Dragonstar Crusade

[jeff]

I've been thinking about converting FFG's old Dragonstar setting to C&C, but I'm stuck with how to establish whether or not a character has previous experience with high tech or not. I was thinking of doing something similar to Amazing Adventures where you can switch out class abilities with more generic abilities. Does anybody have any other ideas?

[Treebore]

No, its been ages since I've even looked at my Dragonstar books!

[Relaxo]

IIRC wasn't it something like assumed not until you gain a level while "in space"?
or was that just barbarians?

[tylermo]

I used to have one or two of the DS books. Now I'm telling myself I need them again. Ha ha

[Sir Ironside]

I used to have one or two of the DS books. Now I'm telling myself I need them again. Ha ha

This always happens to me when someone mentions; Everway.

[jeff]

I've come to the conclusion that instead of worrying whether or not a character can use the high-tech goodies, I'm just going to decide that all PC's, regardless of class, have been exposed to it enough to use it with at least a basic level of competence.

[DMSamuel]

Your conclusion makes sense.

I think of it like this: If you asked pretty much anyone over the age of 6 if they know what a saw is, they will say yes. If you ask someone to draw one they can do it. If you ask someone to use one they could make a good effort (i.e. they know which side is the sharp one that cuts). That is pretty basic knowledge for just about everyone. (I'm talking about a basic hand saw here)

If you ask someone what a table saw or electric miter saw is, they might know what that is, but there is a good chance they don;t know anything more than putting the words "electric" and "saw" together tells them. They may even be able to draw one for you, though that is not a given by any means. If you ask a random person to use one, they may or may not know how to use it, and the chances are they won't be very skilled at it.

The high tech stuff is like this: The most basic items will be like the hand saw (so maybe a laser pistol will be generally understood), but the really high tech stuff (computers and large complex machines) will be more like the power saw - people may have an idea about it, but no real way to understand how it is made or what it can do, though they may have a basic idea of its use.