Security Fences

Security Fences (TL6-8)

Fences serve as a visible reminder that an area is off-limits, and can slow or stop trespassers. At TL7-8, invisible "fences" aim instead to detect intruders.

Barbed Wire (TL6)

The first barbed wire was sold in the 1870s on the American Plains. Settlers' efforts to stop free-range cattle from destroying their crops became the "Barbed Wire War," and cowpokes referred to the stuff as "the Devil's rope." The military quickly adopted barbed wire, using it for defensive barriers during the Spanish-American War. Barbed wire played a significant role in the carnage of WWI, too; it slowed down Tommy, Doughboy, and Landser so they could be mowed down by machine-gun fire.

A typical unit of coiled or "concertina" fencing stretches up to 15 yards when uncoiled and stands a yard tall. It's freestanding and easily curved to create an enclosure or defend an oddly shaped area. Adding stakes or similar fixtures makes the barrier more permanent, while stacking multiple layers gives extra protection. Barbed wire takes one man-minute per yard to deploy – or triple that if protective gloves, wire cutters, and fasteners aren't available.

Anybody passing through barbed wire has to make a DX-5 roll once per yard. Failure means the barbs tear the victim's skin; he must make a Will roll (at +3 for High Pain Threshold or -4 for Low Pain Threshold) to avoid crying out. The wire also snags clothing and equipment; treat it as a Binding with ST 8. The easiest way to cross barbed wire is simply to lay something over it – a log, a sheet of metal or thick plastic, a body – and climb across.

Barbed Wire (TL6). Per 15-yard coil: $100, 15 lbs. LC4.
Razor Wire (TL6). Also called razor tape, this is wire-reinforced stainless-steel tape with spikes. Invented during WWI, it entered wide use in the 1960s, slicing inmates and Viet Cong sappers to ribbons. Treat it exactly like barbed wire, but a failed DX-5 roll also does 1d-3 cutting damage, and the ensuing Will roll suffers a penalty equal to the injury. Per 15-yard coil: $200, 15 lbs. LC4.

Electric Fences (TL6)

Nonlethal electric fences for livestock control appeared in the 1930s, one of the earliest examples being jury-rigged from Model T parts by a New Zealander. They proved successful at containing animals, and were soon adopted for caging humans. This led to the development of lethal electric fences, such as those found at Nazi concentration camps.

Electric fencing can be combined with barbed wire (see above).

Cattle Fence (TL6). A "hot wire" livestock fence inflicts a continuous "zap" for as long as the intruder touches it. Roll vs. HT each second. Failure means the target is stunned while he remains in contact with the fence. After breaking contact, he may roll versus HT each second to recover. See also Nonlethal Electrical Damage. An electric-fence control box and 1/4 mile of three-wire fence: $1,000, 400 lbs., external power. LC4.

Lethal Fence (TL6). A lethal electric fence, such as DeTekion's Electro-Guard 5000, is sometimes used at "super-max" prisons. It inflicts 3d burning damage per second; see Lethal Electrical Damage. At TL8, it can be programmed to deliver a nonlethal shock (above) first, which then arms the fence as lethal. This is a safety of sorts: the fence doesn't injure those who touch it accidentally but kills anyone who tries to climb it. A control box and 1/4 mile of fence: $10,000, 500 lbs., external power. LC2.

Laser Fence (TL7)

A laser "fence" is actually a screen of IR laser beams. These are invisible to the naked eye but not to night-vision gear. Breaking a beam activates an alarm.

Laser Fence (TL7). A collection of emitters and receivers built into fence posts, doorways, corridors, etc. $100 per yard, external power. LC4.
Laser Fence (TL8). A single IR laser emitter that can protect a wall up to 30 yards tall and 100 yards long. $2,500, external power. LC4.

Proximity Fence (TL7)

This capacitance proximity sensor consists of two buried, parallel lines. When energized, these project a field (detectable with an EM field meter) that can detect human movement within 3-5 yards. Pole-vaulters and tunnelers should note that this includes above and under the lines! This technology can be built into an actual fence, but it's typically used alone, providing an invisible perimeter where conventional security fencing would be an eyesore.

Per foot: $20, 1 lb., external power. LC4.

Microwave Fence (TL8)

This stationary radar transmitter-receiver pair detects movement in a 10-yard-wide swath between the two units, which can be placed up to 500 yards apart. See Radar for general radar capabilities and limitations. $5,000, 20 lbs., external power. LC3.

Smart Fence (TL8)

These sensors attach to the posts of any wire fence, including an electric fence. They detect any attempt to cut, climb, or lift the fence, and report the nature and location of the breach. An Electronics Operation (Security) roll at -4 is required to neutralize each section. Each package of sensors covers a 10-yard section of fence: $25, 1 lb., external power. LC4.

Wire Fences (TL9-11)

The fencing materials described here are designed to be easily stored and quickly deployed. A typical "unit" of fencing stretches up to 15 yards when uncoiled or unfolded, and stands four feet tall. All fencing is free-standing, and flexible enough to form a curved enclosure or surround an odd-shaped area. Stakes and other fixtures can make the fencing more permanent. Multiple layers of fencing can be "stacked" for extra protection.

It takes one man-minute per yard to deploy fencing. If protective gloves, wirecutters, and fasteners are not available, the time required is tripled.

Cutting Wire (TL9)

Cutting wire comes coiled into tight rolls. The wire is wound with triangular segments of memory metal that extend when the wire is subjected to an electric pulse, forming thousands of small jagged cutting edges. Once "popped," the wire cannot be returned to its original form. The inner core of the wire is flexible and shear-resistant, making it difficult to cut. Passing through an area of cutting wire requires a roll at DX-5 each yard. Failure deals 1d-1 cutting damage, and may require a Will roll to avoid yelping or cursing as the barbs tear clothing and skin. The easiest way to cross cutting wire is to lay something on top of it – a log, a sheet of metal or thick plastic, a body – and climb over. A 15-yard coil of cutting wire is $100, 15 lbs. LC4.

Fragwire (TL9)

This looks like ordinary wire, but the core is tightly coiled memory-metal. When cut, the wire explodes outward with a loud ping! The burst of sharp fragments does 1d-1 cutting damage over a two-yard radius. Fragwire is often wound around cutting or sensor wire to dissuade infiltrators. While fragwire does little harm to armored troops, it is an effective deterrent against civilian trespassers. A 15-yard coil of fragwire is $200, 30 lbs. LC2.

Sensor Wire (TL9)

This wire includes an optical-fiber core. Each end of a strand terminates in a short wire plug that can be connected to another strand of wire or a hidden transmitter. If the wire is cut or snapped, the signal running between the two emitters is interrupted and the communicator sends an alert. Each coil has a unique identification code, allowing security monitors to determine exactly where the wire was breached. A 15-yard coil of sensor wire costs $150 and weighs 15 lbs. LC4.