====== Expedition Gear ======

In 1804, Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery set out to
cross a continent. Along with them went two tons of equipment
selected by Lewis and his patron, President Thomas
Jefferson. Their list included 10 lbs. of fishhooks, a sextant,
a chronometer, and four compasses. The group returned
two and a half years and 8,000 miles later, having lost only
one companion (to a ruptured appendix, an untreatable
condition at the time).

A century later, Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen
spent two years in the Antarctic and was the first to reach
the South Pole – beating Englishman Robert Scott by a
mere 35 days. All of Amundsen’s party returned safely; all of
Scott’s perished. The deciding factor, according to
Amundsen, was planning and equipment.


  * [[:rpg:gurps:core:equipment:general_equipment:expedition_gear:survival-camping|Survival and Camping Gear]]

==== LIGHTS ====

The well-prepared man always has a means of
making light; the paranoid man, several means.
Below are many options. For general game effects,
see Visibility (p. B394).

=== Candles (TL0) ===

Candles remain the main lighting technology through
TL5. In the 1700s, the average family used 40 lbs. of candles
a year. Lewis and Clark’s expedition took along moulds and
wick to make tallow candles as needed. During the
American Civil War, the U.S. Army ration was 1.5 lbs. of candles
per 100 men each day.

There are two major types of candles: tallow and wax.
Tallow candles are made from rendered fat; they stink, produce
more smoke, and sputter loudly as they burn. Wax candles
produce no odor unless perfumed, and are nearly silent.
A candle of either kind produces enough light to read by, or
to illuminate a 2-yard radius.

Tallow Candles (TL0). These are issued in some military
survival kits until the 1950s, because tallow can be eaten –
treat 0.5 lb. as a meal. Burns 4 hrs. per ounce (1/16 lb.). Per
ounce: $0.03. LC4.

Wax Candles (TL1). Made of beeswax, whale oil (spermaceti),
or paraffin. All produce a clean, odorless flame. Burns
8 hrs. per ounce. Per ounce: $0.30. LC4.

Candle-Lantern (TL5). A candle-lantern allows still-air
burning rates even in the wind. A typical model is the size of
soda can and equipped with a shutter to conceal the light.
$5, 0.5 lb. LC4.

=== Lanterns (TL5) ===

Oil-burning lanterns started to supplant candles as the
standard light source during the American Civil War period.
The trend continued until electricity finally reached the
most remote backwaters of the U.S. in the 1930s.

At TL5, the most common fuels are whale oil (made from
blubber), turpentine, and camphene (an alcohol-turpentine
mixture). At TL6+, lanterns typically burn kerosene
(p. 16) or lamp oil – purified kerosene that produces a
clean-burning flame. The duration of a pint of fuel is given
for each type of lantern, below.

Lanterns are much brighter than candles, but they aren’t
durable. They’ll break if dropped on hard ground (roll vs.
HT 6) and take 30-60 seconds to relight. They can burn in a
wet environment such as a rainstorm, but are instantly
extinguished if submerged.

Bull’s-Eye Lantern (TL5). A signal lantern used by sailors,
soldiers, police, and railroad conductors. It has a glass lens
and a shutter. Photographers cover the lens with red silk or
paper when working in the darkroom. A lantern of this type
was recovered from the wreck of the H.L. Hunley. 10-yard
beam. Pint/6 hrs. $25, 2 lbs. LC4.

Glass Lantern (TL5). Most lanterns were of
ornamental glass, and were kept by the
table for sewing or reading at night. Such
a lantern is fragile, and will cause a 1-yardradius
fire if it breaks (see Molotov
Cocktail, p. 191). Illuminates a 5-yard
radius. Pint/10 hrs. $15, 2 lbs. LC4.

Carbide Lamp (TL6). Popular with spelunkers
and miners since the 1890s, this consists
of a belt- or head-mounted light. The user
puts carbide and a small amount of water in the generator,
which produces acetylene gas. It burns for 5 hours on 0.25
lb. of carbide ($0.30 per refill). Illuminates a 5-yard radius
or projects a 10-yard beam. $50, 3 lbs. LC4.

Kerosene Lantern (TL6). A covered “hurricane” lantern
that can’t be blown out. It’s also self-dousing, so it has little
chance of causing a fire if dropped. Kerosene lanterns were
first produced in the 1860s and are still manufactured today.
At TL8, dual-fuel versions (¥2 cost) burn both gasoline and
kerosene. Illuminates a 5-yard radius. Pint/12 hrs. $25, 4 lbs.
LC4.

=== Electric Lanterns (TL6) ===

Electric lanterns appear at TL6 but can’t match the duration
of fuel-burning ones until TL8. On the other hand, they
can’t be snuffed by wind or doused by water, don’t require
dangerous fuel, and are safe in volatile atmospheres. Most
importantly, they can be turned on and off quickly.

Electric Lantern, Small (TL6). 3-yard radius. $5, 4 lbs.,
M/4 hrs. LC4.

Electric Lantern, Small (TL7). 3-yard radius. $5, 2 lbs.,
3¥S/4 hrs. LC4.

Electric Lantern, Large (TL8). 5-yard radius. Double cost
for dive-certified models that can operate to a depth of 600’.
$30, 3 lbs., 4¥S/20 hrs. LC4.

=== Flashlights (TL6) ===

Eveready’s “electric hand torch” debuted in 1898. The body was a paper tube. The flashlight’s small size and reliability made it a common item in almost every toolbox or automobile glove compartment by the 1920s.

A regular flashlight can be converted to an IR illuminator by adding a snap-on filter. Its bulb assembly can be changed to produce UV light, making it useful for forensic work, tracking alien blood, etc. Either modification costs $25.

It takes a Ready maneuver to turn a flashlight off or on, adjust the beam, switch settings, etc.

Flashlight (TL6). A basic flashlight. Batteries last 10x as long at TL8. 10-yard beam. $20, 1 lb., 2xS/5 hrs. LC4.

Micro-Flashlight (TL6). A tiny penlight or key-ring light. Batteries last 10x as long at TL8. 1-yard beam. $5, neg., T/2 hrs. LC4.

Mini-Flashlight (TL6). A pocket-sized light. At TL8, the batteries last 10¥ as
long and this type of light is often worn on the head, which allows hands-free use: the light points wherever the user is looking. 5-yard beam. $10, 0.25 lb., 2xXS/1 hr. LC4.

Survival Flashlight (TL6). Gives 3 minutes of light after 30 seconds of winding or shaking. At TL8, double duration (to 6 minutes) but halve weight. 1-yard beam. $20, 1 lb. LC4.

Floodlight (TL7). A large, portable spotlight. Double cost for dive models that
can operate to a depth of 600’. If aiming the light in combat, treat as a searchlight (p. 228). 200-yard beam. $100, 3 lbs., M/4 hrs. LC4.

Smart Flashlight (TL8). A flashlight with a super-bright light and a dimmer switch. It can switch between white, red, green, and infrared-only (as an infrared illuminator, p. 47). 50-yard beam for 2 hour or a 5-yard beam for 40 hours. $300, 0.5 lb., 2xXS. LC4.

Tritium Illuminator (TL8). A light the size of ballpoint pen cap, bright enough to let one read a map or see a keyhole. The radioactive tritium gas inside stimulates a phosphor, making it self-powered for 10 years. It can be
shuttered by turning a knob, but it can’t be shut off. $10,
0.1 lb. LC4.

=== Chemlight (TL7) ===

In the mid-1970s, the U.S. military developed a
chemical-luminescent light that didn’t produce heat or
require batteries. The “chemlight” or “glowstick” was born.
Simply snap the plastic rod and shake for three seconds.
Most models provide 12 hours of light and come in a variety
of colors – including a version that acts as an infrared illuminator
(p. 47). Illuminates a 2-yard radius. $2, 0.1 lb. LC4.

=== Tactical Lights (TL7) ===

Tactical lights are powerful, waterproof flashlights used
by soldiers and police. They come in to two sizes: small and
large. The small version can be mounted on any firearm,
and illuminates an area immediately in front of the muzzle.
Held in the fist, it can be used to deliver a devastating
punch; treat as brass knuckles (p. B271). The large model is
more powerful, and can be mounted on a rifle, shotgun, or
SMG. It counts as a baton (p. B273) in melee combat.

A tactical light is bright enough to momentarily stun the
opposition in potential surprise situations (p. B393). As well,
those who look directly into the light must make a HT-4 roll
or be temporarily blinded. Blindness lasts for 10 seconds
times the margin of failure.

A tactical light is the flashlight of choice for those who
need the most powerful, dependable hardware available.
Treat it as rugged and expensive to begin with (see Integrating
and Modifying Equipment) – don’t add those options again.

Large Tactical Light (TL7). 100-yard beam. $200, 2 lbs.,
4xS/1 hr. LC4.

Small Tactical Light (TL7). 25-yard beam.
$100, 1 lb., 2xS/2 hrs. LC4.

Large Tactical Light (TL8). 100-yard beam.
$200, 0.5 lb., 4xXS/2 hrs. LC4.

Small Tactical Light (TL8). 25-yard
beam. $100, 0.25 lb., 2xXS/2 hrs. LC4.

====Ultra-Tech Lights====
An ordinary light source can be more useful than the
most sophisticated sensors!
===Flashlights and Searchlights (TL9)===
These can project an infrared, ultraviolet, or visible light
beam, which is also tunable from a wide flashlight cone to
a pencil-thin red or blue-green laser pointer (range is multiplied by 10). It can function as a blinding weapon in a
pinch – see Dazzle Laser (p. 113). The light eliminates darkness penalties out to its listed range. Use 75 times this distance for signaling range. Multiply all ranges by 2 at TL10,
5 at TL11, and 10 at TL12.

Penlight (TL9): This emits a five-yard beam. It may be
helmet or belt-mounted, or attached to a firearm accessory
rail. $3, 0.1 lbs., 2A/24 hr.

Mini Flashlight (TL9): This projects a 15-yard beam.
May be helmet-mounted or attached to a firearm accessory
rail. $10, 0.25 lbs., B/24 hr.

Heavy Flashlight (TL9): This projects a 50-yard beam,
and can be used as a baton. $20, 1 lb., 2B/24 hr.

Searchlight (TL9): Heavy-duty searchlights are often
mounted on vehicles or buildings. A searchlight projects a
2,000-yard beam. $500, 10 lbs., C/12 hr. LC4.
===Glow Sticks (TL9)===
These chemical lights glow when snapped and shaken;
they don’t require power cells. Each provides (TL-8)
days of light illuminating a two-yard radius. They’re
available in different colors, white light, and infrared
light. $2, 0.1 lb.
===Firefly Swarm (TL10)===
This is a swarm of glow-in-the-dark microbots. They can
be ordered into small spaces for illumination, serve as
mobile lamps, or provide a diffuse candle-like glow for
romantic occasions. They can turn on or off, change colors
or dim their lights on command, and glow in the infrared,
ultraviolet, or visible spectrums. They can’t provide the
equivalent of full daylight (unless multiple swarms are
stacked) but they are bright enough to read by. A firefly
swarm is $100/square yard. LC4.

==== NAVIGATION INSTRUMENTS ====

At TL5, the basic tools of navigation
include the compass, the sextant, and the
marine chronometer. At TL8, GPS makes navigation
far easier and more precise.

=== Compass (TL5) ===

A compass exploits the fact that a magnetized needle orients
itself toward the Earth’s poles. This doesn’t reveal true
north, but magnetic north. (On other planets, the two might
be far apart, or there might not even be a magnetic field!) A
compass gives +1 to Navigation (Air, Land, or Sea). Styles
vary, from pocket watch-style compasses that open to reveal
a sundial (popular with Rogers’ Rangers during the French
and Indian War) to models worn on the wrist, stored in the
handle of a survival knife (p. 197), etc. $25, neg. LC4.

=== Maps (TL5) ===

The first topographic map of an entire country was
completed in France in 1793 – the work of four generations
of cartographers. Louis and Clark mapped parts of
the Louisiana Purchase, and the Union army produced
nearly 50,000 maps a year during the American Civil War.
American infantry divisions during WWII printed maps
by the ton, which were updated constantly from aerial
reconnaissance.

