Prototypes

[MasterGwydion]

So, in CSC, you can build prototype devices. How many prototype devices do you have to build before you can stop making them prototype devices?

 

[Terry Mixon]

So, in CSC, you can build prototype devices. How many prototype devices do you have to build before you can stop making them prototype devices?

Asks the mad scientist with his fabricator obsession.

 

[Geir]

So, in CSC, you can build prototype devices. How many prototype devices do you have to build before you can stop making them prototype devices?

You have to upgrade the whole world's tech level by one, at least in that category. No mechanism for that. Maybe another World Pocket Builders Empire Dynasty (WPBED ???) thing.

 

[Nelphine]

I'd probably do it on a case by case basis.

Compare the prototype device to the device it will replace. So if the original device is j1, and prototype is j2, then the prototype is 200% of the original device. A rifle is 133% of thr damage of a pistol, but range is way higher, so I arbitrarily weight something and call a rifle 150% of a pistol.

That percentage is the total you need to reach to make the prototype device without calling it prototype any more*.

For each prototype, if it works correctly, roll a skill check. The total effect is how much that device contributes to the amount you needed. So if you rolled a modified 13, that's an effect of 5, so you have 5/200 towards j2, or 5/150 towards a rifle.

*Need some kind of additional limit/rule based around increasing TL. Could keep it simple 'regardless of your total, you cannot build it as a normal device until your TL is high enough to do so.'

 

[Nelphine]

In theory, I'd want a different name for 'devices built after you have a proven prototype - meaning you have reached the total required - but before you have sufficient TL'.

Ideally, whatever that name is, would be the one that has the cost and disadvantages described in the book, while actual prototypes 'both prior to the total needed and insufficient TL' should actually have the cost of the prototype in the book but 1 extra disadvantage beyond what is described in the book.

 

[Arkathan]

The text uses prototype fairly interchangeably with prototech.
The prototech may be "mass produced" on a small scale (or even in a large factory) with cludged parts and a standardized set of quirks.
Short of a global tech level advance, IMTU, I'd require a factory (from the ground equivalent of High Guard 2022 construction modules) of the appropriate tech level for each material type needed: organic/metalurgy/composites/electronics/exotic crystals, and then another to put the pieces together.
Doing that eliminates the prototech status in my eyes, but your mileage may vary.
Purchasing base materials from a world of appropriate tech level negates the need for the processing factories in my game. So buying TL 14 metals and electronics allows a TL 11 world with a TL 13 mini factory to produce gauss rifles or pistols.

 

[Limpin Legin]

Yes, @Arkathan is correct. The TL supplied in the tables are for standard production. Under the prototech rule, a pre-production prototype can be made available up to 2 TLs earlier. So, it is nothing to do with *quantity*, it is due to the UWP TL levelling up.

 

[MasterGwydion]

I ended up using a variation of the rules for TL advancement in Pocket Empires. I started with a group of Terrans who left Earth shortly after the Jump Drive was discovered on Earth and set up a colony. I am currently 281 years after they left Earth as a TL-9 group with less than 9,000 people. They currently have about 800,000 people across 6 worlds, making an average of 60GCr per month (up from 230MCr per month at landing), and are still TL-9. I have about another 100 years until they reach TL-10.

 

[Nelphine]

That sounds like a really initial value (230 MCr per month for 9k people). I wouldn't have thought they'd make that much even in a year?

 

[Arkathan]

I ended up using a variation of the rules for TL advancement in Pocket Empires. I started with a group of Terrans who left Earth shortly after the Jump Drive was discovered on Earth and set up a colony. I am currently 281 years after they left Earth as a TL-9 group with less than 9,000 people. They currently have about 800,000 people across 6 worlds, making an average of 60GCr per month (up from 230MCr per month at landing), and are still TL-9. I have about another 100 years until they reach TL-10.

Don't ignore mixed TLs, since you are homebrewing anyway. Modern day earth is 7.5. "Moonshot" projects and "space race" booms can be used to advance certain technologies over others. So intense competition, dire need and an exceptionally large and directed stream of cash that isn't siphoned off by corrupt elements (looking at you Obama era Solyndra, California and Florida's High Speed Rail, et. al.).

 

[Arkathan]

That sounds like a really initial value (230 MCr per month for 9k people). I wouldn't have thought they'd make that much even in a year?

Factory modules, construction modules, mining robots and biosphere modules on a large colony ship give a new settlement a significant head start.

 

[MasterGwydion]

That sounds like a really initial value (230 MCr per month for 9k people). I wouldn't have thought they'd make that much even in a year?

Add in the 7,000 robotic laborers, 16 construction drones, and a mining drone, but they also have just over 3,500dtons of Manufacturing Plants. Also, My reading comprehension was bad. The actual amount per month initially was 14MCr. I looked at the wrong spot on My spreadsheet. lol.

 

[J. L. Brown]

I ended up using a variation of the rules for TL advancement in Pocket Empires. I started with a group of Terrans who left Earth shortly after the Jump Drive was discovered on Earth and set up a colony. I am currently 281 years after they left Earth as a TL-9 group with less than 9,000 people. They currently have about 800,000 people across 6 worlds, making an average of 60GCr per month (up from 230MCr per month at landing), and are still TL-9. I have about another 100 years until they reach TL-10.

That works out to about 1.6% growth in population per year; higher if you figure in replacement as well. Are you figuring ~4000000 people when they hit TL 10? There has also been an increase of ~50x in terms of productivity per month; which is quite impressive.

 

[MasterGwydion]

That works out to about 1.6% growth in population per year; higher if you figure in replacement as well. Are you figuring ~4000000 people when they hit TL 10? There has also been an increase of ~50x in terms of productivity per month; which is quite impressive.

I won't know how many people I will have when I hit TL-10 until I get there. Stupid spreadsheets! lol

I am at year 335 so far. The Capital will hit TL-10 on year 359.

After 335 years, on just the Capital, I am up to just over 1 million people, just over 7 utility droids, with a yearly income of just under 200GCr. I lose half that for research, 15.4GCr in salaries and robot maintenance, 8GCr for colony maintenance, and 2.5MCr for fleet maintenance. Giving the world a production GWP of roughly 79GCr. I have 5 other colonies in other systems.