Thread: Tech Levels - 'Splain them to me

I'm trying to wrap my head around Tech Levels, specifically Tech Levels in
the Reformation Coalition.

Take, for example, Aubaine (Tech 12) and Oriflamme (Tech 8).

First, consider that I'm on Oriflamme and want to contact a business. I
presume that my communications device will probably be Tech Level 8, or
possibly less. Now assume that I want to purchase a higher-tech
communications device for communication between me and my crew. Can I do so
on Oriflamme? Can I order it from Aubaine by the RC version of Amazon.com?
If not, why not? And if so, why isn't every world in the RC rapidly rising
towards Tech Level 12?

Second, consider that I am a member of an RCES Recovery Team (i.e., I'm a
Star Viking about to go on a Smash and Grab raid). Is my gear always going
to be Tech Level 12? Will any of it be?I

I'm thinking of limiting what can be bought on the open market to the worse
of Tech Level 10 or the world's Tech Level, reasoning that in the early
years, the RC is focusing the manufacture of Tech Level 11 and 12 gear to
the military and RCES.

Scott

I've always played it such that tech level was what was "commonly available and/or able to be manufactured", rather than it being a hard number where nothing higher tech was available.  The Imperium is/was a start spanning empire where interstellar travel was very common.  Sure there were backwater areas and worlds that were "off limits", but how else do you explain a world that has thousands of inhabitants is at TL6 with a very thin, tainted atmosphere?  They import the goods necessary to survive.

Thus, in the TNE setting, a world might be TL 8, but they may have everything from TL 8 to TL 15 available in terms of  merchandise.  The TL 12 stuff might come from a nearby TL 12 world (along with some TL 11 items manufactured as that world progressed--think old computers that people in the West treat as near junk, but to someone in Ethiopia they are super powerful PCs), TL 13-15 stuff would naturally be salvaged relic equipment that would be expensive and finding spare parts could be challenging.  Local people would of course be making TL 8 stuff, and depending on what is was (say farm equipment or tools) it would be "good, sturdy gear".  Not everything needs to be the latest and greatest technology--indeed locals may even have a preference for the lower tech stuff.

So if I were on Oriflamme, I'd expect that most things would be TL 8, in some tech areas there was be a fair amount of TL 11-12 imported gear, especially electronics (light weight, easy to ship in bulk, ask the Japanese...).  But if "you know a guy who knows a guy", maybe you can get hold of a precious TL 14 Solomani holo projector.  The rest is up to your imagination and how you "make it work" for the game you are running.

I've got to agree with Harold here, while TL8 stuff will be everywhere, they
probably mfg a small amount of TL9 and maybe even TL10 gear. TL11 and 12
gear will be very available at any store, there might be a premium on some
of the larger items simply because of the logistics in shipping them. TL13+
is going to require that you know a guy who knows a guy who found something
that "fell off the back of a truck".

We have to keep in mind that these TL's are a snapshot, a moment in time and
unlike the Imperium where those TL's might exist for decades or even
centuries on a world the RC is "recovering" and they're recovering fast so
it's quite likely that by the time NE3 rolls about Oriflamme might be TL10
or 11 and Aubaine might be TL13 or 14 simply due to the nature of the beast.

Realistically Aubaine might have some TL13-15 manufacturing capabilities at
NE1 but it's so small it doesn't count. IE. There might be a factory making
TL14 tablet computers or blue tooth headsets. These would be way faster and
more advanced than the rest of the world is capable of making but they're so
limited in production that they cost a fortune.

I've been harboring a strong dislike of the Tech codes for ages,
particularly in the TNE setting where things are changing so fast. In my
own things I tend to divide up the planetary capacity in terms of broad
categories, Medical Supplies, Weapons, Vehicles, Starships, Equipment. And
I might break it down further and say things like, well these guys have a
TL15 PRIS goggles factory that's operational, just for flavor.

From: []
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2014 1:23 PM
To:
Subject: [Traveller_TNE] Re: Tech Levels - 'Splain them to me

I've always played it such that tech level was what was "commonly available
and/or able to be manufactured", rather than it being a hard number where
nothing higher tech was available. The Imperium is/was a start spanning
empire where interstellar travel was very common. Sure there were backwater
areas and worlds that were "off limits", but how else do you explain a world
that has thousands of inhabitants is at TL6 with a very thin, tainted
atmosphere? They import the goods necessary to survive.

Thus, in the TNE setting, a world might be TL 8, but they may have
everything from TL 8 to TL 15 available in terms of merchandise. The TL 12
stuff might come from a nearby TL 12 world (along with some TL 11 items
manufactured as that world progressed--think old computers that people in
the West treat as near junk, but to someone in Ethiopia they are super
powerful PCs), TL 13-15 stuff would naturally be salvaged relic equipment
that would be expensive and finding spare parts could be challenging. Local
people would of course be making TL 8 stuff, and depending on what is was
(say farm equipment or tools) it would be "good, sturdy gear". Not
everything needs to be the latest and greatest technology--indeed locals may
even have a preference for the lower tech stuff.

So if I were on Oriflamme, I'd expect that most things would be TL 8, in
some tech areas there was be a fair amount of TL 11-12 imported gear,
especially electronics (light weight, easy to ship in bulk, ask the
Japanese...). But if "you know a guy who knows a guy", maybe you can get
hold of a precious TL 14 Solomani holo projector. The rest is up to your
imagination and how you "make it work" for the game you are running.

I've always treated the world's TL as what it can produce on an industrial scale and make widely available. Assuming there's robust interstellar trade going on, I'd say there are probably importers on Oriflamme who have some Tech-11 and -12 stuff available, but it's going to be much more expensive than the "list" place on Aubaine. You're effectively paying the item's price, plus interstellar shipping (probably 4 jumps), plus warehousing on Oriflamme, plus whatever the importer's cut is. So I'd say availability is GM's discretion, but there should be a substantial markup for anything available.

As for why everyone isn't becoming TL-12, in theory that might happen given enough time, but the way I play it the demand for high-tech equipment always, always outstrips the supply by a large multiple. Aubaine is only one world, and it's not all that populous, which means there's only so much gear they can put out. This is also going to come into play when mounting an RCES expedition- it's going to be what's available, although RCES is both based close to Aubaine and relatively well-funded, which means they probably have pretty good access to high-tech gear.

