Originally posted by Flynn:
Good morning, All,
I'm trying to come up with accurate tech level estimates for the Gateway Era, aka circa the end of the First Millennium of the Third Imperium (~1000 YI). Of the major races and polities, I've come up with the following, and would like to touch base with those more informed on these matters to make sure I've got the right estimates:
Aslan Hierate: Late TL13 In 1107, Hierate worlds average high TL B (11)/low TL C (12), and the maximum is TL D (13). I'd therefore suggest an average of early to mid TL A (10) and a maximum TL of mid to high TL C (12). Remember that the strong Aslan social structure has led to tech being much more uniformly distributed across the Hierate than it is in equivalent Imperial space.
Hiver Federation: Late TL15 Not likely. The Hivers of 1107 are at that level, with perhaps early TL G (16) for robots, cybernetics, and communications and computer systems. In 993, I'd put them at average high TL C (12), with a maximum of late TL D (13)/early TL E (14). The Navy will be particularly well equipped.
Humaniti, Imperial: Late TL14 Very wide variation, especially on the fringes of the Imperium. As a result, although the Maximum TL is E (14), that would be far more common in the Imperial core than in Ley Sector. Local average high TL A (10)/early TL B (11). Imperial Service Average TL C (12). Maximum could be early TL F (15), but late TL E (14) is much more realistic.
Humaniti, Solomani Confederation: Mid TL14 The general convention is that, with the exception of biological and medical sciences, the Solomani Confederation maximum is 'usually' one TL lower than the Imperial one, but that the averages are generally the same. That would put the Solomani Confederation of 993 at local average high TL A (10)/early TL B (11). Confed Service Average late TL B (11)/early TL C (12). Maximum could be early TL F (14).
Humaniti, Zhodani Consulate: Early TL14 GT: Aliens 1 quotes "Imperial Year 1000, Consulate attains TL 12, mostly TL 10/11. Aliens Module 4 notes that aside from Zhdant "nearly all other worlds do not exceed TL E." Furthermore the Technological Levels table states that the average is high TL B (11)/low TL C (12). Maximum Consular TL is D (13). Therefore, I'd suggest a maximum of mid TL 13 instead, with more highly developed science and technology in psychology and social sciences, electronics - particularly psionically enabled surveillance, command and control systems, and navigation - as demonstrated with the core expeditions. The average would probably be low to mid TL B (11).
K'Kree, Two Thousand Worlds: Mid TL14 The K'Kree also have a more uniform distribution of technology than the Imperial norm, and societal conservatism would predict that it advances more slowly, much like Vilani science. Call it the herd instinct. In 1107, average is TL D (13), with maximum of TL F (15). So I think you're close for 993: average TL B (11), max late TL D (13). At any TL where grav tech is avail, K'Kree examples are particularly advanced and efficient.
Vargr Extents: Varied, up to mid TL13 GT: Aliens Book 1 suggests a maximum of TL 12. Vargr culture, however, encourages a very high degree of variability in tech levels. In 1107, Vargr TL averages TL C (12), with an upper average of TL E (14) and a max of TL F (15). I'd therefore suggest maximum of late TL C (12), average mid to late TL A (10) and occasionally to late TL B (11).
