In my experiments with Traveller, I have also tried changing the
tech level with different mods for government than those
published by GDW. The table I eventually settled on is as
follows:
MegaT gov code DM
-------------- --
0 +0
1 +3
2 +2
3 +0
4 +1
5 +2
6 -2
7 See Note
8 -1
9 -1
A +0
B -1
C +0
D -3
E -5
F -4
Note: For balkanized worlds, generate the national governments of
interest, and use <my other table, which factors in espionage> to
generate gov't TL modifier. (see Note to Note)
Note to Note: The other table mentioned here is essentially
identical, except that because of intelligence-gathering
activities, negative DMs are moved one notch closer to 0 (i.e. a
-1 becomes a 0, -2 becomes -1, and so on.)
Rationale: +0 modifiers - When there is no formal government
structure, any new technology developed is
unprotected, save by individual effort. In this
event, even if the technology is developed, it
will be slow to be released, because of concerns
of the developer profiting from it (i.e. the
developer wants to; others may be more willing to
steal the technology than buy it).
In a benign oligarchy, or a charismatic
dictatorship, it is less likely that those in
power will hear about good ideas that are not
developed within the governmental structure, thus
reducing the chance of advancement. Such a
government, however, will not necessarily _reject_
an idea if it hears about it.
+ modifiers - A company has the utmost interest in
development of technology that will allow them to
achieve higher return on investment. Ideas will
be actively sought after, and explored for their
profit-making potential.
Democracies have a high level of personal freedom
and will tend to allow ideas to percolate around
without interference. Coupled with laws
protecting intellectual property, and the fact
that the government will generally be pretty busy
trying to prostitute itself to the special
interests acting in the name of "the people,"
there will probably be significant opportunity for
ideas to be pursued despite theoretical
restrictions on the use of government funds. The
less a government has to deal directly with the
people, the more it will be able to direct
research, thus the lower DM for a rep. democracy
vs. a parcip. democracy.
- modifiers - The fundamental obstacles to
technological progress in these governments are
multiple: insularity from people outside the
government, doctrinaire educational policies,
rewarding of conformity over individual
initiative, personal paranoia (in the case of
dictatorships), conservatism (including but not
limited to religious orthodoxy and extremism)...
All of these combine, to varying degrees, and
result in an inability to develop ideas once they
are presented, and a further reluctance for
individuals to present their ideas for fear of
being condemned or persecuted for them (recall
Nazi Germany's attitude towards "Jewish Physics").
Note that these are only guidelines; fiddle with them to suit
your needs. Some of the factors cited for negative DMs might be
at work in governments that have positive DMs, and vice-versa.
(Continued to next message)
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