Line Objects
Introduced with version update 2.538, the category "Line Objects" encompasses a series of walls, fences, and other linear structures available in the map editor. See also the "Obstacles and Fortifications" article for related map objects.
Note that the "Terrastan" map features some additional wall types which are not user-placable.
Types
Jersey Barrier
A Jersey barrier is a concrete or plastic modular barrier used to separate lanes of traffic, reroute traffic during highway construction, and - for military purposes - to provide temporary or semi-permanent traffic control and protection against vehicular attack, such as vehicle-borne IEDs. Typically, Jersey barriers are 81cm (32") tall. Beginning with revision 4.000 two versions of the Jersey Barrier is available to map makers: a “standard” barrier object (235) and a darker “damaged” barrier with chips and gouges (236).
- This barrier can be breached with large caliber (105mm and up) HE, HESH, and HE-Frag rounds and may also be breached by tracked vehicles of sufficient mass (tanks, ARVs, and AEVs).
- Infantry is able to cross it.
- Does skew with the terrain.
- Protects against small arms, AP rounds up to 14.5mm, and HEAT warheads.
Bremer Wall
Similar in shape to Jersey barriers, Bremer walls are 3.7m (12') tall semi-portable reinforced concrete walls used for blast protection. Also known as "Texas barriers", these, along with the 6m (20') "Alaska barriers" are employed as perimeter walls on many Forward Operation Bases. This barrier comes in two flavors but they are different based on which version of Steel Beasts Professional is in use. Versions prior to 4.000 feature either a five panel section with a short sub-grade foundation or a foundation-less single panel section. After revision 4.000 both available sections lack a foundation but are differentiated by appearance with object 227 being “clean” and object 226 being “damaged” with a stained and chipped skin.
- This barrier can be breached with large caliber (105mm and up) HE, HEAT, HESH, and HE-Frag rounds, but multiple rounds may be necessary, and may also be breached by tracked vehicles of sufficient mass (tanks, ARVs, and AEVs).
- Infantry can not cross it.
- Blocks LOS.
- Does skew with the terrain, although on very rough ground some gaps may open along the sides and top edges.
- Protects against small arms and all AP rounds up to 14.5mm.
Concertina Wire
Single, double, and triple strand Concertina Wire obstacles may placed in the map editor as line objects which function identically to those which are constructed during runtime. Refer to the Obstacles And Fortifications page for further information.
HESCO Bastion
Originally designed for erosion and flood control, HESCO Bastions are collapsible wire mesh containers lined with heavy duty fabric and filled with sand, soil, or gravel, and used by military forces as a barrier against explosions or small-arms fire. In Steel Beasts Pro PE, these come in two variants, a single-height and a double-height barrier.
Note that in the map editor, one additional row is displayed (the single height shows with two rows, the double-stacked barrier with 3 rows - in the game the lowest row is sunk into the ground to deal with eventual terrain irregularities.
There is also a HESCO “Fortified Guard Tower” map object (238) which fits very nicely with these bastions.
- This barrier can not be breached.
- Does not skew with the terrain (since there is not a single container object available this object should not be used on steep slopes).
- Protects against small arms, all calibers of HE and HEAT rounds, and all AP rounds up to 20mm.
Fences
There are four types:
Post and Rail Fence
Wooden Privacy Fence
2m Chain-link “cyclone” Fence topped with razor-wire
2.4m Chain-link “Security Fence” topped with concertina-wire
- All fences can be breached.
- Fences do skew with the terrain, although on very rough ground some gaps may open along the top edges.
- Fences offer no cover versus weapons fire, but can provide limited concealment.
Guard Rails
Added with version update 3.002, highway Guard Rails, also known "crash" or "traffic barriers", are used to protect traffic from roadside hazards, such as steep slopes, fixed objects, and bodies of water. Such barriers can also be used along medians to prevent vehicles from colliding with hazards within the median, or to prevent them from crossing into oncoming traffic. In these cases the barrier is set up to be struck from either side.
- This barrier can be breached.
- Infantry is able to cross it.
- Does skew with the terrain.
- Guard Rails offer neither cover nor concealment.
