NationTraits:Era

> *This article is a subset of the SIGC's **NationTraits™** project.*
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The Steam Islands Galactic Cluster is characterized by nations spanning a large set of Eras for each nation. The earliest era is the *Stone Age*, and the most advanced era is *Faster-Than-Light*. If a group is below Stone Age, they are not Stone Age and are in fact below primitive, and as such not a nation.

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**Depending on the Era you pick, that is how many points you start with.**

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## **Stone Age**

The **Stone Age** is characterized as the time when the Civilizations used only Stones and Sticks as their Tools and were Hunter/Gatherer Tribes.

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Stone Age* receive the following effects towards their nation.

* Groups travel as the food travels.
* Only tools are made of stone and wood.
* Relies on herds for meat and wilderness for fruits, berries, and other foods.
* Unlock **Wood Power**.

### **Real Life Equivalent**

Nations in this timeframe span from the rise of humanity to the 10,000s BC.

## **Agricultural Revolution**

> *Sometimes referred to as the Neolithic Revolution.*
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The **Agricultural Revolution** is characterized as the time when Civilizations began to settle down in fertile River Valleys and begin permanent Settlements.

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Agricultural Revolution* receive the following effects towards their nation.

* Permanent Settlements can be made.
* Civilizations begin to pop up.
* Stable-r food source than hunting and gathering.
* Nation unlocks **Basic Hydroelectric Power** and **Basic Wind Power**.

### **Real Life Equivalent**

Nations in this timeframe span from the 10,000s BC to the 4,000s BC.

## **Silver Age**

The **Silver Age** is characterized by the beginning of the use of Silver as materials for hard currencies and a sign of wealth. This era also saw the start of written history, allowing for logs, data, and reports to be kept for future use (or find from future eras).

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Silver Age* receive the following effects towards their nation.

* Civilizations unlock Hard Currency and Paper.
* Sliversmithing a standard profession.
* Writing / History roughly begins during this Era.

### **Real Life Equivalent**

Nations in this timeframe span from the 4,000s BC to the 3,500s BC.

## **Copper Age**

The **Copper Age** is characterized by the use of Copper as a material for tools, culture, and weapons. With copper tools and weapons, civilizations could beat out their opponents who were still using stone tools.

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Copper Age* receive the following effects towards their nation.

* Civilizations can now have metal tools.
* Blacksmithing now a standard profession.
* Art can be made of Copper.

### **Real Life Equivalent**

Nations in this timeframe span from the 3,500s BC to the 2,600s BC.

## **Gold Age**

The **Gold Age** is characterized by the beginning of the use of Gold as materials for hard currencies and a sign of wealth. This lead to many civilizations to expand by buying or bribing people.

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Gold Age* receive the following effects towards their nation.

* Civilizations can grow easier and have a true economy now.
* Gold used for Currency.

### **Real Life Equivalent**

Nations in this timeframe span from the 2,600s BC to the 2,300s BC.

## **Bronze Age**

The **Bronze Age** is characterized by civilizations using Bronze (a mixture of Copper and another element, such as Arsenic, Tin, Phosphorous, Aluminum, ETC.) for Tools, Weaponry, and Culture.

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Bronze Age* receive the following effects towards their nation.

* Tools and weapons are made of a more reliable material than straight copper. Able to hold its shape more and not break as easily.
* Art could be made of bronze, and as such last longer.
* Blacksmithing techniques get better, allowing for more complex things to be made.

### **Real Life Equivalent**

Nations in this timeframe span from the 2,300s BC to the 1,200s BC.

## **Iron Age**

The **Iron Age** is characterized by the civilizations beginning the use Iron for Tools, Weapons, Small Structures, and Culture.

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Iron Age* receive the following effects towards their nation.

* Nations don't span much territory, but do engage in trade with nearby nations. Wars also common.
* World comes up with more and better uses for horses.
* Gunpowder is developed, unlocking basic guns and cannons.
* Tools and Weapons have longer durability, as well as made of a stronger material.
* Some structures are reinforced with iron.

### **Real Life Equivalent**

Nations in this timeframe span from the 1,200s BC to the 1,000s BC.

## **Early Middle Age**

> *Sometimes referred to as the Dark Age.*
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The **Early Middle Age** is characterized by the demographic, cultural and economic deterioration that supposedly occurred, and the relative scarcity of written records from earlier periods. The period saw a continuation of trends begun during late classical antiquity, including population decline, especially in urban centers, a decline of trade, and increased immigration.