[The real answer is to try to increase the TL on other RC worlds, but who gets the bootstrap? Places like Nike Nimbus and Eos are closest, but their populations are small. The obvious move is to bootstrap the Flamers, as I'm sure they tell everyone on a regular basis, but while they have the biggest manufacturing base they also have the farthest to go to TL-12 of anyone but the Spirans. (Who, by the way, think this is all pointless. Meditating in the swamp they will be, yes.) Also, in the back of everyone's mind is the fact that eliminating the technological edge everyone else has over Oriflamme might leave them in a position to ignore or dominate the central government. It's not that we don't trust them! It's...okay, well. We don't trust them. But seriously, it's a planet with a gigantic industrial base, an established record of military adventurism, and a PTSD-induced chip on its shoulder the size of Meteor Crater. You sure you want teach them to make plasma guns?]

[The most terrifying words in the Reformation Coalition: "Hi, I'm from Aubaine and I'm here to help you!" and "Hi, I'm from Oriflamme and I'm here to save you."]

Generally, it's how you interpret TL.

I would say to no to the first. There might be specialty shops selling
imported higher tech and maybe even able to maintain it, but distress would
be limited and prices would be amplified by the cost of transport.
Efficiently that's an Aubani export, not anything produced domestically.
Oriflamme is TL9 though.

The infrastructure to produce and maintain subcomponents doesn't exist. The
know how isn't a given, either.

One problem with TL is on real life, that restriction tends to go both
directions, not just forward.. We've let old infrastructure perish and in
many cases, the know how, as well. At TL8, the capability to build TL4 or 5
Battleship armor as well as TL 6 to 7 rockets like the Saturn V is
effectively lost. US nuclear capability is in the same boat. The industry
to build them has lapsed and would need to be built before testing could
even begin again. 10 or 20 years and hundreds of billions probably.

In game terms the FFS design is one thing. The infrastructure to produce it
is another. My house rule has the system components listed costs being for
mass produced items. After design, if a player wants to go to mass
production, the factory and tooling must be built. I did some off the cuff
house rules for costs with some tables, etc but haven't extensively tested
them.

Generally talking millions of Credits investment and the tooling degrades
before it must be redone again. The factory similarly needs to be
maintained and either robots purchased or labor paid.

For the second, do you have RCEG? Most of the Coalition's equipment by
quantity is Oriflamme TL 9, since they pull most of the weight by virtue of
human population. Striker II shows most of the vehicles are going to be TL
9, too.

Elite including RCMC will be mostly TL 12 with higher here and there.
Widgets are imported from Hivers to build TL 13 CLC lasers, etc and bunch
of relic Imperial gear and even vehicles, as well. I'm sort of skeptical
Trepida would work effectively, but we can credit/blame the Vilani perhaps.

The setting and trade tables are built around the idea of heterogeneous TL
worlds supplying widgets and/or complete products at their own level in
exchange for that desirable by others. It's probably realistic enough to a
small degree, but most hi pop worlds especially should tend towards not
wanting or needing much from the rest, which puts the believability of most
either existing at all, or having any reason to want go there, in question.

- Sent from my SM-N900T
On May 9, 2014 12:43 PM, "Scott Nolan [Traveller_TNE]" <
> wrote:

>
>
> I'm trying to wrap my head around Tech Levels, specifically Tech Levels in
> the Reformation Coalition.
>
> Take, for example, Aubaine (Tech 12) and Oriflamme (Tech 8).
>
> First, consider that I'm on Oriflamme and want to contact a business. I
> presume that my communications device will probably be Tech Level 8, or
> possibly less. Now assume that I want to purchase a higher-tech
> communications device for communication between me and my crew. Can I do so
> on Oriflamme? Can I order it from Aubaine by the RC version of Amazon.com?
> If not, why not? And if so, why isn't every world in the RC rapidly rising
> towards Tech Level 12?
>
> Second, consider that I am a member of an RCES Recovery Team (i.e., I'm a
> Star Viking about to go on a Smash and Grab raid). Is my gear always going
> to be Tech Level 12? Will any of it be?I
>
> I'm thinking of limiting what can be bought on the open market to the
> worse of Tech Level 10 or the world's Tech Level, reasoning that in the
> early years, the RC is focusing the manufacture of Tech Level 11 and 12
> gear to the military and RCES.
>
> Scott
>
>

I'm generally with Jeffrey Dougherty. It's the max available that can be
domestically mass produced.

I have domestic experimental tech being one higher generally and two in
specific fields, though multiplied in size, price and chance of mishap.

I saw the Coalition pushing to get Oriflamme to TL 10 and effectively
succeeding for the starport areas starting in 1204. Aubaine hitting TL 13
around 1205 though effectively early, it was deliberately held back for PR.

A bit unique fur Recovery since the Hivers can help and is already known to
be possible.

- Sent from my SM-N900T

Thanks for the responses. But doesn't that effectively just make TL a
worthless concept? If a character wants a piece of TL 12 gear and can
easily obtain it, what point is there in saying that Oriflamme (or any
world in the RC) is of a lower TL? Who cares if the locals all use TL 8
cars and telephones if my PC always has access to the good stuff. It's the
TL of the PC's gear that is really going to set a tone, don't you think?

Scott

On Fri, May 9, 2014 at 4:39 PM, 'D. Stanley' [Traveller_TNE]
<> wrote:

>
>
> I’ve got to agree with Harold here, while TL8 stuff will be everywhere,
> they probably mfg a small amount of TL9 and maybe even TL10 gear. TL11 and
> 12 gear will be very available at any store, there might be a premium on
> some of the larger items simply because of the logistics in shipping them.
> TL13+ is going to require that you know a guy who knows a guy who found
> something that “fell off the back of a truck”.
>
>
>
> We have to keep in mind that these TL’s are a snapshot, a moment in time
> and unlike the Imperium where those TL’s might exist for decades or even
> centuries on a world the RC is “recovering” and they’re recovering fast so
> it’s quite likely that by the time NE3 rolls about Oriflamme might be TL10
> or 11 and Aubaine might be TL13 or 14 simply due to the nature of the beast.
>
>
>
> Realistically Aubaine might have some TL13-15 manufacturing capabilities
> at NE1 but it’s so small it doesn’t count. IE. There might be a factory
> making TL14 tablet computers or blue tooth headsets. These would be way
> faster and more advanced than the rest of the world is capable of making
> but they’re so limited in production that they cost a fortune.
>
>
>
> I’ve been harboring a strong dislike of the Tech codes for ages,
> particularly in the TNE setting where things are changing so fast. In my
> own things I tend to divide up the planetary capacity in terms of broad
> categories, Medical Supplies, Weapons, Vehicles, Starships, Equipment. And
> I might break it down further and say things like, well these guys have a
> TL15 PRIS goggles factory that’s operational, just for flavor.
>
>
>
> *From:* [
> ]
> *Sent:* Friday, May 09, 2014 1:23 PM
> *To:*
> *Subject:* [Traveller_TNE] Re: Tech Levels - 'Splain them to me
>
>
>
>
>
> I've always played it such that tech level was what was "commonly
> available and/or able to be manufactured", rather than it being a hard
> number where nothing higher tech was available. The Imperium is/was a
> start spanning empire where interstellar travel was very common. Sure
> there were backwater areas and worlds that were "off limits", but how else
> do you explain a world that has thousands of inhabitants is at TL6 with a
> very thin, tainted atmosphere? They import the goods necessary to survive.
>
> Thus, in the TNE setting, a world might be TL 8, but they may have
> everything from TL 8 to TL 15 available in terms of merchandise. The TL
> 12 stuff might come from a nearby TL 12 world (along with some TL 11 items
> manufactured as that world progressed--think old computers that people in
> the West treat as near junk, but to someone in Ethiopia they are super
> powerful PCs), TL 13-15 stuff would naturally be salvaged relic equipment
> that would be expensive and finding spare parts could be challenging.
> Local people would of course be making TL 8 stuff, and depending on what is
> was (say farm equipment or tools) it would be "good, sturdy gear". Not
> everything needs to be the latest and greatest technology--indeed locals
> may even have a preference for the lower tech stuff.
>
> So if I were on Oriflamme, I'd expect that most things would be TL 8, in
> some tech areas there was be a fair amount of TL 11-12 imported gear,
> especially electronics (light weight, easy to ship in bulk, ask the
> Japanese...). But if "you know a guy who knows a guy", maybe you can get
> hold of a precious TL 14 Solomani holo projector. The rest is up to your
> imagination and how you "make it work" for the game you are running.
>
>
>
>
>

