If one side of the coin called “warfare” is open battle, then the other is covert operations. The two go hand in hand. Unlike battle, where one attempts to use force to harm an opponent, covert ops seek to do harm through stealth. Many of history’s best generals, including Sun Tzu, believed that covert ops and intelligence-gathering were more important than military equipment and troop strength.
Extensive resources have been devoted to intelligence and counterintelligence since the dawn of organized warfare. As technology marches on, specialized tools can matter more than firepower. Such gadgetry rarely comes from the local chain store, though! A CIA officer procures his equipment from the Office of Technical Services, whose motto is “Imagine what is possible – then prepare to be amazed.” A private detective visits a dubious “electronics shop” in an out-of-the-way strip mall. With this gear more so than with most, the GM must decide what’s available to whom, and at what price.