Automobile

An Automobile is a wheeled self-propelled motorized vehicle used for the transportation of people and cargo. In all likelihood you see Cars on a day to day basis.

Basic Automotive History

The first thing that could be called an automobile was built by Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot in 1770 to tow cannons for the French Army: it weighed 2.5 tonnes, chugged along at 3.6 km and lacked such luxuries as "brakes" but it could move under it's own power. The French Army, understandably declined. The next century would see some more tinkerers and engineers continue to experiment with the idea of free-range steam powered vehicles and there was steady improvement in designs throughout the 19th century, but their success was marginal. Steam tractors carved out a niche and there were a few buses latter on, but most attempts never got beyond one off prototype.

This changed between 1884-6 when a guy named Karl Benz built the first Internal Combustion Engine powered car (Bendz Patent Moterwagen) and his wife figured out how to market it. After that, cars became profitable as somewhat useful if dangerous novelties for the wealthy and gradually as mid-range transportation. In short timespan, each industrialized nation had some small operations making cars for their local market. Mass motorization would really begin in the US (which was well industrialized had a lot of space, oil and a large fairly affluent population) most famously with Henry Ford and his Model T in 1907. This set a model which other nations would try to match.

By the 1940s, the full impact of the car was felt. During WWII, the Allies (hell, fucking Canada) had a key advantage as they could crap out more trucks than the Axis, which meant that it could move soldiers and supplies about far easier in the field. After the War the Car played a major role in reshaping cities, as when the GIs came home many of them got new houses in new Single Family suburbs designed with cars front and center, which an enlarged Detroit was more than happy to provide in bulk with an eye on making them bigger, faster and more powerful.

Of course, this did not mean that automobiles were all positive. Mass motorization consumed a lot of gas, and the gas Shortage of 1973 had a major impact on the US from the near collapse of the US auto industry and the rise of Japan. Air pollution would also be another, with regulations added to clean the air from the 1970s onward and efforts to develop cars with a less pronounced footprint being pushed forward. From catalytic converters to hybrids to battery-powered electric vehicles.

Controlling an Automobile

For the most part, controlling a car or truck has remained the same since the early 1900s. Still, innovations and research into ergonomics have improved many aspects of driving while also standardizing many of its aspects around the world (the most radical difference you'll find between different cars nowadays are if they're right-side driving or left-side driving). Here are the key parts of controlling an automobile:

• Steering Wheel: The start of the steering column and the most direct way a driver controls their vehicle. Contains the horn, air bag, controls for the turn signals, windshield wipers, and the ignition.
• Gear Stick: A automobile is primarily controlled through the steering wheel but the Gear Stick which connects to the Gear Box changes the car into different gears that change how the car moves.

The primary and most common gear states are:

• Park: Stops your car from rolling away by causing the gears to be locked in position, keeping the wheels locked as well.
• Neutral: Disconnects your wheels from the transmission, allowing you to turn your steering wheel without worrying about moving forward.
• Reverse: Allows you to go in reverse, note that you can still use the accelerator and the brake while going in reverse.
• Drive: The star of the show, makes your back (drive) wheels (Or all wheels if you have a 4-wheel drive) go forward.

Automobiles in Tabletop Games

Automobiles in Science Fiction

Automobiles and Science Fiction have a fairly tight link. During the early 20th century they were one of the go-to technologies which was having an overt change on society and were the subject of a lot of speculation by early Sci-Fi authors and futurists of all stripes. The artists of art-deco were were inspired by the speed of the new age. It was an association which Car Manufacturers were all too happy to capitalize on, making their vehicles look as futuristic as possible. From the Fins of the 1950 to the Digital Displays of the 1980s to today with EVs being the hot item.

A staple of Sci-Fi through much of the 20th century was flying cars. The idea of taking off from the traffic jam and flying to work definitely has it's appeal. Unfortunately, it's one of those ideas which did not pan out for rather straightforward reasons. Imagine the worst driver you know behind the wheel of a flying car zipping along at 400kph after they had a five martini lunch swerving around skyscrapers.

In more recent Sci-Fi settings, the focus has turned towards Self Driving Cars and Electric Vehicles.

Automobiles in Warhammer 40,000

In the Grim Darkness of the Far Future, it's a pretty lousy time to be a Gearhead.

Across the Worlds of the Imperium of Man, the availability of cars varies a lot. On a Feral or Fuedal World, unless you work at the local star port the closet you'd get to a car is a Grox Cart. Elsewhere, there are a lot of need for road vehicles. After all, you need something to deliver Soylens Viridians and promethium from the supply dumps to the frontlines as well as Components and Spare Parts to factories, Scrap Metal to the Smelters, work crews to construction sites and so forth. But these would be Work Vehicles, owned and operated by Local Guilds/Trade Combines/Local Authorities/Imperial Guard/Administratum/etc. Personal Cars are far rarer items. A factory which is making economy sedans is not contributing to the Imperial Tithe (directly at least) and your average Hive manufactorium line worker does not have the disposable income or parking space for one. If they can't walk to work, they can be crammed into run down subways. Civilized Worlds would probably have the best automobile per capita ratios.

This is not to say that private cars don't exist, but even in the best conditions their would be a strict hierarchy of who gets what. At the bottom you got things kludged together from scrap metal, salvaged electric motors and old lasgun power-packs or a centuries old wreck restored to some limited functionality for minor entrepreneurs and gangers. Then there are the well off; minor merchants, foremen, local enforcers, servants, etc who enjoy some measure of privileged and have need for extra mobility. They might have an car as a sign that they are a cut above the masses beneath them, ranging from weathered but still functional beaters to new vehicles that would not be too different from what we'd drive today in most regards with some sci-fi extras. The Nobility has access baroque eight wheeled land yachts with chimera grade armor and seating for six wealthy guests and as many manservents as an entry level unit. More elaborate mobile palaces and possibly air cars if they're really wealthy are also on the table.

As always expect a lot of Gothic Bodywork and Skull decals.

Imperial Automobiles

• Cargo-8 Ridgehauler
• Goliath Truck

Automobiles in Post Apocalyptic settings

"WITNESS ME!"

– Nux, Mad Max: Fury Road

In most post-apocalyptic fiction where much of society’s technology is lost, fueling and maintaining automobiles is a big challenge, so many tend to not feature automobiles very often. The big exception is Mad Max and the stories it’s inspired, where motorcycle and hot rod gangs turn into warring tribes of the wasteland; big rigs are converted into war wagons, coups are covered in spikes and saw blades, and all all sorts of improvised weapons from flamethrowers to harpoons are mounted for vehicle-to-vehicle warfare. It’s completely ridiculous and over-the-too, but that’s what makes “Mad Max” style fiction so appealing.

Automobiles in Fantasy

"I do believe in the horse. The automobile is no more than a transitory phenomenon."

– Kaisher Wilhelm II, 1916, at the time the number of cars was exploding while the German Monarchy would soon be dead as dirt

The same reason why Cars are such a big part in Sci-Fi is why you won't find them in your usual fantasy setting. Some people feel that introducing guns does not your typical medieval fantasy setting, but an iron tube shooting lead balls with bangpowder is small potatoes in when compared to measure of modernity that even a 19th century motor carriage puttering along the road brings to the setting. Unless they have a fair deal of Steampunk, cars are typically a no-show in your standard fantasy setting. Occasionally you get a magiktech car puttering about but that's most definitely the exception rather than the rule.

See also

• Tank
• Car Lesbians What the Lesbians drive around in.

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