It gives you ballpark what your players can expect to find where. It's a
guideline, though, not written in blood as who injured what the Imperials
or Solomani hid or what the Guild smuggled in, etc.

- Sent from my SM-N900T
On May 9, 2014 2:28 PM, "Scott Nolan [Traveller_TNE]" <
> wrote:

>
>
> Thanks for the responses. But doesn't that effectively just make TL a
> worthless concept? If a character wants a piece of TL 12 gear and can
> easily obtain it, what point is there in saying that Oriflamme (or any
> world in the RC) is of a lower TL? Who cares if the locals all use TL 8
> cars and telephones if my PC always has access to the good stuff. It's the
> TL of the PC's gear that is really going to set a tone, don't you think?
>
> Scott
>
>
> On Fri, May 9, 2014 at 4:39 PM, 'D. Stanley' [Traveller_TNE]
> <> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> I’ve got to agree with Harold here, while TL8 stuff will be everywhere,
>> they probably mfg a small amount of TL9 and maybe even TL10 gear. TL11 and
>> 12 gear will be very available at any store, there might be a premium on
>> some of the larger items simply because of the logistics in shipping them.
>> TL13+ is going to require that you know a guy who knows a guy who found
>> something that “fell off the back of a truck”.
>>
>>
>>
>> We have to keep in mind that these TL’s are a snapshot, a moment in time
>> and unlike the Imperium where those TL’s might exist for decades or even
>> centuries on a world the RC is “recovering” and they’re recovering fast so
>> it’s quite likely that by the time NE3 rolls about Oriflamme might be TL10
>> or 11 and Aubaine might be TL13 or 14 simply due to the nature of the beast.
>>
>>
>>
>> Realistically Aubaine might have some TL13-15 manufacturing capabilities
>> at NE1 but it’s so small it doesn’t count. IE. There might be a factory
>> making TL14 tablet computers or blue tooth headsets. These would be way
>> faster and more advanced than the rest of the world is capable of making
>> but they’re so limited in production that they cost a fortune.
>>
>>
>>
>> I’ve been harboring a strong dislike of the Tech codes for ages,
>> particularly in the TNE setting where things are changing so fast. In my
>> own things I tend to divide up the planetary capacity in terms of broad
>> categories, Medical Supplies, Weapons, Vehicles, Starships, Equipment. And
>> I might break it down further and say things like, well these guys have a
>> TL15 PRIS goggles factory that’s operational, just for flavor.
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* [
>> ]
>> *Sent:* Friday, May 09, 2014 1:23 PM
>> *To:*
>> *Subject:* [Traveller_TNE] Re: Tech Levels - 'Splain them to me
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> I've always played it such that tech level was what was "commonly
>> available and/or able to be manufactured", rather than it being a hard
>> number where nothing higher tech was available. The Imperium is/was a
>> start spanning empire where interstellar travel was very common. Sure
>> there were backwater areas and worlds that were "off limits", but how else
>> do you explain a world that has thousands of inhabitants is at TL6 with a
>> very thin, tainted atmosphere? They import the goods necessary to survive.
>>
>> Thus, in the TNE setting, a world might be TL 8, but they may have
>> everything from TL 8 to TL 15 available in terms of merchandise. The TL
>> 12 stuff might come from a nearby TL 12 world (along with some TL 11 items
>> manufactured as that world progressed--think old computers that people in
>> the West treat as near junk, but to someone in Ethiopia they are super
>> powerful PCs), TL 13-15 stuff would naturally be salvaged relic equipment
>> that would be expensive and finding spare parts could be challenging.
>> Local people would of course be making TL 8 stuff, and depending on what is
>> was (say farm equipment or tools) it would be "good, sturdy gear". Not
>> everything needs to be the latest and greatest technology--indeed locals
>> may even have a preference for the lower tech stuff.
>>
>> So if I were on Oriflamme, I'd expect that most things would be TL 8, in
>> some tech areas there was be a fair amount of TL 11-12 imported gear,
>> especially electronics (light weight, easy to ship in bulk, ask the
>> Japanese...). But if "you know a guy who knows a guy", maybe you can get
>> hold of a precious TL 14 Solomani holo projector. The rest is up to your
>> imagination and how you "make it work" for the game you are running.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>

Don't forget Aubaine is only 1 world and everyone will be asking for TL12 stuff. You could see a RCES team equipped with TL9 combat fatigues, boots and backpacks made on oriflamme, but their radios are TL11 stuff from Trybec. Missiles could have TL9 warheads and propellants but Tl12 guidance systems.

Lots of the vehicles etc will be Tl9 oriflamme stuff, but the fire direction equipment may be TL12 imports. Given the shortage of TL 11/12 stuff, the question the RCES quatermaster will be asking is - will the TL9 oriflamme stuff do?

Why should the RC spend some of its precious TL12 manufacturing capability on the PCs. the Navy is clamouring for TL12 sensors and meson guns, the army for TL12 attack speeders etc.The PCs will be way down the list.

