Contact pack

[stormlion1]

Originally Posted by ArmySGT.

I take a nalgene water bottle everywhere, but I have used 1 liter Mt. Dew bottles as canteens because they are disposable.

Might be my location...... Colorado is definitely and outdoor enthusiast state.

You can buy a nalgene bottle at just about any gas station/convenience store here..... These are even routine swag at expo booths.

Not here on the East Coast or at least South Jersey. People who enjoy the outdoors are a minority and those equipped for it even more so. I have friends who have a ton of gear, but none of it is suitable for backpacking or hiking but drive in stuff and there idea of bringing water is a small bottle of Poland Springs. I have a camping trip with some friends set for next week. My gear is packed and ready and fits on my back and except for an axe everything fits inside of the pack.
My friends on the other hand have several hundred pounds of gear, and expect to split it between the three of them in three packs. Quite a bit of it they don't need. I mean one girl has a eight man tent! It weighs thirty pounds and when I asked if she was bringing water I got told she has a few small bottles and would drink from the stream or the pump if she got thirsty. She's not the brightest bulb at the best of times but I expected her to be smarter than that.
People here expect to be able to drive in most of the time and the few walk in sites are usually empty except for one or two campers at a time. The drive in ones are always full.

[ArmySGT.]

Originally Posted by stormlion1

Not here on the East Coast or at least South Jersey. People who enjoy the outdoors are a minority and those equipped for it even more so. I have friends who have a ton of gear, but none of it is suitable for backpacking or hiking but drive in stuff and there idea of bringing water is a small bottle of Poland Springs. I have a camping trip with some friends set for next week. My gear is packed and ready and fits on my back and except for an axe everything fits inside of the pack.
My friends on the other hand have several hundred pounds of gear, and expect to split it between the three of them in three packs. Quite a bit of it they don't need. I mean one girl has a eight man tent! It weighs thirty pounds and when I asked if she was bringing water I got told she has a few small bottles and would drink from the stream or the pump if she got thirsty. She's not the brightest bulb at the best of times but I expected her to be smarter than that.
People here expect to be able to drive in most of the time and the few walk in sites are usually empty except for one or two campers at a time. The drive in ones are always full.

Might in fact be regional.... Things can be a long drive here just to go shopping.... Denver Metro, you can have anything or get anything....live out on the Plains or in the Mountains and you can expect to drive hours to get it.

A blizzard here can mean empty shelves in grocery stores for seven to fourteen days on some items. It can also mean getting stuck because roads are closed.

Really, though outdoor activities ranks highly on most peoples reasons for living in Colorado... typically skiing, snowboarding, camping, hiking, and climbing with a lot of runners and cyclists too.

[ArmySGT.]

I have been to Bass Pro, Cabela's, REI, Sportsman's warehouse, Big 5, and several other large chains here locally. Then there is plenty of small business outdoor or army/navy surplus shops too.

Heck, I get used camping gear at yardsales and Good will. Sometimes it is in excellent shape.

[stormlion1]

I have got to move out west...

[kato13]

So what do we think makes a contact kit more realistic.

3 or 4 16/20 oz soda bottles.
A piece of metal wrapped in duct tape for an improvised knife.
the last 100 pages of a paper back book. (used as toilet paper)
A buckskin wrap containing 14 oz of smoked dried meat.
A tupperware container filled with peanuts.
A film container containing 1/2 oz cannabis with small wood carved pipe.

[RandyT0001]

Originally Posted by kato13

So what do we think makes a contact kit more realistic.

3 or 4 16/20 oz soda bottles.
A piece of metal wrapped in duct tape for an improvised knife.
the last 100 pages of a paper back book. (used as toilet paper)
A buckskin wrap containing 14 oz of smoked dried meat.
A tupperware container filled with peanuts.
A film container containing 12 oz cannabis.
A six foot long, 2in diameter hollow bamboo bong/walking stick, a heirloom of the Vietnam war.

Made the necessary corrections.

[cosmicfish]

Originally Posted by kato13

3 or 4 16/20 oz soda bottles.

Too flimsy, would be very suspicious to me. Heck, they might not even exist at this point.

Originally Posted by kato13

A piece of metal wrapped in duct tape for an improvised knife.

