results of research??

[trader jim]

why hasent imperial research stations released any thing really new to Classic Traveller, why couldnt we use the results of the research to upgrade our computer systems and robotics, do they also do weapons research????....It seems to me we havent used them very well...any agreement or dis agreement??? Lets here from you all!!

 

[Flynn]

I would have assumed that some of the TL15 items that are now part of the recent upgrade in 3I warships from TL14 to TL15 were the result of Imperial research conducted at such a station.

I also imagine that the work being done in these stations takes probably 10-20 years to filter down into new products, as they are implemented into designs, tested, and then mass-manufactured.

Reading over the old TAS entries from the CT era, you can probably find a number of mentions regarding experimental ships, etc. In DGP's Grand Census and MT, the increasing presence of neural sensors and neural weapons indicate that such work has entered the mainstream.

It's a slow process, and not readily visible, nor do I feel that it should be. These things take time, and we typically only look at a small slice of the timeline, so we don't get to see frequent additions and updates. Sadly, Imperial research doesn't all get released every ten years at some "Imperial Technological Advances Parade," probably for security reasons.

You can see the overall impact of such releases when you look at a bigger swath of the timeline. Consider the Imperial average TL 14 of T20's primary Gateway Domain era, compared to TL 15 of the CT/MT era. Hope this helps...

My two Credits, anyway,
Flynn

 

[TKalbfus]

Also what happens to the setting if some Imperial Reseach scientist invents "Flubber".
How about a new drug that turns the user into a "Monster"?
Someone could invent a can of invisible paint that turns everything painted invisible.
Some enterprising scientist could invent a "mind transference device".
Another bit of scientific silliness would be the "Shrink ray" and the "Growth ray", would you like these things to enter your Traveller campaign?

 

[sandman]

er...


My Emperor's not named Disney, so I think I'll pass

 

[Flynn]

As for the drug that turns someone into a monster, check out the CT adventure "Death Station".

At least it's easy to see where watching all those movies with the kids (or as kids, as the case may be) doesn't go entirely to waste, but serves as an adventure idea resource.

Enjoy,
Flynn

 

[Zutroi]

I've always thought the biggest limitation on the introduction of new tech to the Imperium is the size of it. An example:

Weaps: "Captain, we just burned out that new Corbomite shield generator with that last hit, but at least it made those Zhodani scum pay for that last shot with their lives!"

Captain: "Fine, we'll get it repaired at the Depot on Fussbudget IX"

Weaps: "Unfortunately the designs haven't been sent out this far yet, it'll have to wait until we return from this patrol..."

A newly thought-up TL12 item might be irreplaceable on a TL15 world, if they don't have the plans to do the repairs.

 

[TKalbfus]

New tech alters the balance if it becomes widely available. What happens if someone invents Jump 7 for instance? I think "Freeze Rays" might actually be possible since there is evidence for Dark Energy in the Universe. A coherent beam of dark energy fired from a gun. The dark energy beam is composed of photons that carry negative amounts of energy. When the beam hits a target it creates a dark shadow like spot on the point where it hits and reduces the thermal energy causing the target to freeze. A Dark energy grenade causes an implosion of the matter around it and causes it to freeze up to a certain distance. I guess you could call this comic book science. Shrink rays are less plausible, but perhaps combined with a dark energy laser it could reduce both the mass and size of the target by reducing the number of atoms in its make up proportionally, or perhaps by causing the atoms themselves to shrink in size and mass. This would involve a field that locally altered the laws of physics around the target to allow smaller atoms.

 

[vegascat]

Think how the new high tech stuff is released around here.
In Las Vegas we have the CES (Consumer Electronics Show). This is where all the companies come that have a new toy/gadget that has batteries or can be plugged in. Some of the stuff is in the stores within a month, most of the items are never seen again. Most items are refinements of existing items. A very small percentage are actually revolutionary concepts packaged as something new. The next year you will see dozens of refinements from many companies to make it more marketable.
Now think how this would happen on a scale te sixe of the Imperium. Consider the spies, corporate and governmental involved in such a show.
Hmmm, sounds like a few more ways to get PCs into more trouble.

 

[vegascat]

Think how the new high tech stuff is released around here.
In Las Vegas we have the CES (Consumer Electronics Show). This is where all the companies come that have a new toy/gadget that has batteries or can be plugged in. Some of the stuff is in the stores within a month, most of the items are never seen again. Most items are refinements of existing items. A very small percentage are actually revolutionary concepts packaged as something new. The next year you will see dozens of refinements from many companies to make it more marketable.
Now think how this would happen on a scale te sixe of the Imperium. Consider the spies, corporate and governmental involved in such a show.
Hmmm, sounds like a few more ways to get PCs into more trouble.

 

[vegascat]

Tech level advancews with military applications will be handled very differently than consumer products.
Think of the Paris Air Show. Spies, Generals, Corporate salesmen, Kids, Reporters, and a few terrorists. You can see what the latest stuff looks like, but not any details on how it operates or functions.
Any items sold to other governments will be a stripped out version of what the sells military uses.

 

[vegascat]

Integrating new tech into the military.

Think how long the B1, B2 and F117 took from production concept to battle field use. The F22 will take even longer. Compair to weapon systems in WWII. Tanks were 45 days from the drawing board to rolling off the assembly line. This time lag grew with advances and complexities in the systems.
The B1 was on the production line in the late 70s. It was not used in combat until Bosnia a few years ago.
The F117 was concieved in the mid70s, built and tested in secrecy in the 80s. Used in combat in Desert Storm in 1991. 12 years later, all pertinate facts are still treated with top security.
The B2 has a similar time line, about 20 years from concept to battlefield use.
The F22 is being tried at Nellis AFB now. The cost per unit will prohibit it's use in combat until it has been thouroughly played with, say another 5 to 10 years.
Translate this to Imperial scale with higher complexities, costs, distances, and the Vilani outlook on new tech and I must wonder how any advances are made at all.