TL:4-6

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TL:4-6 or Low Technology Epoch, is one of early atomic science, the first factories, internal combustion engines, and increasingly destructive military technologies.

  • TL:4-6 tech is commonly known as Late Ur-Tech or Low-Tech.
  • TL:4-6 sophonts are commonly known as early or ur-sophonts. They are sometimes called foundationals.

Description / Specifications

Two of the key indicator discoveries of this period include practical application of theoretical atomic sciences and an increasingly capable manufacturing sector producing an industrial society. The first applications of the atomic science can lead to incredibly capable energy sources or horrific, genocidal weapons. Manufacturing fundamentally changes most societies forcing a transition from the agrarian to the industrial and from the rural country to the urban city.

Communications Technology

With better power generation methods and an increasing understanding of magnetic and electrical fields, the first telegraphs, telephones, radios, and other early era communication technologies become a reality.

Power Generation Technology

The power generation technologies of this epoch are incredible game changers for society. The first steam engines become practical and even portable, greatly transforming society. Electricity generally is mastered during this period and becomes a staple of period civilizations. This leads to more efficient internal combustion engines (ICE) and many civilizations even master the basics of atomic energy.

Transportation Technology

The first continent spanning transportation networks grow increasingly more capable with great ocean liners, graceful aircraft, dirigibles, steam trains, bicycles, and the first automobiles. Motor technology generally advances through several power sources from the steam engine to the ICE engine, and even sometimes to massive, unwieldy yet capable atomic engines.

Manufacturing Technology

Manufacturing makes huge leaps forward in this timeframe, creating interchangeable parts, division of labor, and economies of scale at which earlier peoples can only marvel. Cargo cults come about. New, vastly improved power plants no longer limit factories to waterways, wind zones, or related areas. The first self-propelled vehicles (oceangoing ships, locomotives, etc.) are quite large, but the technology becomes increasingly miniaturizes as each developmental generation progresses. Motorized self-propelled personal vehicles eventually become a reality. The bicycle leads to the motorcycle and beyond. Some societies even develop un-motorized orthnithopters.

Processor Technologies

The first analog computers and calculators greatly enhance business and academic environments. Electric devices, polymers, and early electronics fuel continuing progress. Designers use classic Lovelacian programming and aspire to build the first Babbage machines. Many societies can build processors that meet the Imperial standards for Model/1 and Model/1 bis processors.

Residential Technologies

The first cities grow into even larger into metroplexes. Some of these metroplexes become known as mega-cities. A few span entire seaboards or even continents. Using better materials and engineering practices, buildings tend to grow in height and size. The first skyscrapers are born. Better medical technologies and hygienic practices allow for greater population densities within urban areas. Medicine makes incredible advances.

Medical Technologies

Medical technologies make great leaps forwards reducing mortality and expanding lifespan. Vaccines, antiseptics, and anesthetics revolutionize medicine. Vaccines soon lead to mass vaccination and the eradication of egregious diseases. Early diagnostic imaging leads to X-rays and other diagnostic tools. Virology is advanced and prosthetic technology makes great bounds as artificial limb replacements advance greatly.

Martial Technology

Industrial warfare is fearsome. Material plentitude means that every soldier can be equipped as never before and armies and navies grow larger than ever before. Martial vehicles become an established part of the battlefield and some more advanced societies even develop weaponized flyers within this epoch. A few societies even develop the most basic atomic weaponry.

History & Background / Dossier

The Division of Labor and Mass Production make this an age of industry. The invention or the discovery of division of labor and mass production marks the transition from individual craftsmen (cottage industry) to relatively unskilled but widespread labor (industrial labor). As a generality, the significant increase in labor efficiency reduce costs, increases quality, and provides for a general abundance of goods.

Cottage industries typically begin a slow process of being being replaced by the greater efficiencies of factories, and larger manufacturing interests. The process often creates corporations and even megacorporations in some cases. Monopolies and great barons of industry often accompany these changes. The great change in industry from a TL:1-3 culture to a TL:4-6 culture often comes with great growing pains, revolutions, and paradigmatic change.

Hallmark Technology: Planetary Exploration

Sophonts use new technology to explore their world, spanning from pole to pole, and from one end of the world to another. Aided by new transportation and communication technologies, circumnavigation, colonies, intercultural exchanges, and other feats become possible and emblematic of a new zeitgeist.

Hallmark Technology: Industrial Society

New manufacturing technologies allow for greater material wealth than ever before. Societies increasingly take advantage of this material wealth by organizing for greater efficiencies of production through vast networks, which often displace early, more traditional lifestyles.

Hallmark Technology: World Wars

An unfortunate side effect of the new technologies is the capacity for war on a global scale. Few species escape the curse of world wars. Some never escape the curse and destroy themselves using genocidal weapons of mass destruction.

Representative Sophont Species

No information yet available.

References & Contributors / Sources

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