Large parts of a PCs high tech stuff could be high tech relics recovered on previous raids - equivalent to the D&D treasure:)

Cheers
Richard
----- Original Message -----
From: Master Uxi [Traveller_TNE]
To:
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2014 10:30 PM
Subject: Re: [Traveller_TNE] Re: Tech Levels - 'Splain them to me

It gives you ballpark what your players can expect to find where. It's a guideline, though, not written in blood as who injured what the Imperials or Solomani hid or what the Guild smuggled in, etc.

- Sent from my SM-N900T

On May 9, 2014 2:28 PM, "Scott Nolan [Traveller_TNE]" <> wrote:

Thanks for the responses. But doesn't that effectively just make TL a worthless concept? If a character wants a piece of TL 12 gear and can easily obtain it, what point is there in saying that Oriflamme (or any world in the RC) is of a lower TL? Who cares if the locals all use TL 8 cars and telephones if my PC always has access to the good stuff. It's the TL of the PC's gear that is really going to set a tone, don't you think?

Scott

On Fri, May 9, 2014 at 4:39 PM, 'D. Stanley' [Traveller_TNE] <> wrote:

I’ve got to agree with Harold here, while TL8 stuff will be everywhere, they probably mfg a small amount of TL9 and maybe even TL10 gear. TL11 and 12 gear will be very available at any store, there might be a premium on some of the larger items simply because of the logistics in shipping them. TL13+ is going to require that you know a guy who knows a guy who found something that “fell off the back of a truck”.

We have to keep in mind that these TL’s are a snapshot, a moment in time and unlike the Imperium where those TL’s might exist for decades or even centuries on a world the RC is “recovering” and they’re recovering fast so it’s quite likely that by the time NE3 rolls about Oriflamme might be TL10 or 11 and Aubaine might be TL13 or 14 simply due to the nature of the beast.

Realistically Aubaine might have some TL13-15 manufacturing capabilities at NE1 but it’s so small it doesn’t count. IE. There might be a factory making TL14 tablet computers or blue tooth headsets. These would be way faster and more advanced than the rest of the world is capable of making but they’re so limited in production that they cost a fortune.

I’ve been harboring a strong dislike of the Tech codes for ages, particularly in the TNE setting where things are changing so fast. In my own things I tend to divide up the planetary capacity in terms of broad categories, Medical Supplies, Weapons, Vehicles, Starships, Equipment. And I might break it down further and say things like, well these guys have a TL15 PRIS goggles factory that’s operational, just for flavor.

From: []
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2014 1:23 PM
To:
Subject: [Traveller_TNE] Re: Tech Levels - 'Splain them to me

I've always played it such that tech level was what was "commonly available and/or able to be manufactured", rather than it being a hard number where nothing higher tech was available. The Imperium is/was a start spanning empire where interstellar travel was very common. Sure there were backwater areas and worlds that were "off limits", but how else do you explain a world that has thousands of inhabitants is at TL6 with a very thin, tainted atmosphere? They import the goods necessary to survive.

Thus, in the TNE setting, a world might be TL 8, but they may have everything from TL 8 to TL 15 available in terms of merchandise. The TL 12 stuff might come from a nearby TL 12 world (along with some TL 11 items manufactured as that world progressed--think old computers that people in the West treat as near junk, but to someone in Ethiopia they are super powerful PCs), TL 13-15 stuff would naturally be salvaged relic equipment that would be expensive and finding spare parts could be challenging. Local people would of course be making TL 8 stuff, and depending on what is was (say farm equipment or tools) it would be "good, sturdy gear". Not everything needs to be the latest and greatest technology--indeed locals may even have a preference for the lower tech stuff.

So if I were on Oriflamme, I'd expect that most things would be TL 8, in some tech areas there was be a fair amount of TL 11-12 imported gear, especially electronics (light weight, easy to ship in bulk, ask the Japanese...). But if "you know a guy who knows a guy", maybe you can get hold of a precious TL 14 Solomani holo projector. The rest is up to your imagination and how you "make it work" for the game you are running.

That makes sense. But if the PC's are RCES personnel, and not just
freelancers, do they get to bring their own equipment on missions?

On Fri, May 9, 2014 at 5:44 PM, 'Richard Perks'
[Traveller_TNE]
<> wrote:

