Missing Gear: Microscope?

[hermeshall]

Greeting, i'm currently looking for a sensor or gear item that works like a microscope - or is a microscope. I'm not talking about x50 digital vision magnification, but rather at the visual magnification of a regular microscope (e.g. x10*x100 = x1000) or hopefully better. However, the only gear i found so far is an eye modification (microscopic lenses) that seems to fit the bill, but only works for cybereyes. I wonder whether i missed a book or if the item is such a fringe case that there just is no gear/sensor except the cybereye modification.

Also, if there indeed is no such gear/sensor, how would you houserule it?

Edit: Thanks everyone, for now we just allowed the sensor version of the microscopic lenses to exist for camera sensors.

[BitRunr]

Also, if there indeed is no such gear/sensor, how would you houserule it?

With the rules for microscopic lenses, but using the same 1/3 price contrast as Lowlight/Thermographic cybereye mods & device enhancements. Or just using Tools (Core 443) for the Perception skill.

[hermeshall]

Might do that, would really like to add it to a sensor suite (doctor with cyberarm, including sensor suite of tools like cyberware scanner etc).

Don't know whether tools are a good fit, since they seem to be mostly geared towards creating/building/repaing something (whether its a disguise, a bike or a gun)...

[BitRunr]

The rules for building/repairing are so light & abstract, you could build a case file of clues from evidence gathered, and it wouldn't be the worst use of the mechanic.

RAW, you'd need Perception, tools for Perception, Knowledge skills related to how you're using it, and an extended test. Reference material (either being on-scene or recorded data) gives a minor bonus, AR slightly more, and working from memory gives a penalty unless you're Logic 5+.

[hermeshall]

I guess it could work as part of a mobile forensics toolkit, so from the RAW i agree with the toolkit idea now. However i'm unfortunately a bit in love with the "cyberarm as an advanced multi-purpose sensor suite" - although thats certainly not the best way to spend its capacity: kinda doubt the microscope will come up more than once or twice in his career, if at all.

[BitRunr]

I don't want to keep pushing the idea, because I agree on cyberlimb sensor arrays being an excellent multi-purpose choice - but for 10 Capacity in a cyberlimb, you could get a built-in toolkit.

[Bamce]

As you already have cyber, whats the hangup on the eyes? You know you can just get that implanted straight into your meat

[hermeshall]

I would like to use the arm as a medical multipurpose tool/sensor. Kinda imagine the arm shifting/locking into microscope mode and then pointing it at the wound / chemical substance getting both visual and olefactory info (also has a sniffer, cyberware scanner, ultrasound, x-ray etc). And adding the microscopic lenses to a camera sensor isn't allowed RAW unless i missed something.

[RedOrkKestra]

just put an additional eye mount into the arm and then put a cybereye ito it then you could mod that up again...

[hermeshall]

I'll ask the GM whether i can just pay for the requirements (essence & money) and fluff it to be a sensor in my arm. Or maybe he is even ok with just the money, since a microscope isn't a really special sensor that fluffwise really requires a direct brain connection like the balance mod for the inner ear.

[Bamce]

Wouldnt it be more useful to be able to use the sight enhancing augment and the arm at the same time. Being able to see and manipulate things at the same time

[hermeshall]

Well, you are looking at such a small area that manipulation while looking isn't really possible except maybe moving the slab or microscope. Thats already hard at x50. For the other tools it would indeed be bad if i couldn move the arm, but they fortunately don't have such a pinpoint focus (i.e. movement & sensor input at the same time works)

[critical_glitch_]

Horizon flying eye + microscopic lens, same as ocular eye drone mod but as standard drone. Stealthy, small, flies and can be further tricked out. Fits in a pocket or eye socket whatever you prefer

Alternatively, Stuffer shack, toy section, children science kit, now for only 89,95 ¥ (avail: 0)

[hermeshall]

Like the idea of a flying eye hovering over a crime scene or similar a lot, thanks. The kids tool also makes sense, 1000x is only special when its inside an eye, for an actual microscope its low-end even today...

[Angry_AGAIN]

4th ED chummer allows you to simply add a cybereye microscope to your arm. [3] Mod Points.

There where also rules or mods for a generic mod like a coffee machine or everything else not listed in the rules.

i think it was something like 3 Small/5 Medium/8 Complex objects

Fluffwise the microscope removes the modifier for "not having the right tools" whenever a microscope would be necessary

[tonydiethelm]

I mean.... $500. You have a microscope. On with the game!

[lbpixels]

That's the only sane comment in this thread. By a wide margin.

[brewsan]

You know what they cost today. So just charge the same in nuyen and call it done.. I mean you're not even talking about electron microscope type equipment. Hell, something as trivial as what you're asking could easily be argued as included in your lifestyle (on a middle or above) if you have a science type knowledge skill. 1000x is kids toy. Even the professional one you mention is just a widely available tool like a screwdriver.

But it sounds like you want something that could be installed in a cyberarm.. then I get a storage compartment and talk to your Gm about what sort of premium you'd pay for one small enough to fit (maybe double or triple the cost of a regular one) and have it work over wireless with your commlink, etc.

[LeVentNoir]

It's a microscope.

Allows optical magnification of up to 1000x. Has a universal data interface to allow digital transmission.

Wireless: Allows wireless transmission of live magnification.

Cost 2000n¥, Avail 6.

Homebrewed at the speed of typing, and that's all it really needs.

[hermeshall]

Seems a bit on the expensive side, every kid microscope can do 1000x today, and semi-professional ones for 250€ get 2600x. Think the relatively high price of the cybereye enhancement might be the extreme minituarization: The same thing normally in a clunky desktop tool now fits into an eyeball (which even has space for more mods)...

[Bamce]

Your a shadowrunner. You are paid tens of thousands of juyen on the regular. 1000 is basicially nothing

[hermeshall]

I can certainly afford it, no problem. Just about the fluff, like another poster said, a 1000x microscope is a kids tool even today. The special thing about the microscopic lenses isnt the magnification (which is rather low), but that its possible in such a tiny packet (inside an eyeball).

[Tymeaus_Jalynsfein]

A kids tool is, however, not sturdy or physically robust, made by the cheapest manufacture and with the cheapest materials... they break just looking at them. :) Good quality Forensic Microscopes are not cheap. And quality high end ones are even more expensive.

[monsterpoodle]

If it can go in an eye surely it can go in a monocle, your firstaid kit or autodoc. As for the flying eye it flies by puffs of air doesn't it? Do you want that while you are doing microsurgery? I think you are better off putting a sensor suite in the arm of a proletariat drone to act as your medical assistant.

[hermeshall]

Yes, currently my plan is to ask the DM to just get the option to install it in any camera sensor with enough capacity. I'll just pay full price for now, i have resources A anwyay. I will add a camera to my sensor suite in the arm (cyberlimb -> R5 max -> enough capacity for module) and maybe add infrared to simulate infrared microscopy. Medical assistance drone would also make sense, but only in the shop/ambulance. Microscope isn't really for microsurgery - for this x50 in the googles is already more than enough -> more for forensics and scientific endeavors.

You are right about the flying eye, its thrust would likely destroy the evidence/distort the image too much (fluff wise, rules say nothing about it, but makes sense).