures : none

Hack : Cut Power, Stand Down Pr essur e Plate

Countermeasure : Feed bypass; Craft (Electronic); Set into a floor or pedestal, this device detects
Moderate weight applied onto it. More sophisticated
Electrifica tio n systems monitor upward and downward
changes, prevent theft as well as intrusion.
Fences, doors and roofs can be made deadly. Routine: Sleight of Hand; Difficulty 35
Routine: Acrobatics; Difficulty 40 Hack : Cut Power, Stand Down
Hack : Cut Power Countermeasure : Densitometer; Craft
Countermeasure : Resistance slippers; Craft (Electronic), Advanced
(Chemical), Advanced
Capacita nce Proximity Sensor
Tripwir e
These are microchips that register the presence
A simple line that trips an alarm or trap when of a human body.
disturbed. Routine: Concentration; Difficulty 45
Routine: Acrobatics; Difficulty 30
Hack : Cut Power
Countermeasure : Torsion shunt; Craft
(Mechanical), Advanced

Laser Eye
Operating on principles similar to a tripwire, but
using a laser instead. Anything interrupting its
beam will be detected.
Routine: Acrobatics; Difficulty 30
Hack : Cut Power
Countermeasure: Mirror laser; Craft (Mechanical),
Advanced

Laser M es h
A two-dimensional grid of laser beams that secures
an area rather than a single line.
Routine: Acrobatics; Difficulty 35

Laser Ca g e
The same concept applied to three dimensions,
preventing access from above or below a laser
mesh.
Routine: Acrobatics; Difficulty 40
Hack : Cut Power

59
 Technothrillers
Hack : Cut power, stand down or block over 200 cell phone lines.
Countermeasure : Chameleon film; Craft Cell Phone Im mobilizer
(Chemical), Advanced
A device that disrupts cell phone use. Stronger
Vibr a tio n S ensor versions will interfere with radio broadcasts as
well, but tend to be illegal because of their
Essentially a short-range seismograph that strength.
can register nearby disturbances.
Routine: Craft(Electronic); Difficulty 35
Routine: Sleight of Hand; Difficulty 40
Hack : Cut Power, Stand Down
Hack : Cut Power
Countermeasure : Land line
Countermeasure : Oscillation damper; Craft
(Mechanical), Advanced Shielding
R a da r/L a s er D etector A surface can be made harder to penetrate
with an unusual composite.
A receiver that detects the presence of radar
and laser systems. Advanced versions can Lockbox
identify specific frequencies.
A portable container offering some security
Routine: Hide; Difficulty 25
against theft and damage.
Countermeasure : Variable frequency; Craft
(Electronic), Moderate Sa fe
B ug D etector A ubiquitous method of protecting valuables.
They can be circumvented by disabling the
This device activates in the presence of a lock or penetrating a surface.
transmitter, without necessarily locating it.
Routine: Craft (Mechanical or Chemical);
The simplest form of protection of its kind.
Difficulty 20-50
R F B ug D etector Countermeasure: drill
More advanced equipment locates Lie D etector
microphones and bugs in use.
Routine: Concentration vs. Sense Motive
Routine: Hide vs. Search
Hack : Cut Power
Countermeasure : Burst Trans mission,
Infrared Broadcast Countermeasure : Biomonitor; Craft
(Electronic), Advanced
No nlinea r Junctio n D etector
Bombproof Glass
The most sensitive gear for detecting
transmitters, this device can even locate Window material formulated to resist shattering
inactive bugs. when exposed to explosive force. Its Toughness
is 10 for purposes of resisting explosion
Routine: Craft(Electronic); Difficulty 35
damage. A bomb maker who discovers its
Countermeasure : Shielding; Craft composition can attempt to craft a charge
(Construction), Moderate
Countermeasure : Composite charge; Craft
M a g netic M edia Disrup tor (Demolitions), Complex
Despite a single formula for running
Instead of locating a bug, this device erases Technothrillers missions, there are a variety
the recording media it uses (if it is present). of backgrounds that can make each campaign
Routine: Craft (Electronic); Difficulty 40 unique. A Narrator might have to work hard
Countermeasure : Hardening; Craft to ensure that every operation is memorable
(Construction), Moderate in its own way, while keeping up interest in a
long-term game. There is no reason to restrict
Cell ula r Mo nitoring Sys tem gaming sessions to these rules; obviously,
whatever is fun for the group should be the
Highly sensitive equipment that can monitor first guiding principle.

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Technothrillers

61
 Technothrillers
C HA P T E R S I X – A D V E N T U R E S
A N D C A M PA IG N S
C a m pa ig n
Fr a m ewo r k s
There are many possible reasons for a team
to keep conducting missions. The best way
is to have them involved in a certain field,
in which their expertise can be applied
repeatedly. This is another way to foster
continuity between otherwise unrelated
operations. On the other hand, mixing up
roles is a good way to keep the party out of
a rut of indis tinguishable missions.
course, this type of game is not for everyone, and
Co unterter roris m Narrators should ensure that players’ sensibilities
National governments have an obvious are not offended by portraying t errorists in
interest in preventing terrorism within their anything but a hostile light.
borders as well as against their own citizens
anywhere in the world. The brazen nature of
Narcotics a nd Smugg ling
the 9/11 attacks in New York and Washington, As long as there have been mercantile laws, there
D.C., shook up many governments that had have been people willing to go the extra mile to
previously overlooked how devastating a avoid them. Smugglers try to avoid customs
small cadre of fanatics could be. Activities duties and similar taxes – charges levied on
in pursuit of this goal are often defensive, goods brought across a border – by concealing
protecting vital installations or persons them when crossing, or by crossing in secret.
vulnerable to attack. But a more proactive They also traffic in goods whose sale is restricted,
solution is to identify and hunt down terrorists or whose presence may be entirely illegal in a
before they strike. This is particularly useful country. This includes humans, whether they are
in the context of a roleplaying game, since it illegal laborers looking for opportunity, or virtual
demands that the party succeed before their slaves for depraved owners.
enemies commit the terrorist act – or battle
them during its commission! All sorts of buyers, from rich dilettantes
interested in stolen artifacts to homeless junkies
Nations with other urgent problems might looking for their next fix, rely on smugglers to
also employ private security firms to do these meet their demands. In turn, smugglers need
jobs for them. Corporations with personnel dependable men to guard and transport their
and facilities in dangerous areas often hire cargo. An unethical corporation might employ
their own troubleshooters for the same smugglers to provide merchandise under the table
reasons. Private operators deal with the for its own use. Consequently, every government
additional complication of interacting with needs dedicated workers to prevent these types
police or armed forces of foreign countries, of smugglers from penetrating their borders.
who might b e unhappy with their activities.
These are the sorts of obstacles that cannot Corporate Espionag e
be solved with weapons.
With the rise of multinational corporations and
If players a re mature enough to operate in a
the global market, private companies have to deal
morally ambiguous setting, characters might
with new sources of competition. This not only
be willing to countenance terrorism or even
includes information about new products, but also
play a subversive cell (a 2001 example is the
seeking out favorable locations for their facilities
movie Spy Game, in which a truck bomber
and emerging markets for existing inventories. In
participates in an American operation). Of
fact, “information” in its pure form is as vital a