Were they a prisoner? There are something like 10 knives for every person now, 5 years PA there should be a surfeit of knives.

Originally Posted by kato13

the last 100 pages of a paper back book. (used as toilet paper)

Plausible enough.

Originally Posted by kato13

A buckskin wrap containing 14 oz of smoked dried meat.

Sure, why not.

Originally Posted by kato13

A tupperware container filled with peanuts.

If they are near places peanuts are produced, sure... but otherwise, those peanuts would have gone bad years ago. And MP personnel don't generally know where they are being frozen.

Originally Posted by kato13

A film container containing 1/2 oz cannabis with small wood carved pipe.

Possibly, but it this something TMP would issue?

[kato13]

I have PET bottles I have used for 5 years. Several of which have gone through multiple freezing cycles. When the cap is tight the pressure keeps the form pretty well (air or water). That might keep them from getting crushed.

Peanuts are grown in about a third of the country

That might expand after the war due to peanuts fixing nitrogen (a good replacement for fertilizer).

You could have a dozen different food types and you eat the ones that don't match the area.

I want the kit to allow for various options. The improvised knife is if you are playing someone who lost things that were more dangerous.

As to the cannabis that is exactly the point. I doesn't look like something a military person would have and it has trade value.

[cosmicfish]

Originally Posted by kato13

I have PET bottles I have used for 5 years. Several of which have gone through multiple freezing cycles. When the cap is tight the pressure keeps the form pretty well (air or water). That might keep them from getting crushed.

That's great but that still doesn't make them a great bet. You weren't carrying them on your person in a post-apocalyptic environment. They're a bad bet to last, and anyone relying on them for water is going to stick out.

Originally Posted by kato13

Peanuts are grown in about a third of the country

Which just means that they aren't grown in the other two thirds.

Originally Posted by kato13

That might expand after the war due to peanuts fixing nitrogen (a good replacement for fertilizer).

In the long term, sure, but 5 years post-apocalypse they are not likely making much progress on this front. If anything, the presumption should be that agriculture as a whole is in terrible shape, not that it has expanded!

Originally Posted by kato13

You could have a dozen different food types and you eat the ones that don't match the area.

Or you could just give them a selection of pre-war canned goods. They would still be good and you could always say you found them in some abandoned house en route.

Originally Posted by kato13

I want the kit to allow for various options. The improvised knife is if you are playing someone who lost things that were more dangerous.

It isn't a spy kit, and MP team members don't have spy training! Making a complicated story or giving complicated options is a great way to trip someone up.

Originally Posted by kato13

As to the cannabis that is exactly the point. I doesn't look like something a military person would have and it has trade value.

It does, but my concern is that the greatest value of this would be in sharing it... literally. Like, "let's smoke some weed together, friend!" It seems like whisky or some other potable would be easier to explain, justify, and use.

[ArmySGT.]

Originally Posted by kato13

So what do we think makes a contact kit more realistic.

practical elements and that impractical touch that spells out personal flair. A sweat shirt from the university that you attended possibly.

Originally Posted by kato13

3 or 4 16/20 oz soda bottles.

Sure, I used a one liter Mt Dew bottle on my mountain bike for two years. My nice water bottle was stolen off my bike and no one wanted that soda bottle.

Originally Posted by kato13

A piece of metal wrapped in duct tape for an improvised knife.

I would think that every where you went would be knives of all kinds just laying on shelves or in drawers. Were you thinking of this as a weapon perhaps? A lawn mower blade made into a weapon?

Originally Posted by kato13

the last 100 pages of a paper back book. (used as toilet paper)

Phone books, catalogs went to gloss paper! Yes, finding a roll of charmin post mutual annihilation is going to ultra rare.

Originally Posted by kato13

A buckskin wrap containing 14 oz of smoked dried meat.

If you have the skinning and butchering tools plus the know how to do it. Otherwise you need to have an explanation for what you traded for it.

Originally Posted by kato13

A tupperware container filled with peanuts.

Which are all over in every gas station, convenience store, grocery store, and flea market. Peanuts are dirt cheap protein and plant oils.. The shelf life sucks though because of the fats and oils.

