Traveller and the 40k universe question

bsg1970

Mongoose
One of my players asked me what Tech Level the 40k Universe is, it seems that the Empire and space marines vary in TL, I couldn't answer because space ships use an astropath to navigate the warp, and it doesn't convert to traveller easily.
 
bsg1970 said:
One of my players asked me what Tech Level the 40k Universe is, it seems that the Empire and space marines vary in TL, I couldn't answer because space ships use an astropath to navigate the warp, and it doesn't convert to traveller easily.

:?

Oh wow. Uhmmmmm. Welll.

Okay, not sure this is going to work. In a lot of ways, its a magical universe; but, ignoring that aspect (wave psionics at it) the 40k universe kind of looks like a very low tech culture -say 1 or 2 - with access to some very high tech items, and the ability to maintain .....say up to tech 6 with specific emphasis on weapons. And scarey cybernetics..... 1970/80s technology, with ultra high tech intrusions ? Much of the higher tech stuff (grav and energy weapons) are created by super high tech fabbers from the lost age of science, right ? After the fall ? And .....maintained by rote by illiterate shamen ......and...technologically....elevated dictatorships....ummmm. Post Virus ? AHHHHHHHHH.......40k IS TNE WITH NO RECOVERY ! FAILING SAN CHECK NOW !!! ! Yog sothoth yog sothoth Ai ai ! y'melna ' p'w fayrar ! AIEEEEEEE!

Okay. brain hurt. "In the grim dark future there is only headhurt".....


[edited quote to be more 40kish.]
 
Imperial 40K has varied tech, because most planets have regressed, with some planets less than others.

Also, Traveller tech assumptions don't map evenly to 40K. Plasma and laser weaponry are quite common but gravitics are not. You really have to assess each technology seperately.

However, in general I'd rate them approximately:

Average Imperial planet TL1-10
Imperial Guard: TL9ish
Marines: TL12
Orks: TL6
Eldar: TL14ish
Tau: TL13
 
This Thrread from another foprum might be useful........

:D

http://darkreign40k.com/drjoomla/forum/warhammer_40000/technology_and_40kin_your_view._2326.0.html
 
Varies wildly. The other thing to bear in mind is that 40k tends to be even more extreme in its claims for the longevity of equipment than Traveller - ships, swords and body armour dating back four or five millenia are not uncommon, and some legacy items produced by humanity in the past are not far of traveller's ancient artefacts. The vortex grenade, for example, is essentially a pocket sized black globe generator.

Rinku's response is a pretty good one. Different areas of technology are more advanced, less advanced or almost totally absent.

Personal force fields, for example, are common enough that priests and officers of captain/colonel wear them almost as a badge of rank, built into some small jewelry.
 
Isn't the real question whether the Empire of Man in 40K is a Feudal Technocracy?
:wink:
 
locarno24 said:
Varies wildly. The other thing to bear in mind is that 40k tends to be even more extreme in its claims for the longevity of equipment than Traveller - ships, swords and body armour dating back four or five millenia are not uncommon, and some legacy items produced by humanity in the past are not far of traveller's ancient artefacts.

I always smile when i see the thousands of year old stuff used in battle every day.

Its like my old grandads axe, had ta replace the head twice and the shaft three times but its still me grandads old axe :D
 
Bense said:
Isn't the real question whether the Empire of Man in 40K is a Feudal Technocracy?
:wink:

I would have said it was a Feudal bureaucracy with a Theological Technocracy alongside it. Tech priests and Marine chapters have the faith and the tech, nobles and clerks run the civil structure.
 
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