Successful use of the Cartography skill (p. B183) allows
a mapmaker to create a map accurate enough for navigation
– that is, to fix a location or plot a course. However, collecting
the information to place on a map can involve a variety
of skills: Observation, Electronics Operation (Sensors),
Interrogation, Photography, etc. For more on mapping, see
Mapping Overland Journeys (p. B491).

An accurate map is considered basic equipment for the
Forward Observer and Navigation skills. Inaccurate maps
give from -1 to -5 for improvised equipment. Having no map
at all gives -10!

Costs range from free to exorbitant; $15 for a national
road atlas and $30 for a detailed topographic map of a
region are typical. At TL8, topographic maps for an entire
continent are $100 and fit on one CD. Weight is 0.1 lb.

=== Marine Chronometers (TL5) ===

An invention of the 1760s, the marine chronometer is a clock accurate to within seconds over the course of several months. It’s kept set to the time at a location of known longitude – historically, Greenwich, England. The constant
rotational speed of the Earth lets a navigator use the difference between the set time and local time to fix his longitude. Many ships carry three chronometers as a safety measure.

A marine chronometer gives +1 to Navigation (Sea) by itself. When used with navigating instruments (below), the combined bonus is +3.

Pocket Chronometer (TL5). A chronometer the size of an oversized pocket watch. $500, 0.5 lb. LC4.

Ship’s Chronometer (TL5). An extremely accurate clock, mounted in gimbals so as not to be affected by the motion of a ship. $1,000, 15 lbs. LC4.

=== Navigating Instruments (TL5) ===
These include chart books, compass, sextant (or its precursors, cross-staff and astrolabe), dividers, lead line, log (to toss overboard to figure speed), and sand-glass (to measure time). Collectively, this gear gives +2 to Navigation (Sea) at TL5, +3 at TL6+. $3,000, 30 lbs. LC4.

=== Surveying Instruments (TL5) ===

Surveyors are in constant demand for road, bridge, and
fortress construction. A typical surveying crew consists of
three or four men. Starting from a known point, they can
locate any point within five miles to an accuracy of one inch.
This requires a day’s work.
The necessary tools include compass, transit, chains,
flags, plotting boards, and drawing instruments. These provide
+2 to Mathematics (Surveying) or Navigation (Land).
$1,000, 300 lbs. LC4.

=== Global Positioning System Receiver (TL8) ===

In 1978, the U.S. launched the first Global Positioning
System (GPS) satellite, fitted with extremely precise timeand
station-keeping electronics. A receiver on the ground
can locate itself via the signals broadcast by a “constellation”
of several such satellites within line of sight, thereby
providing accurate coordinates in three dimensions (latitude,
longitude, and altitude). The unit also displays the
exact time – the satellites’ internal clocks are synchronized
to within nanoseconds!

A GPS receiver gives +3 to Navigation (Air, Land, or Sea)
while it’s within line of sight of a satellite constellation.
Maximum accuracy is to within a few feet. Early units were
the size of a paperback book, but the smallest ones today fit
inside a wristwatch or other tiny electronic device (add $50).
A typical handheld model, the size of pack of cigarettes:
$100, 0.25 lb., 2¥S/40 hrs. LC4.


===Global Positioning System (GPS) Receiver (TL9)===
At TL9+, this is a built-in feature of many gadgets rather
than a separate device. If a planet has an orbital navigation
satellite network, the GPS system links the user to it,
enabling him to always know his exact position if he consults a properly-scaled map. It is accurate to about 5 yards.

The system can also store the coordinates of a location it
has visited (called a “way point”). It can then direct the user
to that way point or transmit the data via communicator to
other GPS systems. With a computer, it can show the user’s
position on a moving-map display.

===Inertial Navigation (TL9)===
These devices indicate the direction and distance traveled from any preset point on a planetary surface. It can be
set for the location at which the user is physically present,
or for any other coordinates (make a Navigation roll if the
precise coordinates are uncertain). An inertial navigation
system lets the user always know which way is north. He
can retrace any path he has followed within the past
month, no matter how faint or confusing. It does not work
in environments such as interstellar space, but it does work
underground, underwater, and on other planets.

Inertial Compass (TL9-12): This palm-sized inertial navigation system includes a tiny computer (p. 22), a GPS
(above), and a video screen. If digital maps are available,
the compass can superimpose the user’s position and path
on the map and display it on its screen. The compass can
also connect to an HUD. It gives a +3 bonus to Navigation
(Air, Land, and Sea). Price and weight depend on TL:

TL9: $120, 0.2 lbs., A/200 hr.
TL10: $60, 0.1 lbs., A/200 hr.
TL11: $30, 0.05 lbs., A/200 hr.
TL12: $15, 0.025 lbs., A/200 hr.

==Inertial Navigation System (TL9)==

An extremely precise system. It has the capabilities of an
inertial compass, but adds a +TL/2 (quality) bonus to
Navigation (Air, Land, and Sea). $5,000, 20 lbs., B/100 hr.
LC4.


==== LOAD-BEARING GEAR ====

When setting off on an adventure, all the supplies and
high-tech gadgets in the world won’t do you much good if
you can’t carry or ship them!

=== Canteens (TL5) ===

A canteen (from the Italian cantina, meaning “wine cellar”)
is a water flask – a desert explorer’s most important
kit. All of these containers but the water pack slosh loudly
if not filled to the brim, negating the Stealth benefits of
load-bearing equipment (p. 54). The weights given assume
a container full of water (2 lbs./quart). Note that water in a
canteen will soon freeze solid in winter.

Canteen (TL5). A basic, 1-quart canteen. At TL5, it’s
made of wood, copper, or tin. At TL6, it’s aluminum or steel,
often with a small cup, and easily wrecked if handled
roughly (stepped on, dropped from a height, etc.). At TL7+,
plastic models are much less susceptible to damage. These
have a receptacle in the cap that mates with a tube on a gas
mask (p. 72), making it possible to drink from them in NBC
conditions. $10, 3 lbs. LC4.

Charcoal-Filtered Canteen (TL5). During the American
Civil War, sutlers peddled what looked like an ordinary,
quart-sized tin canteen. However, inside was a charcoal filter.
Water was poured in one spout, passed through the filter
in the middle, and poured out from the other side, ready
to drink. This gives +2 to HT rolls when drinking bacteriaridden
water (see Contagion, p. B443). $25, 3 lbs. LC4.

Water Bottle (TL8). A 1-quart drinking bottle made from
shatterproof plastic, popular with athletes and outdoorsy
types. $10, 2.5 lbs. LC4.

Water Pack (TL8). A 2-quart flexible bladder worn on the
back, with a drinking tube that extends over the shoulder.
The hose is bite-activated, so that the user can sip from it.
Most backpacks can accommodate a water pack. $25, 5 lbs.
LC4.

=== Containers (TL5) ===

Whether planning a year-long expedition or a weekend
trip, a traveler should pack his equipment carefully if he
expects to find it in one piece at his destination. The shipping
method determines the skill required: Packing
(p. B212) if animals are involved, Freight Handling
(p. B197) for vehicles of all types. A successful roll ensures
that the cargo survives intact. The GM may assess penalties
if the cargo is nonstandard (how do you ship an elephant?)
or fragile, or if the route or shipping method is particularly
arduous. A camera is far more likely to survive a 1,000-mile
journey on a jet plane than on a buckboard! Likewise, the
GM may grant bonuses for extra precautions, including
high-quality containers (p. B345).

Steamer Trunk (TL5). An iron-banded travel trunk with
lock. Holds 400 lbs. or 5 cubic feet. DR 2. $200, 40 lbs. LC4.

Wooden Barrel, Large (TL5). Holds 30 gallons. DR 1.
$200, 50 lbs. LC4.

Wooden Barrel, Small (TL5). Holds 5 gallons. DR 1. $65,
20 lbs. LC4.

Wooden Crate (TL5). Holds 300 lbs. or 5 cubic feet. DR
1. $25, 20 lbs. LC4.
55-Gallon Drum (TL6). DR 3. $50, 55 lbs. LC4.
5-Gallon Can (TL7). A common fuel or water container.
DR 3. $15, 10 lbs. LC4.

=== Cargo Containers (TL7) ===

At TL7-8, shippers use a cargo container – sometimes called a “container express,” or “conex” – to protect cargo.
A conex is a sheet-metal box that provides a safe means of moving cargo via multi-modal transportation (ship, rail,
and truck). Conexes can be stacked atop one another on ships and trains, handled by cranes, or attached to wheels
and towed like trailers.

Conexes can be found by the thousands at major ports, train stations, and trucking hubs. The most common sizes
are 20’ and 40’. Both come in “dry” and refrigerated versions. They can be converted to offices, storage sheds,
guard shacks, munitions-storage facilities, etc., with minimal effort.

20’ Conex (TL7). 20’¥8’¥8’6”. Gross weight is 26.5 tons. DR 4. $1,500, 2.5 tons (empty). LC4.

40’ Conex (TL7). 40’¥8’¥8’6”. Gross weight is 33.6 tons. DR 4. $1,500, 4 tons (empty). LC4.

=== Load-Bearing Equipment (TL5) ===

Until late TL5, load-bearing equipment (LBE) – the belts, bandoleers, etc., that soldiers wear to carry kit – is made of leather. It’s heavy, shiny, and squeaky. It tends to dry rot quickly, and requires a //lot// of cleaning and polishing
to outlast a single military campaign.

In 1877, U.S. Army Capt. Anson Mills drew on his experiences as a cavalry officer in the Indian Wars to develop the first cartridge belt made of fabric webbing. In his words, it was “lighter, more flexible, did not require oiling, and was less likely to break in the process of wetting and drying.” Mills’ webbing proved popular in America and abroad. He established the Mills Woven Cartridge Belt
Company in 1880 and retired a millionaire.

Proper LBE doesn’t merely help adventurers lug lots of gear – it lets them carry it efficiently. It comes in the standard quality grades (p. B345). The user must make a Soldier or IQ-based Hiking roll to set up and maintain LBE. Success lets the wearer add the quality bonus of his LBE to several die rolls, as described below. Failure means the LBE counts as improvised at best, giving -2 or worse instead.

First, the GM may require a DX roll to reach gear if it or its user is in an awkward position; e.g., a soldier lying atop his grenades or magazines, or trying to grab a grenade while hanging one-handed from a helicopter skid. Readying in close combat (p. B391) also calls for a DX roll. The quality bonus of LBE benefits these rolls.

As well, retrieving an article crammed into a pack, cargo pocket, etc., is a “long action” that takes 1d or 2d seconds (p. B383). Fast-Draw isn’t allowed. Grabbing an item from properly set-up LBE requires only a single Ready maneuver
– and a roll against a suitable Fast-Draw specialty makes this a free action. Add the quality bonus of LBE to such Fast-Draw rolls. Most people secure the flaps on LBE pouches (and packs) so things won’t fall out; opening a flap adds an extra Ready maneuver.

Finally, quality LBE benefits Stealth. With no LBE or only TL5 gear, Stealth suffers a penalty equal to encumbrance level; see p. B222. At TL6+, reduce this penalty by the quality bonus of LBE.

Cartridge Bandoleer (TL5). Bandoleers are a simple way to carry ammunition ready to use. They’re worn across the chest. A typical bandoleer holds 50 rifle, shotgun, or pistol rounds in loops. Takes one second (a Ready maneuver) to don or remove. $15, 1 lb. LC4.

Cross-Belts and Cartridge Pouch (TL5). A typical rig for a soldier from the 1700s through 1870, with leather belts crossed like suspenders and attached to a waist belt. A leather pouch – often metal-lined or with a wooden block inside – holds 20-40 paper cartridges. Takes five seconds to don, two seconds to remove. $50, 5 lbs. LC4.

Web Gear (TL6). A canvas belt and suspenders, with pouches for ammunition and equipment. A typical setup is two ammo pouches in the front; canteen, entrenching tool, or other gear on each hip; and a “butt pack” on the back. Fully loaded, it may support 20-30 lbs. Takes five seconds to don, two seconds to remove. $20, 3 lbs. LC4.