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Early Middle Age* receive the following effects towards their nation.

* Nations typically small and consisting of a government that has an all-powerful leader due to low stability of the time. Empires are next to none are during this timeframe.
* Nations with low amounts of resources or work typically see a decline in population faster than those with resources and work.
* City-States extremely common.
* Very few educated.

### **Real Life Equivalent**

Nations in this timeframe span from the 500s to the 1000s.

## **High Middle Age**

The **High Middle Age** is characterized by the existing Civilizations seeing rapid Population Growth, as well as the reorganization of Cultural, Political, and Social aspects of Society. Nations during this time also saw high Economic Growth as guilds became more popular.

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *High Middle Age* receive the following effects towards their nation.

* Nations typically small and consisting of a government that has an all-powerful leader due to low stability of the time.
* Many of the larger nations see large population growth during this time.
* Elites make more culture.

### **Real Life Equivalent**

Nations in this timeframe span from the 1000s to the 1300s.

## **Late Middle Age**

> *Sometimes referred to as the Renaissance Period.*
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The **Late Middle Age** is characterized by the interspersing of Kingdoms, Small Empires, and City-States. In the real timeline, this era was known for its famines and plagues which decimated entire populations. It is also known for its time when education and thought began to advance, along with advances in culture. Basic industries also started to appear around this time.

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Late Middle Age* receive the following effects towards their nation.

* Nations typically small and consisting of a government that has an all-powerful leader due to low stability of the time.
* Elites receive more education.
* Culture increases all around, as unique architecture, paintings, and works become more common.
* Industries such as Forestry and Ship-Building become more common and large-scale.

### **Real Life Equivalent**

Nations in this timeframe span from the 1300s to the 1500s (though can go as high as the 1600s).

## **Age of Discovery**

> *Sometimes referred to as the [First] Age of Exploration.*
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The **Age of Discovery** is characterized by the extensive overseas exploration that allowed nations to emerge as powerful factors in spreading their culture and the beginning of globalization. It also marks the rise of the period of widespread adoption of colonialism and mercantilism.

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Age of Discovery* receive the following effects towards their nation.

* Nation learns how to colonize their own planet, allowing Overseas Empires to Form.
* Typically the mark of the beginning of Nation States and entities of the sorts.
* Markets and Economies start to become intertwined.

### **Real Life Equivalent**

Nations in this timeframe span from the 1450s to the 1600s.

## **Enlightenment Age**

The **Enlightenment Age** is characterized by the intellectual and philosophical movements that dominated the world of ideas. The Enlightenment included a range of ideas centered on reason as the primary source of authority and legitimacy, and came to advance ideals like liberty, progress, tolerance, fraternity, constitutional government, and separation of church and state.

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Enlightenment Age* receive the following effects towards their nation.

* Nation develops more ideals, and can allow for more government types.
* Democracies become more common.
* Education (Literacy and STEM) rates increase drastically worldwide for everyone, not just elites.
* More religious and anti-religious thought.
* Nation unlocks **Coal Power**.

### **Real Life Equivalent**

Nations in this timeframe span from the 1600s to the 1740s (though is listed as expanding all the way to 1810s).

## **Industrial Revolution**

The **Industrial Revolution** is characterized by the transition from hand production methods to machines, new chemical manufacturing and iron production processes, improved efficiency of water power, the increasing use of steam power, the development of machine tools and the rise of the factory system.

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Industrial Revolution* receive the following effects towards their nation.

* Nation develops Heavy Industry, and as such is able to develop a strong economy.
	+ Heavy Industry includes Smelting (Iron), Textiles, and Large-Scale Manufacturing.
* Nation can now have many factories. Lots of factories allow for Nation to be considered Industrial.
* Nation unlocks Ironclad Ships, Steamboats, and Unpowered Aircraft (Hot Air Balloons).
* Nation unlocks **Oil Power**.

### **Real Life Equivalent**

Nations in this timeframe span from the 1740s to the 1880s.

## **Modern Age**

> *Sometimes referred to as the Machine Age.*
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The **Modern Age** is characterized by the world's increase in heavy machinery and increased use of oil. Many modern thoughts and values arose around this time. Faster modes of transportation developed around this time, including the invention of the Automobile and the Airplane.

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Modern Age* receive the following effects towards their nation.

