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Old 09-27-2018, 09:07 PM   #1
AlexanderHowl
 
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Default Ultra-Tech Wealth

One of the assumptions in many science fiction series is that the improved technology of the future will lead to improved wealth due to increased worker productivity (assuming that workers are rewarded for their productivity with proportional increases in wages). In order to reflect that assumption, I propose that cost of living, income, and starting wealth should double per TL above 8 (2x at TL9, x4 at TL10, x8 at TL11, X16 at TL12, etc.). The increased cost of living would represent the increased number of gadgets, quality of health care, transportation options, etc.

So, what do you think? Would you increase cost of living, income, and starting wealth to reflect the assumptions of improved wealth from improve technology? Would you suggest other changes?
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Old 09-27-2018, 09:19 PM   #2
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Default Re: Ultra-Tech Wealth

See Tech Level and Starting Wealth, p. 27 of the Basic Set and Jobs & Monthly Pay on p. B516-517.
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Old 09-27-2018, 10:18 PM   #3
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Default Re: Ultra-Tech Wealth

Quote:
Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl View Post
One of the assumptions in many science fiction series is that the improved technology of the future will lead to improved wealth due to increased worker productivity (assuming that workers are rewarded for their productivity with proportional increases in wages). In order to reflect that assumption, I propose that cost of living, income, and starting wealth should double per TL above 8 (2x at TL9, x4 at TL10, x8 at TL11, X16 at TL12, etc.). The increased cost of living would represent the increased number of gadgets, quality of health care, transportation options, etc.

So, what do you think? Would you increase cost of living, income, and starting wealth to reflect the assumptions of improved wealth from improve technology? Would you suggest other changes?
Note that starting wealth in the RAW is equal to 10 months 'surplus' at the standard incomes given in Campaigns. The base assumption is roughly x2 wealth per 2TLs, so you're just increasing the curve. If you want to do that there's nothing stopping you, but it will give the PCs access to rather more shiny stuff. This may or may not be a good thing.
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Old 09-28-2018, 05:31 AM   #4
AlexanderHowl
 
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Default Re: Ultra-Tech Wealth

Quote:
Originally Posted by ericbsmith View Post
See Tech Level and Starting Wealth, p. 27 of the Basic Set and Jobs & Monthly Pay on p. B516-517.
The increase would be in addition to the normal increases in wealth by TL.
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Old 09-28-2018, 05:52 AM   #5
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Default Re: Ultra-Tech Wealth

Every increase in TL has seen a boost to income and wealth (and probably CoL, although GURPS doesn't reflect that). What makes post TL8 so special that it does so by apparently tripling every step rather than doubling every two?

Note also that there are many settings your base assumptions probably wouldn't be appropriate for. Bladerunner and Elysium immediately spring to mind.
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Old 09-28-2018, 09:35 AM   #6
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Default Re: Ultra-Tech Wealth

I look at the starting wealth by TL as a guideline. Its more of a default than a rule. Some settings should have more or less than expected for that TL. "Hopeful Future" settings are among these.
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Old 09-28-2018, 10:39 AM   #7
jason taylor
 
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Default Re: Ultra-Tech Wealth

Quote:
Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl View Post
One of the assumptions in many science fiction series is that the improved technology of the future will lead to improved wealth due to increased worker productivity (assuming that workers are rewarded for their productivity with proportional increases in wages). In order to reflect that assumption, I propose that cost of living, income, and starting wealth should double per TL above 8 (2x at TL9, x4 at TL10, x8 at TL11, X16 at TL12, etc.). The increased cost of living would represent the increased number of gadgets, quality of health care, transportation options, etc.

So, what do you think? Would you increase cost of living, income, and starting wealth to reflect the assumptions of improved wealth from improve technology? Would you suggest other changes?
Careful with the thing about "increase in wages." You can increase wages any time you want by summarily declaring that all currency shall be worth one million times their face value and then increasing minimum wage proportionately. What you mean properly is increase in what can be bought. Clearly that has happened.

There is a lot more access to information, and technological items as well as better food then in the past. Luxuries can be afforded at a far lower level. There is less manual labor and it takes place less under dangerous, or uncomfortable situations.

If follows that an increase in TL is likely to continue benefiting people. That does not mean it is a certainty. Perhaps a new technology is so labor intensive that only a vast organization can control it. By comparison arms in the past were so cheap that the King Ranch really was a Kingdom because the bosses vaqueros and cowboys were loyal, had their familes parked on a company town and doubled as militia, and the boss had private cannon dominating the ranch house (that was not that uncommon where there was a lot of wealth to guard; ships, caravans, and trading posts did that too).

By contrast a Saturn rocket could never have been owned by an individual or small group. It is quite a change from a time when an enterprenuer could achieve near sovereignity merely by taking enough capital and heading west. The advance in technology did not make an increase in potential autonomy. It did reduce quite a bit the chance of being marginalized.

Computer technology on the other hand by it's access to information makes every man a king. Bill Gates did almost as much as Sam Colt to make men equal.


So one could posit for instance that instead of bringing increase in autonomy, new Technology requires so much infrastructure as to effectively restore serfdom.

Autonomy is just one measure of quality of life and it's possibility fluctuates without a one to one correspondence to technology.
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Old 09-28-2018, 03:30 PM   #8
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Default Re: Ultra-Tech Wealth

Quote:
Originally Posted by Varyon View Post
Every increase in TL has seen a boost to income and wealth (and probably CoL, although GURPS doesn't reflect that). What makes post TL8 so special that it does so by apparently tripling every step rather than doubling every two?
Probably computerization.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Varyon View Post
Note also that there are many settings your base assumptions probably wouldn't be appropriate for. Bladerunner and Elysium immediately spring to mind.
You could take the approach that the commonly-seen Wealth level is higher or lower, but the TL wealth factors stay as written.

But that's not very fine-grained.
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