Personal Conveyances

Adventurers might choose skateboards, gliders, and similar conveyances over sports cars and jets because they're cheaper, stealthier, or simply more in keeping with personal style.

Land

Swift personal transportation on land usually involves an expensive horse until mid-TL6, after which it entails a pricy motor vehicle. Several TL5-8 contraptions offer cheaper alternatives.

Bicycles (TL5)

The earliest bicycles were ponderous iron behemoths compared to today's agile bikes. The first practical designs – vélocipèdes and penny-farthings – are TL5. By TL8, bikes have aluminum or carbon-fiber frames and advanced wheel construction.

All of these conveyances require the Bicycling skill. Long-distance travel involves HT-based rolls and uses the rules under Running. Riders may use the higher of their relative skill level and Basic Move to compute speed. Multiply downhill speed by two for a 7.5° slope, by three for a 15° slope, or by four for a 30° slope.

Example: A mountain biker with DX 10, Move 5, and Bicycling-15 (DX+5) has Move 5 × 1.5 = 7.5. Rounded down to 7, he makes about 14 mph on level ground. Down a gentle slope, Move becomes 7 × 2 = 14, or almost 29 mph. Pedestrians often use bicycles to move cargo. A bike counts as a two-wheeled cart for this purpose; see [Pulling and Dragging]].

The bikes below are basic models. Equipment Modifiers often apply, especially at TL7-8. Paying 5× or 20× cost buys +1 or +2 to skill, as usual.

Velocipede (TL5). The first practical bicycle, called vélocipède, was invented in France in 1867 and available by 1869. It had solid wheels and one speed. Heavy and uncomfortable, its English nickname "Boneshaker" was well-earned. Enhanced Move 0.5 (Ground, Road-Bound). $65, 65 lbs.

Penny-Farthing (TL5). Penny-farthing bicycles were available by 1871. They had one enormous wheel for power and a small one for balance. This design gives -1 to skill and makes any spill at least a two-yard fall! Enhanced Move 0.5 (Ground, Road-Bound). $100, 40 lbs.

Bicycle (TL6). The first "safety" bicycles – with equalsized wheels – appeared circa 1885. By 1890, they had pneumatic tires. Modern gear systems became available around 1900. This bike has a dynamo-powered headlight and a 300-lb. maximum load. Multiply its weight by 0.8 at TL7 and by 0.5 at TL8. Enhanced Move 0.5 (Ground, Road- Bound). $50, 60 lbs.

Racing Bike (TL7). A high-speed road or touring bike, with multiple gears. High-quality versions can reach astronomical prices but give the usual skill bonus. Enhanced Move 1 (Ground, Road-Bound). $100, 20 lbs.

Off-Road Bike (TL8). A "mountain" or BMX bike. Enhanced Move 0.5 (Ground). $200, 30 lbs.

Electric Bike (TL8). A bike with an electric motor. $1,000, 50 lbs., L/2 hours.

Skateboard (TL7)

Skateboards are commercially available at TL7, although homemade jobs made from scrap lumber and discarded roller skates are probably TL6. They require the Sports (Skateboard) skill, which defaults to DX-5, Sports (Snowboard)-2, or Sports (Surfing)-2. Multiply downhill speed by two for a 7.5° slope, by three for a 15° slope, or by four for a 30° slope. Skateboard (TL7). Enhanced Move 0.5 (Ground, Road-Bound). $100, 6 lbs.

Personal Transport Platform (PTP) (TL8)

First available in 2002, this is a gyrostabilized platform fitted with two wheels, like the Segway HT. The operator stands on the platform and leans in the direction he wishes to travel. A practical vehicle for postal carriers and traffic cops, it's powered by an electric motor with a rechargeable battery. $4,000, 70 lbs., 2×L/2 hours.

Land Conveyances Table

Bicycling/TL (DX-4 or Driving (Motorcycle)-4
TL	Vehicle	ST/HP	Hnd/SR	HT	Move	LWt.	Load	SM	Occ.	DR	Range	Cost	Locations
8	Electric Bike	15	+1/2	10	2/5*	0.13	0.1	0	1	3	10	$1,400	E2W
8	PTP	17	+1/5	10	2/6*	0.14	0.1	0	1	3	20	$4,000	E2W

Water

At TL6-8, personal watercraft see frequent use for both recreation and military special operations.

Kayaks (TL1)

A kayak (from the Inuit qayaq, meaning "hunter’s boat") is a light paddling boat for one to three people. Traditional kayaks – still used by Inuit hunters in North America – have wooden frames covered with animal skins. Commercially made kayaks with canvas skins appear at TL6; plastic models, at TL7.

Another TL6 innovation is the folding kayak, sometimes known as the "Folbot" or "Klepper" after two of the better-known manufacturers. It uses modern materials and disassembles into a compact package. Assembly takes 15 minutes. Special-ops troops often employ these craft, which are easily deployed through a submarine's narrow hatch.