62
 Technothrillers
commodity as any computer chip or raw material.
With it, CEOs can act on insider knowledge
to benefit them selves or their shareholders,
or prevent rivals from gaining an edge in the
marketplace.
Natio na l Espio na g e
Spying for one’s nation is what most people will
think of when the word “espionage” is mentioned.
And intelligence of this sort is always highly
desired, whatever a country’s location and
situation. Military consumers want information
about their enemies’ force structure, capabilities
and battle plans to gain strategic and tactical
edges in the event of hostilities. Diplomats look for
similar advantages in the international arena. And
policy makers need it to evaluate the present and
discern the future – to ultimately make d ecisions
in the best interest of their government.
Because this sort of intelligence is for a nation’s
benefit, characters in this arena are almost
always working directly for a government. It may
appear otherwise, as with Air America and the
other proprietary airlines run by the CIA. But this
still allows for a variety of situations, including
counterintelligence within one’s nation, and
operations in hostile or neutral countries.
NB C Pro lifer a tio n
Somewhere between counterterrorism and
antismuggling lies non-proliferation. This is
the limiting the number of groups that have
nuclear, biological or chemical weapons of
mass destruction. During the Cold War, the
superpowers exerted more control over the allies
who researched these programs. With the fall
of the USSR, ma ny satellite nations were willing
to go their own way. Ex-Republics, without
the c entralized control of the Communist party,
wound up with stockpiles of dangerous weapons
– and plenty of potential buyers to tempt even
a scrupulous patriot. These include terrorist
organizations looking to maximize their sway, as
well as nations who look to nuclear weapons as
the ultimate deterrent against powerful rivals.
Like national espionage, nonproliferation has
few choices for private actors. Both the United
Nations and the largest powers have ongoing
nonproliferation programs, however, so the list of
potential patrons is still large. One complication
would be a team with citizens from several nations,
each with interests that might not completely
coincide.
63
Th e S c o r e
The last piece of the puzzle is one which occurs
independently as well as within the framework
of the other types of activity. This is the
caper, an elaborate undertaking to accomplish
some difficult goal. It is typically a heist of
a dazzlingly large sum of money or otherwise
unique object. Another version is the sting – a
convoluted scheme to convince a target to act
in a certain way or divulge some secret.
Regardless of the ultimate goal, scores have
several distinguishing characteristics. First,
they are typically one-shot. Trying again is
useless because the team eventually acquires
the MacGuffin or plays the mark – or gets
caught in the attempt. Second, while a score
can occur as a matter of course in many
campaigns, there are plenty of examples
in which an independent group runs its own
operation for its own reasons. Foremost of
these is revenge against a powerful Narrator
Character who has thwarted a member of the
team in the past.
C ha i n s o f Evid e nc e
Remember that the object of an operation can
be anything the Narrator decides. There is no
need that it be useful to the party of patron.
In fact, its inability to help is probably more
important – the desire to possess it is what
counts.
However, the Narrator can often use the goal
of one mission to lead into the next. This work
especially well if the team is trying to liberate
data that is valued for its secrecy. It can refer
to a new mark, or another site to penetrate,
giving a reason to begin the process again.
A n ta g o ni s t s
In the world of Technothrillers, it is impossible
to pin down the motives of characters and
groups under the Narrator ’s control. In fact,
when a party is comprised of specialists who
can infiltrate any place on earth, a lot of places
look inviting for just such activity. The Narrator
has a challenge in keeping the list of villains
fresh, too.
Shadow Ag encies
Government conspiracies came into vogue
at the end of the last century and show no
signs of losing their luster. There are many
 Technothrillers
examples of bureaucratic groups that are
willing to bend the rules in pursuit of their
own hidden agendas. These opponents may
even add an extra layer of tensions if a hero
has a less than perfect relationship with his
own or another nation.
Of course, it is standard for governments
to use deniable assets – like the Heroes – to
strike at targets that are outside their con -
ventional reach. A Narrator is free to keep
the paranoia to a minimum, or ramp it up un-
til the playe rs expect the knife in the back
once their characters know too much.
Crim e Syndica tes
There are always reasons to oppose illegal
organizations like the Russian mafia or
Central American drug lords. They may also
be blackmailing a public figure with sensitive
information; as a favor to the person involved,
the team could remove it (a dark patron may
seek it for his own use, however). Thugs
make good opponents for combat encounters,
as well.
A mor a l Cor por a tio ns
And old trope with a long pedigree; these
days there seems to be no end to the mischief
a corporation might commit. They may be
committing the same deeds as a crime
syndicate but clothing it in respectability.
Financial activities, like cornering a sensitive
market or manipulating the value of a stock
for a takeover, leave data trails with the
potential for huge payoffs. Or perhaps a
product is being released that may harm the
environment or health of its users, and the
team must reveal the truth.
Even more fun, a cutthroat company makes
for a nicely unreliable patron. A competent
team will have a long list of corporate suitors
that want their skills directed against the
competition. Perhaps the party must steal
secrets, or help an employee from another
make an unscheduled change of employment.
With such employers, however, “termination”
acquires all sorts of nasty undertones.
secret that most modern countries are grooming
cadres of young phreaks for the front lines of
information warfare, too.
Riva l Tea ms
Opposing teams make good foils for a party –
especially if one or more members has a history
with a team member. Competition of this nature
sets up another interesting variation on the norm.
What if, in the course of planning or carrying out
a mission, the team finds out that someone else
is planning to hit the same place they are? This
adds an entirely new dimension of possibilities
during the mission. This could lead to a race to
the MacGuffin, or a temporary alliance before the
mandatory betrayal. A good enoug h plan may
even involve using some of this other team’s
resources!
Even worse, what if the target is not in the
heroes’ sights, but is their home base? Then they
enter the unfamiliar role of trying to prevent an
operation and outfox the shrewdest of foes.
Terrorists
There is no shortage of subversive groups for
potential targets. A hostage recovery can be run
on the fly – especially if a group takes over a site
the team intended to infiltrate in the first place.
The team can target locations like training camps
and bomb-making sites, or deadly but portable
weapons like suitcase nukes and plague vials.
This is a short campaign framework for use with the
rules and concepts contained in this supplement.
The setup is designed to appear innocuous, and
can be a simple series of unconnected missions.
But there are a variety of potential wrinkles that a
Narrator can introduce to emulate the traditional
twists and turns of the genre.

Ha ckers
A true 21st century threat. There will
always be clever console cowboys looking
to challenge the encryption of a data haven.
They may even be disgruntled employees
looking for revenge, once privy to secrets
that give them a leg up on the party. It is no

64
 Technothrillers
C HA P T E R S E V E N -
I N FO R M A TIO N I S F R E E
Th e Pa tr o n
Penn Troxler had to invent a new phrase to define
his particular state of well-being: wealth by
association. Anyone interested in ascertaining
his ownership portfolio can literally go no further
than the reinforced walls of The Leeward Group,
S.C., the sovereign corporation which owns the
geographically insignificant island of Shoo-In Cay.
Financial investigators have known for decades
that he is the sole owner of this company, the
world’s most successful data haven. But since no
hacker has managed to penetrate its encrypted
coffers for his secrets – or anyone else’s p rotected
within – the true extent of his holdings remains
hidden.
The scion of a Connecticut shipbuilding family,
neither Penn nor his older brother Burt were fond
of doing what was expected of them. Bu rt joined
the Navy, departing after several years as a SEAL,
and parlayed his family contacts into a su ccessful
salvage business. Instead of an ivy league
university, Penn chose to attend obscure Rowan
University in North Carolina for its noted program
in colonial anthropology. He went on to excel in
history and archaeology during graduate studies for several years. Only after the creation of
at Vanderbilt University in 1985. Thereafter, he The Leeward Group in 1995 did the smallest
scoured the East Coast and Caribbean for colonial portion of his vision become apparent.
artifacts. As the effective owner of his tiny country, his
The Troxler brothers bought Shoo-In Cay legal team drafted a constitution placing all
in 1990 from the Bahamian government – it power in his wholly-owned firm. He and The
marks the western most edge of these islands, Leeward Group are evidently the only citizens
about 80 kilometers south-southwest of Bimini. of the nation of Shoo-In Cay. But through the
Concurrently, they extinguished any possible corporation, this state has carefully picked
British claims to the island through solicitors and chosen the treaties it is a signatory to.
petitioning the Crown. Within three years a team Its diplomatic portfolio is notable for the
of prestigious Spanish abogados secured the complete absence of any agreement involving
renunciation of any colonial rights left over from intellectual property.
Madrid’s empire. In short, this allows Leeward to store data of
Investigators linking these events with the any kind, brought to it from any entity willing
brothers’ exploits are responsible for the rumors to pay the imposing storage fees. But this
that they discovered a sunken treasure of great freedom is only on half of the equation that
value somewhere near the island. Even stranger allows a data haven to function. Its servers
voices whisper that they discovered deLeon’s must also be perfectly secure: not only for its
Fountain of Youth, or Atlantean relics even more customers, but for its own very survival.
majestic than the Bimini Road. Unfortunately, To that goal, some of the best programmers
after Burt Troxler ’s murder at the Chinese State in the world have spent time on the island
Archives in 1992, his younger brother distanced – it was, after all, never a problem to
himself from the academic and business spotlights

65
 Technothrillers
secure a work visa. As a result, Leeward’s
encryption methods are organic in their
beauty and complexity, as well as effectively
impregnable.
While the data haven advertises that
any content may be kept on their network,
Leeward’s employees also developed
sophisticated filtering algorithms that
can detect the dissemination of material
that would be used in contravention of
international criminal (as opposed to IP) law:
crimes such as smuggling, child pornography,
slavery, and terrorism. However, when they
uncover evidence that their services are
furthering s uch enterprises, they do not
provide this information to Interpol or other
law enforcement organizations. Rather,
Troxler prefers to solve the dilemma directly
– by dispatching a team of highly skilled
operatives that can disrupt the illegal practice
in as permanent a fashion as is necessary.
Enter the PCs.
A dventur es
PCs in the employ of Penn Troxler comprise
a team of specialized troubleshooters who
must be prepared to tackle a variety of
challenges. Since they lack the military
might to solve their problems with force, their
typical modus operandi is a covert mission to
penetrate and destabilize organizations that
use The Leeward Group for illegal reasons.
Troxler never mentions the reasons for the
missions he assigns, although the motives
can be obvious in the case of we ll-known
targets. It is impossible to pin down a
political agenda behind them, other than the
post-capitalist libertarianism that makes data
havens sound like a good idea. It is obvious
that he loved and respected his brother, who
considered himself an American patriot until
his death; several operations have involved
targets that were once behind the former Iron
Curtain.
S ecr ets o f The L eewa r d
Gro up
The Troxler brothers were desti ned for
wealth once they discovered something that
most people would dismiss as fantasy: in
1988, they found the location of a submerged
Chinese treasure ship from the 15th century
within three miles of Shoo-In Cay (a distance
recognized by even the most restrictive treaty
involving international waters). Admiral
66
Zheng He had dispatched the boat as part of three
majestic fleets that roamed the globe for tribute
and exotic cargoes for the Ming emperor.
This particular flotilla, which sailed west from
the Cape Verde Islands after rounding Africa,
discovered America seven decades before
Columbus. Its commander was named Zhou Wen,
which forms the basis for the name the Troxlers
gave their island. The wreck occurred in the
aftermath of a hurricane that damaged eight other
ships; Penn Troxler believes the Bimini Road to be
the site where another damaged vessel dumped
its ballast before being repaired.
The value of the cargo inside the wreck is
staggering: gold and silver objects from Africa
and Europe, gems of all colors from India, and
Chinese porcelain carried for trade. A good deal
of it remains at the site; partially to prevent notice
by the outside world.
Burt Troxler ’s murder occurred while he was
scouring the Chinese State Archives for clues to
the locations of other shipwrecks. Penn Troxler
does not know that the killers were dispatched by
a triad gang with extensive contacts within the
Chinese military. On more than on e occasion,
Chinese hackers have tried to penetrate The
Leeward Group’s secure servers, without success.
Still, he has yet to suspect a connection between
these attempts and his brother ’s death.
A Dar k Patron
If a Narrator wants to add a devious twist, Troxler
ultimately may prove to be a megalomaniac,
selecting his victims simply to increase his own
power. Perhaps the party finds this out after a
string of programmers who have visited Shoo-In
Cay suffer a series of unusual deaths – all the
better if one is the close friend of one of the PCs.
Having a team of assassins attempt to track down
the PCs during a mission gone bad cer tainly keeps
with the spirit of the average techno thriller. In
such campaigns, it’s also logical to expect that a
raid on The Leeward Group becomes inevitable.
En e m i e s
Most powerful men who fear the emergent
paradigm of an information age consider Troxler
to be a maverick, if not a danger to the world.
Certainly, critics fond of playing the patriotism
card grumble about his renunciation of American
citizenship. But as long as he maintains his
scruples about illegal use of the data he protects,
he is untouchable in the courts of foreign
nations.
 Technothrillers
Of course, there are plenty of factions that
consider honor and principles outmoded, and
would bring The Leeward Group down if they
could. Some covet the wealth it must control;
others, the secrets locked within. If anyone alive
knows they have been the target of a Leeward
Group operation, the thirst for revenge would
make a motive just as powerful.

