Banestorm and TL5

[Onkl]

Hi all

I've a question regarding Techlevel and "New Inventions" in general and TL5 in a Banestorm campaign in particular.

To explain my problem properly, I'll have to go into more detail. I'm familiar with the rules regarding new inventions and also the rules for Tech Level Modifiers (B168). Now in a campaign with TL3, if a PC with the Smith/TL3(Iron) and Armoury/TL3 wants to make a shortsword (TL2) I would tell him to roll against the above skill with a -1 modifier for diverging TLs. Is this correct? Or would he have to make a "New Invention" an create a shortsword this way? The latter sounds very strange to me, as a smith should know how to forge a blade from a lower techlevel. Also, as a sword like this will be in general use every day, it's not a new invention, right?

So, this brings me to my second question: If you create a PC with the High TL Advantage, do you have knowledge of everything that comes with the higher Techlevel you paid for? Eg. Campaign TL is 3, PC has two levels of High TL - could the PC make a steam powered engine without going through the whole "New Invention" stuff? Would seem logical to me, as he has already paid for the higher tech level and on TL5, the engineering of a steam powered engine shoudln't pose a problem for a skilled engineer. I am aware of the difference in complexity from a short sword to a steam powered engine, but still... hasn't the PC already paid to be able to do this with his High TL advantage?

So to my final question: We play a Banestorm Campaign in which one of the PCs is an Underground Engineer with "High TL 2" (TL5). On BS30 there is a box in which TL5 on Yrth is described, they say that a small cell "may be able to create simple TL5 devices such as steam engines and electrical generators."

So, if he PC wants to create a steam engine, will he have to use the "New Inventions" rule or will he be able - having access to the necessary resources - to "just" build it?

Thanks for your help

Onkl