Characters start with a base pool of 10, but additional levels can be bought with general character points. The character can choose to have a few really solid identities (with large point pools) or many flimsy ones (with small point pools). The pool does not refresh and restored or additional levels have to be bought with experience points. If the Cover's pool is reduced to 0, the Cover is compromised and cannot be used again. The "Network" ability is the character's organization of Contacts, which can be used to provide information and support. Characters usually start with a base pool of 15 points. Characters in a Burn-genre campaign have a lower starting base pool (4 to 12 points) that is based on the number of characters in the party. Additional levels can be bought with general character points. Each Contact has a pool rating. The pool does not refresh and restored or additional levels have to be bought with experience points. If the Contact's pool is reduced to 0, the Contact is compromised and cannot be used again. Cherries are special bonuses that can be granted or purchased if a character has a level or pool of 8 or more in an ability. Characters with a pool of 8 or more in the Weapons or Shooting general abilities can spend 6 points per level to take "Special Weapons Training". This grants the character a +1 damage bonus per level when using one of two specified weapons in combat. For instance, a character with Weapons can take K-Bar knife and Tonfa baton and a character with Shooting can take Walther PPK pistol and Hecker & Koch MP5 submachine gun. The bonus applies to only that specific make and model of weapon (e.g., a .38-caliber Smith & Wesson M10 revolver rather than all .38-caliber revolvers in general). However, it is also not limited to just "a" weapon in particular – like an uncle's old service pistol or your grandmother's heirloom nunchucks. If the specified weapon is lost, it can be replaced with an identical one (unless it is the character's "Symbol"). Characters with a pool of 8 or more in the Hand-to-Hand general ability can spend 6 points per level to take "Martial Arts Training". This grants a +1 damage bonus per level when using unarmed combat. Later supplements added unarmed-combat Cherries that granted bonuses to other abilities. Characters can also put points into "Tag Team Bonuses". This allows two characters to work together to achieve the same goal by each contributing a specific ability to perform the action.