On Wed, Feb 17, 2016 at 10:52:54AM +1100, Greg Chalik wrote:
> DON'T SAY ANYTHING THAT ISN'T CONTRIBUITING TO THE DISCUSSION.

This is not contributing to the discussion.

Back on topic, I agree that Traveller's technology is not really very
much more advanced than our own in many ways.  What's more, the
technology that is presented does not appear to be employed in many of
the ways that one might expect.  I expect that much of this may be to
avoid creating a "protagonist" culture that is too alien for players
to relate with.

Certainly the Imperium's social restrictions against life extension,
psi, and avoidance of automation appear to fall very deliberately in
that category.  Much of the rest appears to be explained as "Vilani
conservatism", though that doesn't really explain why other cultures
haven't surpassed the Imperium long ago.

Or ... perhaps one of the state secrets is that they actually have,
and the Imperium is surrounded by cultures who mostly play along.
This doesn't stand up to very much scrutiny, but I think some elements
of it could make an interesting scenario.

- Tim