Walls
Walls come in multiple versions based on which revision of Steel Beasts Professional is in use. Versions prior to 4.000 features three variants: Brick , Flint and Brick, and a medium-height Rural Rock walls. Post 4.000 changes this in to four “groups”: Brick, Concrete, Mud, and Stone with multiple variations which are outlined below.
Pre 4.000 -
Flint and Brick Wall
Brick Wall
Rural Rock Wall
- "Flint and Brick" and "Brick" walls do not skew with the terrain. On very rough ground you should use the shorter wall segments since these will "fit" the terrain better.
Post 4.000 -
Brick Walls
There are three variants:
Brick Wall (244)
Brick and Stone Wall (243)
Multi-segment Brick Wall (241)
Concrete Walls
There are six variants:
Concrete Wall (240)
Wood and Concrete Wall (714)
Brick and Concrete Wall (715)
Concrete Block Wall (716)
Concrete Block Wall - Korean wood and plaster (717)
Concrete Block Wall - Korean plaster (718)
Mud Walls
There are two variants:
Short Mud Wall (711)
Medium Mud Wall (713)
Stone Walls
There are four variants:
Stone Wall (243)
Short Stone Wall (709)
Tall Stone Wall – Rough (710)
Tall Stone Wall – Finished (712)
- All walls can be breached by tracked vehicles of sufficient mass (10tonnes and above).
- Medium and tall walls do not skew with the terrain. On very rough ground you should use shorter wall segments since these will "fit" the terrain better.
- Although these walls protect against small arms fire up to .50 cal, they may be penetrated by any larger AP round and breached by large caliber HE, HEAT, HESH, and HE-Frag rounds.
Hedges
Added with version update 3.002, there are three variants:
Privet Hedge, 2m (523)
Privet Hedge, 3m (524)
Tall Hawthorn Hedge (525)
- All hedges can be breached by all tracked and tactical wheeled vehicles.
- Infantry may cross all hedges.
- All hedges skew with the terrain, although on very rough ground some gaps may open along the top edges.
- Hedges offer no cover versus weapons fire, but can provide limited concealment.
Hedgerow
Also added with version update 3.002, a hedgerow is a dense a hedge of wild shrubs and trees that typically border fields and roads.
- Hedgerows can be breached by tracked and wheeled vehicles of sufficient mass (10tonnes and above).
- Infantry is able to cross it.
- Hedgerows do skew with the terrain.
- Hedgerows offer no cover versus weapons fire, but provide full concealment.
Gameplay Considerations
Please note that this section is - even by wiki standards - a work in progress
- If a (in principle breachable) obstacle can be breached depends on the vehicle's mass and speed when hitting the obstacle. Generally, you should only hit walls and fences at low speed.
- When designing "checkpoints", you should not place Jersey barriers directly in the path of traffic since AI units will not slow down when traveling on roads, and only once they have hit the barrier will the obstacle avoidance kick in.
- As noted above, all walls (even HESCO barriers) can be shot through.
- Infantry can cross fences, Jersey barriers, guard rails, and hedges - note that there is no "jumping over the fence" animation, they just seem to "tunnel" through it.
- With the exception of Bremer Walls, Chain-Link fences, Hedgerows, Jersey Barriers, and Security fences line objects will not show up on the map page (F5), nor in the mission editor! The reason for this is that such structures are often of a temporary nature (so would not appear on printed maps) and could not be hidden from the other side (so it would have "perfect intelligence" and could use this to plot artillery missions etc.). Mission designers should instead add informational map overlays to show (relevant) fences/lines/barriers.
Considerations for Map Makers
The "wider" line objects do not fit too well on steeper terrain slopes, use the "short" versions instead:
- Note that for HESCO barriers, no "short" versions are available.
- It seems that wall sections are placed at the elevation of their center parts.
- In the Map Editor the F key may be used to flip the start and end point of a line object. This is particularly useful for the guard rail, should you find that the rail is on the side facing away from the road.
References
Wikipedia - Jersey Barrier
Wikipedia - Bremer Wall
Wikipedia - Hesco Bastion