Goods/Fabric
Equipment classification: A - Protections, Safety (Armor, Clothing, Insulation), Augments[edit]
Fabric is the construction material for clothing and several other types of goods. Fabric is a flexible material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibers (yarn or thread). Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of animal fur, processed plant material or artificial material such as metal or mineral fiber to produce long strands. Textiles are formed by weaving, knitting, crocheting, knotting, tatting, felting, or braiding.
The basic measurement of thread is dtex (denier; deci-tex), defined as grams per 10 kilometers of yarn or thread. Microfiber fabrics must be made with thread that is less than one denier. Ultralight fabrics, which are often used in technically advanced clothing and tents are usually made with 10dtex to 20dtex thread. Standard weight fabrics used for clothing are usually between 40dtex and 80dtex. Super heavy-duty fabrics might weigh in at 100dtex to 600dtex and found in gear like backpacks and duffel bags.
The basic measure of fabric mass is g/m2, which ranges from 10 g/m2 to 200 g/m2. The mass of fabric depends on both the size of the thread (dtex) and the density of the weave.
Listed here are a few of the more unusual fabrics, each with their own unique properties. Most fabrics and textiles are listed as trade goods and given no special entry.
Abrstia (fabric)
| Abrstia (fabric) | |
|---|---|
| Type | Fabric |
| Tech Level | TL–0 |
| Cost | Cr1 |
| Size | 0.05 liter |
| Weight | 40g |
| per square meter | |
Abrstia is a textile produced within the Zhodani Consulate. Abrstia fabric derives from the Abrstia, a domesticated animal native to Zhdant (Zhodane 2719). The Abristia covering is a fibrous feather analog closer to the wool on Terran sheep than the feathers on a Terran avian. This fiber can be woven into a fine cloth. Abristia-cloth is valued throughout the known galaxy by merchants and traders.
- J. Andrew Keith, Marc Miller, John Harshman. Zhodani (Game Designers Workshop, 1985), 6.
- David L. Pulver. Alien Races 1 (Steve Jackson Games, 1998), 10.
- Don McKinney. Zhodani (Mongoose Publishing, 2011), .
Carapace
| Carapace | |
|---|---|
| Type | Fabric |
| Tech Level | TL–14 |
| Cost | Cr8,000 |
| Size | 0.05 liter |
| Weight | 50g |
| Manufacturer | Aghni-Deneb |
| per square meter | |
Carapace is a blending of ballistic cloth and schirusz that has proved very popular with nobles and the affluent.
It is usually fashioned into bodysuits, carapace has all the advantages of ballistic cloth with the softness and comfort of the best luxury fabric. Though not as silky as schirusz, it still retains 90% of that fabric's ability to cling to the body like a second skin. Created by Aghni-Deneb Ltd, in 932.
Dyrocellus Cloth
| Dyrocellus | |
|---|---|
| Type | Explosive |
| Tech Level | TL–9 |
| Cost | Cr300 |
| Size | 0.03 liters |
| Weight | 30g |
| Per square meter | |
Dyrocellus Cloth is a development of nitrocellulose and has the texture and feel of cotton cloth with the an explosive power equal to a similar amount of nitrocellulose.
The material can be exploded by detonator or exposure to 750°F heat. Dyrocellus cloth can be made into any article of clothing but is usually made into easily removed fashion accessories (hats, scarves, sashes, et.al.). The material is contraband in the Trelyn Domain, Die Weltbund, and Intercourse/Delta.
Evelene
| Evelene | |
|---|---|
| Type | Fabric |
| Tech Level | TL–10 |
| Cost | Cr55 |
| Size | 0.03 litre |
| Weight | 30g |
| Manufacturer | Wolomi Corporation |
| per square meter | |
Evelene is a temperature-sensitive material, manufactured by the Wolomi Corporation. It has the property of reacting to temperature changes. The fabric consists of ring-shaped cells, around 10,000 per square millimetre. When the ambient temperature drops below 18°C the cells puff up, trapping air and making the material thicker and warmer. When the temperature rises above 18°C the cells shrink, expelling the air and thinning out, making the material thinner and cooler. No matter what the temperature Evelene is showerproof, being able to stop rain traveling at 30kmph.
Ghelinsil
| Ghelinsil | |
|---|---|
| Type | Fabric |
| Tech Level | TL–10 |
| Cost | Cr200 |
| Size | 1.0 liter |
| Weight | 1.2 kg |
| Per liter | |
Ghelinsil is a jellied synthetic material that solidifies to a tough, rubbery fabric when applied over the body and exposed to air.
It is used as temporary hostile environment suit or wetsuit. It is air-permeable and equal in protection to ballistic cloth when hardened, usually in ten minutes.