>
>
> 
> Don't forget Aubaine is only 1 world and everyone will be asking for TL12
> stuff. You could see a RCES team equipped with TL9 combat fatigues, boots
> and backpacks made on oriflamme, but their radios are TL11 stuff from
> Trybec. Missiles could have TL9 warheads and propellants but Tl12 guidance
> systems.
>
> Lots of the vehicles etc will be Tl9 oriflamme stuff, but the fire
> direction equipment may be TL12 imports. Given the shortage of TL 11/12
> stuff, the question the RCES quatermaster will be asking is - will the TL9
> oriflamme stuff do?
>
> Why should the RC spend some of its precious TL12 manufacturing capability
> on the PCs. the Navy is clamouring for TL12 sensors and meson guns, the
> army for TL12 attack speeders etc.The PCs will be way down the list.
>
> Large parts of a PCs high tech stuff could be high tech relics recovered
> on previous raids - equivalent to the D&D treasure:)
>
> Cheers
> Richard
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* Master Uxi [Traveller_TNE]<+[Traveller_TNE]>
> *To:*
> *Sent:* Friday, May 09, 2014 10:30 PM
> *Subject:* Re: [Traveller_TNE] Re: Tech Levels - 'Splain them to me
>
>
>
> It gives you ballpark what your players can expect to find where. It's a
> guideline, though, not written in blood as who injured what the Imperials
> or Solomani hid or what the Guild smuggled in, etc.
>
> - Sent from my SM-N900T
> On May 9, 2014 2:28 PM, "Scott Nolan [Traveller_TNE]" <
> > wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> Thanks for the responses. But doesn't that effectively just make TL a
>> worthless concept? If a character wants a piece of TL 12 gear and can
>> easily obtain it, what point is there in saying that Oriflamme (or any
>> world in the RC) is of a lower TL? Who cares if the locals all use TL 8
>> cars and telephones if my PC always has access to the good stuff. It's the
>> TL of the PC's gear that is really going to set a tone, don't you think?
>>
>> Scott
>>
>>
>> On Fri, May 9, 2014 at 4:39 PM, 'D. Stanley' [Traveller_TNE]
>> <> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I’ve got to agree with Harold here, while TL8 stuff will be
>>> everywhere, they probably mfg a small amount of TL9 and maybe even TL10
>>> gear. TL11 and 12 gear will be very available at any store, there might be
>>> a premium on some of the larger items simply because of the logistics in
>>> shipping them. TL13+ is going to require that you know a guy who knows a
>>> guy who found something that “fell off the back of a truck”.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> We have to keep in mind that these TL’s are a snapshot, a moment in time
>>> and unlike the Imperium where those TL’s might exist for decades or even
>>> centuries on a world the RC is “recovering” and they’re recovering fast so
>>> it’s quite likely that by the time NE3 rolls about Oriflamme might be TL10
>>> or 11 and Aubaine might be TL13 or 14 simply due to the nature of the beast.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Realistically Aubaine might have some TL13-15 manufacturing capabilities
>>> at NE1 but it’s so small it doesn’t count. IE. There might be a factory
>>> making TL14 tablet computers or blue tooth headsets. These would be way
>>> faster and more advanced than the rest of the world is capable of making
>>> but they’re so limited in production that they cost a fortune.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I’ve been harboring a strong dislike of the Tech codes for ages,
>>> particularly in the TNE setting where things are changing so fast. In my
>>> own things I tend to divide up the planetary capacity in terms of broad
>>> categories, Medical Supplies, Weapons, Vehicles, Starships, Equipment. And
>>> I might break it down further and say things like, well these guys have a
>>> TL15 PRIS goggles factory that’s operational, just for flavor.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *From:* [
>>> ]
>>> *Sent:* Friday, May 09, 2014 1:23 PM
>>> *To:*
>>> *Subject:* [Traveller_TNE] Re: Tech Levels - 'Splain them to me
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I've always played it such that tech level was what was "commonly
>>> available and/or able to be manufactured", rather than it being a hard
>>> number where nothing higher tech was available. The Imperium is/was a
>>> start spanning empire where interstellar travel was very common. Sure
>>> there were backwater areas and worlds that were "off limits", but how else
>>> do you explain a world that has thousands of inhabitants is at TL6 with a
>>> very thin, tainted atmosphere? They import the goods necessary to survive.
>>>
>>> Thus, in the TNE setting, a world might be TL 8, but they may have
>>> everything from TL 8 to TL 15 available in terms of merchandise. The TL
>>> 12 stuff might come from a nearby TL 12 world (along with some TL 11 items
>>> manufactured as that world progressed--think old computers that people in
>>> the West treat as near junk, but to someone in Ethiopia they are super
>>> powerful PCs), TL 13-15 stuff would naturally be salvaged relic equipment
>>> that would be expensive and finding spare parts could be challenging.
>>> Local people would of course be making TL 8 stuff, and depending on what is
>>> was (say farm equipment or tools) it would be "good, sturdy gear". Not
>>> everything needs to be the latest and greatest technology--indeed locals
>>> may even have a preference for the lower tech stuff.
>>>
>>> So if I were on Oriflamme, I'd expect that most things would be TL 8, in
>>> some tech areas there was be a fair amount of TL 11-12 imported gear,
>>> especially electronics (light weight, easy to ship in bulk, ask the
>>> Japanese...). But if "you know a guy who knows a guy", maybe you can get
>>> hold of a precious TL 14 Solomani holo projector. The rest is up to your
>>> imagination and how you "make it work" for the game you are running.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>

Don't see why not, its cuts down what the RCES has to supply. Okay the RCES will supply the light battledress etc. or whatever else is needed for the mission, but if you happen to have a TL15 light anti-tank missile, who is going to stop you taking it along.

The RCEs is a new service with few customs and a light touch chain of command, free lancers have even less formal control.

----- Original Message -----
From: Scott Nolan [Traveller_TNE]
To:
Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2014 12:22 AM
Subject: Re: [Traveller_TNE] Re: Tech Levels - 'Splain them to me

That makes sense. But if the PC's are RCES personnel, and not just freelancers, do they get to bring their own equipment on missions?

On Fri, May 9, 2014 at 5:44 PM, 'Richard Perks' [Traveller_TNE] <> wrote:



Don't forget Aubaine is only 1 world and everyone will be asking for TL12 stuff. You could see a RCES team equipped with TL9 combat fatigues, boots and backpacks made on oriflamme, but their radios are TL11 stuff from Trybec. Missiles could have TL9 warheads and propellants but Tl12 guidance systems.

Lots of the vehicles etc will be Tl9 oriflamme stuff, but the fire direction equipment may be TL12 imports. Given the shortage of TL 11/12 stuff, the question the RCES quatermaster will be asking is - will the TL9 oriflamme stuff do?

Why should the RC spend some of its precious TL12 manufacturing capability on the PCs. the Navy is clamouring for TL12 sensors and meson guns, the army for TL12 attack speeders etc.The PCs will be way down the list.

Large parts of a PCs high tech stuff could be high tech relics recovered on previous raids - equivalent to the D&D treasure:)

Cheers
Richard
----- Original Message -----
From: Master Uxi [Traveller_TNE]
To:
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2014 10:30 PM
Subject: Re: [Traveller_TNE] Re: Tech Levels - 'Splain them to me

It gives you ballpark what your players can expect to find where. It's a guideline, though, not written in blood as who injured what the Imperials or Solomani hid or what the Guild smuggled in, etc.

- Sent from my SM-N900T

On May 9, 2014 2:28 PM, "Scott Nolan [Traveller_TNE]" <> wrote:

Thanks for the responses. But doesn't that effectively just make TL a worthless concept? If a character wants a piece of TL 12 gear and can easily obtain it, what point is there in saying that Oriflamme (or any world in the RC) is of a lower TL? Who cares if the locals all use TL 8 cars and telephones if my PC always has access to the good stuff. It's the TL of the PC's gear that is really going to set a tone, don't you think?

Scott

On Fri, May 9, 2014 at 4:39 PM, 'D. Stanley' [Traveller_TNE] <> wrote:

I’ve got to agree with Harold here, while TL8 stuff will be everywhere, they probably mfg a small amount of TL9 and maybe even TL10 gear. TL11 and 12 gear will be very available at any store, there might be a premium on some of the larger items simply because of the logistics in shipping them. TL13+ is going to require that you know a guy who knows a guy who found something that “fell off the back of a truck”.

We have to keep in mind that these TL’s are a snapshot, a moment in time and unlike the Imperium where those TL’s might exist for decades or even centuries on a world the RC is “recovering” and they’re recovering fast so it’s quite likely that by the time NE3 rolls about Oriflamme might be TL10 or 11 and Aubaine might be TL13 or 14 simply due to the nature of the beast.

Realistically Aubaine might have some TL13-15 manufacturing capabilities at NE1 but it’s so small it doesn’t count. IE. There might be a factory making TL14 tablet computers or blue tooth headsets. These would be way faster and more advanced than the rest of the world is capable of making but they’re so limited in production that they cost a fortune.

I’ve been harboring a strong dislike of the Tech codes for ages, particularly in the TNE setting where things are changing so fast. In my own things I tend to divide up the planetary capacity in terms of broad categories, Medical Supplies, Weapons, Vehicles, Starships, Equipment. And I might break it down further and say things like, well these guys have a TL15 PRIS goggles factory that’s operational, just for flavor.

