TL
The Technology Level of the Planet/System in question.
Contents
Concept
Using Traveller as a guide,
(I'd estimate that present-day Earth is maybe TL7). |
| (Disembodied) |
From a discussion on the ability to show city lights on the night side of planets with Oolite v.1.90: note that Technology Level was inherited (unchanged) from Classic Elite, and that the Traveller RPG was one of the influences on its creation.
Significance
TL, politics & economy
Generally speaking, in the Vanilla game, the highest TL systems tend to be highly industrialised corporate states. The lowest TL systems tend to be poor agricultural anarchies.
Politics
Of the 10 systems with TL13+ some 6 are corporate states (1 democracy, 2 confederacies, 1 communist). Of the 11 systems with TL2 or less, 6 are anarchies, 4 feudal & 1 multi-government. See Oolite planet list/Galaxy 1 for some helpful tables.
The extremes. The only system with a TL of 15, Ceesxe, a corporate rich industrial state inhabited by avians, is located towards the middle of the top edge of Galaxy 1. There are two anarchies with a TL of 1, both being poor agricultural economies. Maesin is almost directly opposite Ceesxe, on the bottom edge of the map (populated by rodents). Qudira is in the top right hand corner (populated by human colonials).
Economics
The very lowest TL systems are all poor agricultural. The lowest mixed economies (mainly agricultural/mainly agricultural) have TLs of 5. The lowest industrials have a TL of 6.
The very highest TL systems are all rich industrials. The highest TL purely agricultural systems only manage a 9!
OXPs
This can, of course, be upended by such OXPs as Famous Planets which relabels Sori as Ascension, a new TL16 anarchy in the bottom right-hand corner of Galaxy 1!
Equipment available
In-game, TL determines what you can purchase at your local Orbital Station shipyard on the F3 page (ship outfitting).
| Equipment | Function | Tech Level | Price (₢) | In BBC Elite? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel | Propulsive | 1 | varies | yes |
| Missile | Offensive | 2 | 30 | yes |
| Cargo Bay Expansion | Mercantile | 2 | 400 | yes |
| E.C.M. System | Defensive | 3 | 600 | yes |
| Pulse Laser | Offensive | 4 | 400 | yes |
| Beam Laser | Offensive | 5 | 1,000 | yes |
| External Heat Shielding | Astrogatory | 5 | 1,500 | no |
| Fuel Scoops | various | 6 | 525 | yes |
| Multi-Targeting System | Offensive | 6 | 325 | no |
| Passenger Berth | Mercantile | 6 | 825 | no |
| Advanced Navigational Array | Astrogatory | 7 | 2,250 | no |
| Advanced Space Compass | Astrogatory | 8 | 650 | no |
| Escape Pod | Defensive | 7 | 1,000 | yes |
| Maintenance Overhaul | Maintenance | 7 | varies | no |
| Quirium Cascade Mine | Offensive | 7 | 2,500 | no |
| Extra Energy Unit | Defensive | 9 | 1,500 | yes |
| Target System Memory Expansion | Offensive | 9 | 1,250 | no |
| Docking Computers | Astrogatory | 10 | 1,500 | yes |
| ECM Hardened Missile | Offensive | 10 | 350 | no |
| Wormhole Scanner | Astrogatory | 10 | 2,395 | no |
| Galactic Hyperdrive | Propulsive | 11 | 5,000 | yes |
| Military Laser | Offensive | 11 | 6,000 | yes |
| Mining Laser | Mercantile | 11 | 800 | yes |
| Shield Boosters | Defensive | 11 | 14,750 | no |
| Witchdrive Fuel Injectors | Propulsive | 11 | 600 | no |
| Scanner Targeting Enhancement | Offensive | 12 | 450 | no |
| Integrated Targeting System | Offensive | 12 | 1,500 | no |
| Military Shield Enhancement | Defensive | 14 | 47,550 | no |
| Naval Energy Unit | Defensive | ?? | ?? | no |
So, for example, Military Shield Enhancement is purchasable only at one of the systems with TL 14 or 15 in Galaxy 1 (there are just 5 of them).
Note on Maintenance
While the cost of Maintenance is not affected by TL, the higher the TL of the system, the longer the maintenance lasts.
OXP additions
OXPs for equipment & weapons will add to this list, of course. As will a few others such as Vimana HUD & GalCop Missions ... Note that some OXPs shorten the list - most noticeably Weapon Laws which will remove weapons from the list depending on the political complexion of the system.
Note also that OXP shipyards can be a little different - especially those on visiting ships such as a naval Behemoth.
Commodities available
There is no change in the Vanilla game to whether you can buy computers at a TL1 industrial system!
SW Economy
But there is in SW Economy: Agricultural Economies & TL
- Low TL and small planet size means no food/textiles/wine/furs
- Oxygen needs moderate TL for production
- Medicine needs high TL for production
Industrial Economies & TL
- Alloys need moderate TL for production
- Machinery needs moderate TL for production
- Computers need high TL for production
- Luxuries need high TL for production
- Low TL means no machinery, alloys, computers or luxuries for sale
- Moderate TL means no computers or luxuries for sale