The Ta m To ng
This group grew from one of many semi-secret
triad organizations seeking to overthrow an
unpopular monarch to a sprawling criminal
conspiracy operating across several national
borders. Nearly every city in the world with a
large Chinese population has at least one Tam
cell with the responsibility to oversee the legal
and illegal activities that take place there. While
there are other tong organizations that fall outside
of its umbrella, all of them understand that they
exist at the sufferance of the Tams.
The smallest branches of the group engage in
“typical” crime, often in competition with other
tongs or other ethnic gangs. Drugs, neighborhood
protection rackets, prostitution, and human
smuggling are all common activities for local
Tams. Individua l members at this level lack a
clear sense of loyalty to the group as a whole;
instead, one char ismatic functionary is the liaison
between the criminals and the higher echelons of
the groups. Known as “Coiled Dragons,” these
intermediaries scrupulously avoid committing
actual crimes. Their jobs extend to providing any These extend to legitimate pursuits as well
unusual support to individual members, such as as criminal exploits, since much of the wealth
supplying weapons or specialized equipment, or accumulated by the group is laundered and
providing safe places to avoid law enforcement used to buy standing within the government.
after a crime. Of course, they are also responsible One asset directly controlled by the group is
for collecting some share of the profit of any the Sphinx Casino in Macau.
misdeeds and sending it up the ladder to their The actual identity of the head Tam is
superiors. To t hat purpose, individual Coiled customarily kept secret; the current chief
Dragons have extensive contacts with banking is known as the 41st Circumspect Master.
officials and minor politicians in the region they Although no one is sure that the group has
oversee. lasted long enough to have forty previous
The central offices of the Tams occupy several leaders, there are some facts that have been
floors in a Beijing high rise shared by several verified about his past. He was orphaned
military procurement departments. Because of during the Rape of Nanking prior to World
this, a high number of People’s Liberati on Army War II, and has used revenge as a factor when
guards can be called on to defend the site in deciding to encroach on a Japanese business
case of physical attack. On the outside, these or victim. Although he holds no high post in
offices are as unassuming as the others in the the Communist Party of China, he is a member,
building, but the amount of security features and associates with several apparatchiks with
protecting it is prodigious. It is to here that considerable power. Whether this is because
the money collected from a hundred local cells of ties of blood or honor, financial clout, or
flows, under the direction of the Coiled Dragons. simple blackmail, is unclear.
The inner council of approximately twenty-five A Tam assassination squad is responsible for
calls themselves “Ardent Phoenixes;” each is the death of Burt Troxler. An Ardent Phoenix
responsible for a particular region or activity.