Originally Posted by kato13

A film container containing 1/2 oz cannabis with small wood carved pipe.

Or raw vodka or whiskey, even some over the counter meds like valium. If the PC is willing to consume it sure. The PC might need to operate undercover and evaluate a refugee group for days to determine what aid is appropriate.

[kato13]

I had not thought of a pretty well worn bike as an option. That might make sense in some areas.

[stormlion1]

The best bet is to go with KISS. Keep it Simple Stupid! A mix of civvie and military gear. A civvie backpack, perhaps a simple rifle and pistol. Military canteen on a leather belt. Couple of military pouches and civvie clothes. Make it look like the contact person put his gear together over five years but not that it all came from one source.

[ArmySGT.]

Originally Posted by stormlion1

I have got to move out west...

Season is ramping up..... Come in the end of August or first part of September and clean up at yard sales.

I have kerosene railroad lantern that I bought for $3.00 and a coleman 4 burn for $10.00.

[mikeo80]

A couple of ideas that I have used when I played "First Contact".

There was a series of courses at "Morrow U" to develop this skill set. It would have been run by someone like Les Stroud (Survivorman) or Bear Gryls. It also could be run by Wilderness S&R types.

I agree with KISS as far as contents of "contact pack" A couple of things I ALWAYS asked the TL for before heading into "Seeking new life and new civilizations." They were:
1) One or two pieces of Gold, 2 or 3 of silver
2) 1-3 bottles of booze. (I envision the Trade Pack Booze being in airplane bottles, not large liter bottles.
3) Simple Fishing Gear
4) Best Marksman is in overwatch
5) Personal radio is set for transmit only!

A side note here. Most of the pictures I have seen of TMP personnel have looked military. No Offence, just saying. SO my "Frist Contact Specialist" had long hair, beard, etc. IF you are planning The Day + 5 years, no shaving equipment is not far fetched.

My $0.02

Mike

[.45cultist]

Originally Posted by ArmySGT.

Season is ramping up..... Come in the end of August or first part of September and clean up at yard sales.

I have kerosene railroad lantern that I bought for $3.00 and a coleman 4 burn for $10.00.

I got a nice large Coleman camp stove at a thrift store for $14! The large square 20F Coleman bag would be a good contact item, they also make nice cot mattresses in warmer climes.

[gbmaz]

Lots of good thinking about the contents and use of the Contact Pack. I am intrigued that some people find owning good camping equipment as being out of the ordinary. Living in the Rocky Mountain west it is almost assumed that you have some camping gear and probably a few guns.

I am planning to set my campaign in Rocky Mountains, starting in Colorado. Given the small number of nukes targeted for Colorado (with the exception of the Front Range) there would be lots of relatively untouched areas and the bulk of the state's population would be dead. This is a much better situation than either of the coasts or the industrial heartland.

I am planning on a 4th edition campaign, likely using the 2017 EOTWAWKI date. When I contemplate believable Contact Pack contents I picture:

Clothing is a mix of Carhartts, hunting clothes and a random mix of t-shirts. Perhaps an army jacket to mix it up.

Gear would be well used mid range backpacking gear mixed with army surplus.

Firearms would be a pistol along the lines of a Glock or some other commonly us handgun. The idea of a model 29 is a really strange and inappropriate choice. Long gun choices would be pump shotgun, .30-06 bolt action, or even a semi auto AR-15. There are huge numbers of AR-15s in private hands throughout much of the country. It would not stand out 3-5 years after the war and might help explain why the carrier had survived.

Food would be canned goods and perhaps some freeze dried meals or MREs. Lots of those around, even if they are a few years past date. They would be the items a survivor might hoard for travel or to flee from a bad situation.

Luxury items for trade or to break the ice would be chocolates, disposable razors, stale cigarettes or chewing tobacco, small bottles of hot sauce, prescription pain killers, condoms, AA batteries and duct tape.

One thing to keep in mind is that a co-ed team might do well to have a woman as the contact person, or perhaps a male female team posing as a couple. Either is likely to be perceived as less of a threat to a community than a single guy.

Perhaps a set of keys for the mythical truck that broke down 15 miles back. Maybe a broken part from said vehicle that you a hunt for a replacement for.