From: []
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2014 1:23 PM
To:
Subject: [Traveller_TNE] Re: Tech Levels - 'Splain them to me

I've always played it such that tech level was what was "commonly available and/or able to be manufactured", rather than it being a hard number where nothing higher tech was available. The Imperium is/was a start spanning empire where interstellar travel was very common. Sure there were backwater areas and worlds that were "off limits", but how else do you explain a world that has thousands of inhabitants is at TL6 with a very thin, tainted atmosphere? They import the goods necessary to survive.

Thus, in the TNE setting, a world might be TL 8, but they may have everything from TL 8 to TL 15 available in terms of merchandise. The TL 12 stuff might come from a nearby TL 12 world (along with some TL 11 items manufactured as that world progressed--think old computers that people in the West treat as near junk, but to someone in Ethiopia they are super powerful PCs), TL 13-15 stuff would naturally be salvaged relic equipment that would be expensive and finding spare parts could be challenging. Local people would of course be making TL 8 stuff, and depending on what is was (say farm equipment or tools) it would be "good, sturdy gear". Not everything needs to be the latest and greatest technology--indeed locals may even have a preference for the lower tech stuff.

So if I were on Oriflamme, I'd expect that most things would be TL 8, in some tech areas there was be a fair amount of TL 11-12 imported gear, especially electronics (light weight, easy to ship in bulk, ask the Japanese...). But if "you know a guy who knows a guy", maybe you can get hold of a precious TL 14 Solomani holo projector. The rest is up to your imagination and how you "make it work" for the game you are running.

30 years of hindsight. For pc's it is a pretty usless concept it does flavor the world though. If you land on planet x and everyone's driving horse and buggies but the PC are in an airraft.

Derek Stanley
Sent from my iPhone...

> On May 9, 2014, at 14:28, "Scott Nolan [Traveller_TNE]" <> wrote:
>
> Thanks for the responses. But doesn't that effectively just make TL a worthless concept? If a character wants a piece of TL 12 gear and can easily obtain it, what point is there in saying that Oriflamme (or any world in the RC) is of a lower TL? Who cares if the locals all use TL 8 cars and telephones if my PC always has access to the good stuff. It's the TL of the PC's gear that is really going to set a tone, don't you think?
>
> Scott
>
>
>> On Fri, May 9, 2014 at 4:39 PM, 'D. Stanley' [Traveller_TNE] <> wrote:
>>
>> I’ve got to agree with Harold here, while TL8 stuff will be everywhere, they probably mfg a small amount of TL9 and maybe even TL10 gear. TL11 and 12 gear will be very available at any store, there might be a premium on some of the larger items simply because of the logistics in shipping them. TL13+ is going to require that you know a guy who knows a guy who found something that “fell off the back of a truck”.
>>
>>
>>
>> We have to keep in mind that these TL’s are a snapshot, a moment in time and unlike the Imperium where those TL’s might exist for decades or even centuries on a world the RC is “recovering” and they’re recovering fast so it’s quite likely that by the time NE3 rolls about Oriflamme might be TL10 or 11 and Aubaine might be TL13 or 14 simply due to the nature of the beast.
>>
>>
>>
>> Realistically Aubaine might have some TL13-15 manufacturing capabilities at NE1 but it’s so small it doesn’t count. IE. There might be a factory making TL14 tablet computers or blue tooth headsets. These would be way faster and more advanced than the rest of the world is capable of making but they’re so limited in production that they cost a fortune.
>>
>>
>>
>> I’ve been harboring a strong dislike of the Tech codes for ages, particularly in the TNE setting where things are changing so fast. In my own things I tend to divide up the planetary capacity in terms of broad categories, Medical Supplies, Weapons, Vehicles, Starships, Equipment. And I might break it down further and say things like, well these guys have a TL15 PRIS goggles factory that’s operational, just for flavor.
>>
>>
>>
>> From: []
>> Sent: Friday, May 09, 2014 1:23 PM
>> To:
>> Subject: [Traveller_TNE] Re: Tech Levels - 'Splain them to me
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> I've always played it such that tech level was what was "commonly available and/or able to be manufactured", rather than it being a hard number where nothing higher tech was available. The Imperium is/was a start spanning empire where interstellar travel was very common. Sure there were backwater areas and worlds that were "off limits", but how else do you explain a world that has thousands of inhabitants is at TL6 with a very thin, tainted atmosphere? They import the goods necessary to survive.
>>
>> Thus, in the TNE setting, a world might be TL 8, but they may have everything from TL 8 to TL 15 available in terms of merchandise. The TL 12 stuff might come from a nearby TL 12 world (along with some TL 11 items manufactured as that world progressed--think old computers that people in the West treat as near junk, but to someone in Ethiopia they are super powerful PCs), TL 13-15 stuff would naturally be salvaged relic equipment that would be expensive and finding spare parts could be challenging. Local people would of course be making TL 8 stuff, and depending on what is was (say farm equipment or tools) it would be "good, sturdy gear". Not everything needs to be the latest and greatest technology--indeed locals may even have a preference for the lower tech stuff.
>>
>> So if I were on Oriflamme, I'd expect that most things would be TL 8, in some tech areas there was be a fair amount of TL 11-12 imported gear, especially electronics (light weight, easy to ship in bulk, ask the Japanese...). But if "you know a guy who knows a guy", maybe you can get hold of a precious TL 14 Solomani holo projector. The rest is up to your imagination and how you "make it work" for the game you are running.
>
>

TL15 anti tank missile = holy lance +5!

Derek Stanley
Sent from my iPhone...