67
 Technothrillers
ordered the hit after discovering that he was
in Beijing looking for more information about
the voyages. The killer knows about the
treasure ship as well, but has not revealed
its existence to the rest of the group. This
is arguably because he seeks to acquire it
personally rather than for the Tams. If the
others discover the truth, the group will
actively consider efforts to obtain additional
information, or more. Likewise, Penn Troxler
may use the identity of his brother ’s killer as
a motive to oppose the Tam tong directly,
whether in an operation of by sowing
dissent among the council members.
TAKING THEM DOWN
It is quite difficult to obtain
information about the Tams
without risking one’s skin.
They are quite willing to
rely on race as a protection,
instinctively fearful of non-
Chinese investigators.
Still, interacting with local
members may provide some
insights about the overall
structure or the activities
of the local Coiled Dragon.
And nearly every skin color
is represented at the Sphinx
Casino. Another option is
the Chinese military, since
they operate in close proximity
to the People’s Liberation Army.
Most foreign espionage agencies
have at least some information on
the shadowy ties between them
and the procurement bureaus that
share a building.
Once Troxler wants to move, he
will have a host of targets available
to harm the Tams. Obviously, the
casino is a public place, which
requires a certain amount of
openness. Likewise, individual Coiled
Dragons have homes and compounds
across the globe, allowing for a variety of
potential targets in different environments.
The weak spot of the Ardent Phoenixes and
the 41st Circumspect Master is the military
connection. Masquerading as a supplier
might be the best way to get close to one of
these firms, using it as a springboard to the
Tam inner sanctum.
68
La Fa mig lia Via nera
Sicily has been conquered from every direction in
its history, but the Vianera family has always been
able to rise above these travails. Its ancestors
include Roman generals, Arab and Norman
adventurers, and the odd pope or two. The most
famous scion of the family was a courtier to Holy
Roman Emperor Frederick II at Palermo. It was
there that the earliest Mafiosi consolidated their
power by the middle of the nineteenth century,
and the Vianeras were at the forefront of their
subsequent expansion throughout Italy.
During World War II the family forged
extensive ties with the OSS and Allied
military forces, which allowed them to
expand into the U.S. and other western
countries during the Cold War. As
avid anti-communists, they happily
allowed intelligence agencies access
to a smuggling network that extended
across the Mediterranean. Vianera hit
men made excellent deniable assets as
well, when a victim was to o difficult to
reach by more conventional means.
The end of the Cold War was a
period of upheaval for them as
well as the world. Left without
their government patrons, the
Vianeras began concentrating
on the development of legitimate
businesses, especially shipping
and luxury foods. Now the
War on Terror has caused old
friends to come calling again; to regain
good graces, they have provided cargo
planes for use in extraordinary rendition,
and instructed low-level accomplices to be
on the lookout for terrorist plots in France,
Greece and Italy. This has made them
even more money, and lessened some
of the recent attention Interpol had
begun paying to them.
The Vianera family owns prime agricultural
land in Sicily and Southern Italy, including a
world-famous vineyard. All operations are
planned from their lavish villa, once the site of a
Roman Emperor ’s summer palace. Although some
ruins from this period still decorate this land, the
security measures in place are quite modern. An
equally modern yacht ferries cousin s to all the
respectable locales along the Mediterranean.
Proud of their religious heritage, a cathedral in
Marseilles and a monastery in Greece mark the
outer edges of their criminal network . The latter
 Technothrillers
was used for smuggling men and goods across
the Iron Curtain.
Luca della Posta worked with several minor
branches of the family in the 1980s, as a member
of the Italian Navy conducting operations under
Italian Military Intelligence (SISMI). He is aware
of th e general extent of the Vianera empire,
but lacks details as to specific holdings and
activities.
TAKING THEM DOWN
As one of the premier drug-smuggling groups in
the world, the family makes an inviting target.
For a morally mu rky adventure, perhaps a friend
of Troxler ’s has been wrongfully detained in a
terrorism arrest; releasing him from detention
before an innocent man is lost in the system.
Finally, a dark patron might want Vianera assets
knocked out of commission as a prelude to
grabbing a larger share in the drug market.
Another reason the family makes a good
target is that money tends to change minds and
allegiances. Plenty of their low-level criminals
in the network might be tempted to change – or
at least temporar ily suspend – their allegiance to
them. A dedicated assault against the Vianeras
can begin in a variety of places.
As- Sum ut Oil
The as-Sumuti family came to prominence during
World War I, when a notorious Bedu named Haroun
as-Sumuti threw his lot in with T.E. Lawrence in
opposing the Ottoman Empire. Although there are
rumors that he was illiterate, he understood before
most other Arabs that working with imperial power
would prove the quickest path to power. Because
of his knowledge of the trackless deserts of the
peninsula, guides from his tribe were present
when American geologists first discovered oil
in the region. When it became apparent how
valuable the sand would become, he rushed to
acquire as large a stake as possible.
When oil companies returned in earnest after
World War II, they had to deal with the aging
patriarch and his nine astute sons. By the time
the energy crisis raised oil prices calamitously,
they were all wealthy beyond human imagining.
Today, two of these men are still alive, but the next
generation has begun to assert its own influence
on the firm’s future. This makes determining
what it is truly involved in a daunting task. The
stockholders are a range of ultra-conservative Sufi
near-hermits to jet-setters educated in English
and American boarding schools. Many Western
governments and multinationals employ Sumutis
as regional advis ors.
69
Naturally, a few stakeholders lack such a
degree of appreciation for the state of the
world. Several Sumutis have donated money
and equipment to terrorist groups, opposing
everything from traditional targets like Israel,
to the occupation of Afghanistan by both
Soviet and American troops, and even harsh
Arab regimes in Syria and Saddam Hussein’s
Iraq. Because these gestures are made by
individuals, rather than the company at large,
it has evaded scrutiny from the U.S. and
other nations. Still, nearly every subversive
organization operating in the Middle East has
a Sumuti backer somewhere.
In addition to its mammoth oil e xtraction
and refining concerns, Sumuti Oil operates a
luxurious hotel in Abu Dhabi. Its headquarters
are a desert compound straddling the border
of Oman and Saudi Arabia. When its members
have dealings with OPEC, they stay at an
Austrian ski resort similarly owned by company.
One of the more powerful grandsons, Karim
as-Sumuti, wished to marry Intan Wachjari
after meeting her in Jakarta sever al years
ago. While she quickly forgot him, the reverse
is not true.
TAKING THEM DOWN
As a company with many voices, any number
of as-Sumuti shareholders might be backers of
terrorism. Perhaps one of them is harboring
a fugitive in what they consider to be a safe
place. In the alternative, some owners may
simply be greedy; happy to manipulate the
world’s oil supply for their own profit. Raiding
a corporate compound may uncover the proof
an agency needs to begin an investigation.
Ma kumb e
The Republic of Makumbe boasts none of the
intertribal genocide that has plagued Africa in
the last several decades – primarily because
Makumbeyan ancestors sold neighboring
members of hostile tribes into servitude in the
Belgian Congo a century ago. This small state
avoided the worst excesses of the European
scramble for the continent by invoking American
protection after the civil war, inviting freed
slaves to settle there. Although only a handful
agreed, they complemented a ruling class that
was willing to aggressively modernize in the
face of native superstitions. Prosperity lasted
until the Great Depression, when the economy
crumbled until the 1960s.
 Technothrillers
By then, a claim of American loyalty only
invited Communist aggression. When
uranium was discovered a few years l ater, the
ruling family was willing to deal with South
Africa when few other nations woul d. This
secured their independence from Cold War
conflicts. The Afrikaaners assuag ed their
racial notions of superiority after Makumbe
displayed as much ruthlessness as they
did. Soon, units of Makumbeyan irregulars
with South African arms were participating
in counter-insurgencies throughout Africa.
The economies of both nations are closely
aligned, and despite the instabilities with the
senior partner the relationship is strong.
Now that dozens of nations want to join
the nuclear club, Makumbe has a long list of
suitors. Oth er resources, such as titanium,
chromium, and alluvial diamonds, supplement
its uranium industry. As most of the extraction
work is done by foreign workers, most citizens
are on some form of government dole,
leading to a vast disparity of wealth in the
country. The richest 0.5% of its citizens live
in luxurious, closely-guarded estat es near
the capital. Since Makumbe is landlocked its
airport is first-rate, and the state airline ranks
as one of the best in Africa. The Makumbeyan
Central Bank is the depository of choice for
sub-Saharan millionaires who disdain trips
to Zurich and the Caymans, but sleep better
with their assets outside their own nation’s
borders.
TAKING THEM DOWN
The largest danger Makumbe presents to the
world at large is nuclear proliferation. The
rulers are more than happy to sell fissile
material to anyone with the credit to purchase.
Still there may be other reasons to run missions
here. Individual members of government may
have their own agendas, such as dealing in
conflict diamonds and modern-day slavery.
In addition, the willingness of the Central
Bank to accept illegitimate wealth means
that any num ber of unsavory groups transact
business there. Though heavily guarded, the
bank makes an inviting target for an operation
against one of these organizations, making
the Makumbe not-quite-innocent bystanders.
Suda m erika nic, S. A .
Even before the Third Reich was des tined for
defeat, there were Nazis in South America.
A sizeable colony of Germans existed in the
Peruvian Amazon since the turn of the century,
70
operating joint venture for several German
chemical firms. During the war, Hoover ’s SIS
kept a close watch on their dealings, and they
assiduously avoided aiding Hitler ’s war effort;
once the fighting ended, however, they actively
maintained ODESSA ratlines that brought
would-be war criminals out of Europe. If these
refugees possessed any degree of technical
skills, they were welcomed with open arms. If
their presence might cause complications, the
piranhas would have an extra meal.
The managers quickly realized that doctrine
of racial superiority earned less money than
a strategy of aggressive capitalism. On the
basis of several patents for medicines derived
from Amazon flora, they became heavy
investors in European and North American
industry. Since drug smuggling was just as
profitable, soldiers led by aging stormtroopers
quickly carved out an anonymous cocaine
empire on the slopes of the Andes. While
pharmaceuticals, legal and otherwise are
their primary business, the Sudamerikanic is
also involved in rubber production and mining
throughout the continent. Another branch of
the company operates an advertising firm in
Brasilia, applying propaganda techniques
developed from Goebbels’ fevered brain.
TAKING THEM DOWN
As Sudamerikanic is another player in
international narcotics, Troxler may oppose
them for the same reason he dislikes the
Vianera family. In fact, Sudamerikanic makes
a natural foe for that group; perhap s after a
mission against one goes sour, the team might
agree to take on the other in exchange for
their lives. Plus, their Nazi roots make them
a tempting target for just about anyone with a
conscience. The company may be involved in
an effort to promote the brutal doctrines of racial
superiority among fascist groups worldwide.
Opposing them could be sympathetic souls in
their employ who want out – and need the party
to arrange a defection.
Globa l Eye
As a teen in Adelaide, Ben Torrance was a
typical geek, interested in slaying imaginary
dragons and playing with computers. By the
time he turned 25, these hobbies collided in an
explosion of wealth. He has several popular
MMORPGs to his credit, each one more
valuable than the next. Several of his ventures
were spun off as money makers in their own
right: Amateur Anchorman, which en courages
 Technothrillers
users to submit interesting videos, as well
as Meeglax, a virtual roleplaying platform for
friends across the globe.
His next step was heavy investment in to media
corporations, culminating with the heavily-
linked Global Eye network of print, video, and
Int ernet distribution. He fields a small army of
ravenous paparazzi who will scour the world
for a scoop, as well as sports teams in several
professional leagues. From there, it was a
simple leap of logic to begin moving into space
industries such as satellite control and launch
facilities, especially in developing countries.
Troxler has had an eye on Torrance for several
years, but despite his link with modern media
he remains hard to pin down. Still, snippets
of intriguing information make their way to The
Leeward Group from time to time. For instance,
since Peters w orked on encryption routines for
one of Global Eye’s Web sites, he suspects that
the mogul runs his own data haven somewhere
in the South Pacific, occasionally beaming
sensitive information to his headquarters in
Australia. There are unconfirmed rumors
that one of his studios – in L.A., London, or
Mumbai; who knows? – produces snuff films
and gladiatori al contests for the ultra rich,
too.
TAKING THEM DOWN
Torrance is a wild card. He may si mply be
a mirror image of Troxler, which may be the
source of his fascination with the man. He may
be to diversify into more powerful sectors of
the world economy, for a variety of reasons.
Or he may just want to make a network of killer
satellites to hold the world hostage. It’s hard
to say.
He makes a good target for a game focused
on the paranoia of ubiquitous surveillance.
In a campaign where the party relies heavily
on snooping around, a Narrator can involve
Torrance and turn the tables on them – either
with a horde of reporters looking for them,
or the more sinister prospect of electronic
surveillance.
S a m p l e M i s sio n
This section presents the framework for an
introductory mission based in the setting for The
Leeward Group. It involves the investigation
of a building owned by a suspected rival data
haven. Since the core concept behind a data
haven is that anything goes, rivals looking to
dethrone Troxler from his perch are potential
71
threats to the long-term future of The Leeward
Group.
The Victim
Long before Bill Gates began building machines
in his garage, Yuji Tsurumori could legitimately
be considered a computer wunderkind. His
unique designs for integrated circuits brought
Japanese electronics manufacturing to the
forefront of miniaturization. Carefully, he
reinvested his profits into strategically-placed
firms, until by his 60th birthday he controlled
an efficient, vertically-integrated conglomerate
structured like the zaibatsus of old.
He was dealt a major setback during the
1990s, when his company attempted to corner
the world market for gallium alloys – a critical
component for semiconductors. Although his
losses rose into the billions, he was intrigued
that an informal network of industry insiders
and academic watchdogs managed to use the
nascent Internet to discover his plan and alert
financial markets in enough time to stave off a
crisis. It was at this point that he realized that
the information traveling among the machines
using his products could be far more valuable
than anything storable in a wa rehouse.
Following the lead of other futurists, including
Troxler, Tsurumori has begun assembling
his own resources for the creation of a data
haven.
Involving the Tea m
There are several ways to get a team
interested in looking at Tsurumori Enterprises.
As an expert in the philosophy of information
use, Troxler has certainly kept abreast of his
competition. The zaibatsu’s standards for its
clients are less exacting that The Leeward
Group’s; perhaps a client is using the upstart
data haven to store information that might
harm Troxler ’s scrupulous interests. He may
have even received word that the Tsurumori is
planning his own digital foray against Shoo-In
Cay.
Individual heroes may have their own reasons
for animosity against Tsurumori or his firm.
Computer specialists might have encountered
employees of the company previously. The
same goes for corporate security p ersonnel
or armed forces personnel stationed in the
Pacific. Tsurumori equipment may have aided
spies, counterterrorism or law enforcement
agencies during the post-Cold War period.
 Technothrillers
Although the island has a very low population
(about 5,000 people), it is a popular stopover for
many other nearby destinations. Its inhabitants
are used to seeing tourists and other itinerant
workers from all around the Pacific Rim, and will
not react unusually to newcomers.

