05-24-2020, 01:15 PM | #1 |
Join Date: Dec 2015
|
Nitroglycerin invention date and TL
So basic says TL 6 starts at 1880, Nitroglycerin was invented almost 40 years prior, and the process of manufacturing it was fairly easy by the 1860's. Should it not (and dynamite for that matter) be late TL 5 then?
|
05-24-2020, 01:31 PM | #2 |
Night Watchman
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Cambridge, UK
|
Re: Nitroglycerin invention date and TL
TLs are a matter of trying to put a general framework over a very messy history, and are not sharp-edged.
It can be argued that nitroglycerin didn't become a widely used technology until dynamite was invented, and that that event, in 1867, was one of the early stages of the transition to TL6.
__________________
The Path of Cunning. Indexes: DFRPG Characters, Advantage of the Week, Disadvantage of the Week, Skill of the Week, Techniques. |
05-24-2020, 01:44 PM | #3 | |
Join Date: Dec 2015
|
Re: Nitroglycerin invention date and TL
Quote:
|
|
05-24-2020, 01:52 PM | #4 |
Night Watchman
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Cambridge, UK
|
Re: Nitroglycerin invention date and TL
Chronometers are mid-1700s, and hence definitely TL5. The Mauser is arguable, but the usual opinion is that TL6 small arms use smokeless powder.
__________________
The Path of Cunning. Indexes: DFRPG Characters, Advantage of the Week, Disadvantage of the Week, Skill of the Week, Techniques. |
05-24-2020, 02:17 PM | #5 |
Join Date: Dec 2015
|
Re: Nitroglycerin invention date and TL
Ya, I super misread that as 1860s instead of 1760s. I mean, the action on the Mauser is certainly more advanced, same could be said for the mechanical machine guns, Gatling gun was invented just a few years before dynamite. The first modern load baring gear was invented in 1877, over a decade after dynamite, but is TL 6. I mean, it just dose not seem to make sense to have access to things like the Mauser, Gatling gun, and fabric webbing LBE, but not Nitroglycerin or Dynamite.
Last edited by Kfireblade; 05-24-2020 at 02:27 PM. |
05-24-2020, 03:25 PM | #6 |
Join Date: Sep 2016
|
Re: Nitroglycerin invention date and TL
Tech level and dates is an approximation. It’s not like only TL 5 gear is available until Dec 31, 1779 and on January 1, 1880 you can suddenly buy All TL6 gear. There is often an blended area before and after that date where some TL 6 gear may be early and some TL 5 gear is still common well into the 1900s
|
05-25-2020, 11:42 AM | #7 |
Untagged
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Forest Grove, Beaverton, Oregon
|
Re: Nitroglycerin invention date and TL
To put my (unnecessary) two cents in as well,
Tech level is the broad stroke brush you use for when you don't have or don't wish to use real dates for real technology.
__________________
Beware, poor communication skills. No offense intended. If offended, it just means that I failed my writing skill check. |
05-25-2020, 07:58 PM | #8 |
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Maitland, NSW, Australia
|
Re: Nitroglycerin invention date and TL
It doesn't matter when it was invented. It is classed as TL6 because that is when the technology matures and becomes ubiquitous. You can have nitro at TL5 but it would be a lot more expensive and should probably be treated as experimental.
__________________
Compact Castles gives the gamer an instant portfolio of genuine, real-world castle floorplans to use in any historical, low-tech, or fantasy game setting. Last edited by DanHoward; 05-25-2020 at 08:03 PM. |
05-25-2020, 08:06 PM | #9 |
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Maitland, NSW, Australia
|
Re: Nitroglycerin invention date and TL
When James Cook set out in the Endeavour, one of his missions was to test a cabin full of different chronometers.
__________________
Compact Castles gives the gamer an instant portfolio of genuine, real-world castle floorplans to use in any historical, low-tech, or fantasy game setting. Last edited by DanHoward; 05-25-2020 at 08:09 PM. |
05-25-2020, 08:08 PM | #10 |
Join Date: Dec 2007
|
Re: Nitroglycerin invention date and TL
<shrug> If you want. But the reason it's classed as TL 6 is because more advanced explosives than gunpowder typify that TL. There is no particular problem with introducing early TL 6 technologies at the end of TL 5. It's how the transition happens.
|
Tags |
explosives, nitroglycerin, tech level |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|