Load-Bearing Vest (TL7). The modern assault vest dates to the Vietnam War, and becomes popular in the late 1980s among SWAT teams and the like. An LBV is easier to take on and off – and the gear is carried up on the torso, which protects the contents when wading in water. It’s also less cumbersome in tight spots, which is important to tankers and aircrew. It’s designed to hold 20-30 lbs. of gear. Modern
body armor often features integral pouches and attachment points, making it equivalent to a LBV. Takes two seconds to don or remove. $30, 2 lbs. LC4.

=== Packs and Bags (TL5) ===

Explorers and soldiers alike prize a well-constructed backpack; for anyone who lives out of his pack, it pays to get the best tool for the job. British regulars during the Revolutionary War carried shaggy goatskin knapsacks – or flimsy canvas or linen bags, painted for extra protection. At TL5-6, most packs are leather or canvas like this, and incapable of keeping out the rain. At TL7, packs are made of
water- and mildew-proof synthetics. At TL8, advanced ergonomic features – including S-shaped shoulder straps, internal frames, hip pads, and wide, padded waist belts – make it easier than ever to pack a heavy load comfortably.

Make a Soldier or IQ-based Hiking roll to fit a pack. Failure means a poorly fitted pack that will cause moderate pain (see Afflictions, p. B428) after a day of hiking. The -2 for pain definitely applies to the Hiking skill! Quality equipment grants a Hiking bonus but is hard to find before TL7 – it’s the purview of custom outfitters, and generally made-to-order. Expedition packs can cost many hundred dollars.

At TL8, halve all pack weights.

Backpack, Small (TL5). A small backpack or haversack. From the French and Indian War until 1900, soldiers typically carried packs of this size. Holds 50 lbs. Double cost at TL8. $60, 3 lbs. LC4.

Travel Bag (TL5). A leather duffle or similar. Holds 100 lbs. $60, 10 lbs. LC4.

Waist Pack (TL5). A small haversack, large purse, or “butt pack.” Holds 10 lbs. $10, 1 lb. LC4.

Backpack, Large (TL6). A heavy pack with frame. Dubbed
a “mountaineering pack” by some, it’s typical of most modern
military expedition packs. Holds 100 lbs. Double cost at
TL8. $100, 10 lbs. LC4.

=== Humping, Tramping, and Yomping ===

Whatever you call it, marching cross-country under full kit is exhausting. The hiking rules in the Basic Set are intentionally simplistic – they assume fine weather, ideal terrain, and a grueling 16-hour day spent doing nothing but putting one foot in front of the other. Hikers often march for less than a full day, which can make it useful to know hourly movement rates.

Assume that speed in miles per hour equals Move/2. Adjust the pace as usual for terrain, weather, and roads; see p. B351. Note the FP costs for an hour of hiking given on p. B426 – good FP scores and the Fit advantage (p. B55) give a significant edge here! Extra effort works as usual (see p. B357). Each foraging attempt (p. B427) takes an hour, during which no progress is made.

==== CONTAINERS AND LOAD-BEARING EQUIPMENT ====
These are used to carry equipment or cargo, and to keep
it safe in hostile environments.

===Hovercart (TL9)===
A flat round cart, two feet in diameter, that floats quietly on an air cushion generated by a ducted fan. It can be
towed or pushed at the pusher’s Move. Hovercarts are often
seen around air and spaceports, used for moving cargo and
luggage; other versions serve as baby carriages and shopping carts. They can carry 500 pounds over smooth ground
or water, and make a humming sound audible to a normal
Hearing roll at 30 yards. Voice-controlled robot versions
with Move 4 are available at double cost. $300, 4 lbs., C/12
hr. LC4.
===Pressure Box (TL9-12)===
This pressurized container is used for carrying fragile
items or pets through vacuum or hostile environments. Its
internal dimensions are 2 x 1 x 1 feet. It includes a 12-hour
air tank and its own life-support pack that regulates the
environment. It provides a room-temperature environment
from -459°F to +200°F, as well as DR 10 and radiation PF
5. The modular walls can link together to form a larger
container from several boxes. Sealing or unsealing the
pressure box takes six seconds; linking boxes together takes
10 seconds per box at TL9-10, two seconds at TL11-12.

TL9: $900, 10 lbs., 2C/2 day. LC4.

TL10: $600, 7 lbs., 2C/1 wk. LC4.

TL11: $450, 5 lbs., C/2 wk. LC4.

TL12: $300, 2.5 lbs., C/6 wk. LC4.

===Contragrav Modules (TL11-12^)===
Also called “sky hooks,” contragrav modules are flat,
saucer-shaped disks with rings and brackets for attaching
loads. They generate a contragravity lift field that can support up to 1,000 pounds. They can be set to stay suspended
in the air, or ordered to float up or down at five yards per
second. They may also be pushed along or towed.

TL11^: $100,000, 15 lbs., D/1 hr. LC4.

TL12^: $25,000, 7.5 lbs., D/3 hr. LC4.
===Gravpack (TL11^)===
This backpack is made out of reflex ballistic fabric, and
includes a contragrav generator that screens the interior of
the pack from the local gravitational pull. Weight carried in
the pack is not counted toward encumbrance – it’s treated
like the Payload advantage. The pack can cancel up to 120
pounds of weight.

Due to its bulk, only one gravpack can be worn at a time.
Furthermore, while weight is canceled, mass is not; with
the generator activated, the user will be at -1 DX per 40
pounds carried until he gets used to dealing with the load’s
inertia without its weight. If the same mass is worn in a
pack for more than a day, the penalty can be ignored.
$15,000, 15 lbs., C/12 hr. LC4.


==== CLIMBING AND MOUNTAINEERING GEAR ====

Perhaps the most famous climb in modern memory is
George Mallory’s third attempt at Mt. Everest in 1924.
Mallory and assistant Sandy Irvine were last seen less than
300 yards from the summit – “moving expeditiously” toward
the top, as one observer famously said – before they vanished.
New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa,
Tenzing Norgay, succeeded in 1953. Mallory’s remains were
discovered in 1999, but the mystery of whether he and
Irvine beat Hillary to the top remains.

=== Climbing Equipment (TL5) ===

Climbing is a complicated and potentially dangerous
undertaking. Ropes fray, bolts pull loose, and high winds
can toss a climber off a precipice without warning.
Sometimes, though, tackling a crag (or an office tower!) is
the only way to get the job done.

The well-equipped climber wears a harness connected to a safety line that is tied off to fasteners. This will stop his fall, should one occur. The results of a fall depend largely on the terrain and the precautions taken. In general, the maximum distance the climber can fall is twice the distance between the last fastener and his current position. Safety-conscious climbers tie off every few feet, guaranteeing a short fall with little chance of injury. Braver souls – and
those in a hurry – tie off less often.

The easiest way to come down is to rappel. This requires rope, a harness, and a carabiner or descender. Normally, the climber faces the wall (mountain, building, etc.), looks over his shoulder as he slides down the rope, and pushes off the wall with his feet. A more daring method is to stand directly out from the wall, facing downward, and run toward the bottom. SWAT men and soldiers sometimes rappel this way so that they can shoot on the way down! This counts as bad footing and a minor distraction, for a net -4 to hit (see p. B548) – but the Sure-Footed perk (p. 250) can partially mitigate the penalty.

Climbing is possible without special gear, but speed is reduced and there’s no limit to how far you can fall. For climbing and rappelling speeds, see Climbing (p. B349). For the consequences of a failed climb, see Falling (p. B431).

Fasteners (TL5). Also called “protection,” these devices
hold a rope fast in case the climber slips. Models differ by
function: some are hammered into rock, others are placed
in cracks or crevices, and still others are screwed into solid
ice. Be they soft iron spikes ($1, 0.5 lb. apiece), steel pitons
($5, 2.5 lbs. for 10), or ice screws ($5, 0.25 lb. apiece), all
penetrate the climbing surface. LC4.

Harness (TL5). A climbing and rappelling harness with
several snap-links or carabiners. $75, 3 lbs. LC4.
Ascender (TL6). Uses a cam or a ratchet to ascend a freehanging
rope. Cancels the -2 for climbing up a rope
(p. B349). $50, 1 lb. LC4.

Descender (TL6). A D-shaped device for rappelling down
a rope. Cancels the -1 for climbing down a rope (p. B349),
and allows the climber to stop and hang in midair with
both hands free. $50, 0.75 lb. LC4.

Hand Drill (TL7). A one-man rock drill (p. 26). It
requires one hand to hold the drill bit and another to hammer.
It takes 30 minutes to drill a 3” bolt hole in normal
rock. Bolts ($5, 0.1 lb. apiece) are hammered into the hole,
and expand to grip the sides firmly. $50, 0.5 lb. LC4.

Climbing Kit (TL8). Harness, ascender, descender, an
assortment of fasteners, and 100 yards of 3/8” rope. A highquality
kit provides a bonus to Climbing skill. $400, 26 lbs.
LC4.

Mini-Rappel Kit (TL8). A complete rappelling system:
harness, carabiner, descender, and 33 yards of 1/4” rope.
The whole kit fits in a small belt pouch. $150, 3 lbs. LC4.

=== Grappling Hook (TL5) ===

Getting a grapnel to the target requires a DX-3 or
Throwing roll. Maximum throwing distance is ST¥2 yards.
Load limit is 300 lbs. at TL5, doubled at TL7. When a grapnel
lands on stone, concrete, or similar materials, it can
ring loudly – make an unmodified Hearing roll at 1 yard. A
padded grapnel (+1 lb.) gives -2 to Hearing. At TL8, double
cost buys a non-sparking, nonmagnetic version. $20, 2 lbs.
LC4.

=== Ice and Snow Gear (TL5) ===

If climbing is challenging and dangerous, then tackling a mountain or crossing a glacier can be downright deadly. There are over 120 corpses on Mt. Everest, with new ones added each year. Dangers include hypothermia, frostbite, avalanche, collapsing crevasses, and altitude sickness. Well-equipped modern climbers use the equipment below, plus air masks and air tanks.

Crampons (TL5). These are heavy foot spikes attached to
an explorer’s boots. They “grab” the ice like football cleats,
granting Terrain Adaptation (Ice) (p. B93) and giving +1 to
Climbing on ice. Crampons can be worn with boots, shoes,
or snowshoes. The wicked spikes give +2 to kicking damage,
but are noisy when worn on tile floors, concrete, bare
rock, and the like: -2 to Stealth. $100, 4 lbs. LC4.

Ice Axe (TL5). This is a one-handed tool used by
climbers and explorers. The head has a hooked and serrated
“pick” on one face and an adze on the other. It can be
used stop a fall, or to chop handholds or steps out of ice.
The butt has a sharp point and the top of the head is
smooth, allowing the climber to use it as a walking stick,
with the point digging into the ice for leverage. Treat as a
pick (p. B271) in combat. $100, 2 lbs. LC4.

Skis (TL5). Skiers treat snow as “good” terrain when
moving cross-country (see Hiking, p. B351), and retain
their normal Move on level terrain. Movement uphill is
halved unless using ski climbers ($15, 0.5 lb.), which give
normal Move. Going downhill, tremendous speeds can be
reached – Olympic skiers on prepared slopes have been
clocked at 50 mph, and ski jumpers at 90 mph. Early skis
are wooden, bound to the feet with leather straps. At TL8,
skis are mostly laminated composite: halve weight. $175,
10 lbs. LC4.

Snowshoes (TL5). Snowshoes attach to boots with
bindings of leather, cloth, or, at TL7-8, cold-resistant plastic.
Their large surface area reduces the depth to which a
hiker will sink into snow; treat all snow as “ankle-deep,”
regardless of its actual depth (see Hiking, p. B351). The
snowshoes’ bulk gives -1 to Move, however. For longdistance
movement, use the Hiking skill; those unfamiliar
with snowshoes are at -2 (see Familiarity, p. B169). At TL8,
high-performance snowshoes weigh half as much and are
faster: they prevent sprinting but don’t otherwise reduce
Move. $100, 5 lbs. LC4.

Avalanche Transceiver (TL8). This is a personal rescue
beacon (p. 58) with a 20- to 50-yard range when buried
under snow.

=== Rope (TL5) ===

The load limits given below are working loads, set at
10% of the rope’s tensile strength. Any rope that’s likely to
be given a sudden jerk, or that’s under constant tension,
abrasion, or similar stressful circumstances, shouldn’t be
loaded past this level. Exceeding this limit invites problems
and shortens the rope’s life.

