RE: Tech Advances & others

>Didn't GDW have a game called "Dinosaurs and Cadillacs", or something similar?
>If so, it is probably about to get re-launched in the wake of "Jurassic Park".
>:-)

Yes and I wish they would hurry up and release the movie out here in OZ
before they run "The Making of Jurasic Park"; it really ruins the movie
when it finally arrives 8^{.

I've heard we won't be getting it until September !!!   Ahhhhhhhhh !!!

So nobody dare tell me about it before I see it !!

>What I had originally envisioned was the categories would be exhaustive
>for tech-as-we-know-it.  Then extrapolated technology (fusion power,
>anti-grav, etc.) could be represented as consisting of the various
>constituent categories.  For example, fusion power would require a
>certain level of PHYSICS and a certain level of ENGINEERING.  Societies
>that had the requisite levels could have fusion, and societies with
>greater levels could have fusion plants which were cheaper, smaller,
>and more efficient.

Hmmm.  How about organic computers.  What about a society totally geared
to a biological technology.  Trees grown to be living houses.  Cold fusion.

I read a book a long time ago (oh no I hear you say ... suffer!) where
technology took a different path.  There was a simple law of physics that
if seen would lead on to anti-grav and space flight but precluded all
electrical type technology as we know it today.  If you took the path to
electricity then the other path disappers as "not cost effective" etc.
eventually you reach the "electricity" dead end and everyone's forgotten about
the other technology path.

>Well actually, wouldn't it be useful for Traveller to have some sort of
>rule-of-thumb for how an increase in TL affects price, size, and
>efficiency/effectiveness?  For example, how a Rhylanor-produced gauss
>rifle (TL15) is "better" than one produced on Regina (TL12).

Yes. Yes. Yes.  What's missing in Traveller (and most) RPGs are the various
manufacturer ratings.  Why is a 9mm revolver bought from planet A better
than one bought from planet B.  Tech level?  Cost?  Reliability doesn't
appear to be a factor in Traveller.  How many times has your gun jammed
in a fire fight?  When did a mate of yours suddenly discover that a generic
brand grav-belt has a lower MTBF.  Can you get amunition for that 10.5mm
revolver you bought back on planet K.


Bruce...        [email removed]