Gear

All gear has some sort of level. The level determines many things about the item depending on what it is. But the level on all gear tells you about it's quaility.

Level Quality Description
1 Junk / Makeshift Barely functional. Held together by tape, luck, or weak magic. Likely to glitch or fail under pressure.
2 Budget / Surplus Mass-produced or outdated surplus. Reliable for daily use, but lacks specialized features or refinement.
3 Standard The "Consumer Grade" baseline. Reliable, middle-of-the-road gear used by the general populace.
4 Professional Specialized gear used by experts. Hardened against wear and tear; refined materials and consistent output.
5 Superior High-end "Flagship" models. Exceptional craftsmanship that stands out to those in the trade.
6 Elite / Tactical Cutting-edge tech or artisan craft. Customized for high-performance and specific tactical advantages.
7 Experimental Prototype hardware or rare "lost" magic. Features capabilities not yet available on the open market.
8 Masterwork The pinnacle of non-unique gear. Created by masters; perfectly balanced, efficient, and highly sought after.
9 Legendary Gear with a reputation. Heavily modified, ancient, or infused with high-density energy and rare components.
10 Apex The absolute limit of engineering or sorcery. One-of-a-kind items that are the stuff of myths.

Armor

There are three different armor types. Armor eases defense and hinders stealth and can decreases carrying capacity.

Armor Ease Defense Hinder Stealth Carrying Capacity Reduced
Light 1 step 0 steps 0
Medium 2 steps 1 step 0
Heavy 3 steps 2 steps 1

Weapons

Weapons come in different damage types. Creature attacks also do these same damage types.

d8 Damage Types
1 Physical (piercing, slashing, crushing weapons)
2 Psychic (mental, psychic)
3 Elemental (fire, air, earth, water)
4 Necrotic (death, undead, spirits, blood magic)
5 Radiant (divine, angelic, light)
6 Shadow (shadows, Nether magic)
7 Chaos (Faerie Magic)
8 Toxic (poisons, venom, disease, radiation)

Consumables

Consumables are pieces of gear that have a limited lifetime. Such as rations, potions, scrolls.

Each consumable must dictate how it is depleted. There are two options -- [single-use] and [depletion].

Some consumables leave behind remnants that can be used later. These things such as paint, chalk have a durability that determines if the remnant is reusable again.

  • One use — [single-use]
  • Multiple uses: Roll a 1 on a d20 - [depletion]
    • Level 1-4 roll at disadvantage
    • Level 5-7 roll normally
    • Level 8-10 roll at advantage

A Remnant is the physical trace left in the environment after a consumable is used (e.g., chalk marks on a wall, paint on a door, or a chemical trail on the ground). These items that leave behind marks should have a [remnant] tag and are required to add a durability tag for the remnant.

The Remnant's Durability determines if the mark remains readable or functional over time. When the environment or time puts the mark at risk (rain, traffic, fading), roll a d20. On a 1, the Remnant is destroyed or unreadable.

There are [temporary] and [semi-permanent] tags for a durability of a mark let by a remnant.

  • One use — [temporary]
  • Multiple uses: Roll a 1 on a d20 — [semi-permanent]
    • Level 1-4 roll at disadvantage
    • Level 5-7 roll normally
    • Level 8-10 roll at advantage

Containers

Containers can contain things. A smartphone can contain apps. A keyring can contain keys or keychain dongles and tools. A kit is essentially a container. A bag or backpack is also a container and could be used, but in the zone system these items should be kept to a minimum unless they are small, ephemeral or part of your character's look.

Containers can contain up to their level of things plus two for small items like key chains, charms on a necklace/bracelet, a belt or belt pouch. Most containers can contain their level * 2 medium items. Large bags for resource intense came contain level + 2 large items.

Container Contains
Small Level + 2 small items
Most Level * 2 medium items
Resource Level + 2 resources
Item Size Small Medium Large Definition
Small 1 2 4 Small items are things like scrolls, keys, dice, potions
Medium — 1 2 Medium items are what most things are
Large — — 1 Large items are either heavy or large, like a great sword or shield or plate armor

A Bag of Holding, Portable Hole, or what I like to call a TARDIS container — "bigger on the inside" -- has a 3 times their level max capacity and cannot contain other multi-dimensional containers.

Kits

Crafting, Thieving, Hunting, Trapping, Navigation, and other specialty tasks that have multiple tools can have a kit that contain all the tools necessary and only take up one slot.

Kits are specialized containers that can contain up to their level times 2 items, but DO NOT need to be specified until needed. If there is room in the kit the item is available to the user if it fits the specificity of the kit.

Smartphones/Laptops

In a modern setting Smartphones and Laptops are run of the mill nearly everyone has one device. They provide basic computation and socialization apps. The following apps are always available: GPS/Map, Phone, Camera, Internet, Notes, Music.

A device may contain its level * 3 specialized apps. Things like Social Networking Platforms, Drawing, Anything you would need to download from an app store or magical app if your world provides such mechanics.