n7axw wrote:I hate to be the party pooper.... but my impression is that for now, the ceiling has probably been reached.
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The elbow room you have so far is that along with updating industry to steam, you can educate. The royal college is a start. Multiply the number of colleges to educate in the scientific method There is a danger that once this sort of knowledge gets out, someone will carry things to the point where the OBS does react and deal the whole thing a real setback. Imagine the religious and political firestorm that a rakurai strike would cause.
Don
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My thoughts (largely). I expect each "Capital" city in the Empire of Charis is going to have its own Royal College - with other larger cities in the Empire getting smaller, less research oriented ones. Basically, Charis will be trying to raise the education (and broaden the mind) of all of its citizens to ease the eventual jump to TF technology.
Of course, another upside to this would be the ability to get more Inner Circle scientists exposure to the greatest number of intelligent and talented people from around the empire - while on the flip side exposing large contingents of the population to the process (see, it is heresy - we think things through logically) and creating even broader acceptance.
As far as pushing TF tech along or setting up TF manufacturing sites... I find that highly unlikely. Maybe some continued small scale manufacturing in the Cave for things the inner circle has use for, but I don't see Merlin (or anyone else) deciding to take any more gambles than they have to until they survive the "Return" - whatever that may be.
(I'm sure deep down they are hoping that whatever the "Return" is can be co-opted and help shutdown/neutralize the OBS).