Where's the Helium?

[Hans Rancke-Madsen]

Originally Posted by Brett

Yes. Just what is it that makes them TL3 when the locals have motorbikes, cheap steel machetes, and mobile phones?

That question goes to the root of the problem with the canonical definition of tech levels, which is what can be produced and maintained locally[*]. First of all, the definition is pretty much useless for most roleplaying purposes. Who cares if the locals produce their own grav vehicles or import them? The salient point for most roleplaying purposes is whether or not they have grav vehicles at all. Secondly, there are scores and hundreds of canonical worlds that don't fit with the definition. The most common example is probably the mining colony where they dig out valuable ores with imported machines. By the canonical definition such worlds should have a TL of 0. Then there are the worlds with populations too small to maintain its stated tech level. Thirdly, the canonical link between ability to manufacture and ability to maintain and repair is a lot more tenuous than implied. A world that imports machinery in large amounts would evolve the infrastructure to maintain the imports.

[*] There's another canonical definition that is slightly different, but I've forgotten what it was and where I found it.

The alternative definition that I submit is a lot more useful is "the level of technology used by a sizable majority of the local population". A TL3 society can have rich people who imports TL15 stuff, but most of the population make do with TL3 stuff. Visitors can easily find people to repair their TLX equipment on any world with a TL of X+, but to get it repaired on any world with a lower TL requires tracking down someone who has the knowledge. It's not automatic.


Hans