Tech Level Zero

[Vladika]

Sure at TL0 world could have trade with ANY higher TL.

TL0 produces Precious/metals and Gems. "Sells" (Barters) for Steel Weapons and Tools, Glass beads or whatever.

Lower tech world gets screwed of course, getting not quite enough goodies to readily boost a TL. Higher TL trading "partner" keeps them hungry for more... Kind of like Earth through most of it's history?

 

[rancke]

None of the canonical definitions of tech levels really work in practice. For example, by the definition that tech level is what a world can produce on its own, almost all outposts should have TL0, because most don't have any manufacturing capability at all. Take the typical mining outpost. They dig up ore and refine it using imported machinery, export the metal and import all their goods. Tech level 0.

The definition that I consider the only really useful one for roleplaying purposes is: "The level of technology of the items used by a large majority of the population". In other words, if your PCs run into a policeman, what sort of weapons is he most likely toting? Will vigilante mobs be equipped with torches and pitchforks or flashlights and shotguns or handheld floodlights and gauss rifles? Can the PCs get their air/raft repaired here? Can they rent an air/raft here? What public transportation is there, cart and bullock, train, hoverbus, sub-orbital shuttle?

Where the locals got the stuff theyre using is less interesting, whether they built it themselves or if they bought it from offworld.


Hans

 

[RandyB]

In other words, a roleplaying definition, not a macroeconomic or sociopolitical simulation definition.

I am absolutely OK with that.

 

[Timerover51]

What is the TL of your average inhabitant of the South American rain forests? of the African Veldt? Of the Solomon Islands?

Having been to the Solomon Islands, I believe that I can address the Tech Level there. They have Internet, now have some satellite television, use motor launches for inter-island and intra-island travel, use some motor vehicles on the islands where there was sufficient development work done in World War 2 to leave a road net. Local electric power is supplied by Diesel-electric generators, most people do have radios, and many hand-held Walkie-Talkies. Cell phones are pretty much out due to lack of towers and the distances between islands. Aircraft are used as well, but oddly, no float planes. Large quantities of locally bottled Coca-Cola is consumed, along with locally bottled water for clean drinking water. There is considerable subsistence farming still being done, but goods are sold for currency, not a lot of barter takes place. They do have a problem with large quantities of un-exploded World War 2 ordnance laying around, with some areas of New Georgia and the island of Kolumbangara permanently off-limits because of literally thousands of UN Navy dud 6 inch rounds, along with large areas given over to permanent jungle as the trees are too full of metal fragments to ever be cleared. I know of one village that has been built in the midst of what appears to be a US World War 2 bomb dump, based on the photos of various sized bombs of US origin that have been sent to me with the packing bands still on the bomb, and no evidence of either boosters or fuzes inserted.

There are several dive shops with Scuba Gear available for rental to dive on the various World War 2 wrecks in the area, along with shot-down aircraft, and the odd wreck landing barge. Overall, the Tech Level would be comparable to some of the more remote areas of rural America or perhaps the Alaskan Panhandle. It most definitely is NOT Tech Level 0.

of the African Veldt?

While I have not been to Africa personally, my daughter was there on a short-term missions trip, and on another trip, went to Guyana in South America. My oldest brother is in Africa on a regular basis for business, and has done quite a bit of hunting there as well. In both Africa and Guyana, the major difference is in lack of what we in the US would view as standard infrastructure, such as centralized water and sewage supply. They do have cell phones, and quite a few vehicles. Most people are aware of the US and how we live, courtesy of widespread television coverage, and visitors. Roads are not exactly up to US standards, and rail transportation is limited. As for Tech Level, it would represent a wide range, depending on whether or not you were in a large city such as Johannesburg or out in the bush, but again, nothing close to Tech Level 0. Lack of material goods should not be confused with a lack of knowledge of such goods or of technology in general.