A saddle for the horse that you lost 3 days ago?

A battered, non working MP3 player, with a concealed transmitter.

Probably a well worn hunting knife or even a machete.

Definitely a scruffier looking team member with shaggy hair and probably a beard for the contact person. But none of that hipster BS with mutton chops and ironic handlebar mustache. Other survivors would just see shooting him as a service to good taste and the future of humanity.

[.45cultist]

The other loadouts go through updates, the contact kit would as well. Unlike the players, Project planners would know trends and what wouldn't raise eyebrows at that time. Some silver dollars and pre '64 junk silver might be a good addition to the pack as well.

[ArmySGT.]

Items from contributors to this list; minus the insurance claims adjuster.

.30-06 bolt action
8'x6' tarp
can opener
civilian hiking pack
flask of whiskey
military poncho liner
military style 1qt canteen with cup
multitool
Savage Axis .223
100' of 550 cord
1-3 bottles of booze
2 cans of soup
2 carabiners
20F Coleman bag
3 ears of corn
3 or 4 16/20 oz soda bottles.
4 tent stakes
50 rounds of loose ammo
80 beef bullion cubes
A battered, non working MP3 player, with a concealed transmitter
A buckskin wrap containing 14 oz of smoked dried meat.
A film container containing 1/2 oz cannabis with small wood carved pipe.
A piece of metal wrapped in duct tape for an improvised knife.
a pretty well worn bike
A tupperware container filled with peanuts.
AA batteries
Bandana, Neckercheif, Red 1
Bath Tissue 2-Ply 550sheet, Roll
Belt, Leather 1
Boot Knife
Boots, Hiking, Leather, "Kastinger" 1 Pair
Bungee Cord x 2
Can Opener (P-38) x 2
Candles
Canteen 1 Liter Colapasable
Canteen 1 Liter Cover
Canteen 2 Liter
Canteen 2 Liter Cover
Canteen Cup & stand
Carbine, Marlin 1894, Cal. 44 Magnum 1
Cartridge, .44 Magnum 30
Cartridge, .44 Magnum 50
chewing tobacco
chocolates
Cigarette Lighter (Multifuel)
civvie backpack
coleman 4 burn
condoms
Deck of Cards (Paper Box)
Die x2
disposable razors
duct tape
Flask, Hip, containing Scotch 12 oz
Food, Canned 1 Days ration 3
freeze dried meals
Glock
Hat, Felt, floppy "crusher", white in color 1
Holster, Leather 1
Jacket, Denim, "Levis" 1
kerosene railroad lantern
Knfie fork spoon
large Coleman camp stove
Leather Man tool (Pliers)
Leatherman Micra (Scissors)
Lensatic Sighting Compass
Magnesium Fire Starter
Mess Kit (Stainless KFS,pan,tray)
Mess Kit Bag
Military canteen on a leather belt
Mini Binoculars
MREs
one liter Mt Dew bottle
One or two pieces of Gold, 2 or 3 of silver
Pacer Beads
Pack and personal items, assorted
Pack, Nylon (contents listed)
Pack, Nylon 1
Pencil x 3
Personal Defense Spray
Phone books (improvised TP)
pre '64 junk silver
prescription pain killers
pump shotgun
raw vodka or whiskey
Revolver, M-29, Cal. .44 magnum w/ 6 1/2 bbl 1
semi auto AR-15
Shell, 12 Guage 30
Shelter Half
Shirt, Work, Cotton Flannel, Plaid in color 2
Shotgun, Remington 870, 12 Guage 1
silver dollars
Simple Fishing Gear
Single Edged Razor Blade x 10
skinning and butchering tools
Small Arms Cleaning Kit
small bottles of hot sauce
Small Sewing Kit
Socks, Wool 4 Pair
Solo Stove
stale cigarettes
Super Glue, Tube 3g .10 oz
sweat shirt from the university that you attended possibly
Swiss Army Knife
Tactical Memo Book (3.5" x 6" / 60 pages)
the last 100 pages of a paper back book. (used as toilet paper)
Twine
Underwear
Wool Blanket

[ArmySGT.]

The above list formated into Food, Shelter, Clothing, Tool, Weapon, Trade.