Cord (TL5). Hemp. Supports 50 lbs. Per 10 yards: $5, 1.5
lbs. LC4.

Rope, 1/2” (TL5). Hemp. Supports 300 lbs. Per 10 yards:
$30, 3.6 lbs. LC4.

Rope, 2 1/2” (TL5). Hemp. Supports 1 ton. Per 10 yards:
$450, 55 lbs. LC4.

Rope, 1/2” (TL6). Manila. Supports 350 lbs. Per 10 yards:
$10, 2.2 lbs. LC4.

Rope, 1 1/2” (TL6). Manila. Supports 1 ton. Per 10 yards:
$75, 18 lbs. LC4.

Cord (TL7). Synthetic. Seven inner lines – useful for fishing,
suturing, or sewing – with a nylon covering. Supports
55 lbs. Per 100 yards: $15, 1 lb. LC4.

Rope, 1/4” (TL8). Synthetic. Supports 500 lbs. Per 10
yards: $30, 0.6 lb. LC4.

Rope, 3/8” (TL8). Synthetic. Supports 650 lbs. Per 10
yards: $25, 1.6 lbs. LC4.

Rope, 1/2” (TL8). Synthetic. Supports 2 tons. Per 10
yards: $90, 2 lbs. LC4.

=== Suction Cups (TL7) ===

In 1981, Dan Goodwin used three high-powered vacuum
cups to climb the Sears Tower in six hours. Highstrength
suction cups can hold up 200 lbs. and cancel the
-3 for climbing a modern building (p. B349). Each: $80, 3
lbs. LC4.

=== Personal Lifting Device (TL8) ===

This is a portable, one-man climbing hoist. It clips onto
a climber’s harness. At the touch of a button, it can ascend
or descend a rope at 3 yards per second. A fuel cartridge
($100, 2 lbs.) powers an ascent of 200 yards. Lifting capacity
is 300 lbs. $8,000, 7 lbs. LC3.

==== SURVIVAL AND CAMPING GEAR ====

When the best-laid plans fall apart, proper survival kit
can mean the difference between a bad day and your last
day. The same gear can make a weekend camping trip a
wonderful natural experience.

=== Shelters (TL1) ===

Whether retreating from an arctic wind or hiding from
the blistering sun, man’s thin skin requires shelter. Each
item below notes a modifier to HT and HT-based Survival
rolls to avoid FP loss in freezing weather (p. B430); having
no equipment gives -5. Quality bonuses are cumulative
with these modifiers. As well, appropriate sleeping gear
improves sleep quality, reducing the likelihood of FP loss
and consequent penalties to DX, IQ, and self-control rolls
(see Missed Sleep, p. B426).

Blanket (TL1). The most likely sleeping gear up to World
War I is a simple woolen blanket (or several blankets, in
extreme cold). During the American Civil War, soldiers on
both sides carried a blanket roll – with a rubberized gum
blanket on the outside (a tarp, below), if they were lucky.
Survival modifier: -2. $20, 4 lbs. LC4.

Sleeping Bag (TL5). In the 1850s, this means a fleecelined
rubberized blanket. Modern versions are made of
waterproof yet breathable materials. Divide weight by 2 at
TL6-7, by 4 at TL8. Survival modifier: 0 at TL5-7, +1 at TL8.
$100, 8 lbs. LC4.

Tarp (TL5). A heavy canvas or rubberized ground sheet
– also called a “gum blanket” or a “ground fly.” Modern versions
are made of waterproof polyurethane. Ultralight
backpackers use one for a tent. Halve weight at TL8.
Survival modifier: +1. $20, 3 lbs. LC4.

Tent, Shelter Half (TL5). The standard U.S. Army tent from the Civil War through the 1980s, this is a small “pup” tent – so called because it’s barely big enough for a dog! It consists of two separate sheets of treated canvas, the “shelter
halves.” Weight includes poles and rope, which are split between two soldiers. Survival modifier: +1. $75, 10 lbs. LC4.

Tent, Wall (TL5). A common tent for an officer or a trapper
– something that Washington, Wellington, or Grant
might have used for a field headquarters. It’s big enough to
sleep six men. Survival modifier: +1. $350, 80 lbs. LC4.

Sleeping Bag, Heavy (TL6). A canvas-covered bag lined
with sheepskin, which the 1902 Sears and Roebuck catalog
called “the best bed ever invented for outdoor sleeping.”
Modern waterproof versions use synthetics and are much
lighter: divide weight by 4 and multiply cost by 5 at TL8.
Survival modifier: +3. $100, 15 lbs. LC4.

Blanket, Emergency (TL7). A fragile, metallized “space
blanket” that reflects heat back toward the sleeper while
repelling rain and wind. Survival modifier: -1. $5, 0.25 lb.
LC4.

Tent, Dome (TL8). A modern, waterproof, expeditiongrade
tent for four men. It can withstand wind speeds
beyond 50 mph. It takes about a minute to set up. A two-man
version is half cost and 1/3 weight. Survival modifier: +2.
$150, 12 lbs. LC4.

Tent, Personal (TL8). A bivouac (“bivy”) tent just large
enough for one person. It’s water- and windproof, and sets up
in about a minute. Survival modifier: +1. $100, 1 lb. LC4.

=== Cooking Gear (TL5) ===

When cooking in the wild, use the Survival skill to
prepare an edible meal, the Cooking skill to produce more
sumptuous cuisine.

Field Kitchen (TL5). A kitchen for 20 men, including serving
and preparation utensils, stowed in a wooden box. $600,
80 lbs. LC4.

Hobo Knife (TL5). A pocket-sized jackknife with knife,
fork, and spoon. When unfolded, it splits into two separate
sections that can be used individually: a knife and a
fork/spoon. A favorite of Union troops and Boy Scouts. $5,
0.25 lb. LC4.

Camp Stove (TL6). A portable cook stove suitable for an
individual or a small group. It’s often called a “primus” in
honor of the popular Primus brand of stoves, first sold in
1892; explorers and adventurers have used similar stoves
ever since. Most can boil a quart of water in 4 minutes or
less. The original stoves generally used gasoline or kerosene,
burning a 1-pint tank dry in two hours. Many makers
switched to propane at TL7 (a 1-lb. cylinder lasts for about
an hour and costs $5). The newest TL8 stoves have piezoelectric
ignition and titanium bodies (¥3 cost, ¥1/3 weight). $40,
1 lb. LC4.

Sea Kettle (TL6). A 2-quart “chimney kettle” or “jacket
boiler.” Heat from a fire built in the base of kettle escapes out
the chimney, heating up water stored in the jacket. This very
efficiently brings the water to a boil; only a handful of twigs
or a sheet or two of newspaper is necessary to boil 2 quarts
of water in a couple of minutes. A rack fits over the mouth of
the chimney for cooking a small meal. $75, 2 lbs. LC4.

Cooler (TL7). Coleman sold their first cooler in 1954. This example is capable of holding 16 cubic feet. It uses 25 lbs. of ice in three days in temperate conditions. At TL8, it uses external power to control the temperature thermoelectrically, from 40°F to 120°F. $150, 25 lbs. LC4.

Fuel Tablets (TL7). Many armies issued flammable fuel tablets during WWII; soldiers burned them to prepare a cup of coffee, tea, or soup. Each waterproof tablet burns for 15 minutes and can boil a quart of water in 5 minutes. A pack
of 30: $10, 1 lb. LC4.

Group Mess Kit (TL7). A lightweight kit for four, with frying
pan, bowl, and pot. At TL8, a titanium version is ¥4 cost
but ¥1/3 weight. $30, 5 lbs. LC4.

Personal Mess Kit (TL7). A small cooking kit for one: small cook pot, can opener, fork, knife, cup, and spoon. At TL8, a titanium version is ¥3 cost, but weight is a mere 0.3 lb. $15, 1 lb. LC4.

Solar Stove (TL7). In clear conditions, a solar stove can cook a meal in about the same amount of time as a fire. This commercial model includes an airtight cooking box, a temperature gauge, and a polished mirror to focus sunlight on the food. $250, 20 lbs., LC4.

Alcohol Pocket Stove (TL8). A tiny stove favored by backpackers, it can be made with a pocketknife and a couple of discarded soda cans in about 15 minutes. It can boil a quart of water in less than 10 minutes using an ounce of alcohol.
A store-bought model is $20, neg. LC4.

Meal Heaters (TL8). Just add water and place a military ration (p. 35) inside the pouch. The flameless chemical reaction reaches nearly 180°F, and cooks the meal in minutes. Per dozen: $5, 1 lb. LC4.

=== Fire Starters (TL5) ===

Building a fire with natural materials requires a DX-based Survival roll. Most of the items below give +5 to +10 to this task. Thus, the GM should only require a roll in extraordinary circumstances – wet weather, high winds, etc.

Flint and Steel (TL5). Flint and steel can make a fire in less than 30 seconds in ideal conditions. Specially prepared “char-cloth,” made by cooking scraps of cloth inside a tin, will catch a spark even in windy conditions. $5, neg. LC4.

Magnifying Glass (TL5). A small lens can easily start a fire on a sunny day. Such “burning glasses” were common firestarting tools during the Napoleonic period. $10, neg. LC4.

Matches (TL5). The first successful strike-anywhere friction matches – called “lucifers” – became available around 1830. Paper matchbooks are a TL6 invention, from the 1890s. Varnished, waterproof matches that will light even when wet are also TL6. A box of 50 matches is $0.25, neg. LC4.

Musket (TL5). With a black-powder firearm, fire is always as close at hand – just fire a blank charge into a pile of tinder. If the gun is loaded and/or the sound would draw unwanted attention, stick a twig in the touchhole, put charcloth and tinder in the flashpan, and catch a spark from the flint.

Cigarette Lighter (TL6). The famous Zippo was invented in 1932, but it was based on earlier designs, including WWI trench lighters. A lighter is good for several hundred lights and has a continuous burn time of about 20-30 minutes. At TL8, triple cost buys a windproof, waterproof model. $10, neg. LC4.

Fire-Starter Paste (TL6). A highly flammable substance
used for lighting wet kindling in arctic conditions. A tube is
enough for 20 fires. $5, 0.25 lb. LC4.

Solar Reflector (TL7). A pocket-sized parabolic reflector,
which when aimed at the sun on a clear day will cause tinder
to catch fire. An hour’s work polishing the bottom of a
soda can with a mild abrasive (toothpaste or chocolate
works fine) will create a perfectly functional solar reflector.
A commercial stainless-steel version is $10, neg. LC4.

=== Fishing and Trapping Kit (TL5) ===

A fisherman or trapper can make up to five Fishing or
Survival rolls per day for food; see Foraging (p. B427).

Fishing Kit (TL5). A few hooks and sinkers, and a length of
fishing line. Basic equipment for Fishing, and often found in
survival kits (pp. 58-59). $5, neg. LC4.

Traps (TL5). Spring-powered “bear trap” devices, staked to
the ground with a chain, give +1 (quality) to Survival. They
have a rated ST, and inflict thr+2 crushing damage for that
ST. Victims roll against this ST during attempts to break free
(p. B371). The two most common sizes are the beaver trap
(ST 8, $20, 2.5 lbs.) and a monster-sized version for large
predators (ST 15, $75, 35 lbs.). LC3.

Fishing Outfit (TL6). A pole with reel, plus a toolbox with
an assortment of jigs and lures. Gives +2 (quality) to Fishing.
$200, 10 lbs. LC4.

Snare (TL6). A steel wire snare is a common survival-kit
item. It’s basic Survival equipment for trapping small game.
$1, neg. LC4.

=== Rescue Signaling Devices (TL5) ===

When it isn’t enough merely to survive, equipment beyond
the tried-and-true signal fire can help signal rescuers. Except
for the whistle, all of the items below grant at least +2 to
Vision rolls made by a rescuer to spot the signaler, as long as
there’s a line of sight.

Whistle (TL5). Detected on an unmodified Hearing roll at
128 yards. $5, neg. LC4.

Hand Flare (TL6). A brightly burning road flare that can
easily set fires. Lasts about 30 minutes. Illuminates a 5-yard
radius. $5, 1 lb. LC4.

