Looking to Understand Tech Stages and Alternative Tech Levels when designing some basic tramp traders at different TLs
IDENTIFYING SPACE WEAPONS Book 2 - pg 155 -
Stage (or TL) is the weapon’s position in the spectrum of sophistication in the developmental life cycle.
For example, Advanced, or Prototype.
It amplifies the specific TL of the weapon. It is possible for Stage to be blank (primarily if Stage is Standard).
WEAPONS AND WEAPONS EFFECTS Book 2 - pg 157 -
Base Tech Level. The Base Tech Levels shown in various tables are for the Standard model.
Tech Level Stages can be produced based on this Standard Tech Level.
Alternative Tech Levels. It is possible to produce any weapon in a different (higher) Standard Tech Level, and to construct Tech Stages based on that different TL.
In effect, any Weapon TL can be arbitrarily increased with no changes to costs, tonnage, or mods. The only change is TL and its participation in the Weapons Task.
The base Tech level of a Beam Laser is Base TL= 10 and a cost of MCr0.5 Mod +2 Book 2 -pg 158 -
Standard Beam Laser TL= 10
With Tech Stages Book 2 - pg 58 - we can have an Advanced Beam Laser TL= 13 and a cost of MCr1.5 Mod +5 (+3 from stage)
but with Alternative Tech Levels we can have a Beam Laser TL=13 and a cost of MCr0.5 Mod +2
or
Beam Laser TL=15 and a cost of MCr0.5 Mod +2
THE DEFENSIVE FIRE TASK Book 2 - pg 196 - the TL of the laser comes into effect.
Therefore, the Beam Laser TL=15 has the safe effectiveness as the Advanced Beam Laser TL= 13 if in the same mount, only difference being the cost
Is the reason for the Alternative Tech Levels to represent purchasing from Different TL shipyards which is then further modified by Stage?
Appendix 5 Building Ship Devices Book 2 - pg 278 -
Reads like we just use the base TL
A Beam Laser is a Tl=10 technology
This seems to align with the Book 3 Makers were things have a base tech then modified.
A standard Medium Shotgun is always TL=4 and there isn't a standard Medium Shotgun TL=8
This seems to align with TECH LEVEL STAGES Book 2 - pg 225 -
A Technology has a base TL which is at the Standard stage and TL shifts are by Stage.
This suggests Alternative Tech Levels is space weapons only
Or are there Alternative Tech Levels for things other than Space weapons?
Can there be a standard Medium Shotgun TL=8 even if there does not seem to be a difference between a Standard Medium Shotgun TL=8 and a Standard Medium Shotgun TL-4
Thanks in advance
IDENTIFYING SPACE WEAPONS Book 2 - pg 155 -
Stage (or TL) is the weapon’s position in the spectrum of sophistication in the developmental life cycle.
For example, Advanced, or Prototype.
It amplifies the specific TL of the weapon. It is possible for Stage to be blank (primarily if Stage is Standard).
WEAPONS AND WEAPONS EFFECTS Book 2 - pg 157 -
Base Tech Level. The Base Tech Levels shown in various tables are for the Standard model.
Tech Level Stages can be produced based on this Standard Tech Level.
Alternative Tech Levels. It is possible to produce any weapon in a different (higher) Standard Tech Level, and to construct Tech Stages based on that different TL.
In effect, any Weapon TL can be arbitrarily increased with no changes to costs, tonnage, or mods. The only change is TL and its participation in the Weapons Task.
The base Tech level of a Beam Laser is Base TL= 10 and a cost of MCr0.5 Mod +2 Book 2 -pg 158 -
Standard Beam Laser TL= 10
With Tech Stages Book 2 - pg 58 - we can have an Advanced Beam Laser TL= 13 and a cost of MCr1.5 Mod +5 (+3 from stage)
but with Alternative Tech Levels we can have a Beam Laser TL=13 and a cost of MCr0.5 Mod +2
or
Beam Laser TL=15 and a cost of MCr0.5 Mod +2
THE DEFENSIVE FIRE TASK Book 2 - pg 196 - the TL of the laser comes into effect.
Therefore, the Beam Laser TL=15 has the safe effectiveness as the Advanced Beam Laser TL= 13 if in the same mount, only difference being the cost
Is the reason for the Alternative Tech Levels to represent purchasing from Different TL shipyards which is then further modified by Stage?
Appendix 5 Building Ship Devices Book 2 - pg 278 -
Reads like we just use the base TL
A Beam Laser is a Tl=10 technology
This seems to align with the Book 3 Makers were things have a base tech then modified.
A standard Medium Shotgun is always TL=4 and there isn't a standard Medium Shotgun TL=8
This seems to align with TECH LEVEL STAGES Book 2 - pg 225 -
A Technology has a base TL which is at the Standard stage and TL shifts are by Stage.
This suggests Alternative Tech Levels is space weapons only
Or are there Alternative Tech Levels for things other than Space weapons?
Can there be a standard Medium Shotgun TL=8 even if there does not seem to be a difference between a Standard Medium Shotgun TL=8 and a Standard Medium Shotgun TL-4
Thanks in advance
