In TML Msg. No. 7193, [email removed] writes:
(about worlds in "Spinward Marches" or whatever it's called now....)
>>noticed several high-tech worlds in the sector
>>data, including a couple TL16 worlds. Since the stats were dated
>>1120, those worlds are bound to be even further advanced by the
>>turn of the century!
>
>And what of the trade that fed these worlds that kept them as hi-tech?
>The trade cut off due to the Rebellion and Hard Times? Like
>stopsville? As these places lost their markets (no one to sell to),
>their economy declines. Like lose a couple tech levels?
Actually, not in the Regency. If you look at the data for Regina
subsector in the TNE rulebook, and compare it to older sector data,
you may notice that tech levels in the area have been *increasing*
since 1105. As I recall, in 1201 Regina/Regina is tech 13, but in
1105 I think it was only tech 10. I think during the Rebellion-era
it was about tech 12, according to the sector data. And no, it isn't
the only world in the area to go up. (Also note that they've been
expanding the old X-boat network to run along the border with the
Extents.)
It seems to me that the Spinward Marches economy was primarily geared
to trade "behind the claw" (i.e. internal to the Regency) even before
the Rebellion. The area was one of the Imperium's primary commercial
regions to begin with, partly due to the continuing development of the
area, and partly due to the fact that the Windhorn-Great Rift corridor
makes long-range traffic with the main body of the Imperium so time-
consuming. After the closing of Corridor, the worlds in the area
had to re-tool to pick up the slack of the few industrial materials they
needed that come from the Domain of Vland or further away.
The text in the TNE rulebook says that the Regency economy is
"overheating". This suggests that the main problem the Regency
is facing economically is not lack of production or technical
development, but rising inflation rates. You might have to pay
higher interest on a new Far Trader loan because of that, so
some traders would put off the purchase for a while...you can see
how that might begin to stagnate the Regency economy, even though
it is *incredibly* healthy by standards of the Wilds.
I think that there are a number of worlds which conceivably might
have achieved TL16 since the Rebellion. Mora is a candidate, as
capital and commercial hub of the Regency. Some of the older
worlds near the Regency hub in Deneb may also fit. High population
worlds at TL15, starport A, and near Mora or another major commercial
region, and on an X-boat route, would be places to expect it.
(By the way, people might ask why the Regency hasn't been expanding
heavily into Foreven. Well, the Zhodani provincial capital for the
Regency area is in Foreven (roughly equivalent to a domain capital --
this is where the government on Chronor gets its orders from!)
Most likely, they consider the sector as part of their "sphere of
influence" and dislike rival governments meddling in local affairs,
even though they only control a third of the sector. Remember,
it was Imperial-sponsored colonization in the area in the 500s that
triggered the First Frontier War! This is another good reason
besides the drain on resources due to anti-Virus patrols why the
Regency hasn't been growing quickly to spinward. Neither the
Zhodani nor the Regency want to get in a war over something which
isn't a high priority for either government.)
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Steve Bonneville | "Beware the tablespoon my son,
| The teeth that bite, the Claus that catch,
[email removed] | Beware the Subjects bird, and shred
| The serious Bandwidth!"
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