Signal Mirror (TL6). A signal mirror has a hole in the center
for sighting on aircraft or ships. Under optimum conditions,
it can generate 8 million candlepower and be seen over
50 miles away. At TL7+, it’s made of silvered plastic to avoid
breakage. $5, neg. LC4.

Pen Flare (TL7). A disposable, pen-sized launcher, often
found on the sleeve of military flight suits. Shoots a colored
signal flare to 70 yards. $15, 0.1 lb. LC4.

Strobe Marker (TL7). A palm-sized flashing light, visible up
to 2 miles away. At TL8, a military-grade model acts as flashlight
and has snap-on filter for infrared-only signaling (¥5
cost). $25, 0.25 lb., XS/8 hrs. LC4.

Laser Rescue Flare (TL8). A powerful laser that can be seen
by aircraft up to 10 miles away. The user aims it at the aircraft
cockpit. $50, 0.1 lb., T/week. LC4.

=== Survival Kits (TL5) ===

Survival kits are optimized for the environment in which they’ll most likely be used. This normally corresponds to one of the Survival specialties described on p. B224. The two basic categories are land and aquatic; kits intended for one give -3 to Survival when used for the other. A kit from a different specialty within the same category gives -1 to skill if the specialties are similar (e.g., an arctic kit in a mountain environment), -2 if they’re very different (e.g., a desert kit when you need a jungle kit). A kit for Urban Survival (p. B228) is
possible; it falls into its own category, giving -3 if used in place of any conventional kit, or vice versa.

It’s difficult to generalize about what’s “essential,” since that’s situational, but experts list these basic requirements:

  * Fire starter (flint and steel, matches, or lighter).

  * Food and water collection (fish hooks, snares, iodine tablets and plastic water bags, etc.).

  * General-purpose utility tool (knife, axe, or machete).

  * Shelter (life raft, sunshade, mosquito repellant or netting, etc.).

  * Signaling device (whistle, flare gun, rescue beacon, etc.).

If the kit doesn’t cover one of these areas, or if a class of gear is lost or used up, assess the -1 for “missing important items” (see Equipment Modifiers, p. B345). As the kit is depleted, it degrades to the level of improvised equipment at
best. Good- and fine-quality kits are bigger because they include several items of each type, giving the survivor a backup in case something is lost or malfunctions. The best kits contain items that can’t be used up or that work on
wholly different principles (flint and steel, waterproof matches, and fire-starting paste).

=== Personal Rescue Beacon (TL7) ===
This is a radio beacon (p. 210) the size of a cigarette pack. It’s tied into a global satellite network so that when the beacon is activated, rescue teams are
notified. At TL7, the beacon is located via radio direction finders mounted in rescue vehicles, and it might take rescuers 6 hours or more to get a fix. At TL8, location is determined from GPS data broadcast by the beacon – which is much more reliable – and the time from activation to an alert at a rescue center is a mere 3-10 minutes. $1,000, 0.75 lb., S/24 hrs. LC4.

=== Personal Basics (TL5) ===

This is basic equipment for a particular Survival skill specialty – the minimum that each person needs during a life-threatening situation in a specific environment. In all cases, it includes a knife of some sort, a light source and/or a fire starter, and some means to procure food and clean water. The
specifics vary depending on the hardware available at the tech level (flint and steel instead of a lighter, cell phone in place of a signal mirror, etc.) and on the intended environment (money is much more useful than a fishing kit in an
Urban Survival situation!). This gear alone might weigh 0.5
lb. or less.

However, many items might appear in a given adventurer’s personal basics; e.g., cord, duct tape, eating utensils, first aid kit, hip flask, notebook, towel, and water bottle. Prescription medicines and a spare pair of contacts or glasses (p. 225), are also a good idea.

In general, total cost is around 1% of the monthly cost of living, and overall weight is about 1 lb.

=== Covert Survival Kit (TL7) ===

The ultimate in “minimalist,” this is basic woodland survival gear concealed in the lining of a belt: compass, empty 1-quart plastic water bag, fishing kit,
matches, micro-flashlight, multi-function knife, notebook, sewing kit, signal mirror, snare, water purification tablets, wire saw, and a few feet each of cord and duct tape. $100, 0.5 lb. LC4.

=== Pilot’s Survival Vest (TL7) ===

A jungle survival kit contained on a load-bearing vest, this gives a +1 (quality) to Survival (Jungle). It includes: cigarette lighter, compass, emergency blanket, empty 1-quart plastic water bag, fishing kit, insect repellant, magnifying glass,
matches, multi-function knife, pen flare, signal mirror, small first aid kit, snares, strobe marker, sunscreen, water purification tablets, whistle, and two snacks. In addition to all this, military versions add a handgun and ammunition – and most pilots add a larger knife and either a small radio or a personal rescue beacon. The civilian version is $250, 5 lbs. LC4.

=== Water-Processing Equipment (TL6) ===

The first priority in a long-term survival situation is to find a reliable water source. Leaving water in a clear, closed container on a reflective surface in the sun for six hours will kill any bacteria in it (a process called “solar water disinfection” or “SODIS”). Boiling water for 20 minutes also works. There are other ways to obtain potable water, however.

Chemical Desalter Kit (TL6). Standard equipment aboard life rafts and aircraft is a small box with eight bars of desalting chemical and a plastic bag. Each bar is dropped into a seawater-filled bag. Five minutes later, a quart of water is
ready to drink. $25, 0.5 lb. LC4.

Water Filter (TL6). A water filter works by pushing water
through some kind of filter medium (paper, charcoal, etc.).
This gives a bonus equal to (TL-2) to HT rolls when drinking
bacteria-ridden water (see Contagion, p. B443) but doesn’t
remove salt – for that, use a desalinator (below). It takes a
minute to filter a quart of water. At TL8, divide weight by 8.
$100, 8 lbs. LC4.

Water Purification Tablets (TL6). A tiny amount of chlorine
or iodine can kill most bacteria in a water supply in about 30
minutes. The taste leaves a lot to be desired, but it is safe. A
bottle of 50 tablets: $5, neg. LC4.

Solar Water Still (TL7). A plastic bag or a rubber bladder used to distill potable water from almost anything with water in it – cactus pulp, kelp, seawater, etc. The still works by evaporation, using the power of the sun. It produces up to a quart of potable water a day. Make a Survival roll to use it
and gather the water. $30, 2 lbs. LC4.

Hand-Pumped Desalinator (TL8). This is modern lifeboat equipment. The pump filters a cup of water for every 10 minutes of pumping (costs 1 FP). A larger model (¥3 cost and weight) produces a quart of water for the same effort. The filter lasts for 15,000 gallons. $500, 2.5 lbs. LC4.

MIOX Water Purifier (TL8). This pen-sized gadget uses an electrolytic process to create a chemical “cocktail” of mixed oxidants (MIOX) that safely eliminates microbiological contamination in water. The battery-powered device uses table
salt to produce a salty liquid that’s left mixed with drinking water for 15 minutes to four hours, depending on the water’s condition. After that, the water is safe to drink. $100, 0.25 lb., S/200 quarts. LC4.

UV Purifier (TL8). A UV light source inside a special one-quart container. Water exposed to the UV light for 1-2 minutes is safe from microbiological contamination. $100, 2.5 lbs. (full), 4¥XS/20 quarts. LC4.

=== Comforts (TL7) ===

A few comforts from home are always welcome on the trail!

Camp Shower (TL7). A one-gallon shower bag. An hour of direct sunlight can heat it to over 90°F. $20, 2 lbs. LC4.

Chemical Toilet (TL7). A plastic bucket with seat. Kills bacteria and odors. $30, 7 lbs. LC4.

Clothes Washer (TL8). A hand-cranked washer that cleans up to 5 lbs of clothes in 2 minutes. $50, 4 lbs. LC4.

Espresso Maker (TL8). Prepares one serving in about 3 minutes. $10, 2 lbs. LC4.

====SURVIVAL AND CAMPING GEAR====
Ultra-tech technology doesn’t just make exploration easier or more comfortable. It can open up new frontiers for
adventurers.
===Envirobag (TL9-12)===
This is an insulated, heated sleeping bag designed for
extremes of temperature. It has the same performance as a
Heat Suit (p. 177). It can also be sealed and hooked up to
air tanks.

TL9: $160, 3 lbs., C/24 hr.

TL10: $80, 2 lbs., C/72 hr.

TL11: $40, 1.5 lbs., C/10 days.

TL12: $20, 1 lb., C/2 weeks.
===Filtration Canteen (TL9)===
This canteen holds a quart of water. It removes impurities, salts, microbes, and poisons. It can filter salt water, but
not raw sewage or toxic waste. On its own, it adds a +1
(quality) bonus to Survival skill when living off the land; it’s
also included in survival kits.

One quart can be purified in 30 minutes (TL9), 10 minutes (TL10), three minutes (TL11) or instantly (TL12). The
filter must be replaced every 100 quarts at TL9, or 1,000
quarts at TL10; a color change signals when it’s time to
change. An “exhausted” filter still has a few quarts of capacity, but only the GM knows how many. At TL11-12, the
filter is permanent.

The canteen is $180, 1 lb. (empty) or 3 lbs. (full). LC4.

===Gripboots (TL9)===
This smart climbing footwear is amazingly tough, but
still provides tactile feedback about the rock conditions to
the wearer. In addition, the boot can change shape for a
better grip, and can grow crampons or a forward-placed
spike on command. Add +1 per die to the damage the
wearer inflicts with a kick. Gripboots give a +1 equipment
modifier to Climbing, or +2 on ice. Combat statistics are
identical to assault boots (p. 173). $500, 2 lbs. LC4.

===Modular Cage (TL9)===
This kit allows the user to assemble any size or shape of
cage, with a maximum volume of 10 cubic yards.
Assembling a cage takes three minutes per cubic yard of
volume; several cages may be combined to build a larger
one. Traps skill is required to build anything but a simple
cubical cage, or to assemble a cage quickly in half the time.
Cage bars are 1/2” in diameter. DR depends on TL: 70
(TL9), 100 (TL10), 150 (TL11) or 200 (TL12).$1,000, 200
lbs. LC4.

===Modular Environmental Cage (TL9)===
This is similar to a modular cage, but it takes three times
as long to put together. Once assembled the cage is sealed
and, if connected to an external air and power supply, can
duplicate and maintain nearly any planetary environment
(except for gravity). A 6” airlock allows access for feeding.
$10,000, 400 lbs. LC4.

===Pressure Tent (Personal) (TL9)===
This airtight tent is strong enough to be inflated to one
atmosphere in a vacuum. The metallized fabric incorporates minor (PF 2) radiation protection, but users planning
a long stay in a vacuum or trace atmosphere are advised to
place the tent in a sheltered location (such as a cave) to provide protection from solar and cosmic radiation. The tent’s
air tanks hold man-days of air equal to the tent’s capacity.
Entering or leaving through the one-man lock takes one
minute. The tent has DR 10 (TL9), DR 15 (TL10), DR 20
(TL11) or DR 30 (TL12).

One-Man Tent (TL9): $1,500, 60 lbs. LC4.

Three-Man Tent (TL9): $3,000, 100 lbs. LC4.

Eight-Man Tent (TL9): $15,000, 200 lbs. LC4.

Double the endurance at TL10+.


==== Rocket Piton (TL9) ====

A pistol-grip launcher which fires a rocket-propelled, explosive-set piton. It can shoot an attached line up to 200 yards. A successful Climbing roll (made by the GM) means the piton is securely lodged and will support weight; a critical failure means the firer only thinks it is! Roll vs. DX-4 to hit if used as a weapon. It inflicts 1d+2 impaling damage, with Acc 2, range 70/200, RoF 1, Bulk -3, Rcl 2, Shots 1(5). $40, 2 lbs. Reloads are $1, 0.5 lb. per shot. LC4.

====Wrist Line Shooter (TL10) ====
This is a miniature launcher for a 100'-long carbon fiber line terminating in a molecular adhesive cup that will stick to anything and support up to 200 lbs. The user can use it to travel by swinging from buildings, tree branches, ceilings, etc. He adds +2 to Climbing skill, and can move at half Basic Move while swinging along. $200, 0.5 lbs. LC3.
==== Gecko Adhesive Technology (TL10) ====

Gecko adhesive (Ultra-Tech, p. 83) is a transformative technology – it
replaces nearly every type of fastener. Clothing is closed by gecko adhesive
(“stick strips”) activated by touch sensors. Nails, screws, and rivets disappear as
panels can be attached directly to supports. Gadgets can be stuck to any surface
– walls, trees, skin – with the touch of a button. A comphone can be stuck to the
back of a hand or shirt lapel. Goggles and air masks can bond to the face so they
won’t come off accidentally. A tracked techbot can crawl up walls and ceilings.

