Question about tech levels and traveling there

[tneva82]

Just something I noticed when generating sub-sector. Tech levels are generally low(pre-stellar) but nonetheless there is almost always star base. Two questions:

1) If planet doesn't have stellar technology...Who has put star base there?
2) If planet doesn't have pre-stellar technology how does they view on visitors from stars? Sort of hard to explain what I'm after but they ARE aware that they aren't from that world? Wouldn't such interaction end up increasing planets tech level?

Just trying to figure out how to deal with very low tech levels within storyarc. Is planet still open for visits etc even if planet itself doesn't have needed tech level to travel stars? I suppose star base has been made by off worlders then?

Can't wait to be able to read some background information on traveler :-/

Edit: Oh and what's up with populations? Seems average is pretty low and 9+ very, very hard to get. But then again...I don't see any DM's for it? Just 2d6-2? What's the point of putting 11 and 12 to table if you can't reach them?

 

[JRMapes]

Just something I noticed when generating sub-sector. Tech levels are generally low(pre-stellar) but nonetheless there is almost always star base. Two questions:

1) If planet doesn't have stellar technology...Who has put star base there?

The Starport could be in orbit or planet side - the world does know about it (might even have built it) but they choose to live at the given tech level - or - they are in the process of building up the world and the current Tech Level given is where they are at in development with the rest of the world. Obviously the starport would be one of the first necessities so much of it came pre-contstucted at the needed tech level.


Maybe the world is Tech level "X" but it was found to be a perfect location for a military outpost for some group, that post grew into a full blown starport but it is restricted area (imagine Guantanamo with a couple hotels and a U.S. owned international airport)

Maybe the the world was approached by a mega-Corp and it is leasing land there for a nice port and getaway spot for TRavellers. The native people still live at their tech level out of choice or they are slowing progressing ...

In other words, play with it.

2) If planet doesn't have pre-stellar technology how does they view on visitors from stars? Sort of hard to explain what I'm after but they ARE aware that they aren't from that world? Wouldn't such interaction end up increasing planets tech level?

Depends on again if the tech level is by choice or by natural progression.
By choice they would obviously know about Travellers.
Natural Progression may not know yet about spacemen.

Increase of tech level would depend on the amount of interaction and new trade made between the newcomers from space and the native inhabitants.

Edit: Oh and what's up with populations? Seems average is pretty low and 9+ very, very hard to get. But then again...I don't see any DM's for it? Just 2d6-2? What's the point of putting 11 and 12 to table if you can't reach them?

Sorry no idea, I haven't read thru all of the MG-T material yet.

Jerry

 

[pasuuli]

Population: codes 11 and 12 are placed by GM fiat.

Starport: lots of possibilities of who, what, where, why, when, and how. A low tech world with a fascist government may resent the presence of a starport and are biding their time... or they're trying to appear pro-interstellar trade in order to build up a conquest fleet... or they know they're over the barrel technologically and have to toady up... A completely relaxed government on the other hand will either just let the starport be built by whoever (or the highest bidder) or may not even know about it if the population is relatively small and rural... but a small population probably means they're working in the mines for The Man...

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

A new colony world might have a Starport C, but be relatively low Tech Level due to lack of infrastructure and industry.

A farming world will have a decent starport for exports, but may not make Gravitic Vehicles because they don't need them, resulting in TL 8 or lower.

A mining world that imports all of it's technology and the workers live at the company's pleasure, at a relatively low TL. There is high technolgy, and the workers use it, but it is all imported and they don't LIVE that way. Think of the Mudders on Firefly.