Reintroducing the Big Buses

By Norman McMullen and Cliff Christensen

Radius Motors Press Release, November 2038

In our combative society personal comfort and security have given way to firepower and overall safety. This is especially true in the modern big buses. This lack of personal comfort has made Radius Motors look to the past and larger buses. Fifty years ago there were double-decker and 55 foot buses that could handle a larger amount of passengers that large cities demanded. This same idea can be used in cross-country travels as well as combat situations.

Unless otherwise noted, the following designs use the normal rules concerning bus construction: chassis modifications, turret size and firing arcs, crew and passenger space, etc.

The 45 Foot Buses

Slightly longer than normal buses, 45 foot buses also have a higher weight limit. This makes them a nightmare for those road gangs they face. They can mount up to 2 turrets, have a HC of 1, and uses a counter 3¼” by ½”. Targeting the side of a 45 foot bus has a +2 bonus.

Size Cost Weight Load Spaces Armor
45 Ft. $8,500 6,250 lbs 25,000 lbs 70 40/18


The 55 Foot Buses

The 55 foot bus is a two-section bus. Essentially its a 15 foot section that is attached to a normal 40 footer. It has 14 tires: 2 front, 8 center, and 4 rear. Counter size is 4" with the last 1½" connected like a trailer. When the 55 foot bus turns the last section (connected by flexible joint), will make a D1 turn to follow. It is impossible for a 55 foot bus to jackknife by maneuver or crash result. Handling class is 1.

Size Cost Weight Load Spaces Armor
55 Ft. Bus $10,000 7,000 lbs 29,000 lbs 80 40/18

The 55 foot bus has 14 armor locations: Front, Back, Front Left-Right-Top-Bottom, Center Left-Right-Top-Bottom, and Rear Left-Right-Top Bottom. Up to three turrets can be mounted, one for each top armor location. Targeting the side of a 55 foot bus has a +3 bonus.

Double-Decker Buses

Double-decker buses are buses with a second level or an open-air deck. They can mount weapons on both levels, but can only mount turrets if the upper level has top armor. The second level's floor automatically has five points of armor per section, and may be armored furthered if wanted.

The double-decker bus stands 26 feet (1¾") tall. HC is 1 and the number of tires needed is 10. At least 1/3 of the spaces of such a bus must to allocated to the upper level. Also, the 1/3 rule of weapon placement is still applied. The driver is always considered to be on the lower level. In any crash result that ends in a roll a double-decker will fall on it's side and slide to a stop, taking the appropriate damage.

Size Cost Weight Load Spaces Armor
Mini-Bus $8,000 4,000 lbs 18,000 50 32/14
30 Ft. $10,000 5,000 lbs 24,000 70 35/17
40 Ft. $14,000 7,000 lbs 32,000 90 40/18

Double-decker bus targeting modifiers

Mini-bus side +2

30 and 40 Foot side +3


The 85 Foot Buses

You thought the 55 footer was long. Surprise, surprise. We just rolled out the 85 footer. Its the largest bus in production in North America. It's capable of carrying over forty passengers in full comfort and security.

The 85 foot bus is essentially a 40 foot bus with a 22 foot section connected to the front and rear. In turns the center section makes D1 conforming moves and the rear section can make up to D2 moves and cannot jackknife. The bus has a total of 20 tires: 2 front, 8 middle front, 8 middle rear, and 2 rear. Armor locations are 18: front, rear, front right-left-top-bottom, center right front and rear, center left front and rear, center top front and rear, center bottom front and rear, and back right-left-top-bottom.

Up to four turrets can be mounted. HC is 1, counter size is 6" by ½".

Size Cost Weight Load Spaces Armor
85 Ft. $14,000 11,000 lbs 50,000 lbs 120 40/18

Targeting Modifiers: +4 to the sides.

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