Stick pads are so cheap to design in that every consumer device will probably
have them instead of belt clips and carry cases – assume cost includes them. Large
amounts (covering the tracks of a techbot or the backs of solar panels) cost $6 per
square foot.

Rolls of general-purpose gecko tape are nothing more than gecko surfaces
built into strips of tough material, often thin ballistic armor material from the
previous TL.

There is one caution to using stick pads: They’ll faithfully stick to anything,
even when the substrate peels away – gripping brick does no good if the crumbling mortar lets the bricks fall out. That applies to living tissue, too: Skin continuously replaces itself, so stick pads will adhere to skin for no more than one week.

==== Gecko Gear (TL10) ====
Climbing gear can use gecko pads to
allow near perfect adhesion to any surface. It requires nerve-impulse detectors,
proximity sensors, and dedicated control
software. The user can crawl up walls
and ceilings at half Move (brachiators
get full Move). A single thumbprint-sized
patch is enough to support a human, so
falls are extremely rare. A whole body
stocking gives +7 to Climbing (gloves give
+3, toe-socks give +2, the rest of the body gives +2), doubled for
the individual part to maintain footing or grip (grappling and
wrestling, holding ropes, Retain Weapon checks). In addition to
the expected outer surfaces, the inside surface is covered with
stick pads to distribute the climber’s weight. The base material is
diaphanous ballistic armor (DR 0) for good tactile feedback.

The control software errs on the side of caution: A user must
make an unadjusted Climbing roll with familiarity penalties to
deliberately release all the gear at the same time!

Pair of gloves is $1500, 0.5 lbs., 2A/1,000 hrs. LC3.

Pair of toe-socks is $1000, 1 lb., 2A/1,000 hrs. LC3.

Bodysuit is $5,000, 5 lbs., B/1,000 hrs. includes powering
gloves and socks. LC3.

Adjust for SM. Can be manufactured into clothing or any
flexible suit of armor or environmental suit.

====Gecko Soles====

Gecko gear soles can be built into any other boots. They
provide +1 to rolls to maintain footing, and they function similar to magnetized plates without requiring ferrous metal surfaces. Each pair $600, 0.25 lbs., 2A/4,000 hrs. LC4.

====Balloon Piton====

A partially inflated two-inch balloon covered with gecko
adhesive and attached to a swivel-ring, it’s used by pressing it
to a smooth surface or into a crack and electrically triggering
the gecko surface. It can hold up to 5,000 pounds. Gives +1 to
Climbing skill. A set of 10 gives +1 to Climbing skill. Each: $20,
0.05 lbs., AA/40 uses. LC4.

====Molecular Suction Cup====

A tiny balloon piton capable of supporting 800 lbs. $5, 0.02
lbs., AA/1,000 uses. LC4.



==== Smart Pitons (TL9) ====

A piton is a spike with a ring on it, through which a rope can be run. High-tech pitons adjust to the shape of the crack they’re in, and report on their status via an integral microcommunicator. They come free on command. While a piton will report if it is obviously loose, it cannot check its own stability under load, so the climber must also do a manual check. Used properly, they give +1 to Climbing skill. 10 pitons: $100, 1 lb. LC4.
===Genius Piton===

This is a combination of a smart piton (Ultra-Tech, p. 76)
with additional gecko adhesive material along its length, a balloon piton, and a small tube of splat piton material (supports
an extra two tons after one minute) and catalyst. The functions
can be triggered independently, so a loose piton can be reset or
removed. Nominal working load is 5,000 pounds; increase cost
and weight linearly for higher loads. A set of 10 gives +1 to
Climbing skill. Each: $20, 0.05 lbs., AA/40 uses. LC4. Each: $15,
0.1 lb. LC4.

===Digging Piton===
Advanced genius pitons that use burrow dart technology
(Ultra-Tech, p. 155) to dig themselves further into the surface.
Used properly, a set of 10 gives +2 to Climbing skill (with no
loss of speed). Each: $25, 0.1 lbs., AA/10 uses. LC4.
===Rocket Piton Shells===
For use with a rocket piton launcher and 1/8” rope, the
booster shells can be attached to any pointed piton (not splat or
balloon). Add the cost of other pitons. $5, 0.5 lb. per shot. LC4.
Effectively, these are cheap 25mm gyroc-like boosters with
explosive piton rams. They have 1/10 gyroc range because of
the heavy payload and dragging the climbing line. For larger
diameter rope (3/16”, 3/8”, and 3/4”), larger rockets and pitons
must be used to maintain the same range. Multiply cost and
weight by 2.5¥ for 3/16”, 10¥ for 3/8”, and 40¥ for 3/4”.
====Electromagnetic Piton Launcher====
Similar to a pistol-form underbarrel EMGL (Ultra-Tech,
p. 141), this device electromagnetically launches piton rams
instead of using rockets. It inflicts 1d pi++ damage, with Acc 3,
range 60/400, RoF 1, Bulk -2, Rcl 2, Shots 1(5). $500, 1.5 lbs.,
C/3 shots. Reloads are $3, 0.2 lbs. per shot. LC3.




===Spider Cage (TL9)===
Biological survey teams and trappers favor this capture
device. It has a starfish-like shape consisting of a floor base
surrounded by a few dozen jointed arms. Stepping on the
base triggers a pressure sensor, causing the hinged bars to
spring up and bend forward at high speed to form a roofed
cage. If the victim is not surprised, a successful Dodge roll
allows jumping away in time. The padded bars cause minimal injury, but the closing cage will do 1d-2 crushing damage if the victim is larger than the area of the trap.

A spider cage uses bars of padded memory metal (p. 90)
with DR 20. The separation between the bars is 2” wide. It
also features a door on the side (some of the bars swing out
in unison) with a conventional electronic and mechanical
lock. It adds a +2 (quality) bonus to Survival skill rolls made
for trapping creatures. $2,000 and 10 lbs. for a cage capable of trapping a creature with SM 0. Double cost and
weight per +1 SM; halve it for each -1.

===Splat Piton (TL9)===
This two-inch sphere has a ring attached for a rope.
When broken against rock or another hard surface, a fastdrying glue is released. In one minute, the ring can safely
support 16 tons.

The sphere may be fired out of a mortar as far as 50
yards, unreeling a light line. The line unreeled must be used
to pull a climbing rope through the piton ring. If a climbing rope is launched, range drops to 10 yards. A catalyst can
unstick the glue, allowing the piton to be removed. It is not
reusable. $10, 0.05 lbs. LC4.
===Vapor Canteen (TL9)===
This canteen draws moisture from the atmosphere.
How quickly it works varies with the amount of water
vapor in the air – with an Earth-standard humidity of 50%,
the time required to extract a quart of water is four hours
(TL9), three hours (at TL10), two hours (at TL11), or one
hour (at TL12). It has a capacity of one quart, and adds a
+2 (quality) bonus to Survival skill for an individual living
off the land. $450; 2 lbs. (empty) or 4 lbs. (full), B/100
quarts. LC4.
===Vapor Collector (TL9)===
A larger version of a vapor canteen for base camps, settlements, etc. It is 60 times faster, producing one quart
every four minutes at TL9. It is standard for expeditions
and military or police outposts; it frees them from the
necessity of establishing a post near a water source.
Sabotaging the vapor system is a favorite ploy of villains in
adventure stories. The plot is so hackneyed that real adventurers laugh at it, and may not be prepared if it happens. It
adds a +2 (quality) bonus to Survival skill for a group living
off the land. Usually connected to a water tank, but has an
internal capacity of 20 quarts (five gallons). $10,000, 120
lbs., E/30 days. LC4.
===Smart Rope (TL10)===
This is a cable constructed of memory metal and plastic
fibers, or non-metallic bioplastic; it also includes a radio
microcommunicator (p. 44). A smart rope has half the support strength of rope (p. 81). It gives a +3 (quality) bonus to Knot-Tying skill, and can be ordered via radio signal to
“flex” or go “rigid.”

In flex mode, the rope behaves exactly like ordinary
rope. In rigid mode, the rope locks into its current position
as if it were a stiff metal wire. In this position, it cannot be
untied. Removing a rigid rope without ordering it into flex
mode requires cutting through it. If a smart rope is severed,
the pieces lose their “smart” properties, but retain the flexible or rigid quality the rope had when cut. Smart rope may be purchased in a variety of standard lengths, starting at
one-yard increments. Smart rope is twice as expensive as
ordinary rope; other statistics are identical. LC4.
===Survival Watch (TL10)===
A heavy-duty wristwatch built to survive in extreme
environments. It includes a biomonitor (p. 197), a
chronometer, a GPS (p. 74) receiver, an inertial compass
(pp. 74-75), a magnetic compass, a homing beacon (p. 105),
and a tiny computer (p. 77) with a small 2-D display (about
one square inch).

The watch is usually voice controlled. It is waterproof,
and can survive 10 atmospheres of pressure or a vacuum. It
is powered by a small flywheel battery that can be
recharged by body motion. If not worn, it goes to sleep for
up to five years, turning off all functions except timekeeping. A vigorous shaking will power the watch up to full
operation. $300, 0.5 lbs., B/3 months. LC4.
===Survival Module (TL10)===
A programmable bioplastic box the size of a hardcover
book. When activated, it draws air out of the surrounding
environment and inflates itself, becoming a comfortable
two-person cabin that can hold four in a pinch. It has transparent plastic windows, pull-out inflatable tables,
chairs and beds, and an airlock door that
takes four seconds to cycle. It is pressurized, with a complete life-support system including an air filter
and reducer/respirator. If oxygen
is unavailable, air tanks will be
required.

The survival module has a
tendency to blow away in a
strong wind when set up but
unoccupied. However, it can be
weighted or tied down. $600, 4
lbs., C/2 wk. LC4.
===Air Tube (TL11)===
The size of a thick marker pen, this device stores
air in a safe, hypercompressed form. When the user bites
down on the tube, it provides a steady stream of air. It can
operate for (TL-3) minutes, but the user must stay within 30
feet of the surface. It leaves a visible bubble trail. $50, 0.2 lb.
===Bioplas Pressure Tent (TL11)===
This is identical to the pressure tent (p. 76) but is made
of pseudo-living bioplas (pp. 170-171). It contains a
regenerative life support system similar to that of the
space biosuit (p. 178).

Its skin absorbs sunlight and recycles waste, giving it an
extended air supply. There is some waste, but it is effective
for six weeks when augmented by power cells (see below).
A small tank contains enough air to pressurize it; this also
provides (occupancy) man-hours of air after power is
exhausted. The tent is self-sealing for punctures up to an
inch in diameter, and more extensive damage is slowly
repaired. It lives off the occupant’s waste products.

One-Man Tent (TL11): $3,000, 10 lbs., D/6 wk. LC4.

Three-Man Tent (TL11): $5,000, 15 lbs., 3D/6 wk. LC4.

Eight-Man Tent (TL11): $7,000, 25 lbs., E/8 wk. LC4.

===Survival Foam (TL12)===

This is a can of fast-hardening nanotech or high-biotech
foam used to create a life-sustaining cocoon. It is similar to
the life support gel in a survival cocoon, but more
advanced.

A can of survival foam will seal someone in hibernation
for up to a week, even in hard vacuum or temperature
extremes from -200 to 400 degrees. It takes five seconds to
harden, making the foam useless as a weapon. The user
experiences an unpleasant drowning sensation combined
with disorientation, but will be unconscious within seconds
equal to his HT.

A survival-foam cocoon has DR 5 and HP 32. It can be
chipped off (which risks damage to the subject if done too
quickly) or instantly dissolved with a neutralizer spray ($10
and 1/2 pound for a can with enough to free three people).
The user will lose 1 HP for every week after the first that he
is encased in survival foam, due to slow muscle deterioration and nutrient loss. $700, 2 lbs./can. LC3.


