Gyrocycle (3.5e Equipment)
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A Gyrocycle is a wheeled vehicle made for one rider, the driver. The driver sits atop a seat between himself and the single large wheel, placing his feet on either side of the wheel to access the pedals and stabilizing himself with a handle bar that comes up from the center of the wheel on either side.
The engine and four mutually counter-precessing gyroscopes are housed inside the wheel. The engine provides propulsion for the wheel to move forward or backward and to keep the gyroscope spinning, which keep the Gyrocycle balanced. In basic a dungeons and dragons campaign, all this is accomplished with animate objects and contingency spells. This limits speed of the Gyrocycle, but in steampunk or clockpunk campaigns, this can be overcome with a steam or clockwork engine.
With magic propulsion (an Animated Gyrocycle), the Gyrocycle moves with a top speed of 20 miles per hour (80 feet base land speed). With steam engine propulsion (a Steam Gyrocycle), the Gyrocycle moves with a top speed of 25 miles per hour (100 feet base land speed). With clockwork engine propulsion (a Clockwork Gyrocycle), the Gyrocycle moves with a top speed of 30 miles per hour.
All gyrocycles have a land maneuverability of poor, meaning they ascend slopes less than 60 degrees at a rate proportional to the degree of incline over 60 (base land speed×([theta]÷60))(they cannot ascend slopes of 60 degree or more), descend slopes less than 60 degrees at a rate proportional to 60 over the degree of incline (base land speed×(60÷[theta]))(descending a slope of 60 degree or more is considered falling), and must move 15 feet afer every 45 degree (or less) turn.
A Gyrocycle cannot turn more than 45 degrees before moving the 15 feet, the 15 feet must be moved immediately after the 45 degrees or less are turned. Turning more than 45 degrees before moving the 15 feet is a special action and requires a ride check.
Regardless of the type of engine, anyone attempting to operate a Gyrocycle must have at least 10 ranks in the ride skill. Otherwise, the operator must succeed at a DC 15 balance check or fall off the Gyrocycle, moving half the distance moved on the Gyrocycle in the last round (minimum 5 feet) in the direction the Gyrocycle is facing and becoming prone.
The Gyrocycle can be ridden in combat. To perform special actions—which includes everything that isn't turning normally, moving in a straight line forward or backward, and stopping—requires a ride check according to the following table.
| Task | Ride DC |
|---|---|
| Trample w/ Trample feat |
5 |
| Trample w/o Trample feat |
10 |
| Sharp turn: 90°* | 15 |
| Sharp turn: 135°* | 20 |
| Sharp turn: 180°* | 25 |
| Fight while riding w/ Ride-By Attack feat |
20 |
| Fight while riding w/o Ride-By Attack feat |
25 |
| Use ranged weapon while riding w/ Mounted Archery feat |
25 |
| Use ranged weapon while riding w/ Mounted Archery feat |
30 |
| *15 feet must still be moved in a straight line after the turn for every 45° turned. | |
The effects of the Mounted Combat feat cannot be employed while riding a Gyrocycle, but the effects of all feats that have it as a requirement (Mounted Archery, can be.
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