Load-bearing equipment (no ontology)
From Mazeworld
Load-bearing equipment (often shortened as LBE) is arguably the most important type of item that is given to the contestant in the beginning of his/her adventure in Mazeworld. LBE gear is what allows the contestant to have an inventory and carry items.
It may be worn by creatures who don't wear clothing and armor, on the conditions that if they can pick up and use firearms, they can wear LBE. Please check individual encounter articles to know if a certain species can do so.
There are 4 different LBE categories:
- Tactical vests (or just vests)
- Backpacks (packs)
- Utility belts (belts)
- Leg rigs (rigs)
Up to 1 of each (2 for leg rigs) can be worn at the same type by Contestants and any creature capable of carrying weapons.
Capacity
Every piece of load-bearing gear can have two traits: a general carrying capacity, and one or multiple specialized carrying capacities. All of those capacities are expressed in weight units, and show the maximum weight they can carry in items.
General carrying capacity denotes the capability to carry anything; only maximum weight matters. Specialized carrying capacity, on the other hand, denotes the capability to carry only a certain type of item, as well as limits in quantity, max individual weight or max total weight, which is usually described clearly on the LBE event line.
- For example, an ammunition pouch described as (8 mags only, max size tier: Large), means that this pouch can only carry up to 8 magazines, and each magazine must not exceed the Large size tier, otherwise they cannot be carried in that pouch and must be stored somewhere else.
It must be noted that backpacks all enable the ability to have a money pouch, and belts enable the ability to carry key items other than the Cardinal Amulets. Without a backpack, no money pouch, and without a belt, no key items.
It must be noted that there is a difference between items that are immediately accessible and items that are inaccessible.
Are considered immediately accessible:
- When NOT in combat, any item in the current room is considered to be immediately accessible.
- When in combat, items that are equipped, spared in a tactical vest, utility rig or leg rig, or in a set-down backpack.
- When in combat, items that are on the floor, on the condition that they are on the same side as the Contestant.
Are considered inaccessible:
- Items that are carried by other creatures (they must willingly give their items to you, or drop them in an accessible location, if you wish to gain access to them.)
- When in combat, items that are in the backpack ; it must be set down first (see below)
- When in combat, items that are on the floor, and NOT on the same side as the Contestant - see the Battlespace rules
Setting down the backpack
The Backpack's contents are inaccessible unless it is set down. Backpacks are designed for carrying the bulk of one's inventory, but tend not to be designed for immediate access. As such, if one desires to access their backpack items while in combat, 1 turn must be spent to set down the backpack during combat, so that it can be accessed and opened. This affects the ability to take items out of the backpack, but also the ability to put items inside.
- Note: Setting down the backpack is not considered the same as dropping it, if it's used for the sole purpose of accessing its contents. Actually dropping any type of LBE assumes it is to be thrown away, exchanged or given to another party, making its contents available to other creatures.
- Note 2: Re-wearing a set down backpack is a free action and is assumed to be done automatically at the end of combat.
- Note 3: Do note that setting a backpack down is not the same as dropping it. Dropping a backpack implies the intention to stop carrying it entirely. If the Contestant wants, for some reason, to permanently get rid of their backpack (contents included), the player must confirm that they do not simply want to set it down to access contents.
Emergency carrying
If the Contestant or a creature capable of wearing LBE currently carries no LBE at all (or only a Default Belt), then an assumed pants pockets allows an emergency carrying capacity of 1.5 units.
- WARNING: The emergency carrying capacity can be UNAVAILABLE, if the concerned creature cannot wear clothes, wears no Bottom, or wears one of the following: Panties, Thong, Bottom piece of bikini, as they won't have pockets.
