Unlike standard HQ, equipment will not be given bonus ratings. In fact, nothing will be rated this way. Either equipment is "normal" or it has a rating associated with it that describes how it's better than normal (or, in some cases, worse).

The rationale is this - if one uses their Sword and Shield skill without a sword, they'll receive an Improv Penalty in even the standard game. What normal equipment does is to remove all Improv Penalties, to level the playing field in this way.

This does not mean that all things are equal.

• Using unarmed combat against a person with a sword will get the person using Unarmed combat an Improv Penalty (unless they're specially trained).
• Fighting an armored opponent with no armor will similarly penalize you for coming to a battle equipped for a brawl (similarly true for those wearing light armor versus someone who is wearing heavy armor, but to a lesser degree).
• Conversely, if the contest involves Running, the character in Heavy Armor will face an Improv Penalty (even moreso for swimming)... and so on and so forth.

But these are simply extensions of the standard improv penalties that occur with all skills. It behooves the player starting a contest to set up the contest in a way that favors your type of gear and penalizes those wearing something else.

What this avoids is players all clamoring for the largest weapons and the heaviest armors; putting all choices on an even footing in terms of "realistic" benefits of the equipment in question. And it avoids the extra notation.

If you feel that your equipment gives you an advantage in a given situation, remind the GM.

Other than that, players are encouraged to take equipment with ratings (which will augment your roll as normal) to represent Quality Items, however, be aware that the better the item is, the higher it's Corruption.

Special Materials - This page is a list of suggested ratings to go with particular qualities of equipment.