How to see in the dark without a flashlight.

The simple answer is – you can’t. Which is the point of this article, or part of the point, or part of the thing that I think is supposed to be the point.

Most people don’t pay enough attention to the little things. This was brought to my attention one day in #Shadowrun, in a conversation about having cyberlimbs with containers to hold common items. Someone mentioned having a med-kit built into a cyberarm, and then an electronics kit for diagnostics, then I brought up an idea – Empty space! For a flashlight. Spare clip. Portable CD Player. Headphones. Condoms. Anything that you might need in the course of a couple days, and don’t want to drop, or have anyone see.

Backpacks and beltpacks were suggested, but I figured the more subtlety, the better. Somebody brought up rusted hinges as a foil. Rusted Hinges? In cyberware?! I don’t think so, Jim. Next was “Well, the flashlight will weigh alot”. A flashlight weighs the same whether it’s in your arm, tied to a string that’s tied to your belt, or held between your teeth.

The final thing brought up was “Gee, that’s a lot of hassle for a stupid flashlight.”, my response to that is “So’s not having one in the dark!”. This brought out a immature comment, which basically ended the discussion, because everyone pounced on the person for the stupid comment.

Along the way, several people brought up alternatives to carrying around a full sized flashlight – putting a pen-light in a fingertip compartment, for example. Because you do need some light for a low-light system to work. That’s why it’s a low-light system, not a “Cartoon world see in the dark” system.

Now, to bring this back into more general ideas. I don’t believe most people take notice of the small important things in the Shadowrun world (Or in most RPG’s, for that matter.). You don’t need a ton of extra rules to govern small situations that crop up, you just need a bit of common sense.

Nod to the computer screen if you make your characters say what they are ordering when they go to a resturant. Or what kind of drink they are having. Or if they have a lug-nut wrench in the trunk of a car, or a jerry can. If they carry a blank optical chip around, just in case. If they say “I check how much gas the bike has.” before peeling out into the street. Every single one of those actions brings your character closer to what they should be – a living, breathing, thinking, dynamic (meta)human being.

Hopefully you’re all nodding, and hopefully anyone who is watching you doesn’t think that you’ve lost your mind.

Adam Jury
Monday Febuary 23rd, 1998