On 29 Nov 2017 at 15:07, Timothy Collinson wrote:

> On 29 November 2017 at 14:23, (via tml list) <xxxxxx@simplelists.com>
> wrote:

>     Well, given that TL6 (at least according to the first reference I
>     grabbed) is 1940s to 1960s, they could do most of it with native
>     tech. Some comm gear and computer gear would be imported, and the
>     propulsion systems on the shuttles would also likely be imported,
>     but other than seeming "overbuilt" by higher TL standards, I
>     wouldn't expect it to be that different from many/most orbital
>     stations.
>
>     But there'd definitely be enough difference for local color.
>     Customs might be using scantron type forms for example. Easy to
>     fill out, and easy to feed to the (local) computer systems.
>
>     And it's always a good idea to reserve imported tech for stuff you
>     can do without or stuff that you *can't* do with local tech (and
>     you'd be surprised at the things you *can* do with local tech if
>     they know about the higher TL methods)
>
>
> oooh, good thoughts - I'll save them for when they're heading out -
> assuming they survive the next session!
>
> (I did think of having Kirk era "tablets" for them to sign off on when
> they weren't resorting to paper)

Yeah, if you stop and think about what tech from various eras was
capable of, and then contrast that with what they had *knowledge* of,
you can get some fun "local color" stuff.

Silly example, If you told them *how* the Romans would have been
perfectly capable of creating radio transmitters and recevers. Tube
based or even the older alternator based setups.

Low TL6 or TL5 installations might be riveted together like an old
steamship. And so on.

So the station will probably have gear that can read high TL IDs and
data units. Thety need that to handle visitors and cargos. But they
may convert some of that data to punch cards and paper tape. Hard
copy, machine readable copies are a good thing. :-)

So, for example, if they have outgoing cargo, they may have a stack
of punch cards to hand over to the cusoms inspector while using a TL
15 or higher gizmo to read their IDs and "ships papers".

And get asked for a memory card (or whatever the equivalent is at
their ship's TL) for the customs officer to copy the data to. And
still get handed back punchcards as well (just in case they need to
come back about something).

Oh god, now I'm picturing a really low TL port where they still use
clay tablets, but picked up the idea of movable type. Slide the
relevant "slugs" of type into the right places on the form master,
Including things like the seal for the merchant and one for the ship
(small fee to get one made when you arrive) and then embossing it
into the damp clay slabs for however many copies are needed. and the
slabs go into an oven to dry. Then you get handed your *reall* hard
copy. :-)

--
Leonard Erickson (aka shadow)
shadow at shadowgard dot com