GURPS Tech Levels

Tech Levels describe the current technological capacity of a species (or state). There are 16 levels on the tech scale, with the majority on the Interstellar levels (TL 9 and up). The source for this is GURPS Prime Directive, page 133, and these may need to be adjusted for SFC.

• TL 0: Stone Age - Fire, levers, language
• TL 1 : Bronze Age (Athens) - Wheel, writing, agriculture
• TL 2: Iron Age (Rome) - Keystone arch
• TL 3: Medieval (pre-1450 Earth) - Steel weapons, math with zero
• TL 4: Renaissance/Colonial (1450-1700 Earth) - Gunpowder, printing
• TL 5: Industrial Revolution (1701-1900 Earth) - Mass production, steam power, telegraph
• TL 6: World Wars 1 & 2 (1901-1950 Earth) - Cars, airplanes, radio, early fission technology
• TL 7: Modern Era (1951-2000 Earth) - Launch-to-orbit travel, computer, laser, miniaturization, mature fission technology
• TL 8: Spacefaring Era (2001-2063 Earth) - Slower-than light (interplanetary) travel, AI (artificial intelligence), genetic engineering, longevity, micro-machines, early fusion technology, laser weaponry
• TL 9: Uplifted Era (2063-2130 Earth) - Faster than light interstellar travel via early subspace warp engines, mature fusion technology, matter transmission (transporters), gravitic technology (tractor beam, gravity compensator), advanced sublight engines (impulse), plasma weaponry, spatial torpedoes, hull polarization
• TL 10: Exploration Era (2130-2161 Earth) - warp 5 engines, enhanced fusion technology, phase weapons
• TL 11: Early Federation Years (2161-2270) - dilithium regulation adoption, phasers, deflector shields, improved transporters, duotronic computing, food processors, improved plasma injectors, photon torpedoes
• TL 12: Cold War Era (2270-2340) - linear warp drives, improved warp dynamics, larger ship hulls, dilithium recrystallization, isolinear computing, channeled phasers
• TL 13: Modern Era (2340-2380) - Full terraforming of planets, sentient AI, food & industrial replicators, holodecks, isomagnetic EPS conduits, quantum slipdrive, pulse phasers, quantum torpedoes, regenerative shielding
• TL 13+: PIC Era (2380-) - Mature post-scarcity interstellar civilization; highly autonomous starships and infrastructure; positronic and synthetic persons; sophisticated neural and transporter biotechnology; advanced holographic and virtual systems; modular multi-role fleets; and limited portal technology—while retaining conventional warp, transporter, replicator, and defensive paradigms.

• TL 14: Dominion - Industrial-scale genetic rapid-cloning of specialized beings; automated, high-throughput warship and munitions production; engineered soldier physiology and pharmacological command systems; advanced polaron weaponry; resilient fleet shields and combat systems; long-range interstellar logistics; pervasive intelligence, infiltration, and counter-insurgency capabilities; and planetary-scale coercive governance.
• TL 14+: 32nd c.Federation - Programmable matter; ubiquitous personal transporter, sensor, computing, and holographic systems; highly autonomous adaptable starships; mature quantum-slipstream and alternative FTL research; advanced long-range fabrication; and post-scarcity interstellar civilization resilient enough to rebuild after systemic collapse.
• TL 15: Borg - Self-directing cybernetic collectivism; neural networking on interstellar scale; adaptive nanotechnology; pervasive cybernetic augmentation; autonomous repair and fabrication; transwarp propulsion and hub networks; dynamically adapting shields and weapons; mass assimilation and technological integration; and distributed tactical computation.
• TL 16: Ionian - Interstellar teleport-projector networks; instantaneous strategic mobility; gateway-based logistics and force projection; remote or autonomous installations; planet-to-planet sensor and communications systems; and infrastructure that turns a galaxy into a connected local environment.