Pla nning for the Operation

It is difficult to say what exactly the heroes will
find once they start looking at the Tsurumori
compound. The Narrator is encouraged to have a
If Troxler is less than honorable in a list of things she wants the agents to overcome;
campaign, other reasons are possible. It hopefully, this will mesh with what the players
could be a matter of vanity: one man proving expect to encounter. Since a large part of the
to the other that he is superior. Past dealings island is effectively wild, static outdoor defenses
between the two powerful men may have like electrified fences and even mine fields
created a lo ng-lasting dislike that has now are always effective. The compound is built
matured into hatred. An amoral patron might in two wings; the most important early piece
simply want to eliminate a potential rival of information the team will need is which one
before it gets too powerful. On the other houses the MacGuffin.
hand, if it’s time to cut the team loose, what
Interior defenses will probably include a large
better way than planning a mission where
amount of high-tech electronics. The remoteness
there is no e xpectation of victory?
of the installation is a mixed blessing; Tsurumori
Cho o sing the Ta rg et might be counting on it to deter all but the most
curious visitors, choosing to neglect other basic or
What exactly is Troxler after? It might be prohibitively expensive measures. Still, the theft
hardware that combines quick retrieval or of the daisho will probably require circumventing
greater storage capacity. Software, in the the traditional laser mesh.
form of encryption protocols, is another good Any number of interesting Narrator characters
possibility – in such cases, a copy may be all may be in the area as well. Kiribati is not far from
that a team needs. For a more interesting Indonesia, as the world turns; perhaps a long-lost
target, Tsurumori keeps a daisho belonging friend of Intan earns a living here. Global Eye is
to the last Tokugawa shogun in the compound a short plane flight away in Australia; agents of
the team will hit. Stealing it, or replacing one Torrance may be keeping watch here as well, and
sword with a replica, would be a personal surprised to see the team interested in the same
coup beyond reckoning. things they are.
The building itself is located on
the island of Kiritimati (Christmas
Island), part of the Republic of
Kiribati. Tsurumori purchased
outright an installation leased by
the Japanese government for a
satellite tracking station. Using
contacts from the Imperial Navy,
he was able to locate several
shipwrecks of World War II–era
vessels, some of which contained
large amounts of gold and other
precious commodities once
shipped by Nazi Germany to their
Axis partners. He has secretly
examined several deserted atolls
once used by Britain and the U.S.
for nuclear testing, in the hope of
finding something useful.

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 Technothrillers
Ic o nic C ha r a c t er s
L uc a D el l a
P o s ta
Luca is Troxler ’s longest-serving
employee. He wa s a friend of Burt
Troxler from when the latter served
in the Navy SEALs (Luca himself
was a frogman in the Italian Navy)
and in various NATO exercises
during the Cold War. Because
of this, he retains contacts with
European armies and intelligence
agencies, as well as with figures
in the European underworld. Age
51.
5th Level Human (Warrior 4 /
Agent 1)
Abilities: Str +2, Dex 0, Con +2,
Int 0, Wis +2 Cha 0; Reputation
+1.
Skills: Craft (Demolitions) 8
(+8), Drive 2 (+2), Knowledge
(Streetwise) 8 (+8), Medicine 8
(+10), Swim 8 (+10).
Feats : Attack Focus (heavy
pistol), Attack Specialization
(Heavy Pistol), Blind Fighting,
Dodge Focus, Canny Dodge,
Firearms Training, Weapon
Training.
Tradecraft : Tradecraft Rank 4:
Black Marketeer.
Traits: Determination.
Combat : Attack +4 (+4 Base)
+5 Heavy Pistol +5 (+1 Attack Focus), Damage
(Heavy Pistol) +5 (+4 Heavy Pistol, +1 Attack
Specialization) Damage (Knife) +3, Defense:
Dodge/Parry +7/+6 (Base +4, +2 Wis (Canny
Dodge)/+2 Str, +1 Dodge Focus), Initiative +0.
Saves : Toughness: +2 (+2 Con), Fortitude +6
(+4 Base, +2 Con), Reflex +1 (+1 Base), Will +3
(+1 Base, +2 Wis).
Virtue: Loyal Vice : Vengeful

73
 Technothrillers
L e s l i e P e t er s
Peters is a college associate of
one of Troxler ’s nephews. He was
brought into the fold after being
expelled for a grade-hacking
charge. Because of (what he
considers) his effeminate first
name, he prefers to be called
“Peters,” and cultivates a macho
image to come off as tough as
possible. This frequently makes
him seem mercenary, although
he would not leave the Leeward
Group for any sum. Age 29.
5th Level Human (Agent 2 /
Expert 3)
Abilities: Str 0, Dex 0, Con +1,
Int +4, Wis +1 Cha +0; Reputation
+2.
Skills: Computers 8* (+17),
Concentration 8 (+9), Craft
(Electronics) 8 (+12), Craft
(Written Word) 8 (+12), Gather
Information* 8 (+8), Knowledge
(Physical S ciences) 8 (+12),
Knowledge (Technology)* 8
(+12), Notice 8 (+8), Pilot 6 (+6),
Search 8 (+12), Sense Motive*
8 (+8). Starred skills gain the
benefit of the Skill Mastery feat
Feats : Skill Focus (Computers),
Signature Skill (Computers),
Skill Mastery, Phreak, Bleeding
Edge, Voice of Authority.
Tradecraft : Tradecraft Rank 5: Computer
Timeshare, Satellite Recon.
Traits: Foolproof.
Combat : Attack +3 (+3 Base), Damage
(Unarmed) 0 (Non-lethal only), Dodge/Parry
+3/- (+3 Base), Initiative 0.
Saves : Toughness +1 (+1 Con), Fortitude
+5 (+4 Base, +1 Con), Reflex +1 (+1 Base),
Will +5 (+4 Base, +1 Wis).
Virtue: Industriousness Vice : Chauvinistic

74
 Technothrillers
S a m V ea s e y
Sam Veasey is the descendent of
ex slaves from the Cayman Islands
whose family migrated to Britain
several during World War Two. As
a barrister in London, he worked on
the Leeward Group’s acquisition of
English colonial claims to Shoo-In
Cay, where he impressed Troxler
with his acumen and quick thinking.
He is bright and idealistic, and
knows that he serves on the right
side.
5th Level Human (Agent 5)
Abilities: Str +1, Dex +1, Con +1,
Int +2, Wis 0, Cha +1; Reputation
+1.
Skills: Bluff 8 (+9), Diplomacy 8
(+9), Drive 8 (+9), Gather Information
8 (+9), Knowledge (Popular Culture)
8 (+10), Knowledge (Civics) 8 (+13),
Search 8 (+10), Sense Motive 8
(+8).
Feats : Skill Focus (Knowledge:
Civics), Gambler, Firearms Training,
Natural Leader.
Tradecraft : Tradecraft Rank 8:
Cleanup, Pencil Pusher, Press
Coverage, Security Clearance.
Traits: Foolproof.
Combat : Attack +4 (+3 Base, +1
Dex) Damage (Holdout Pistol) +2,
Dodge/Parry +4/- (+3 Base, +1
Dex), Initiative +1.
Saves : Toughness: +1 (+1 Con), Fortitude +5
(+ 4 Base, +1 Con), Reflex +2 (+1 Base, +1 Dex),
Will +4 (+4 Base).
Virtue: Friendly Vice : Manipulative

75
 Technothrillers
I n ta n Wa c hja r i
Intan was a member of an Indonesian circus
troupe as a child. While still quite young
she ran away from her employer, and lived
for several years on the streets of Kolkata.
Troxler caught her during an attempt to steal
his wallet while an accomplice distracted
him. His employment pitch sounded like
an opportunity for glamour and adventure,
which she accepted with gusto.
5th Level Human (Expert 4 / Agent 1)
Abilities: Str -1, Dex +3, Con +1, Int +1,
Wis +0, Cha +2; Reputation +2.
Skills: Acrobatics* 8 (+11), Climb 8 (+7),
Computers 7 (+8), Concentration 7 (+7),
Disable Device 8 (+9), Escape Artist* 8
( +11), Perform (Dance) 8 (+10), Sleight of
Hand* 8 (+11), Stealth* 8 (+14). Starred
skills gain the benefit of the Skill Mastery
feat
Feats : Skill Focus (Stealth), Dodge Focus,
Defensive Roll, Evasion, Lucky, Skill Mas -
tery, Improved Strike
Tradecraft : Tradecraft Rank 4: Jet Set.
Traits: Expertise.
Combat : Attack +6 (+3 Base, +3 Dex),
Damage (Unarmed) +1 (+2 Improved Strike,
- 1 Str), Damage (Pepper Spray) Special –
See rules, Defense Dodge/Parry +7/+2 (+3
Base, +3 Dex/-1 Str, +1 Dodge Focus), Initiative
+3.
Saves : Toughness +2 (+1 Con, +1 Defensive Roll),
Fortitude +4 (+1 Base, +1 Dex, +2 Cha (Lucky)),
Reflex +9 (+4 Base, +3 Dex, +2 Cha (Lucky)), Will
+3 (+1 Base, +2 Cha (Lucky)).
Virtue: Daring Vice : Vain

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 Technothrillers
A pp e ndix A :
V ehic l e C ha s e r ul e s
The rules presented here are based in part on small village - a hundred feet of store fronts and
the vehicle rules in Chapter Three of the True 20 restaurants, and an area where there’s snow on
Companion, but that book is not required. It also the road. The Chase will end if the characters get
uses rules from the True 20 Pocket Player’s Guide, to End1, the border crossing. However, there’s
which is required. In keeping with True 20 philosophy, also End2, a little unmonitored logging road in the
play is fairly abstract with lots of opportunity for woods that smugglers use.
cinematic close calls.
Each Node has one stat: The Base Difficulty for
These rules are specifically for chase scenes, and vehicles passing through it. Any Drive Checks or
will deal first with the most common type of chase: Driving Checks have their Difficulty equal to this.
a car chase. Special rules for chases on water or For this map, the Difficulty for most of the Nodes
in the air will be covered at the end. So start you is 12: 10 for being narrow, two lane roads, and
engines and hang on.... (+2) for light traffic. The village has a 19: There’s
also snow on the road (+2) and lots of shoppers
on the side walk or crossing the street (+5). The
L a yi ng o u t th e snow Nodes don’t have shoppers, just snow and
traffic (Difficulty 14).
Co ur s e Each Path has two stats: a Base Difficulty (same
Maps are important for a chase. While it is possible as Nodes) and a Distance. The represents how far
to have the chase follow a set course that has one it is from one end Node to the other. The Distance
beginning, one path, and one end, it’s not as much is at least 1 (a few feet) . At Distance of 60, it will
fun for the Heroes. Heroes enjoy knowing that they take even a fast car a minute to get to the end.
have freedom and that the course is somewhat
under their control. Nodes and Paths can also contain events. These
events are almost always Hazards: a tree limb
This does not mean the Narrator needs a detailed across the road, a patch of black ice, or someone
and to scale map of the entire area that the chase running out into the road at the exact wrong
might pass through. It is enough to know where moment. In this example, the Narrator decides
the intersections are, what paths connect them, that if the Players race through the village too
and where the hazardous obstacles lie in wait. The fast, they might regret it . . .
perfect tool for this is a flow chart.
A flow chart is a number of circles (called Nodes)
linked together by lines (called Paths). A Flow
Chart for the Chase is like that - a bunch of
FIGURE 1
Nodes (which represent the intersections or
areas where the drivers will run into hazards)
connected by Paths (the roads between the
intersections). See figure 1.
A Course Flow Chart can be easily done with
a pencil and paper, if the Narrator isn’t worried
about getting the circles perfect. If he wants
it to be really nice, there are flow charting
applications available, many for free.
So in the above example, the Node labeled
‘Start’ might represent a police checkpoint
in Russian mountain country. The two Paths
connected to it are the two roads the characters
might take; the checkpoint is at a fork in
the road. If they steer down the wrong way,
there’s a trap waiting for them. This Node
could represent a police blockade. There’s also a