Food
Food
1-3 bottles of booze
2 cans of soup
3 ears of corn
80 beef bullion cubes
A buckskin wrap containing 14 oz of smoked dried meat.
A tupperware container filled with peanuts.
flask of whiskey
Flask, Hip, containing Scotch 12 oz
Food, Canned 1 Days ration 3
freeze dried meals
MREs

Shelter
20F Coleman bag
4 tent stakes
8'x6' tarp
Shelter Half
Wool Blanket

Clothing
military poncho liner
Bandana, Neckercheif, Red 1
Belt, Leather 1
Boots, Hiking, Leather, "Kastinger" 1 Pair
Hat, Felt, floppy "crusher", white in color 1
Holster, Leather 1
Jacket, Denim, "Levis" 1
sweat shirt from the university that you attended possibly
Underwear
Socks, Wool 4 Pair
Shirt, Work, Cotton Flannel, Plaid in color 2

Tool
100' of 550 cord
2 carabiners
3 or 4 16/20 oz soda bottles.
A battered, non working MP3 player, with a concealed transmitter
A piece of metal wrapped in duct tape for an improvised knife.
a pretty well worn bike
AA batteries
Bath Tissue 2-Ply 550sheet, Roll
Boot Knife
Bungee Cord x 2
can opener
Can Opener (P-38) x 2
Candles
Canteen 1 Liter Colapasable
Canteen 1 Liter Cover
Canteen 2 Liter
Canteen 2 Liter Cover
Canteen Cup & stand
Cigarette Lighter (Multifuel)
civilian hiking pack
civvie backpack
coleman 4 burner stove
duct tape
kerosene railroad lantern
Knfie fork spoon
large Coleman camp stove
Leather Man tool (Pliers)
Leatherman Micra (Scissors)
Lensatic Sighting Compass
Magnesium Fire Starter
Mess Kit (Stainless KFS,pan,tray)
Mess Kit Bag
Military canteen on a leather belt
military style 1qt canteen with cup
Mini Binoculars
multitool
one liter Mt Dew bottle
Pacer Beads
Pack, Nylon 1
Pencil x 3
Phone books (improvised TP)
Simple Fishing Gear
Single Edged Razor Blade x 10
skinning and butchering tools
Small Arms Cleaning Kit
Small Sewing Kit
Solo Stove
Super Glue, Tube 3g .10 oz
Swiss Army Knife
Tactical Memo Book (3.5" x 6" / 60 pages)
the last 100 pages of a paper back book. (used as toilet paper)
Twine

Weapon
.30-06 bolt action
Savage Axis .223
50 rounds of loose ammo
Carbine, Marlin 1894, Cal. 44 Magnum
Cartridge, .44 Magnum 30
Cartridge, .44 Magnum 50
Glock
Personal Defense Spray
pump shotgun
Revolver, M-29, Cal. .44 magnum w/ 6 1/2 bbl 1
semi auto AR-15
Shell, 12 Gauge 30
Shotgun, Remington 870, 12 Gauge 1

Trade
A film container containing 1/2 oz cannabis with small wood carved pipe.
chewing tobacco
chocolates
condoms
Deck of Cards (Paper Box)
Die x2
disposable razors
One or two pieces of Gold, 2 or 3 of silver
pre '64 junk silver
prescription pain killers
raw vodka or whiskey
silver dollars
small bottles of hot sauce
stale cigarettes

[ArmySGT.]

Contact Pack.pdf

[cosmicfish]

How I would go, on the assumption that the disguise is a traveler in the middle of a long trek - origin and destination both picked to be "out of range" of the local community:

Food
Nothing perishable ("holy crap, how do you have peanuts?"), nothing that would give anything away ("deer jerky?? haven't been deer around for 3 years!"). Story is that they make camp every week or so to hunt and gather, but just ran out and were looking to set up camp today anyway...

8 randomly selected cans of food, call it 4-8 days of back-up rations.
Small pot
Plate or bowl, metal or durable plastic
Cup, metal or durable plastic
Utensil set, metal or durable plastic
Can opener
Dish soap, small bottle
Bag and 50' of cord, for suspending food away from scavengers

Shelter
Sleeping bag or wool blanket, a little warmer than pre-war climate required.
Either a small tent, shelter half, or two small tarps.
Stakes and ~100ft of cord.