> On May 9, 2014, at 16:40, "'Richard Perks' [Traveller_TNE]" <> wrote:
>
> 
>
> Don't see why not, its cuts down what the RCES has to supply. Okay the RCES will supply the light battledress etc. or whatever else is needed for the mission, but if you happen to have a TL15 light anti-tank missile, who is going to stop you taking it along.
>
> The RCEs is a new service with few customs and a light touch chain of command, free lancers have even less formal control.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Scott Nolan [Traveller_TNE]
> To:
> Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2014 12:22 AM
> Subject: Re: [Traveller_TNE] Re: Tech Levels - 'Splain them to me
>
>
> That makes sense. But if the PC's are RCES personnel, and not just freelancers, do they get to bring their own equipment on missions?
>
>
>
>
>> On Fri, May 9, 2014 at 5:44 PM, 'Richard Perks' [Traveller_TNE] <> wrote:
>>
>> 
>>
>> Don't forget Aubaine is only 1 world and everyone will be asking for TL12 stuff. You could see a RCES team equipped with TL9 combat fatigues, boots and backpacks made on oriflamme, but their radios are TL11 stuff from Trybec. Missiles could have TL9 warheads and propellants but Tl12 guidance systems.
>>
>> Lots of the vehicles etc will be Tl9 oriflamme stuff, but the fire direction equipment may be TL12 imports. Given the shortage of TL 11/12 stuff, the question the RCES quatermaster will be asking is - will the TL9 oriflamme stuff do?
>>
>> Why should the RC spend some of its precious TL12 manufacturing capability on the PCs. the Navy is clamouring for TL12 sensors and meson guns, the army for TL12 attack speeders etc.The PCs will be way down the list.
>>
>> Large parts of a PCs high tech stuff could be high tech relics recovered on previous raids - equivalent to the D&D treasure:)
>>
>> Cheers
>> Richard
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Master Uxi [Traveller_TNE]
>> To:
>> Sent: Friday, May 09, 2014 10:30 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Traveller_TNE] Re: Tech Levels - 'Splain them to me
>>
>>
>> It gives you ballpark what your players can expect to find where. It's a guideline, though, not written in blood as who injured what the Imperials or Solomani hid or what the Guild smuggled in, etc.
>>
>>
>> - Sent from my SM-N900T
>>
>>> On May 9, 2014 2:28 PM, "Scott Nolan [Traveller_TNE]" <> wrote:
>>>
>>> Thanks for the responses. But doesn't that effectively just make TL a worthless concept? If a character wants a piece of TL 12 gear and can easily obtain it, what point is there in saying that Oriflamme (or any world in the RC) is of a lower TL? Who cares if the locals all use TL 8 cars and telephones if my PC always has access to the good stuff. It's the TL of the PC's gear that is really going to set a tone, don't you think?
>>>
>>> Scott
>>>
>>>
>>>> On Fri, May 9, 2014 at 4:39 PM, 'D. Stanley' [Traveller_TNE] <> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I’ve got to agree with Harold here, while TL8 stuff will be everywhere, they probably mfg a small amount of TL9 and maybe even TL10 gear. TL11 and 12 gear will be very available at any store, there might be a premium on some of the larger items simply because of the logistics in shipping them. TL13+ is going to require that you know a guy who knows a guy who found something that “fell off the back of a truck”.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> We have to keep in mind that these TL’s are a snapshot, a moment in time and unlike the Imperium where those TL’s might exist for decades or even centuries on a world the RC is “recovering” and they’re recovering fast so it’s quite likely that by the time NE3 rolls about Oriflamme might be TL10 or 11 and Aubaine might be TL13 or 14 simply due to the nature of the beast.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Realistically Aubaine might have some TL13-15 manufacturing capabilities at NE1 but it’s so small it doesn’t count. IE. There might be a factory making TL14 tablet computers or blue tooth headsets. These would be way faster and more advanced than the rest of the world is capable of making but they’re so limited in production that they cost a fortune.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I’ve been harboring a strong dislike of the Tech codes for ages, particularly in the TNE setting where things are changing so fast. In my own things I tend to divide up the planetary capacity in terms of broad categories, Medical Supplies, Weapons, Vehicles, Starships, Equipment. And I might break it down further and say things like, well these guys have a TL15 PRIS goggles factory that’s operational, just for flavor.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> From: []
>>>> Sent: Friday, May 09, 2014 1:23 PM
>>>> To:
>>>> Subject: [Traveller_TNE] Re: Tech Levels - 'Splain them to me
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I've always played it such that tech level was what was "commonly available and/or able to be manufactured", rather than it being a hard number where nothing higher tech was available. The Imperium is/was a start spanning empire where interstellar travel was very common. Sure there were backwater areas and worlds that were "off limits", but how else do you explain a world that has thousands of inhabitants is at TL6 with a very thin, tainted atmosphere? They import the goods necessary to survive.
>>>>
>>>> Thus, in the TNE setting, a world might be TL 8, but they may have everything from TL 8 to TL 15 available in terms of merchandise. The TL 12 stuff might come from a nearby TL 12 world (along with some TL 11 items manufactured as that world progressed--think old computers that people in the West treat as near junk, but to someone in Ethiopia they are super powerful PCs), TL 13-15 stuff would naturally be salvaged relic equipment that would be expensive and finding spare parts could be challenging. Local people would of course be making TL 8 stuff, and depending on what is was (say farm equipment or tools) it would be "good, sturdy gear". Not everything needs to be the latest and greatest technology--indeed locals may even have a preference for the lower tech stuff.
>>>>
>>>> So if I were on Oriflamme, I'd expect that most things would be TL 8, in some tech areas there was be a fair amount of TL 11-12 imported gear, especially electronics (light weight, easy to ship in bulk, ask the Japanese...). But if "you know a guy who knows a guy", maybe you can get hold of a precious TL 14 Solomani holo projector. The rest is up to your imagination and how you "make it work" for the game you are running.
>
>

I think my game, whenever it drifts towards reality, will probably make
getting Tech near the apex particularly hard to get. I'm persuaded by the
"we've only got a little high tech and it's all going to the Army, Navy and
Marines" argument. That means my RCES will be mostly using hand-me-downs,
miscellaneous gear and whatever could be scraped up, to enhance the
"shoestring" feel. Occasionally, they'll get to use the Big Boy Toys, but
not long after they find their TL14 grav tank, the Army will show up with a
requisition and a moderately polite "thank you." At least in the first few
years of the New Era, RCES should feel pretty ragtag, in my opinion.

Thanks for all the opinions, folks!

On Fri, May 9, 2014 at 8:07 PM, DEREK STANLEY [Traveller_TNE]
<> wrote:

>
>
> 30 years of hindsight. For pc's it is a pretty usless concept it does
> flavor the world though. If you land on planet x and everyone's driving
> horse and buggies but the PC are in an airraft.
>
> Derek Stanley
> Sent from my iPhone...
>
> On May 9, 2014, at 14:28, "Scott Nolan [Traveller_TNE]" <
> > wrote:
>
>
>
> Thanks for the responses. But doesn't that effectively just make TL a
> worthless concept? If a character wants a piece of TL 12 gear and can
> easily obtain it, what point is there in saying that Oriflamme (or any
> world in the RC) is of a lower TL? Who cares if the locals all use TL 8
> cars and telephones if my PC always has access to the good stuff. It's the
> TL of the PC's gear that is really going to set a tone, don't you think?
>
> Scott
>
>
> On Fri, May 9, 2014 at 4:39 PM, 'D. Stanley' [Traveller_TNE]
> <> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> I’ve got to agree with Harold here, while TL8 stuff will be everywhere,
>> they probably mfg a small amount of TL9 and maybe even TL10 gear. TL11 and
>> 12 gear will be very available at any store, there might be a premium on
>> some of the larger items simply because of the logistics in shipping them.
>> TL13+ is going to require that you know a guy who knows a guy who found
>> something that “fell off the back of a truck”.
>>
>>
>>
>> We have to keep in mind that these TL’s are a snapshot, a moment in time
>> and unlike the Imperium where those TL’s might exist for decades or even
>> centuries on a world the RC is “recovering” and they’re recovering fast so
>> it’s quite likely that by the time NE3 rolls about Oriflamme might be TL10
>> or 11 and Aubaine might be TL13 or 14 simply due to the nature of the beast.
>>
>>
>>
>> Realistically Aubaine might have some TL13-15 manufacturing capabilities
>> at NE1 but it’s so small it doesn’t count. IE. There might be a factory
>> making TL14 tablet computers or blue tooth headsets. These would be way
>> faster and more advanced than the rest of the world is capable of making
>> but they’re so limited in production that they cost a fortune.
>>
>>
>>
>> I’ve been harboring a strong dislike of the Tech codes for ages,
>> particularly in the TNE setting where things are changing so fast. In my
>> own things I tend to divide up the planetary capacity in terms of broad
>> categories, Medical Supplies, Weapons, Vehicles, Starships, Equipment. And
>> I might break it down further and say things like, well these guys have a
>> TL15 PRIS goggles factory that’s operational, just for flavor.
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* [
>> ]
>> *Sent:* Friday, May 09, 2014 1:23 PM
>> *To:*
>> *Subject:* [Traveller_TNE] Re: Tech Levels - 'Splain them to me
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> I've always played it such that tech level was what was "commonly
>> available and/or able to be manufactured", rather than it being a hard
>> number where nothing higher tech was available. The Imperium is/was a
>> start spanning empire where interstellar travel was very common. Sure
>> there were backwater areas and worlds that were "off limits", but how else
>> do you explain a world that has thousands of inhabitants is at TL6 with a
>> very thin, tainted atmosphere? They import the goods necessary to survive.
>>
>> Thus, in the TNE setting, a world might be TL 8, but they may have
>> everything from TL 8 to TL 15 available in terms of merchandise. The TL
>> 12 stuff might come from a nearby TL 12 world (along with some TL 11 items
>> manufactured as that world progressed--think old computers that people in
>> the West treat as near junk, but to someone in Ethiopia they are super
>> powerful PCs), TL 13-15 stuff would naturally be salvaged relic equipment
>> that would be expensive and finding spare parts could be challenging.
>> Local people would of course be making TL 8 stuff, and depending on what is
>> was (say farm equipment or tools) it would be "good, sturdy gear". Not
>> everything needs to be the latest and greatest technology--indeed locals
>> may even have a preference for the lower tech stuff.
>>
>> So if I were on Oriflamme, I'd expect that most things would be TL 8, in
>> some tech areas there was be a fair amount of TL 11-12 imported gear,
>> especially electronics (light weight, easy to ship in bulk, ask the
>> Japanese...). But if "you know a guy who knows a guy", maybe you can get
>> hold of a precious TL 14 Solomani holo projector. The rest is up to your
>> imagination and how you "make it work" for the game you are running.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>

Before dipping in to how I see tech levels in the RC, I'll start a little with what I see tech levels in the Imperium/Charted Space.

The way I see it is that, for high tech, there are producers, pop7 to pop A worlds, and consumers - which are those worlds, and everyone else.

If a world is TL-15, then that tech is readily available.
If a world is Rich, then it can easily access the highest tech in its area. Think Saudi Arabia and other rich states.
Others worlds have access, but the highest tech is less easily got.
Poor and other disadvantaged worlds will only have the very rich, or governments having access to the highest tech - and even then it will be rare.

In the RC, there seems to be agreement on using each system's tech level to best effect. So Oriflamme produces a lot of stuff at Tech 9, the other higher tech worlds chipping in with stuff that can be done better, or only, at higher levels. Plasma Bazookas and Battledress being examples of this. There's a committee on equipment standarisation, CSAARC(?), which facilitates this.

As for what you can buy, I would guess you would pay a premium for higher tech if you wanted to buy an Aubani communicator on Oriflamme. It could even be hard to get, as the Oriflammen govt. might want such tech for its own uses. Ordering it from Aubaine might take a lot of time, and even in the RC I would think there would be bottlenecks in the freight process that would lead to delays. That said, I would guess an Oriflammen communicator would do the job, just be heavier or bulkier than the Aubani equivalent.

If you are RCES, then within reason, you are going to be equipped with the best that the RC produces in equipment. That means your battledress will be TL-12, your ACR TL-10, your Range Truck TL-8, etc.

However, with the focus on starfaring/military equipment and bootstrapping, civilians on the higher tech worlds might not have as much access to the max their planets can produce. If you're familiar with the DGP system, they would have a high common tech which was their planet's rated level, but the low common tech level would be more dominant.

Another point is that the RC govts will all have access to their respective techs, though there may be some horse-trading over this. An example of this working in an easy way is the Clippers being built at Aurora and Oriflamme. The Tech beyond those world's capabilities must be provided from outside. A harder tech exchange to arrange might be if Oriflamme wants to build better assault landers, and Aubaine suspects they'd be used against Teldora, for example. One thing that comes away from this is that the TL-9 and 10 penalties against Space Navies generally* doesn't apply in the RC, as that tech can be sourced if needed.

Eamon

* unless pressure is being exerted, as in my imagined example of the assault landers.

Sent from my iPad

On 10 May 2014, at 04:43, "Scott Nolan [Traveller_TNE]" <> wrote:

> I'm trying to wrap my head around Tech Levels, specifically Tech Levels in the Reformation Coalition.
>
> Take, for example, Aubaine (Tech 12) and Oriflamme (Tech 8).
>
> First, consider that I'm on Oriflamme and want to contact a business. I presume that my communications device will probably be Tech Level 8, or possibly less. Now assume that I want to purchase a higher-tech communications device for communication between me and my crew. Can I do so on Oriflamme? Can I order it from Aubaine by the RC version of Amazon.com? If not, why not? And if so, why isn't every world in the RC rapidly rising towards Tech Level 12?
>
> Second, consider that I am a member of an RCES Recovery Team (i.e., I'm a Star Viking about to go on a Smash and Grab raid). Is my gear always going to be Tech Level 12? Will any of it be?I
>
> I'm thinking of limiting what can be bought on the open market to the worse of Tech Level 10 or the world's Tech Level, reasoning that in the early years, the RC is focusing the manufacture of Tech Level 11 and 12 gear to the military and RCES.
>
> Scott
>