==== MARITIME GEAR ====

The sea is a cruel mistress. It pays to enter her domain
well-prepared.

=== Life Jackets (TL5) ===

The life jacket is the essential maritime life-saving
device. The earliest models date to 1850s Britain, and were
made from huge blocks of cork sewn into a canvas vest.
Any life jacket gives +6 to Swimming rolls to avoid drowning
(p. B354) but -3 in Quick Contests of Swimming when
racing (see Swimming, p. B224).

Life Jacket (TL5). At TL5, cork-block construction gives
-3 to Swimming rolls to avoid injury when first entering the
water. At TL6-8, better materials eliminate this problem
and weigh half as much. $10, 5 lbs. LC4.
Flotation Belt (TL6). A heavy webbing belt with two rubber
tubes inside. It was issued by the thousands during
WWII. When activated, two CO2 cylinders inflate the belt.
$15, 2 lbs. LC4.

Flotation Vest (TL8). A concealable life jacket – often
incorporated into a load-bearing vest (p. 54). It can be manually
activated or set to inflate automatically on entering
the water. Its self-righting design will keep even an unconscious
person’s head out of the water. $150, 3 lbs. LC4.

=== Skin-Diving Equipment (TL6) ===

Modern skin diving got its start in the 1920s, when Guy
Gilpatric began using aviation goggles while spearing fish
in the French Riviera. The standard equipment we know
today soon followed.

Dive Mask (TL6). See Goggles.

Snorkel (TL6). This modern snorkel with a rubber
mouthpiece lets a swimmer keep his face in the water while
swimming on the surface. $25, 1 lb. LC4.

Swim Fins (TL6). Although Benjamin Franklin fiddled
with an early prototype, modern swim fins were custommade
for divers during the 1930s. Commercial models
appeared in 1940. Each fin requires a Ready maneuver to
don or remove. They provide Enhanced Move 0.5 (Water)
but reduce Move to 2 on land. $25, 3 lbs. LC4.

=== Miscellaneous Maritime Gear (TL7) ===

These items provide an extra degree of safety for those
on the open water.

Dive Cage (TL7). A divers’ shelter for shark-infested
waters. It has space for up to three men. A buoyancycontrol
device allows use on or below the surface. DR 20.
$3,000, 600 lbs. LC4.

Dye Marker (TL7). A container of fluorescent dye.
Released in water, it takes 3d seconds to make a luminous
circle 30’ in diameter, which gives +2 to Vision rolls to see
it. It lasts for about half an hour in normal sea conditions.
$5, 0.5 lb. LC4.

Life Raft (TL7). A round, high-visibility, self-inflating raft
for one in a soda can-sized package – with weather canopy,
sea anchor, etc. A larger, four-person model is also available
(¥3 weight and cost). $50, 5 lbs. LC4.

Emergency Beacon (TL8). This wrist-worn, short-range
radio beacon triggers automatically if submerged and can
also be activated manually. It is part of the “man-overboard
system” common on yachts and commercial fishing boats.
When activated, an alarm sounds aboard the vessel and a
shipboard radio direction finder (pp. 38-39) indicates distance
and direction to the beacon. Each locator can be
assigned a coded ID so that it reveals the survivor’s identity
as well. $300, 0.25 lb., XS/8 hrs. LC4.

=== Rebreathers (TL7) ===

Diving rebreathers actually predate conventional scuba
gear and were first used as submarine escape equipment.
Since they recirculate the diver’s exhaled gases instead of
exhausting them, they draw much less attention on the surface
– a useful trait for military divers. For details, see
Rebreathers (p. 76).

=== Scuba Gear (TL7) ===

French naval officer Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Air
Liquide engineer Emile Gagnan produced a working model
of the “aqua-lung” in 1943. Models reached the U.S. in
1948. By 1958, over 25,000 had been sold – thanks in no
small part to the TV adventure series Sea Hunt.

A scuba (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus)
setup is an “open-circuit” breathing system – it releases
the diver’s exhaled breaths into the water. Such gear is
wasteful of air but simple to operate compared to a “closedcircuit”
rebreather (p. 76). Its biggest limitation is that it’s
restricted to relatively shallow dive depths.

Micro-Scuba Rig (TL7). A complete breathing rig with
mouthpiece, regulator, etc., used as a backup by divers if
their main system malfunctions. It provides air for 30-60
breaths; see Holding Your Breath (p. B351). Holdout -3.
$200, 2 lbs. LC4.

Scuba Gear (TL7). A comprehensive set of scuba-diving
equipment: wetsuit, dive mask, snorkel, fins, buoyancy
compensator, medium air tank, regulator, weight belt, and
so on. See Chapter 4 for details on air tanks and scuba
masks. $1,500, 45 lbs. LC4.

==== PARACHUTING GEAR ====

In 1797, André Garnerin leapt out of a hydrogen
balloon 3,200’ above Paris . . . and survived, courtesy of
his invention, the first practical parachute. Interest in this
technology grew enormously with the development of
powered flight in TL6.

The first widespread use of parachutes was during WWI
– initially as an escape device for balloonists, and later for
pilots and even spies. In the 1920s, the Soviets conducted
the first military exercises with parachute infantry, proving
that a force could be landed behind enemy lines. Whole
armies of parachutists were organized during WWII. Many
countries maintain “airborne” units today; 100 U.S. Army
Rangers parachuted into Afghanistan in 2001, and 1,000
airborne troops landed on a single airfield in Iraq in 2003.
Parachutes aren’t exclusively safety gear and military
kit. The civilian sport of skydiving blossomed in the ’60s
and ’70s, thanks to safer parachutes and better training. All
types of parachutes and parachuting use the Parachuting
skill (p. B212).

=== Parachutes (TL5) ===

A parachutist must make a Parachuting roll to use his
equipment correctly on a jump. After pulling the ripcord on
his parachute, he’ll fall a minimum of 80 yards before the
canopy opens completely. Should he hit the ground before
then, assume that he has half the usual velocity for the fall.
Once his chute is entirely open, he falls at 5 yards per second
(variables include canopy size, parachutist weight,
thermals, etc.), and drifts with the wind. Add 1 yard per second
to landing speed per 50 lbs. over the parachute’s maximum
rated weight. A chute carrying 120% or more of its
rated weight simply fails. Ram-air devices differ in several
ways (see below).

Beginning at TL8, most parachutes are equipped with
an automatic barometric actuating device that deploys the
canopy at a preset altitude – usually 1,000’. This safety feature
prevents an unconscious jumper from plummeting to
his death. Of course, it can malfunction or be intentionally
deactivated (or sabotaged!).
It takes 10 seconds to put on a parachute, 2 seconds to
take it off.

Parachute (TL5). The earliest experimental parachutes
had no hole in the top to allow air to escape, so they oscillated
ferociously. Parachutists jumping with these poorly
designed parachutes must make a HT-4 roll to avoid
becoming nauseated (p. B428). Maximum suspended
weight is 150 lbs. $500, 50 lbs. LC4.

Parachute (TL6). One of the first commercial parachutes
was the Guardian Angel, sold in England from 1917. This is
a standard round parachute opened by a static line or by
hand. It isn’t controllable and thus relies on the jumpmaster
and the aircraft pilot for accuracy in hitting the drop
zone. The current U.S. Army T-10 is very similar. Maximum
suspended weight is 150 lbs. (200 lbs. at TL7, 250 lbs. at
TL8). A reserve chute adds $250, 15 lbs. $750, 30 lbs. LC4.

Mini-Parachute (TL8). A parachute in a slim backpack
that can be concealed under a jacket (¥5 cost) with ripaway
back panels. One model is marketed as a high-rise
building escape device. It opens in half the distance of a
normal chute. $1,000, 8 lbs. LC4.
Parachute Navigation Device (TL8). This gadget combines
GPS (p. 53) and a helmet-mounted HUD to project a
directional arrow that guides the parachutist to his landing
zone. Military models are designed to work with nightvision
goggles. $1,500, 1 lb., XS/20 hrs. LC3.

Ram-Air Parachute (TL8). At TL8, sport jumpers and
high-altitude military parachutists favor airfoil-style parachutes.
Such a chute is highly maneuverable. It can glide at
Move 15 relative to the ground – and with a good tailwind
at 20,000’, jumpers routinely cruise as fast as Move 35, flying
dozens of miles under canopy in the right conditions.
This allows black-ops teams to exit an aircraft at great altitude
and fly in formation to a distant drop zone. Jumpers
attempting such stunts require an air mask (pp. 72-73) and
air tanks (p. 74) to avoid passing out due to lack of oxygen;
see Atmospheric Pressure (p. B429). Maximum suspended
weight is 400 lbs. For performance data as vehicle, see the
Air Conveyances Table (p. 232). With reserve: $3,500, 25 lbs.
LC4.

=== Aerial Resupply (TL6) ===

Sometimes, the only way to get equipment to people on
the ground – be they smokejumpers, scientists in
Antarctica, or troops in an area too hot for a helicopter
landing – is to deliver it from the sky.

Parachute Container (TL6). A typical WWII-era cargo
container, this packet holds 250 lbs., or 5 cubic feet, of gear.
With parachute deployed, it descends at 6 yards per second,
drifting with the wind. Military chutes are often colorcoded
(blue for mail, green for ammunition, red for medical
supplies, etc.). $50, 25 lbs. LC4.

Guided Parachute Delivery (TL8). Using GPS (p. 53) to
guide the parachute via a strap-on control pack and a set of
control arms that look like shock absorbers, a GPD can
deliver cargo (like a parachute container, above) to preset
coordinates. Such a system – like the U.S. military’s Joint
Precision Airdrop System (JPADS), used in Afghanistan
and the Iraq War – can steer itself to within a few dozen
yards of the programmed landing point. It cruises at Move
10-15 relative to the ground. Maximum cargo load is 5 tons.
$70,000, 50 lbs. LC3.

Infiltration Pod (TL8). This is a streamlined human
cargo pod, like the EXINT (extraction/insertion) pod from
London-based AVPRO. It holds one person and attaches to
an aircraft’s hardpoints; a single AH-64 Apache helicopter
can carry four. The occupant has a radio, a navigation display,
and life support – but no controls! A GPS-guided control
system steers the pod precisely and lands it safely using
a combination of parachute and airbags. Maximum cargo
load, including occupant, is 500 lbs. $100,000, 700 lbs. LC3.

=== Death from Above ===

A parachutist may need to dispatch an unwanted
welcoming committee as he nears the ground. This
requires a Move and Attack maneuver, with a penalty
equal to the weapon’s Bulk or -2 (whichever is worse).
Roll against the lower of Parachuting or ranged
weapon skill to hit. Paratroopers who often find
themselves in this predicament might benefit from
the Mounted Shooting technique (p. 251).


====ENVIRONMENTAL====
These are technologies and devices for establishing livable environments in hostile conditions. For
wearable masks, suits, etc., see Chapter 7.

===Rescue Bubble (TL9-12)===

This device is a man-sized plastic bag with
a self-inflation system and self-sealing flap. To
use it, pull the bag on, and activate the seal.
Once the seal is closed, the bag inflates automatically, forming an airtight bubble. Rescue
bubbles found in vehicles are often connected by
an air hose to an external life support system, but
they can be disconnected. If this happens, each bubble provides 15 minutes of air.

It takes four seconds to don and inflate the bubble
(make a Survival or Vacc Suit skill roll to halve the time). If
disconnected, it is flexible enough to move in, at a Move of
1. It floats in water. Bubbles are usually built into vehicle
seats or worn on belt packs. Opening it while inflated spills
its air. The tough plastic has DR 1.

TL9: $800, 4 lbs.

TL10: $600, 3 lbs.

TL11: $400, 2 lbs.

TL12: $300, 1.5 lbs.

The compressed air cartridge can be recharged from a
life support system in about an hour, allowing the bubble
to be repacked and reused.

===Survival Cocoon (TL11-12)===
This rescue bubble is equipped with an emergency
hibernation system that can flood the cocoon with life-support gel, placing the user into hibernation. The gel also
makes the bubble reflective to improve the chances of rescue; it can be detected by radar at 10 times the radar’s normal range.

While in the cocoon, the user will be safe for a week.
After that, he loses 1 HP for every week due to slow dehydration, lack of nutrition and exercise, etc.