77
 Technothrillers
M a p s fo r th e
H er o e s
Although it’s not necessary, it may happen that
the Heroes get information about the course.
If the Narrator is planning on giving them a
map, or even if he just wishes to anticipate the
possibility they might obtain one, all he has to
do it make a copy of his map with certain things
removed.
Make a copy of the Narrator Course Flow
Chart, and remove all the Difficulties and all
FIGURE 2
labels, except “Start” and “End.” What’s left
is the Nodes, the Paths, and the Distances of
the Paths. This allows the Heroes to plan their
course with out letting them know what they’ll
encounter. Node this round. Any extra distance points are lost
upon entering a new node.
There are many ways to get this map into
the hands of the Heroes. With a successful
Computers Check, a Hero could get a map of A d di tio na l V ehic l e
the area (Difficulty 10 for urban United States;
higher for more obscure parts of the world). S ta ti s tic s
With a really good roll and the Satellite Recon In order to do a really good chase, it’s necessary to
Tradecraft, a Hero might even get a peek at the know a little more about the vehicles involved that
road ahead - enough to learn the Difficulty or their size and top speed. We need to know it’s Speed
detect Hazards. Or perhaps one of the Heroes Rating, it’s Acceleration, and it’s Stability.
remembers this area, and some of it’s features.
An Intelligence or an appropriate Knowledge
Check could give them the rough layout of the
Speed Ratings ( SR)
land. Technothriller chase rules introduce a new way of
measuring the speed of a vehicle: it’s Speed Rating
The Heroes shouldn’t all pour over the map
(SR). This converts a number in MPH or Knots to
after the chase has started. The driver, at least,
something more usable to the game.
will have more important things on his hands.
But having a navigator shout out directions as SR’s range from 0 to 7. SR’s can go higher, but
the tires squeal on the pavement can add a lot scores of more than 7 are very rare. Note that these
to a chase. ratings are relative to the average speed of a car. The
range of real world speeds is different for boats and
planes, but the range of SR’s (0 to 7 or so) remains
Movem ent constant.
Each round the vehicle is traveling on a path, This means an SR 7 car is traveling at 240 mph,
it accumulates Travel Points equal to it’s Speed a different speed than an SR 7 boat (which is going
Rating (SR is explained below). These points about 100 knots), and both are much slower than an
accumulate each round until the total Travel SR 7 fighter jet (moving at Mach 2).
Points are equal to or greater than the Distance
A vehicle standing still is considered to be SR 0, for
for the Path, at which time you reach the next
the purposes of acceleration (see below).
Node.
Of course, just because Adam’s Trans Am is capable
The team is traveling at Speed Rating 3
of traveling at SR 6, doesn’t mean he should drive
(somewhere in the vicinity of 40 mph), and
that fast on a quiet suburban street. Traveling faster
this Path has a Distance of 9. They’ve already
than the Cruising Speed for a given environment
accumulated 2 Travel Points, and get another
means a penalty on Drive Checks (see below).
3 this round for a total of 5 points. Veasey
pushes the accelerator even harder and cuts off The team is traveling down a road where the
a German tourist. The Audi A4 now has a speed Cruising Speed is SR 3. Veasey is going at SR 4, so
of SR 4. He will accumulate 4 Travel Points this the Difficulty for any Drive Checks he has to make
round for a total of 9. They will make the next are going to be higher than normal. If he were to

78
 Technothrillers
slow down to a nice safe SR2, the Difficulties would nuns (Acc of -1) would subtract 1 from its driver’s
drop. skill when attempting to take a tight turn, pass a
motorcyclist, or brake really hard. The top speed
S P E E D R A TI N G S of the SUV would be unaffected.
Speed Rating Speed in Miles per hour for Speed in MPH for Futuristic
(SR) Automobile Chases Vehicle Chases The Audi (Acc 2) slows for a left turn. He slows
by 3 from SR4 to SR1. The Narrator rules he
0 Up to 10 mph Stationary
can easily take the turn at this speed. Otherwise
1 15 MPH 10 MPH
he could brake hard. If he succeeded at a Drive
2 25 MPH 25 MPH Check, he could slow by 4 this turn - enough to
3 40 MPH 50 MPH come to a dead stop. He’s unlikely to fail at this
4 60 MPH 100 MPH Check - the Difficulty is very low at the speed he’s
5 100 MPH 250 MPH traveling.
6 150 MPH 500 MPH
7 250 MPH 1000 MPH Stability
Just because the driver missed one roll, doesn’t
mean a car will immediately explode in a ball
Acc eler a tio n ( Acc) of flame. Slow moving, heavy vehicles are very
Even if a vehicle can go 0 to 60 in 4 seconds on forgiving. Similarly, a motorcyclist trying a
the test track, it’s won’t be able to reach top speed Bootlegger’s Turn at top speed on an icy road is in
instantly out on the road. Not with SUV’s full of nuns for a world of hurt.
and soccer moms in station wagons everywhere. Stability is 10 for the average car or truck (a
Acceleration is a measure of how quickly a vehicle sedan or SUV), 15 for a multi wheel vehicle (the
can change it’s speed on the road. It is rated 0 for average semi truck), and 5 for a Medium vehicle
a Huge vehicle (an SUV), 1 for a Large vehicle (a (a motorcycle). Superior Vehicles may have a
car), and 2 for a Medium vehicle (a motorcycle). better stability, and other conditions will decrease
Superior Vehicles can have higher ratings (+1) due it (a trailer, for example, will drop it by 5).
to advanced engine and braking systems. An Audi A4 would normally have stability of 10.
Acc is very high under ideal conditions, but when A superior version, tricked out with computer
was the last time a chase occurred in ideal conditions? controlled alignment and suspension, might have
Refer to the ACC Modifers table below for some 12. If it were pulling a trailer, it would drop to 7.
application positive and negative modifiers. The effects of stability are covered in the Drive
For positive scores, you can add or subtract Acc Checks section.
to your SR each round. For zero, you can add or
subtract 1 SR every other round. For -1, you can
add or subtract every three rounds. Treat Acc of less
Th e C ha s e Ro u nd
than -1 as -1. For stopping faster than the Acc would
normally allow, use the hard braking. This allows
Actions
you to stop as though your Acc was one higher than Cars are considered to move at the end of the
normal. A sedan (like a modified Audi A4) could go driver’s initiative every round. Driving the car
from SR 4 to SR 0 in one round. under normal conditions requires only some of
the driver’s attention: a move action every round.
Acc is added (or subtracted) to the Drive Skill when
Normal conditions means you are traveling at
attempting some stunts - the Closing the Gap, for
Unsafe Speed or slower and not trying any Stunts.
example. The Narrator may apply it to other rolls
Traveling at Beyond Unsafe Speeds calls for a
where it seems appropriate. A SUV with a full load of
Drive Check every round, and is
a standard action.
A C C m o d i f er s
Mod Reason Stationary Hazards (a tree
that’s fallen across the road, for
+1 When braking. Slowing is easier than accelerating.
example, or a boy scout walking
-1 Cargo or Passengers. Based on Strength, a heavy load (400lbs for a car)
a elderly woman across the
+1 Preparation for starting from a dead stop - Revving the engine and getting ready to pop the clutch street) take effect at the end of
+1 Going uphill (for slowing) or downhill (for accelerating) the driver’s initiative, when the
+1 Clear road, no traffic - race track conditions car will move into them. This
+1 Hard braking - make a drive check to slow, standard penalties if you fail the Drive Check means the driver can take an
action in the same round, before

