Tech
The Tech Level of a Character can act similar to a Rank Dependent Skill and represents the Characters general education and understanding over the universe and there place in it. The different Tech categories are the Tech Levels explained in the Tech Level and Civ Progress page.
Editing Character Sheet: This is located on the first page near the top just above the 'SKILLS' section and below the 'PASS. PERCEPTION' box.
For a quick review the levels are -1 through 4 and they represent the different scientific knowledges and advancements necessary to advance civilizations into the cosmos.
Items in Future Path will be categorized by Tech level. A Character will be given a Tech level at creation that is based on there Species. The Character by defaults inherits the Tech level of the Civilization he is associated with. However there are exceptions to this rule you will have to read up on those during Character creation.
The Tech Skill level determines at what Tech level a Character can craft and repair in. A Character can attempt to repair an item of one higher tech level but must take disadvantage on the Craft Repair check. Any higher then one above the tech level and the Character cannot even attempt a repair. The Character can repair and craft any item of the same or lower tech level.
To improve the Tech Level of your Character you most sacrifice an Ability Bonus when the Character levels up to 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th or 20th. The Ability bonus can be instead used on Tech Level instead. It only improves the Tech Level by one. The Character can to this every time they gain an Ability Bonus until they are at Tech Level 4 the maximum level achievable unless special rules say otherwise.
Identify Technology
The Tech Level can also act like a Skill. More specifically the Knowledge (Technology) skill. Normally a Character can use Knowledge Technology to attempt to identify technological items correctly. However Knowledge skills are unnatural and thus cannot be used until trained and already in the modern world technology is a major part of everyday life. People utilize technology even without knowledge or education regarding the device but they can tell you what it does.. just now how it does it. All Characters have a Tech Level and all Characters can attempt to identify the technology even without Knowledge (Technology). However if they do not have the Knowledge (Technology) skill then they can only successfully identify technology that is within or below there Tech Level regardless of how successful the role was.
Tech Level cannot completely replace the Knowledge (Technology) skill. They cannot use there Tech Level to determine how the technology works. They cannot use the skill to help predict what the out come of a particular action will be when using the technology. They can only use it to identify what the technological item does.
Tech Level acts like a Trained Knowledge (Technology) skill with zero ranks for only the use of identifying objects that are at or below the Character's Tech Level.
Check
The DCs for identifying technological items vary depending on the type of information required:
Identifying a starship by its hull and configuration, identifying a mecha by its superstructure, or identifying a robot by its frame: DC 10.
Determining the function or purpose of a particular mechanical system or cybernetic attachment: DC 15.
Recalling the standard, factory-model design specs of a particular type or class of starship, mecha, or robot: DC 20.
When confronted with an unfamiliar piece of technology or alien artifact, you can make a Knowledge (technology) check to correctly surmise the primary (if not singular) purpose of the device. A successful check result does not enable you to activate the item, nor does it make you proficient with the item. The DC of the Knowledge (technology) check depends on the item being identified and the difference in Progress Level, as shown below:
| Unfamiliar Item | DC |
|---|---|
| Basic tool or instrument | 10 |
| Robotic or vehicular component | 15 |
| Cybernetic attachment | 20 |
| Alien weapon or nanotechnology | 25 |
| Alien artifact | 30 |
| Each step in Progress Level (up or down) | 5 |