* Nation develops Modern Thought, better Weapons, and can now produce Steel and Heavy Alloy materials.
* Nation unlocks Powered Aircraft, Gasoline Automobiles, Diesel Trains, and Fuel-Powered Ships.
* Nation unlocks **Basic Solar Power**, **Advanced Wind Power**, and **Advanced Hydroelectric Power**.

### **Real Life Equivalent**

Nations in this timeframe span from the 1880s to the 1940s.

## **Atomic Age**

The **Atomic Age** is characterized by the world's increase in understanding of particles, the elements, and energy. A nation in this Era develops Nuclear Fission energy, and can then develop the Nuclear Fission Bomb afterwards. Later in the Era, a Nation can also unlock Nuclear Fusion Bombs (although not Nuclear Fusion Power).

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Atomic Age* receive the following effects towards their nation.

* Nation has developed Atomic Weapons, where Early Atomic Age has Fission (Nuclear) Bombs and Later Atomic Age has Fusion (Hydrogen) Bombs.
* Nation unlocks **Nuclear Fission Power**.

### **Real Life Equivalent**

Nations in this timeframe span from the 1940s to the late 1950s.

## **Space Age**

The **Space Age** is characterized by the world's desire or competition to go to space. This brings along the ability for the nation to be able to enter the STL, L, and FTL Eras later on. Nation may have its own program, or use a neighboring or allied country's program. Allows for the invention of the internet, cell phones, microwaves, satellites, and all else that comes with a space program.

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Space Age* receive the following effects towards their nation.

* Nation has learned how to make and build space craft. Manned range is limited to the nearby vicinity of the planet, while unmanned crafts can get to other bodies, but costly.
* World has just developed computers, albeit bulky.
* See the invention of aluminum foil, microwaves, and the use of Radio, Infrared, Ultraviolet, X-Ray, and Gamma Rays in use for space, as well as medical (X-Ray), military (IR), and other uses.
* Nation unlocks Electric Automobiles, Electric Trains, and Space Travel.
* Nation unlocks **Advanced Solar Power**.

### **Real Life Equivalent**

Nations in this timeframe span from the late 1950s to the 1970s/1980s.

## **Information Age**

The **Information Age** is characterized by the shift from traditional industry that the Industrial Revolution brought through industrialization, to an economy based on information computerization. Brought along by the Digital Revolution. Nations in this age are on par with real life, developed nations.

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Information Age* receive the following effects towards their nation.

* Nation has learned to make and use Communication Satellites, allowing for easier and faster long-range communications around their planet.
* The world in which the nation resides has developed the Internet.
* Microprocessors and Computers have become mainstream, allowing for a more digitalized populace.
* Most nations entering this age transfer from Industrial to Post-Industrial Economy Type.

### **Real-Life Equivalent**

Nations within this timeframe most closely resemble nations from the 1970s/1980s up to the present.

## **Post Modern Age**

The **Post Modern Age** is characterized by the departure from our timeline. Nations within the Post Modern Age are slightly more advanced than real life nations, having mastered better techniques, equipment, or lifestyles. They may also have finally begun manned missions to other bodies within their solar system, and may also be looking towards advanced weaponry, possible unification, and other "post-modern" stuff.

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Post Modern Age* receive the following effects towards their nation.

* Nation has better industry than earlier ages, and as such can produce faster as well as produce better quality goods.
* Society is more than likely Post-Industrial.
* Manned travel to planets within the host solar system may be taking place during this time.

## **Early Slower-Than-Light**

> *Sometimes referred to as Early Subluminal.*
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The **Early Slower-Than-Light Era** is characterized by the beginnings of travel between stars at speeds slower than light. Nations in this area have just begun to explore and colonize nearby habitable worlds. Nations within this category are just beginning to explore nearby systems, and their ability to colonize is extremely unrefined.

Subluminal Era nations only have EM-Wave communication. Nations must rely on ships and basic colonies to be autonomous enough to function and make decisions on their own, as communications between them and the capital can be dreadfully slow, with systems being 4.5 light years away taking 4.5 years to get the message and another 4.5 to send the message back.

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Early Slower-Than-Light* receive the following effects towards their nation.

* Nation has no forms of a drive, and as such rely on standard propulsion between two points.
	+ Choices include: Nuclear, Solar Sail, Ion Engine, Chemical, etc.
* Travel time is typically several years per light year or slightly less, depending on propulsion used.
* Nation can colonize planets, though at a very slow rate. Colonizing is a brand new concept.
* Nation unlocks **Nuclear** **Fusion Power** and **Ion Power**.