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 Technothrillers
S u m m a r y o f A v er a g e S ta ti s ti c s fo r S a m p l e V e hi c l e s
Example Motorcycle Sedan
Size Medium Large
Acceleration 2 1
Stability 5 10
Top Speed (SR) 6 6
encountering the Hazard, although if traveling
quickly a Notice Check will be required to see
the Hazard in advance.
The driver can decide to accelerate or decelerate
as a free action once a round, at anytime in the
round. They can slow in reaction to someone
else’s action if they make a successful Notice
Check.
Ha za r d s
Hazards can be anything from a hairpin turn to
an oncoming tanker truck full of nitroglycerin.
Hazards are planned in advance with a location
in a particular Node or along a particular Path
(although Narrators will improvise).
Hazards call for a Drive Check. If the Heroes
know about the hazard in advance because of
familiarity with the area or a good navigator,
they can accelerate or decelerate in the round
before resolving the Hazard’s Drive Check. If
the Hazard is unknown or a surprise, the driver
can make a Notice Check to achieve the same
result.
Sp eed s
While the top speed is a quality of the vehicle,
the speed of a chase is usually determined by
the road. There are generally four speeds for
the conditions: Nice and Easy Speed, Cruis-
ing Speed, Unsafe Speed, and Beyond Unsafe
Speed. Nice and Easy Speed is one SR less than
Cruising Speed. Unsafe Speed is one SR more.
Traveling faster than Unsafe Speed (Beyond Un-
safe Speed) is very dangerous.
The Speed Category of a car will modify the
base difficulty of the road. The faster you are
traveling, the higher the Difficulty for the Drive
Checks you will make.
Road Nice and Easy Cruising
Freeway 3 4
Surface streets, two lane 2 3 4
highways
Alley ways, narrow back 1 2 3
streets
Van Semi with Trailer
Huge Gargantuan
0 -1
10 10
5 5
Speed Category Base Difficulty
Nice and Easy Speed -5
Cruising Speed +0
Unsafe Speed +5
Beyond Unsafe Speeds +10
Drive Checks
When a car does something dangerous, be it traveling
too fast or heading around a curve on two wheels,
there’s a danger it might lose control and Wipe Out.
In any round where the Heroes are doing something
risky, make a Drive Check.
The Difficulty for a Drive Check is set by the
environment. Average Difficulties range from 12 to
25 and up. A Drive Check is a standard action made
using the Drive skill. If events would call for two
Drive Checks a round (one for traveling at Beyond
Unsafe Speeds and one for a tree limb in the road
for example), make one check against the highest
Difficulty with a (+2) modifier. If there would be 3
Drive Checks a round, make one at (+4), and so
on. A driver may make the Drive Check as a move
action if he takes a –5 challenge (called one hand on
the wheel on page 43 of the True 20 Pocket Player’s
Guide).
When a driver fails a Drive Check, all is not lost.
If the driver missed the Difficulty by the stability of
the vehicle or less, it is a minor mishap. Treat it as
the vehicle taking an attack with damage equal to
it’s current SR, as it bumps the curb hard, bounces
with one wheel off the road, or has a near miss with
another car. If the driver fails a Check by more than
the Stability of his vehicle, he Wipes Out.
The Narrator called for a Driving Check at the
curve and unfortunately, the die came up a 5. Even
though the Difficulty is only 12, at Unsafe Speeds,
the Difficulty goes up to 17 and Veasey’s skill of +9 is
not enough. The A4 has a stability of 12, though, and
he only missed the Difficulty by 3 - a minor mishap.
Unsafe
The Narrator describes the sedan scrapping along
5
the guard rail and rolls with the damage rating of +4
versus the Audi’s Toughness Save of +7.
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 Technothrillers
Wiping O ut
If a vehicle misses a Drive Check by more than the
stability of the vehicle, the driver should roll on the
following table:
Roll Result
Roll Over. The car begins to roll over or flips. Every one takes collision
1-5 damage (including the vehicle) and the driver makes a Drive Check. If he
succeeds the car ends right side up. Other wise, its wheels are in the air.
Collision. The car hits an obstacle. The driver must make a Drive Check.
If he succeeds, it was a glancing collision or he hit a stationary object.
6-10
Take standard collision damage. If he fails, it was oncoming. Take Col-
lision Damage + 2.
Spin. The car goes into a spin. Have the driver make a Drive Check. If he
11-20
succeeds, the car slides to a stop safely in one round, though it may be in
the path of oncoming traffic. If he fails he hits something, and everyone
takes collision damage.
The Narrator may adjust or make up other results
based on the environment and the reason for the
Drive Check that failed: perhaps the car drives into a
nearby river, or off the edge of the road. Wiping Out
means at least Collision damage for all the occupants
and the vehicle, except in rare cases.
Collisio n Da m a g e
The damage inflicted by a vehicular collision is based
on (2 times the SR). So crashing while traveling at
SR 4 (60 mph, more or less) would mean a base
damage of +8 to all the passengers and the car. The
base damage is modified by different factors:
Modifier to base damage Reason
To the passengers and operators of an open vehicle
+2
(a motorcycle).
Safety equipment properly used (seat belt, helmet,
-2
etc).
Makes a Reflex save to avoid the worst of the crash.
-2
The Difficulty is 15 + the vehicle’s SR
Crash is head on, between two vehicles moving in
+2 opposite directions, or into a braced target (a bridge
pylon).
-2 Blow is glancing, a side swipe.
+ vehicle’s Str Target is hit by vehicle, not just in it.
If the Audi were to hit a lamp post traveling at SR
3, those inside would take damage equal to 6, (-2)
since we know they’re wearing their seat belts. The
Narrator rules it’s a light lamp post and isn’t in the
same category as a bridge pylon, so the total to the
occupants is (+4). If they can make a Difficulty 18
Reflex save, it drops to (+2). If they were to hit a
pedestrian at the same speed, she would have to
make a toughness save with a damage of 6, (+10)
- the strength of the A4. That (+16), or (+14) with
the Reflex Save Difficulty 18.
81
Road Conditions a nd Ob stacles
The Base difficulty of any Drive Check is 10,
modified by the speed at which you travel and
the conditions of the road. Speed modifiers were
discussed above. Conditions that may effect
road travel are too varied to completely cover,
by the following table should give you some
benchmarks.
The Basic Difficulty for the road outside the
town is 10, which goes up by (+2) for the snow
and another (+2) for light car traffic. Veasey
decides to accelerate again, so they are now
traveling at Unsafe Speeds: SR 4. The Difficulty
for any rolls will be 19. A small downtown area
comes up unexpectedly. Veasey fails his Notice
Check, and Peters’ player hasn’t asked about
this Node, so the Audi zooms into strip of shops
and restaurants before he can slow down. the
Difficulty goes up by 5 for the pedestrian traffic.
The Difficulty is 24 When the child dashes in
front of the car, Veasey has to make a Drive
Check to avoid the girl (a Hazard). Fortunately
Intan Aided this Notice roll, otherwise things
could have gotten messy. He makes a check at
Difficulty 24. He rolls a 13 and misses with his
Drive Total of 22. He missed, but not by 12, the
stability of the car. He misses the child, but side
swipes a lamp post, further ruining the paint
job.
Vehicle Combat a nd Pursuit
In real life, shooting a firearm from a moving
vehicle at a moving vehicle is all but impossible.
In Technothriller, the situation is a little different.
Leaning out the window and popping off a few
rounds as the driver skids around a tight corner
in pursuit is the meat and drink of the average
Hero. Even if guns aren’t involved, trying
desperately to keep up with the villain’s truck as
it careens down the narrow streets of Cairo or
doing your level best to shake Pursuit by the half
the Italian police department following requires
special rules for both the Hunter and the Prey.
R elative Ra ng e
Movement during a chase is not flat out in a
straight line. As two warriors in melee are
really ducking and weaving, the vehicles are
constantly accelerating and braking, slipping
between slower traffic and shifting from one
side of the Path to the other. So even when two
vehicles are in the same Node or on the same
Path, they are not in exactly the same place.
The distance between the Hunters and the Prey
Technothrillers
r o a d c o nd i ti o n s a nd m o d i fi er s
CONDITION
TRAFFIC CONDITIONS
Light Traffic, Freeway during off hours. Few people or animals to
avoid.
Heavy Traffic, Rush Hour for a small city. Lots of people or animals.
Bumper to Bumper, Manhattan rush hour. Dense crowds of foot traf-
fic.
ROAD SURFACE CONDITIONS
Poor upkeep, potholes or wet (like from light rain), small patches of
snow
Debris, one inch of snow covering, small patches of black ice
Covered in ice, broken pavement, numerous large obstacles, 3”+ flood-
ing
VISIBILITY CONDITIONS
Dim (no street lamps at twilight), light fog, dirty or fogged windows
Heavy rain, snow, dark (no street lamps at night), dense fog, frosted
windows
Torrential rain, Utter dark (moonless night with out headlights)
is broken down into 5 categories: Close, Short,
Medium, Long, and Extreme. If you need more
detail about the actual distances, some bench
marks are:
Range Category Bench mark distances for a car Chase Scene
Close less than about 30 ft
Short less than about 100 ft
Medium less than about 300 ft
Long less than about 1000 ft
Extreme less than about 3000 ft
Use these bench marks when it becomes
important - like figuring out the range increment
for shooting at police with a hand gun. If the
range becomes greater than Extreme, the
Chase is over, and the Prey has escaped.
Clo sing or Wid ening the Gap
For the Hunter to Close the Gap, he must make
a Driving Check as a Standard Action. If this
is in addition to another Drive Check, use the
rules above for multiple drive checks. Use the
standard Difficulty for the current Node or Path
with an additional modifiers: add the Acc to
this roll. Success at this roll means the gap
between the two vehicles decreases to the next
increment. Widening the Gap works the same,
but the Prey rolls. He may add his Acc. If both
the Widen and Close the Gap Checks succeed
in one round, the Vehicles will end the round in
the same range category they started in.
If the Hunter is traveling at an SR that is
higher than the Prey’s, the gap automatically
82
MODIFIERS SPEED CATEGORIES
+2
+5
+10
+2
+5
+10
+2
+5
+10
shrinks by one range category for each point of
difference. If the Prey is traveling at a higher SR
than the Hunter, the gap will automatically widen
by one range category for each point of difference.
This change happens on the Hunter’s or Prey’s turn
every round, and is automatic, regardless of what
else happens.
The team is still traveling at SR 3 when two police
cars give chase. They came down another road, and
the Narrator places them initially at Medium Range.
The Difficulty for this section of road is 12 . The officers
win initiative with a lucky roll, and they decide to
accelerate to SR 4 (an Unsafe Speed) before the Audi
can react.Because they are traveling faster than the
Audi, they automatically close from Medium Range
to Short. If they wanted to, they could also try to
Close the Gap and go to Close, but they would have
to roll against a Difficulty of 17 (12 +5 because of
their speed), and they aren’t going to risk it.
Ra ng ed To Hit Modifiers
In addition to the standard range modifiers, several
special ones apply to vehicular combat. There’s
a modifier for firing from a moving vehicle, and
targeting a vehicle moving faster or slower.
Luca beats Veasey’s initiative and takes a shot at the
car on the left.Medium range (100 feet) is two full
range increments away for a heavy pistol. The A4 is
traveling at SR3 and the police are going SR4
Luca’s attack is at (-4) for range,(-2) because he
is firing form a moving vehicle, and (-1) because
the police are moving faster than he is. His attack
bonus is +5, so he gets total mod of -2. However,
the Defense of his target is only 9. He hits it with a
 Technothrillers
roll of 15. The Narrator rolls poorly on the toughness
save and one of the pursuing cars is now Wounded.
Chase Modifier Condition
-2 Firing from an unstable platform, like a moving vehicle
Every point of SR the target is traveling faster or slower than
-1 per
you
Specia l Wea po ns
Technothriller cars often come equipped with every
conceivable type of weapon, from oil slicks to trunk
mounted mortars to machine guns behind the
headlights to time-fused mines. Using any of these
weapons takes a standard attack roll of some kind,
at -4 if the one firing the weapon lacks the Vehicular
Combat feat. Vehicular Combat is the Weapon
Training feat required for vehicular weapons. The
range penalties apply as normal. The average range
increment for a vehicle mounted weapon is 40 to 50
feet.
Other feats and skills can be substituted for
weapon training with particular weapons. Exotic
Weapon Training (Machine Gun), (Rocket Launcher),
(Mortar), or whatever will work for those weapons
whether they are carried or mounted on a car. Five
ranks in Craft (Demolitions) will serve to eliminate
the penalty for explosives and mines. Oil Slicks and
Smoke Screens are a little different, they require
either Vehicular Combat or five ranks in Drive for
the vehicle operator, so he can get his tail pipe in the
right location. The difficulty of hitting is usually the
target’s defense, unless it’s a dropped weapon. For
things dropped or dumped or sprayed out of the Prey
vehicle, it’s 10 + the SR of the Target.
The effect is damage as normal, if it’s a weapon.
If it’s some kind of dropped obstacle or hazard, the
Hunter has to make a Drive Check at a penalty equal
to the Drive skill of the dropping vehicle’s driver.
Veasey is eyeballing the police car still following. The
A4’s speed is now SR 4. This is not Beyond Unsafe,
so he can drive using a move action.For his Standard
action, he tries to help Intan target the mines that
are the ‘special feature’ of the Audi. Her attack bonus
is (+3), (-4) because she lacks Training with this
weapon, and (-4) because at 100 ft the target is 2
range increments away. With a good roll, Veasey
aids for +2. Her Difficulty is at 14 because they are
traveling at Speed Rating 4.
She rolls 10 and subtracts 5. The mine explodes
behind the police.The officer successful Closes the
Gap on his turn, and is now Close (30 ft) - right
on the Audi’s tail.Luca now leans over the seat and
takes a hand. He has a attack bonus of (+4), and is
skilled enough in Craft (Demolitions) that he can use
all of it. There’s no longer a range penalty, although
83
he’s at (-2) for pushing buttons from the back
seat. Still, he manages to beat the Difficulty of
14, and the mine delivers it’s (+5) damage to
it’s target.
Da m aging Vehicles
Damage to vehicles is resolved just like on PC’s:
The vehicle makes a Toughness Saving Throw,
with a Difficulty equal to 15 + the damage modifier
of the attack. The status of Hurt is treated exactly
as normal, (-1) on all future toughness saves
for each Hurt condition inflicted. The status of
Wounded is mostly the same. You still get (-1)
on future toughness saves, become Shaken (-
2 on all Checks except toughness) and become
Stunned. Being Stunned for a car means the
Driver can do nothing but make a Drive Check
to maintain control on his next initiative. Even
if he succeeds, he slows down - his SR drops by
his Acceleration ratting.The Status of Disabled,
Dying and Dead are described on page 70 of the
True 20 Companion. To quote:
“Disabled: A vehicle that becomes disabled can
only take a single move or attack action each
turn (not both); it cannot take any full-round
actions. If it attacks, attempts to escape at
cruising speed, orperforms any other action that
would strain its systems, it suffers +5 damage
after completing the act.
Dying: A vehicle that is “dying” is beginning to
break apart. The vehicle is immobilized, helpless
and beyond repair. While a vehicle is dying, its
crew may attempt to evacuate. The vehicle
suffers +5 damage each round. Armor does not
protect against this damage.
Dead: A ‘dead’ vehicle explodes, dealing damage
equal to its base Toughness bonus due to size to
any crew left onboard. The vehicle is completely
destroyed.”
Passengers in a vehicle will have Cover, but
can otherwise be targeted as normal. Attacks
that miss because of the Cover modifier will hit
the vehicle.
Fa ncy Driving
Using the car to bump and force someone off
the road is common in car chases. In addition,
the Prey might want to duck into an alley, or
make a quick unexpected turn to shake pursuit.
To ‘bump’ into another car at speed means first
closing to Close Range. Then the attacker makes
a Drive roll, with a Difficulty equal to the target’s
defense. Success at this roll means contact
was made. Both vehicles must make now Drive
Checks. If their opponent’s Vehicular Strength
 Technothrillers
modifier is greater than their own, they take a
penalty equal to the difference. So if Veasey were
to bump a motorcyclist with the Audi, he would
roll with his Drive skill versus the motorcycle’s
defense of 10. Assuming he succeeds, they must
each make Drive Checks. The Motorcyclist’s will
be at an 10 point penalty (the motorcycle has a
Strength of +0, the Audi has an +10). Veasey
won’t have any bonus or penalty on his Drive
Check.
Tricks while driving are handled as if they
were feints: a Standard Action using Drive
instead of Bluff, with the Difficulty equal to the
target’s Notice Roll. Success means the target is
distracted and he will lose his Dexterity bonus
from his Drive Skill for the next round. It’s easier
to trick some one who doesn’t have time to
react, so Range effects the roll. See the chart. If
his opponents are distracted or there is at least
light traffic to use as cover, a driver may attempt
to Hide, using the Drive skill in place of Stealth.
Hiding calls for a Drive Check by the driver, and
assumes he has some place to Hide - alleyways
or an intersection for example. Range between
the two cars effects this roll as well.
Tr i c k s
Range Category Modifier to Tricks Modifier to Hiding
Close +5 -10
Short 0 -5
Medium -5 0 Toughness or Defense by two, or it could increase
Long -10 +5
Extreme -15 +10
O th er P l a c e s,
O th er C ha s e s
These rules are specifically for Chases, a race
where terrain plays a major part. They are not
intended to be used for a dogfight between
aircraft high in the sky, a drag race between two
hot rods, or a ship to ship battle on open water. That
doesn’t mean you can’t use planes or boats or even
spaceships. A single engine aircraft trying to escape
helicopters loaded with machine gun wielding mooks
among the rocky bluffs of Arizona’s Grand Canyon
National Park - that sounds like fun. The key is that
the course of the chase must matter. Taking a left
turn must mean something different that a right.
SR’s scale easily - you can use 0 to 7 and worry
about the speed in MPH of Knots only if you want to.
Acceleration and Stability will change – for example,
watercraft will have have a lower Acc and higher
Stability. Aircraft can use the standard range for Acc
and Stability, but the damage for a Aircraft collision
will start at SR times 3 (or 4 or 5) rather than SR times
2, and should include falling damage appropriate for
the altitude. The range modifiers are a sticky point.
Rather than recalculating the distance for the five
range categories, just assume the weapons used are
appropriate for the scale. That means that Close is
zero range increments for all weapons, Short is 1 or
2, Medium is 4 to 8 range increments depending on
the weapon, and so on. As with any situation, these
rules are only a starting point.
Tools of the Trad e
The characters may purchase a superior vehicle at
a higher cost. Increase the Difficulty of the Wealth
Check by one per bonus packet purchased. No more
than one packet can be applied to a stat. One bonus
packet will increase Acceleration, Stability, or Top
Speed by one. It could also be used to increase
Strength by three. A bonus package can also be used
to represent exotic equipment, like built in weapons.
Finally, for increasing the cost by 3, the Heroes may
purchase a vehicle with Handling: It provides a +1 to
all Drive Checks made by it’s driver. This is essentially
the same as buying a masterwork car.

