Good Comments, Bart. (Bart Massey and his long-ish analysis of
why ahd how computer TL could or couldn't fall.) I feel, however
that any time you have a system set up where the speed of
communication is limited to the speed of locomotion, you have an
anarchy brewing. Again at any TL.
That is, it is *MUCH* easier to justify total collapse of the
Empire because of the sheer physical limits of information transfer.
The economics brining it forth seem fairly elementary and obvious.
No intergalactic computer breakdown is needed.
However (and this is a BIG "but") I think that out here are many of
us who might actually enjoy playing an RPG set in a universe where
there is a fairly consistent, fairly high TL. Consider the "Star
Wars" RPG as an example. Destroying the Empire would have a cooling,
though not chilling, effect on our playing. Please leave us a place
in the universe to play.
One final nit-pick. It's about the "TL7 Architectural Flaw" of
using Al rather than Fe for the major component of materials for
bridges of warships. It's not actually being replaced. It isn't
really a flaw. Aluminum is lighter and cheaper than Iron. Its
use enables more and better fire control and anti-missile defense.
Its use enables the ship to be faster and more maneuverable.
And this design flaw was never employed universally.
The flaw noted was was that some ships were not designed to
contain fires. The Al alloys used in the Sheffield class
were themselves flammable. The correction being employed is
to provide better compartmentalization, better fire resistance in
the alloys, and rework of through-bulkhead runs (cables, pipes, etc.).
Then there is also the doctrinal flaw of switching off your fire
control radar when you suspect incoming terminally-guided missiles...
=======
Please continue to keep us up-to-date on the design changes, and
we'll continue to whine and bitch until we see the new boxes. :=)
- --
Richard Johnson [email removed]
Sue Congress!