Found Tools Period
TL-0 or the “Proto-Sophontic Age” is an age of firsts as sophont species emerge from an animal or creature existence, develop higher intelligence, and begin to use found objects as the first tools.
- TL-0 tech is commonly known as Proto-Tech.
- TL-0 sophonts are commonly known as Proto-Sophonts or Alpha’s.
- It is the Alpha Period of an Alpha-Omega scheme.
Description (Specifications)
It is characterized by the use of stone objects, found tools, and fire.
Communications Technology
TL-0 Communications are limited to the physiological abilities of a sophont. Most sophonts tend to communicate on an oral-auditory level although, as the Hivers prove, many other kinds of communication also exist.
Power Generation Technology
TL-0 Power Generation is limited to simple combustion without mechanical aids. Most Proto-sophonts are unable to create power reliably. Fire, for example, may only be acquired after sourcing it from a natural occurrence such as a lightning strike, for most sophonts.
Transportation Technology
TL-0 Transportation is limited to the physiological abilities of a sophont. The locomotor limbs of a species are typically called “peds” although most humans think of them as “legs.”
Manufacturing Technology
TL-0 proto-sophonts do not yet manufacture tools and cannot reliably kindle fire. Hunter-gatherers are learning where richer sources of found tools can be found and the very concepts of manufacturing are being thought up. Band societies may have formed.
Governmental Technologies
TL-0 Proto-cultures form rudimentary governments, typically no more advanced than a band society.
Processor Technologies
TL-0 Processor technology doesn’t exist as such. However, most sophonts are beginning to form ideas about the mind and how it works. These later become the foundation of early electronics and processing technologies.
Governmental Technologies
TL-0 Proto-Societies are often called band societies, and represent nomadic wandering sophonts of high intelligence, but not necessarily all of the much disputed hallmarks of sophonce. Not all are nomadic, but few have begun to form significant attachments to any sort of geographical location. TL-0 Proto-civilizations represent a wider overview of organized Proto-sophontic life. Some species develop writing, art, and mysticism, while others might take much longer. Some societies develop early chiefdoms, although many sophontologists argue that a chiefdom is a sign of a TL-1 society.
Residential Technologies
TL-0 proto-sophonts are unable to build more than the simplest shelters and typically live in caves or similar found homes whenever possible. Many proto-sophonts live nomadic lives with no set homes or places of residence.
Medical Technologies
TL-0 Biological sciences are extremely simple without a reliable way of building tools. Nevertheless, many very early yet sophisticated societies from extremely complex bodies of knowledge regarding their own biological functioning, local herbs and medicinal plants, and a generalized idea about anatomy, physiology, and psychological health.
Martial Technology
TL-0 weapons and armors are limited, primarily to thrown rocks, sharp piercing objects, and hide armors since tools cannot be reliably made, only found at this level of development.
History & Background (Dossier)
Strangely enough, the first found tools form an evidentiary trail of this early stage of sophontic evolution. Most anthropologists and sophontologists do not consider these early objects to be artifacts yet, since most consider that an artifact must be constructed with tools.
Hallmark Technology: Found Tools
TL-0 objects are “found objects.” Although some of these found objects show characteristic signs of use or wear by an emerging sophont species. While many higher technology sophont species may look down on found tools, some such artifacts may be highly sophisticated and advanced in their own regard. Many sophont species continue to use “found tools” for many millennia after the TL-0 period of their development.
Representative Sophont Species
TL-0 Proto-sophonts are relatively rare. It is near unknown for a proto-sophont to not undergo major trauma after First Contact with an interstellar starfaring society.
The following sophont species are known to possess technical mastery within these technological limits: Template:TBD
References & Contributors / Sources
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- Marc Miller. Worlds and Adventures (Game Designers Workshop, 1977), 14-15.Marc Miller, Robert Eaglestone, Don McKinney. Worlds and Adventures (Far Future Enterprises, 2019), 14-15.
- Marc Miller. Referee's Companion (Game Designers Workshop, 1988), 28-29.
- Geir Lanesskog. World Builder's Handbook (Mongoose Publishing, 2023), .Joe Fugate, J. Andrew Keith, Gary L. Thomas. World Builder's Handbook (Digest Group Publications, 1989), .
- Frank Chadwick, Dave Nilsen. Fire, Fusion, & Steel (Game Designers Workshop, 1994), 7.
- Citation Missing - Traveller D20
- Marc Miller. T5 Core Rules (Far Future Enterprises, 2013), 502-507.
- Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science