TL11: $1,500, 3 lbs. LC3.

TL12: $1,000, 2 lbs. LC3.

===Worldscaping (TL9-12)===
This is ecological engineering on a planetary scale.
Terraforming is the process of making an uninhabitable
planet more Earthlike. Of course, nonhumans might seek
to “xenoform” Earth or other worlds to make them more
suited to their own preferences.

==Mars-Type Terraforming (TL9)==
Warming the climate and thickening the atmosphere of
a Mars-like world involves factories or the impact of ammonia-rich asteroids to produce greenhouse gases to warm the
surface. This releases carbon dioxide from ice caps and the
frozen surface, triggering a runaway “global warming.”

After a century or so, the planet’s environment may be suitable for simple plants and for humans wearing respirators.

Over 100,000 years, the plants can manufacture a human-breathable atmosphere. The time scale can vary, depending
on how similar a candidate for terraforming is to Mars.
==Fast Mars-Type Terraforming (TL10-12)==
This deploys advanced genetically-engineered plants or self-replicating plant-like machines. Divide the time
required for completion of the terraforming project by 10 (TL10), 100 (TL11), or 500 (TL12).
==Venus-Type Terraforming (TL11)==
A world like Venus is terraformed either by constructing
a giant sunshade to cool it down, or smashing a massive
asteroid into it to blow away most of the atmosphere. After
waiting for conditions to stabilize, replicating machines
can manufacture a new atmosphere. The process would
take about 500 years before it was suitable for plants and
respirator-equipped humans, and 1,500 years before it was
habitable. At TL12, this period is reduced to 100 years and
300 years.
==Terraforming through Matter Conversion (TL12^)==
Replicator (pp. 93-94) technology may be able to fabricate new atmospheres. By building self-replicating
machines that can transform the atmosphere and create an
ecosystem, full terraforming takes only a century or two. A
giant replicator powered by the energy collected from a
Dyson sphere might even envelop the planet and change it
all at once.
===Gravity Control (TL10-12^)===
Gravity control technologies create localized zones in
which gravity is higher (artificial gravity) or lower (gravity
screening or contragravity) than usual.

Artificial gravity makes space colonization much easier,
allowing people to live comfortably on comets, asteroids,
and small moons. Spaceships and stations can be built in
any shape desired; there is no need to design them as spinning wheels or equip them with rotating sections to simulate gravity through centrifugal force. Artificial gravity may
also be used on planets with “normal” gravity to accommodate people from higher-gravity worlds.

Artificial gravity generators often take the form of “gravity plates” built into the floor of a vessel or habitat. A spacecraft might be equipped with a +2G gravity plate. In deep
space, the gravity could vary from zero (turned off) to 2G
(on “max gravity”); humans used to Earthlike gravity would
keep it on 1G. On Earth, the same gravity plates could vary
the gravity from 1G (the local gravity) to 3G. Reducing
gravity below the local value requires the use of contragravity. It’s possible to have both systems installed.

Gravity plates are rated for the cubic volume and the
strength of the gravity field over local gravity (e.g., +1G).
They generate a vertical field from a generator grid. Those
used in normal dwellings or vessels rarely exceed +1G
unless created for beings used to a higher-G field. For
example, since the Moon has about 0.16G, a gravity plate
would only need to produce +0.84G to simulate a terrestrial gravity field.
==Gravity Plates (TL10^)==
These are installed in vehicles or buildings.

TL10^: $400, 0.4 lbs. per cubic foot of area per +1G.

TL11^: $100, 0.1 lbs. per cubic foot of area per +1G.

TL12^: $25, 0.025 lbs. per cubic foot of area per +1G.

They use external power.
===Gravity Screen Chambers (TL11^)===

These use contragravity technology for the comfort of
visitors from low-gravity or microgravity worlds, or for
zero-gravity play, sports, sex, or training. Gravity screen
chambers can also be a useful part of an installation or vessel’s security system, allowing defenders to harass intruders
by selectively reducing or restoring the gravity. It takes one
second to adjust gravity.

Gravity screen chambers may also be an important part
of manufacturing facilities. Many specialized chemical and
metallurgical industrial processes function best in zero
gravity. The chambers allow these processes to performed
on a planet instead of a space station.

The contragravity zone is generated by a grid enclosing
the affected area, using building or vehicle power. It is
$1,000, 0.5 lbs., 0.25 kW per square foot of enclosed walls,
floor, and ceiling space, e.g., screening a 10’-square cubicle
is 600 square feet of GC grid. Unlike a contragravity vehicle,
the power supply may be external to the CG grid itself. LC4.

==Gravity Mat (TL12^)==
A flexible, roll-up artificial gravity generator that may be
set to increase local gravity by up to 1G over a 2 x 2 x 2.5
yard area (270 cubic feet). This replaces the local gravity.
Gravity mats are typically used by individuals on worlds
with uncomfortable gravity, but they can also be built into
vehicles or houses. $27,000, 32 lbs., D/1 hr; it can use flexible power cells, but usually uses external power. LC4.

===Crossing a Gravity Gradient===

Crossing into an area of higher or lower gravity
can be dangerous, and even standing still while a
gravity field is suddenly turned on can be tricky.

Different Gravity: See p. B350 for general effects
of low or high gravity.

Falling: Roll vs. DX to avoid falling down if the
gravity shifts up or down by 10% or more. Each
doubling or halving of gravity adds an extra -2 modifier, e.g., going from a 1G to a 5G field requires a
roll vs. DX -4.

High Acceleration: If the gravity suddenly
increases, use the rules for high acceleration on
p. B434 to see if a HT roll or falling damage applies.

Nausea: Sudden exposure to zero gravity may
trigger space adaptation syndrome (p. B434).

===Industrial Megaprojects (TL 10-12)===
In addition to terraforming worlds, other massive
engineering projects may be possible at high TLs. (For
transportation megaprojects, see Chapter 9.)
==Moving Black Holes (TL10)==
Black holes the mass of asteroids might exist in nature
(smaller ones would have evaporated). Such a million billion ton mini-black hole can be moved by placing a magnetic sail in orbit and feeding matter into it in a controlled
fashion to generate thrust.
==Artificial Black Holes (TL11)==
High-energy particle accelerators can create tiny (but
unstable) black holes. These can then be fed matter until
they’re stabilized and moved. They can also be used
as power systems, planet-devouring weapons, and for
starmaking (see below).
==Planetary Brain (TL11)==
Self-replicating machines (p. 79) may transform much
or all of a planet’s functional mass into machinery – perhaps even a giant hyper-sapient computer. At TL12^, it may
be possible to do this with a white dwarf or neutron star.
==Starlifting (TL11)==
This is the extraction of hydrogen, helium, and other
elements from a star, either for industrial use, or to extend
the star’s lifespan by preventing its transformation into a
red giant. Methods include increasing the stellar rotation
until material begins to drift off the equator, or squeezing
the star using intense magnetic fields from particle accelerators. Either technique generally requires creating a Dyson
sphere or ringworld (p. 72) around the star to house the
necessary machinery.
==Stellar Midwifery (TL11)==
Red dwarfs are the most common type of star, but they
are too dim to make their planets habitable. A red dwarf
star’s power could be amplified by using a Dyson Bubble-scale array of solar sails to reflect back some of its light,
boosting its temperature and increasing its fusion power.
The effect would not last forever, but would be quite useful
for the lifetime of a civilization.
==Starmaking (TL12)==
Jupiter-sized gas giants and brown dwarfs may be stellar-formed. This involves maneuvering a small black hole
(about 10% of the mass of Earth’s moon) into the gas giant
or brown dwarf. Once inside, it will begin swallowing mass
and producing a great deal of radiation – enough to effectively turn the body into a small star, with a useful lifespan
of a few million years. This is useful if the technology exists
to create black holes, and if an extra (or more powerful) sun
would be an asset to colonization efforts.
===Weather Control Satellites (TL10-12)===
A weather control satellite can shift the weather in a
1,000-square-mile region. It can only make changes that fit
within the region’s normal climate, such as diverting (or
creating) a storm during hurricane season. Roll vs.
Meteorology skill to control the system; roll weekly for
long-term effects or daily for violent weather. Failure can
produce unpredictable results (-3 on rolls to fix them),
while critical failure may cause a disaster (-6 on rolls to fix).
A weather control satellite must be controlled by a
Complexity 8 computer. Long-term support from weather
control satellites provides a +3 bonus to Farming skill for
raising crops.

TL10: $1 billion, 4 x 200,000 lbs. LC1.

TL11: $300 million, 4 x 60,000 lbs. LC1.

TL12: $100 million, 4 x 20,000 lbs. LC2.

====EXPLORATION, SAFARI, AND SALVAGE ROBOTS====
Robots can go places that are too dangerous for people,
and sometimes they’re just a more cost-effective way to do
the job.
===Robot Mule (TL9)===
This is a rugged robot cargo cart that moves on big tires
and does what it’s told. It has no limbs. It can also be ridden,
although the passenger must give it commands. Widely used
by expeditions, military units, tourists, and others. LC4.

ST 20; DX 10*; IQ 6*; HT 12.

Will 10; Per 10; Speed 6; Dodge 9; Move 6.

SM -2; $3,000, 150 lbs., D/8 hr. LC4.

Traits: Absolute Direction; Accessories (Small computer);
A.I.; Automaton; DR 10; Electrical; Ground Vehicle;
Machine; No Legs (Wheeled); Payload 2 (16 lbs.).

Skills: Area Knowledge-10.

* May be teleoperated.

===Scout Robot (TL9): 36 points===
This is a compact machine about 10 inches long, usually with a fish- or bee-shaped body. Variants are available
for different environments. It has a sensor head, two manipulator arms, and a single hardpoint that can be
equipped with anything from a camera or searchlight to a carbine or submachine gun.

Attribute Modifiers: ST-7 [-70]; HT+2 [20].

Secondary Characteristic Modifiers: SM-4.

Advantages: Absolute Direction [5]; Doesn’t Breathe [20];
DR 15 (Can’t Wear Armor, -40%) [45]; Extra Arm
(Weapon Mount, -80%) [2]; Machine [25]; Protected
Hearing [5]; Protected Vision [5]; Radio (Burst, +30%;
Secure, +20%; Video, +40%) [19]; Radiation Tolerance 5
[10]; Sealed [15].

Disadvantages: Electrical [-20]; Maintenance (one
person, weekly) [-5]; Restricted Diet (Very Common,
power cells) [-10]; Restricted Vision (Tunnel Vision)
[-30].

Availability: $5,000, 4 lb. 2B/8 hrs.

==Configuration Lenses==
Also select one of these lenses:

Aerial Scout (TL9) (+107 points): This uses ducted fans for
quiet flight, and is equipped with surveillance sensors.
Add Aerial [0]; Enhanced Move 1 (Air) [20]; Flight [40];
Hyperspectral Vision [25]; Parabolic Hearing 3 [12];
Telescopic Vision 2 [10].

Submarine (TL9) (+62 points): This uses water jets, and is
equipped to operate in the ocean depths. Add Enhanced
Move 1 (Water) [20], Pressure Support 2 [10], Sonar
(LPI, +10%; Multi-Mode, +50%) [32]; Aquatic [0].

Contragrav (TL11^) (+115 points): Uses contragravity
instead of ducted fans. Add Aerial [0]; Enhanced Move 1
(Air) [20]; Flight (Planetary, -5%) [38]; Hyperspectral
Vision [25]; Parabolic Hearing 3 [12]; Silence 2 [10];
Telescopic Vision 2 [10].

===Explorer Swarm (TL10)===
The most efficient way to perform exploration tasks
over a large area may be to saturate it with swarms of tiny
mobile robots. This swarm usually explores in a spiral pattern, using contact sensors to take minute chemical samples of materials encountered. Explorers may be programmed to look for mineral or chemical traces, explosives, water, organic molecules, etc.

After a predetermined search pattern, the swarms
return to a TL10+ portable lab (pp. 66-67), which may be
equipped to collect and analyze these samples, or beam the
data out. By analyzing where and when the swarm found
items or encountered impassable barriers (such as water, if
the swarm cannot swim or fly), a computer can build up a
map of the area explored. $500/square yard. LC4.