Maximum Tech Level

[D351]

So, I’ve finished reading MCC and am preparing my first attempt at running it, but I have one mechanic I’m unsure of: does maximum Tech Level dictate what technology a character may *attempt* to understand or what technology they may *successfully* understand? If the former, how do you make that flow with RP? If the latter, do you cap their results on the check table or simply leave off any aspect of the result that mentions understanding? This last option feels the most intuitive to me and allows for more dumb luck moments, but I don’t feel like the rules were very clear.

[GnomeBoy]

I think it means that their Max Tech Level is the highest level of tech they can grasp on their own. If their Max is 4, they are never going to figure out a Plasma Sword by themselves.

I would expect they could be taught to use a Plasma Sword by someone with the appropriate Tech Level, but they can't do it on their own. If it breaks down, they would not be able to fix it, even if they had the needed parts and tools and all that. They just don't understand things at that level well enough, sort of like how some folks can work on cars and get them running again, but can't fix a modern car that has integrated computer systems... Show that modern car to someone from 1920 and they'd be lost.