Surfboards (TL6)

It's unknown exactly when the Polynesians began surfing, but the activity was a fundamental part of Hawaiian life by the time of James Cook's visit. "Lightweight" surfboards date to the 1920s; surfing grew into a mainstay of beach culture during the 1950s. Thanks to modern materials, today's surfboard designs have only a tiny fraction of the weight of the old wooden longboards.

Surfing uses the Sports (Surfing) skill. Speed on the best waves might reach Move 12-15. Paddling is seldom faster than Move 1.

Wooden Surfboard (TL6). A traditional "longboard" of solid wood made using modern techniques. $100, 150 lbs.

Foam-Core Surfboard (TL7). A foam-core board covered in epoxy or fiberglass. $500, 15 lbs.

Carbon-Fiber Surfboard (TL8). An advanced board made of the lightest materials available. $1,200, 6 lbs.

Inflatable Surfboard (TL8). Inflates in five minutes with a built-in foot pump. Rolls up into a package the size of a sleeping bag. $500, 15 lbs.

Wind Surfboard (TL7)

Developed in the early 1960s, this is a surfboard connected to a flexible mast and sail. It's highly maneuverable, capable of loops and other tricks. It requires the Sports (Sailboarding) skill, which defaults to DX-5, Boating (Sailboat)-5, Sports (Motorsurfing)-3, or Sports (Surfing)-2.

Dive Torpedoes (TL8)

The motorized, torpedo-shaped "diver propulsion device" (DPD) lets a diver travel swiftly without fatiguing. Such machines require the Scuba skill.

Recreational DPD (TL8). The size of a large scuba tank, this model can dive to 160' and runs for about 90 minutes on its rechargeable battery.

Special-Ops DPD (TL8). This tough, powerful unit can tow a fully equipped military diver down to 400'. Its rechargeable battery lasts for about an hour. The included headlight, compass, depth gauge, and chronometer give +2 (quality) to Navigation (Sea).

Water Conveyances Table

Boating/TL (Unpowered) (DX-5, IQ-5, Boating (Large Powerboat)-4, Boating (Motorboat)-3, or Boating (Large Powerboat)-3)
TL	Vehicle	ST/HP	Hnd/SR	HT	Move	LWt.	Load	SM	Occ.	DR	Range	Cost	Locations	Draft	Notes
1	Traditional Kayak	15†	+1/2	12	2/3	0.25	0.22	0	1	1	F	$500	M(O)	1	[1]

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Notes:

[1] Can use a removable sail; Move 2/4.

[2] Folds up for storage.

Air

At TL5, the only reliable personal "flying" machines are hot-air balloons, which date to the 1780s. While experimental gliders exist, TL5 materials and engineering give them only a slim chance of flying – nobody flew one for long enough to learn Piloting (Glider)! No such conveyances are described below. If the PCs want them, they'll have to invent them (see New Inventions). Statistics are up to the GM, who's encouraged to make such contraptions markedly inferior to later craft.

By TL6, technology is capable of producing a gliding wing that can reliably lift one man. Powered ultralights appear in the late 1970s, and are TL8.

Glider (TL6). A primitive one-man sport glider with conventional flight controls. It's normally launched by having several helpers push it rapidly down a steep hillside while the pilot sits at the controls. This is a common introduction to pilot training throughout TL6.

Rocket Belt (TL7). This impractical – and loud – conveyance was invented in the 1950s. Despite its annoying high-pitched whine and short flight time, it never fails to impress onlookers.

Hang-Glider (TL7). The first hang-gliders were invented in Australia in the 1960s. Maximum speed is 30 mph.

Hang-Glider (TL8). A high-performance glider of the type used by expert pilots. Maximum speed is 50 mph.

Powered Parachute (TL8). This contraption consists of two seats, an engine, a propeller, and wheels suspended beneath a steerable parachute.

Ram-Air Parachute (TL8). A steerable parachute; see Parachutes. Make a Parachuting roll to deploy it from a plane. Use Piloting (Glider) to steer it.

Air Conveyances Table

Piloting/TL (Flight Pack) (IQ-6, Piloting (Vertol)-4, or other Piloting-5)
TL	Vehicle	ST/HP	Hnd/SR	HT	Move	LWt.	Load	SM	Occ.	DR	Range	Cost	Locations	Stall	Notes
7	Rocket Belt	16	+2/2	10x	6/30	0.13	0.1	0	1	2	0.5	$10,000	E	0	[1]
Piloting/TL (Glider) (IQ-6, Piloting (Light Airplane)-4, Piloting (Ultralight)-2, or other Piloting-5)
TL	Vehicle	ST/HP	Hnd/SR	HT	Move	LWt.	Load	SM	Occ.	DR	Range	Cost	Locations	Stall	Notes
6	Glider	20†	+1/4	9c	0/25	0.16	0.1	+3	1	1	-	$4,000	O2WWi	7

This page has not been finished up!

Notes:

[1] Endurance is only 30 seconds!

[2] Folds up for storage.