Example Motorcycle Sedan Van Semi with Trailer Modified Audi A4

Size Med Large Huge Gargantuan Large
Acceleration 2 1 0 -1 2
Top Speed 6 6 5 5 6
Stability 5 10 10 10 12
Strength 2 10 12 17 10
Toughness 8 9 9 11 9
Defense 9 8 8 6 8
Cost 23 32 34 34 35
Extras Mines (damage +5, range 40ft)

84
 Technothrillers
F ea t s
Wheelm a n
Prerequisite: Skill Focus (Drive) Feat
The Character is a natural behind the wheel, and in
tune with cars. He is less likely to crash and better
able to survive when he does.
The Stability of any vehicle driven by the Wheelman
increases by two. In addition, should he be involved
in a crash – even as a passenger – any collision
damage he would suffer is decreased by two.
There is a version of this feat for planes called Top
Gun. It works the same, except the prerequisite is
Skill Focus (Pilot) Feat.

Wheelm a n S ava nt
Prerequisite: Wheelman Feat, Vehicular Combat
Feat
Each round when the character is driving (he is using
a move or standard action to control the actions of a
vehicle), he may preform one move action as a free
action. He may reload a handgun, roll a cigarette, or
just play with the radio, all while keeping one hand
on the wheel and one eye on the road.
Also, the motion of a car driven by this character
is remarkable smooth. Drinks don’t spill and
passengers don’t get thrown around. A weapon fired
from this character’s vehicle and skills used in it take
no penalty for acting on an unstable platform.
There is a version of this feat for planes call Top Gun
Savant. It works the same except the prerequisites
are The Top Gun and Vehicular Combat Feats.

85
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