Subject: Silhouette Cyberpunk Update + Availability Stuff

Greetings and salutations,

Just finished uploading a relatively minor update to my Silhouette
Cyberpunk webpage (addy below).  Included this update is some background
information on my campaign setting's background, plus a few mecha designs,
and another half-dozen illustrated firearms.

I've been keeping tabs on the netrunning in Silhouette thread on the
Alt-ML, and I'm working on streamlining my version(s).  That'll hopefully
make it onto the next update or so (hopefully will get it over the
christmas vacation...).

A few other things open for discussion: I've been toying around with
modifying the Availability rules (as seen in Heavy Gear) in order to both
reflect actual availability as well as restriction/legality (e.g.
Civilian, Security, or Military-grade equipment).

As it is right now, I use the normal 1-12 Availability threshold, adding a
letter code (A,B,C,D,X) to designate the legality.  At the moment, I've
only started applying this to weaponry, but I eventually hope to apply it
to everything from vehicles, gear, etc.

A: Civilian
B: Security (e.g. licensed security/police/PIs/etc)
C: Military-Light (also paramilitary)
D: Military-Heavy
X: Outlawed

A-class weapons include such things as handguns, hunting rifles, and other
semiautomatic weapons. 

B-class weapons are high-powered pistols (such as pistols firing the
armor-piercing 5.7x28mm cartridge), machinepistols, and most sniper
rifles.  "Civilians" with appropriate licences are allowed to appropriate
such equipment.

C-class weapons include automatic weapons, like assault rifles and
machineguns.  Also include grenades and other explosives.

D-class weapons include anti-tank weapons, autocannons, and other
heavy-duty weapons.  Most missile/rocket/grenade launchers fall into this
category.

X-class weapons are those that are either _very_ heavily restricted or
otherwise completely illegal.  NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) weapons
fall into this category. Certain varieties of cyberware (monofilament
whips, "Wolverine"-type arm blades, etc).  You can safely assume that
certain "disavowed" military/political entities do utilize this equipment
"legally".

Weapons that don't otherwise require any form of licensing or registration
(knives, bows, etc) have no restrictions, and thus get no letter-code.

I haven't totally fixed myself on this system yet, so I haven't converted
*everything* to the new codes, just the few new things up this update.
Anybody have any comments on this?

Pierre