Groatle
| Groatle | |
|---|---|
| Type | Fabric |
| Tech Level | TL–0 |
| Cost | Cr30 |
| Size | 0.4 liters |
| Weight | 35g |
| Also see | Groat |
| Per Square meter | |
The Groat's shaggy hair, known as Groatle, is the most obvious resource it provides. Once sheared, cleaned, and groomed, it has a softness and silkiness rivaling the finest synthetic. In addition, Groatle contains a high concentration of metal salts, which has two beneficial effects: First, Groatle cloth is proof against most pest lifeforms which eat animal fibers. Second, a simple chemical treatment brings out an iridescent, shimmering quality which is very attractive.
- Marc Miller. Twilight's Peak (Game Designers Workshop, 1980), 21.
- Frank Chadwick, John Harshman, J. Andrew Keith, Marc Miller, Loren Wiseman. The Traveller Adventure (Game Designers Workshop, 1983), 142.
- Herb Petro. "Small Cargo - Groat Furs." Imperium Staple 02 (1986): 13.
- Marc Miller. T5 Core Rules (Far Future Enterprises, 2013), 592.
- Marc Miller, Robert Eaglestone, Don McKinney. Worlds and Adventures (Far Future Enterprises, 2019), 266.
Kolwern Silk
| Kolwern Silk | |
|---|---|
| Type | Fabric |
| Tech Level | TL–7 |
| Cost | Cr2,000 |
| Size | 0.2 liters |
| Weight | 20 g |
| Per square meter | |
Kolwern Silk is a silk processed from the web of the giant Kolwer's Spider from Omega Sextans (The Beyond 0304), prized for its iridescent color and extreme toughness, and capable of being layered into an armored cloth. Traders have been known to get upwards of Cr10,000 per meter in some areas of the Imperium.
Levanex
| Levanex | |
|---|---|
| Type | Fabric |
| Tech Level | TL–12 |
| Cost | Cr100 |
| Size | 1.0 liter |
| Weight | 20g |
| per square meter | |
Levanex is a light, tough fabric that is a good vapor barrier from the outside in and ventilates well from the inside out. This provides an excellent barrier to outside moisture. Levanex also resists lightly corrosive environments quite well. It also has great rip resistance.
A special stretch variation of the fabric is also available, called "levanex-R".
- Geir Lanesskog. World Builder's Handbook (Mongoose Publishing, 2023), 41.Joe Fugate, J. Andrew Keith, Gary L. Thomas. World Builder's Handbook (Digest Group Publications, 1989), 41.
Phototropic cloth
| Phototropic cloth | |
|---|---|
| Type | Fabric |
| Tech Level | TL–10 |
| Cost | Cr75 |
| Size | 1.0 liter |
| Weight | 1.2 kg |
| Per liter | |
Phototropic cloth is a lightweight multi-layer cloth with an embedded distributed computer system. The density of the fabric gives some resistance to environmental threats like sharp rocks or knives.
The layers of cloth embed small cells each with a different color of material. The computer can expand or reduce the size of these cells, which changes the color of the cloth. Embedded optical sensors allow the cloth to match the background of the cloth. This makes for excellent and adaptive camouflage. Or, with the correct programming, the cloth can be made to display a dynamic vibrant display.
The cloth is frequently fashioned into clothing. The primary use is for combat fatigues for planet bound troops, especially special forces where camouflage is important. The second use is by performers like dancers or performance artists to enhance their physical performances.
Ponsonby's Velvet (fabric)
| Ponsonby's Velvet | |
|---|---|
| Type | Fabric |
| Tech Level | TL–1 |
| Cost | Cr3 |
| Size | 0.04 liter |
| Weight | 40g |
| Per square meter | |
Ponsonby's Velvet fabric, made from the Ponsonby's Velvet plant, is a simple cloth and colonists made it their principal clothing material. Natural colors range from a pale tan (the commonest) to a deep green and a blood red (the most prized). Velvet may be colored with vegetable dyes, but synthetic dyes will poison the plant, causing it to disintegrate.
Velvet reproduces by spores, which form on the surface of the plant and drop away to be blown by the wind. A garment may "go lint" at any time. If a spore lands where food is available, it will grow. The velvet can use just about any organic carbon molecule as food including bearing lubricants, garbage, and petrochemical fuels.
- Loren Wiseman. "The Bestiary." Journal of the Travellers' Aid Society 20 (1984): 25,36.
Schirusz
| Schirusz | |
|---|---|
| Type | Fabric |
| Tech Level | TL–12 |
| Cost | Cr2,000 |
| Size | 0.02 liter |
| Weight | 20g |
| per square meter | |
Schirusz, a textile fabric, also known by its trade names of Thermalsilk or MemoryCloth. It is a silky, synthetic fabric that, fashioned into garments, shrinks or expands (activated by the wearer's body heat) to fit like a second skin on the wearer's body.