Clothing
Boots, combat or hiking, 1 pair
Socks, wool, 2 pair
Sock liners, poly, 4 pair
Pants, denim or canvas or BDU, 2 pair
Belt
Underpants, assorted, 4 pair
Undershirt, assorted, 4
Shirt, denim or BDU or similar, 2
Hat
Outerwear appropriate to the pre-war climate, to include at minimum a waterproof/resistant jacket, possibly sweaters or sweatshirts, and up to full cold weather gear.

Tool
Set of USGS or similar maps showing the surrounding area.
Compass
Pencils, 2-4
Book, survival, including info on edible plants
First aid kit with antiseptic and gauss bandages
Crank-powered flashlight (may include radio)
Flint and steel or other reusable firestarter
Tinder, small bag
Bic lighter or a few matches for emergency firestarter
Knife, folding or fixed, usable for butchering, camp work, and fighting
Sharpening stone
Duct tape, partial roll
Sewing kit
4 liters of durable water storage - canteens, camelbacks, Nalgene, whatever
Water purification tablets for when you can't boil
Backpack, military or civilian, external or internal
Waterproof bag for things that must stay dry
Toothbrush
Half-used bar of soap in a bag or case
Razor, whatever type the team member prefers - they need to explain being relatively well groomed!
Towel

Weapon
Pistol, semi-auto or revolver, in a standard TMP caliber
Pistol holster
Pistol ammunition (30 rounds) and magazines (2, if applicable)
Long arm, rifle or shotgun, in a standard TMP caliber
Sling
Long arm ammunition (50 rounds) and magazines (3, if applicable)

Trade - pick 3-5
Alcohol, medicinal or recreational, 12-25.6 oz
Batteries, unopened "small" pack, any size
Condoms, pack of 12
Toilet paper, 2 rolls
Hard candy, 4 oz
Hot sauce, 4 oz
Lighter fluid, 4 oz
Salt, 4 oz
Sugar, 8 oz
Thermometer and tweezers, 1 each
Underwear, 1 unopened pack of 3-4, inappropriate for bearer
Jewelry, 2-3 pieces "cheap" gold

NO:
Medicines
Drugs other than alcohol
Nothing that can easily be used as a weapon against the team


Everything in italics is picked by the Morrow crew responsible for placing the team, so whoever has the contact pack is expected to spend a little time familiarizing themselves with the contents before trying to use it. Everything else is put together by the person supposed to use it, and can be supplemented with a few items of their choice above and beyond their regular personal allotment.

[ArmySGT.]

My new candidate for a sidearm in the contact pack.

[mmartin798]

If we assume they expected radiation, part to construct or a constructed KFM might be part of the kit.

http://web.ornl.gov/~webworks/cppr/y2001/rpt/112538.pdf

[cosmicfish]

Originally Posted by stormlion1

Not here on the East Coast or at least South Jersey. People who enjoy the outdoors are a minority and those equipped for it even more so.

There are a few important points being missed here, I think.

1) The war will kill a lot of people and destroy or render unusable a great deal of equipment, but considering that many of the deaths will occur post-nukes and that most "outdoor equipment" will be in rural areas away from targeted sites, the amount of such equipment available per person should be greater than it is now.

2) Someone without the appropriate gear simply isn't travelling, especially alone. You're not making a cross-country journey on foot with refilled Dasani bottles (if any are still intact) - if that is all you have, you're staying put, or travelling as a refugee group if absolutely necessary. Your gear may not be pretty or well-integrated, but it will be functional and will cover all the basics.

3) At the time the contact pack is meant to be used, survivors will have had five years to loot National Guard armories, Army/Navy stores, and sporting goods suppliers. While a refugee in the first months might be wandering around with a partial kit, at this point everyone has either assembled a functional set of survival tools... or died.

Oh, and everything I mentioned about gear applies to skills, too - the survivors 5 years in will either have had those skills to begin with, or would by necessity have acquired them in the interim. A lone, poorly equipped, unskilled traveler 5 years in would almost certainly be held in high suspicion.