Unlike standard HQ, standard 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 worse, if flawed).

The rationale is this - if one uses their Sword and Shield skill without a sword, they'll recieve 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 without armor will similarly penalize you for coming to a battle equiped for a brawl. But these are simply extensions of the standard improv penalties that occur with all skills.

What this avoids is players all clamoring for the largest weapons, and the heaviest armors. For example, if you're in heavy armor, and the contest is running, you'll get an Improv Penalty. Basically putting all choices on an even footing in terms of "realistic" benefits of the equipement in question. And it avoids the extra notation.

If you feel that your equpment gives you an advantage in any situation, remind the narrator.

Other than that, players are encouraged to take equipment with ratings which will augment as normal, to represent high quality items. This is very in genre for Shadow World.

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