Schirusz is air-permeable and very comfortable to wear. It is often correctly touted as the next best thing to being naked. It is so snug that some sophonts wear under- or overgarments for modesty's sake. This fabric is often used to tailor nudesuits.
Schirusz is made by several concerns in the Imperium. The price for this fabric is inside the Imperium, and can cost Cr5,000-Cr15,000 outside the Third Imperium. Its main markets in the Beyond are the Mapepire Cluster (especially Lilith), Eslyat Magistracy, and Die Weltbund as well as the Trelyn Domain in the Vanguard Reaches. It is also a popular item for hijacking and resale on planets where the cloth would not normally affordable.
SofStuf
| Softstuf | |
|---|---|
| Type | Fabric |
| Tech Level | TL–11 |
| Cost | Cr3 |
| Size | 0.3l |
| Weight | 0.25kg |
SofStuf is a foaming tissue. It comes as a semi-liquid state in a box, foaming into a soft, absorbent fabric on contact with a nitrogen containing atmosphere. Normally the box is structured so only a small amount material is foamed, ready for use. The foaming process takes only a few seconds.
The material is used for tissues, bandages, rags, bathing cloths, and towels. It comes in a variety of designer colors.
Surshi Cloth
| Surshi Cloth | |
|---|---|
| Type | Fabric |
| Tech Level | TL–2 |
| Cost | Cr500 |
| Size | 0.02 liters |
| Weight | 20g |
A rare trade commodity from Zurrian (Vland 2016). Surshi Cloth is produced by a local insect which has been altered and conditioned to spin its webbing in sheets of delicate, iridescent material. Attempts to raise these insects elsewhere have failed.
The natives of Zurrian keep hives of these insects as other humans keep Shaccas or bees, and harvest the cloth periodically. The local aristocracy claims 10% of the harvest but otherwise leaves the populace to its own devices. The cleaned cloth is shipped all over the sector - for those who can afford it. It is strong for its weight and a surshi garment retains its beauty for many years.
- Gary L. Thomas. "Library data of the Vland Sector." The Travellers' Digest 04 (1986): 44.
Tao'l-silk
| Tao'l-silk | |
|---|---|
| Type | Fabric |
| Tech Level | TL–0 |
| Cost | Cr50 |
| Size | 0.02 liters |
| Weight | 20g |
| per square meter | |
Tao'l-silk is a natural fiber produced by the Tao'l Spider, a genetically engineered creature native to Silk (Dagudashaag 2440). Each family line of Tao'l Spider produces a unique patterned cloth, and the small patterned cloths are woven or sewn together to make clothing or other objects.
Each Tao'l Spider is a genetically altered three-meter long creature specifically bred to produce particular patterns of silk cloth. Each spider produces the same pattern throughout their life. They can produce up to 75 square centimeters square of cloth per day, weaving their single thread with each of their 800 minor legs.
Trade in Tao'l-silk is exclusively controlled by the ruling houses of Silk.
- Jae Campbell. "Port of Call: Silk." Signal-GK 07 (1993): 4.
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14 Fabric items[edit]
| Item | Type | TL | Size | Weight | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abrstia (fabric) | Fabric | 0 | 0.05 liter | 40g | Cr1 |
| Carapace | Fabric | 14 | 0.05 liter | 50g | Cr8,000 |
| Dyrocellus Cloth | Explosive | 9 | 0.03 liters | 30g | Cr300 |
| Evelene | Fabric | 10 | 0.03 litre | 30g | Cr55 |
| Ghelinsil | Fabric | 10 | 1.0 liter | 1.2 kg | Cr200 |
| Groatle | Fabric | 0 | 0.4 liters | 35g | Cr30 |
| Kolwern Silk | Fabric | 7 | 0.2 liters | 20 g | Cr2,000 |
| Levanex | Fabric | 12 | 1.0 liter | 20g | Cr100 |
| Phototropic cloth | Fabric | 10 | 1.0 liter | 1.2 kg | Cr75 |
| Ponsonby's Velvet (fabric) | Fabric | 1 | 0.04 liter | 40g | Cr3 |
| Schirusz | Fabric | 12 | 0.02 liter | 20g | Cr2,000 |
| SofStuf | Fabric | 11 | 0.3l | 0.25kg | Cr3 |
| Surshi Cloth | Fabric | 2 | 0.02 liters | 20g | Cr500 |
| Tao'l-silk | Fabric | 0 | 0.02 liters | 20g | Cr50 |