## **Slower-Than-Light**

> *Sometimes referred to as Subluminal or the Second Age of Exploration.*
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The **Slower-Than-Light Era** is characterized by travel between stars at speeds slower than light. Nations in this area have begun to build a small empire among the nearby stars that they can travel to, as STL nations can only travel at speeds slower than the speed of light. Nations within this category are just beginning to explore distant systems, and thus leads to the secondary name of *Second Age of Exploration*.

Subluminal Era nations typically have EM-Wave communication, though some may have just developed FTL communications. But more likely than not, it's the first, so communication is only as fast as the speed of light. If it's the second one, they can more easily talk between two distant points, though there will always be some error or problems with the messages as they learn to take out the kinks.

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Slower-Than-Light* receive the following effects towards their nation.

* Nation has no forms of a drive, and as such rely on standard propulsion between two points.
	+ Choices include: Nuclear, Solar Sail, Ion Engine, Chemical, etc.
* Travel time can be just below the distance in light years, all the way to several years per light year, depending on propulsion used.
* Nation can colonize planets, though at a slow rate.
* Nation unlocks **Plasma Power**.

## **Light**

> *Sometimes referred to as Luminal.*
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The **Light Era** is characterized by travel between stars at light speed. This is a very rare era, as nations will typically develop FTL Drives before being able to develop Light Drives. A Light Drive allows a user to travel at the speed of light, and as such allows it to break the law stating "No matter can reach the speed of light, so long as it has mass".

Luminal Era nations may have either standard EM-Wave Communication (Distance is a major factor in communication) or FTL Communication (Communication can be faster between stars). If using EM-Wave Comms, starships in transit cannot be contacted by the side they left from, only the side they are approaching. FTL Communication allows communication with ships in transit.

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Early Faster-Than-Light* receive the following effects towards their nation.

* Nation has a Luminal Drive, allowing travel at the Speed of Light.
* Nation has either standard communications or the ability to communicate between planets and nations easily.
* Travel Time between planets depends on the distance, so 1 Light Year would be 1 year's travel time.
* Nation may colonize planets as fast as the light between them travels.

## **Early Faster-Than-Light**

> *Sometimes referred to as Early Superluminal.*
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The **Early Faster-Than-Light Era** is characterized by travel between the stars at speeds faster than the speed of light. This Era is for nations just coming into the Faster-Than-Light Era would experience. The Drives are new and mainly prototypes, so failures, while still rare, are more common than nations in the full-fledge FTL Era.

Early FTL Era nations have Drives that allow their spacecraft to travel between planets and galaxies with ease, along with having the ability to communicate at speeds faster than light. Because of this, many nations of this era have a preferred method of travel and are able to keep in contact with ships in FTL transit, along with nations that are several galaxies away.

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Early Faster-Than-Light* receive the following effects towards their nation.

* Nation may pick an FTL Drive of their choice. This allows them to travel at FTL Speeds.
	+ FTL drives have a around a 40% to fail. Failure means both 1] drive fails and quits working, and 2] miss the target by a few thousand miles. (Depends on drive.)
* Nation has the ability to communicate with other nations of both FTL Eras easily.
* Travel Time between points can be anywhere from days to hours, depending on drive.
* Nation may easily colonize other planets.
* Nation unlocks **Zero-Point Level 1 Power**.

## **Faster-Than-Light**

> *Sometimes referred to as Superluminal.*
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The **Faster-Than-Light Era** is characterized by travel between the stars at speeds faster than the speed of light. This Era is what the Steam Islands Galactic Cluster was built around, and as such is the most used. It is also why the point value doesn't add nor subtract.

FTL Era nations have Drives that allow their spacecraft to travel between planets and galaxies with ease, along with having the ability to communicate at speeds faster than light. Because of this, many nations of this era have a preferred method of travel and are able to keep in contact with ships in FTL transit, along with nations that are several galaxies away.

### **Effects**

Nations that chose *Faster-Than-Light* receive the following effects towards their nation.

* Nation may pick an FTL Drive of their choice. This allows them to travel at FTL Speeds.
	+ FTL drives have a less than 15% to fail. Failure means both 1] drive fails and quits working, and 2] miss the target by a few thousand miles. (Depends on drive.)
* Nation has the ability to communicate with other nations of both FTL Eras easily.
* Travel Time between points can be anywhere from hours to minutes, depending on drive.
* Nation may easily colonize other planets.
* Nation may use Terraformers if they wish.
* Nation is capable of all forms of power.