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Last Updated: 2008-02-02 |
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Backpack: Backpacks increase a character's carrying capacity.
Bag, Carpet: A carrier for other items. Maximum capacity 23 kg.
Bag, Waterproof: Used inside backpacks or other luggage. Can be used as an emergency flotation device. Can carry up to 12 kg without rupturing.
Barbed Wire: Barbed wire entanglements are impediments to the movement of troops and wheeled vehicles. 50 meters of wire entanglements, 2 meters in depth, may be laid per man-hour of work. Wire may be laid by anyone, not just engineers. If a person has wire cutters, it takes 1-6 turns to cross two meters of wire. Without wire cutters it will take 2-12 turns. Drivers of wheeled vehicles crossing barbed wire at safe speed must roll an Easy: Vehicle task to avoid becoming entangled. The task becomes one level more difficult at twice safe speed and two levels more difficult at three times safe speed. Freeing an entangled vehicle is an Impossible: STR task. Wire entanglements may be breached by bangalore torpedoes and line charges in the same manner as minefields. Additionally, any ground vehicle passing through a wire entanglement creates a breach, and any demolition charge will create a breach.
Barrage balloons are hydrogen-filled balloons attached to ships or fortifications by stout, 1200 meter-long cables and equipped with a small incendiary device (a flare). They are sent aloft to prevent aerial gunboats from flying directly over the target below. Barrage balloons are only available on ships and fortifications; they may not be used on flyers. Barrage balloons are suspended 1200 meters (two altitude levels) above their tether points. Any flyer which moves to either one or two altitude levels directly above a tether point with barrage balloons collides with them. When a flyer collides with a barrage balloon, the incendiary device detonates on a roll of 1-3 on 1D6. If the device detonates, the flyer suffers an automatic loss of trim. Additionally, the flyer takes 1D6 crew hits, and 1D6 levels of fire. Ships with barrage balloons raised may not move any faster than 20 km/hr and may not maneuver. Ships may cut their balloons free at any time; the balloon is subsequently lost. Any hit by a weapon upon a barrage balloon destroys the balloon. Barrage balloons may be raised or lowered 50 meters per turn.
Inflated, the balloon can lift 506 kilograms, and has a volume of 46
displacement tons (VS). Hydrogen to inflate the balloon costs §460.
Battle Computer: Man-portable battle-coordination system, capable of collating intelligence estimates, providing approximations of enemy forces, and of suggesting tactics. It can be linked to unattended ground sensors to increase its potential, and can provide visual displays overlaid on maps when combined with a map box. When linked to a communicator, it can direct laser/maser communication beams to ground or orbital stations, and it can automatically switch to secondary beam paths if primaries become unavailable.
Bayonet: A dagger-like knife of approximately the same dimensions as a dagger (less frequently, of a blade). When not attached to a rifle, a bayonet is treated as a dagger (or blade), carried in a belt scabbard, and requires proper expertise for use. When attached to the muzzle end of a rifle (only, not carbine or auto rifle) or shotgun, it serves to transform the gun into a polearm.
Binoculars: Allows improved vision at greater distances than would unaided eyes. Spotting tasks are one level easier at each range band.
Black Powder: Generally the only explosive available on low-tech worlds. Each kilogram of black powder has a DP value of 1. Black powder usually comes in 10-kg kegs.
Blade: A hybrid knife weapon featuring a heavy flat two-edged blade approximately 30 cm in length and a semi-basket had guard. It is generally carried in a belt scabbard because of the bulk of the hand guard.
Blanket: Thick, warm blanket made from wool or a local equivalent.
Broadsword: One of the largest of the sword weapons, also called the two-handed sword because it requires both hands to swing. The blade is extremely heavy, two-edged, and about 100 to 120 cm in length. The hilt is relatively simple, generally a crosspiece only with little basketwork for protection. When carried, a metal scabbard is attached to the belt; less frequently, the scabbard is worn o the back and the sword is drawn over the shoulder.
Building, Stone: This is a single course (30 cm thick) of dressed or field stone with 36 meters of outside walls some six meters high, with two wooden floors (second and attic), two flights of stairs, a peaked roof, and one wooden door. Cellar excavation, ground flooring, windows, interior walls, and additional doors are extra. TL: 1
Bullhorn: A device which amplifies faint sounds, enabling a voice (Sound Level II) to carry 500 meters (Sound Level IV).
Buttress, Stone: (0.9m wide × 1.5m deep × 3m high) This is a wall support generally used for reinforcing the outside surface of a curtain wall, tower, etc. To buttress a wall more than 6 meters height, the equivalent of three buttress sections is needed..
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