GURPS 4th edition. Ultra-Tech

243 Pages·2009·13.782 MB·English

by  David L. Pulver, Kenneth Peters

GURPS Ultra-Tech is a sourcebook for science-fiction
technology, from the near future to the farthest reaches
of the imagination. It’s a valuable companion to GURPS
Space, GURPS Bio-Tech, and GURPS Infinite Worlds,
and for any character or campaign that needs advanced
technological equipment.
GURPS Ultra-Tech is full of personal equipment for
heroes and superheroes from TL9 to TL12, including:
• Weapons – from caseless assault carbines and
monomolecular swords to antimatter warheads and
disassembler nano.
• Protection – How do you stop a nanomorph assassin with a
field-jacketed X-ray laser rifle? Try a dreadnought battlesuit and a personal force screen . . .
• Medicine – Superscience can heal, rebuild, and improve on nature. Death itself can become
a temporary inconvenience.
• Transport – Air cars, hovertanks, tilt rotors, grav belts, supercavitating minisubs, matter-
transport booths – lots of ways to get where the action is, for the adventurer on the go!
And still more gadgets! Living biosuits, computer implants, holographic projectors, psionic
amplifiers, neutrino communicators, nanofactories, chameleon suits, repair paste, Dyson
spheres – there’s something for every adventure at every tech level.
GURPS Ultra-Tech requires the GURPS Basic Set, Fourth Edition.
The ideas in this book can be used with any science-fiction game.
By David Pulver, with Kenneth Peters
Edited by Christopher Aylott, Steve Jackson, Sean Punch, Wil Upchurch, and Nikola Vrtis
Cover Art by Simon Lissaman, Drew Morrow, Bob Stevlic, and John Zeleznik
Illustrated by Jesse DeGraff, Igor Fiorentini, Simon Lissaman, Drew Morrow, E. Jon Netherland,
Aaron Panagos, Christopher Shy, Bob Stevlic, and John Zeleznik
3RD EDITION, 2ND PRINTING
PUBLISHEDAUGUST 2009
ISBN978-1-55634-799-3
Printedin
$29.95 SJG 01-6104
theUSA
WrittenbyDAVIDPULVER,withKENNETHPETERS
AdditionalMaterialbyWILLIAMBARTON,LOYDBLANKENSHIP,andSTEVEJACKSON
EditedbyCHRISTOPHERAYLOTT,STEVEJACKSON,SEANPUNCH,
WILUPCHURCH,andNIKOLAVRTIS
CoverArtbySIMONLISSAMAN,DREWMORROW,BOBSTEVLIC,andJOHNZELEZNIK
IllustratedbyJESSEDEGRAFF,IGORFIORENTINI,SIMONLISSAMAN,DREWMORROW,
E.JONNETHERLAND,AARONPANAGOS,CHRISTOPHERSHY,BOBSTEVLIC,andJOHNZELEZNIK
Softcover:stock#01-6104 • ISBN978-1-55634-799-3 • PDF:stock#31-0104 • Version3.2–September2014
STEVE JACKSON GAMES
C
ONTENTS
INTRODUCTION .............4 AdjustingforSM ..............16 PERSONALGEARAND
AbouttheAuthors..............4 EQUIPMENTSTATISTICS ............16 CONSUMERGOODS ..........38
AboutGURPS.................4 PersonalItems................38
2.CORETECHNOLOGIES.....18 Clothing.....................38
1.ULTRA-TECHNOLOGY ......5 POWER .........................18 Entertainment................40
AGESOFTECHNOLOGY ............6 PowerCells...................18 Recreationand
TL9–TheMicrotechAge........6 Generators...................20 PersonalRobots............41
TL10–TheRoboticAge.........6 EnergyCollection.............20
TL11–TheAgeof Beamedand 3.COMMUNICATIONS,SENSORS,
ExoticMatter...............7 BroadcastPower ...........21 ANDMEDIA ............42
TL12–TheAgeofMiracles......7 CivilizationandPower..........21
COMMUNICATIONANDINTERFACE ..42
EvenHigherTLs................7 COMPUTERS.....................21 Communicators...............43
TECHLEVEL .....................8 Hardware....................21 Encryption...................46
TechnologicalProgression.......8 AI:HardwareorSoftware?......23 Receive-Onlyor
TECHNOLOGYPATHS ..............8 Software.....................24 Transmit-OnlyComms.......46
ConservativeHardSF...........9 UsingaHUD .................24 Translators...................47
RadicalHardSF...............9 UbiquitousComputing .........25 NeuralInterfaces..............48
Cyberpunk....................9 ROBOTSANDTOTALCYBORGS .....26 Networks ....................49
NanotechRevolution ...........9 DigitalIntelligences............26 MailandFreight..............50
UnlimitedTechnology............9 Drones ......................26 MEDIAANDEDUCATION ..........51
EmergentSuperscience........10 SuperhumanMindsandthe RecordingandPlayback........51
HighBiotech.................10 Singularity.................26 VirtualReality................53
Retrotech....................10 RentingRobots................26 AugmentedReality............56
Safe-Tech....................10 Cyborgs......................27 Sensies......................57
Psi-Tech.....................11 MACHINESASCHARACTERS........27 MassMedia..................58
GADGETCONTROL...............11 MachineIntelligenceLenses....27 TeachingandLearningAids ....59
CreatinganEquipmentList.....11 BiomorphicLenses............28 SENSORSANDSCIENTIFIC
PreventiveMeasures...........12 Meta-Traits...................29
EQUIPMENT .................60
RetroactiveMeasures..........12 Attributes....................29
PassiveVisualSensors.........60
BUYINGEQUIPMENT ..............13 Advantages...................29 IndirectPassiveSensors........61
BlackMarkets................13 PurchasingMachines...........29 ActiveSensors................63
LegalityandAntiques...........14 Disadvantages ................31 CombinationSensors..........66
WEARANDCARE ................14 Perks........................33 ScientificEquipment ..........66
Quirks.......................33
MaintainingGadgets...........14
RepairingGadgets.............14 Skills........................33 4. HOUSING, TOOLS, AND
RobotsandSociety.............33
PoweringGadgets.............15 SURVIVAL GEAR.........68
RobotsinAction..............34
INTEGRATINGAND CinematicCombat.............34 HOUSINGANDFOOD .............69
MODIFYINGEQUIPMENT ......15 Controllingand DomesticEquipment
Plug-inGadgets...............15 ReprogrammingAIs........35 andAppliances.............69
CombinationGadgets..........16 Swarmbots...................35 HousingandConstruction......71
GearforNonhumans..........16 Foodstuffs ...................73
GURPSSystemDesign(cid:1)STEVEJACKSON ProductionManager(cid:1)JUSTINDEWITT PrintBuyer(cid:1)PHILIPREED
GURPSLineEditor(cid:1)SEANPUNCH ArtDirector(cid:1)WILLSCHOONOVER MarketingDirector(cid:1)PAULCHAPMAN
EditorialAssistant(cid:1)CHRISMAKA ProductionArtist(cid:1)ALEXFERNANDEZ DirectorofSales(cid:1)ROSSJEPSON
PageDesign(cid:1)PHILREEDand–––– ProductionAssistance(cid:1)THOMASWEIGEL GURPSFAQMaintainer(cid:1)–––––––
JUSTINDEWITT Indexer(cid:1)NIKOLAVRTIS VICKY“MOLOKH”KOLENKO
LeadPlaytester:JeffWilson
Playtesters:AlexanderBorghgraef,FrederickBrackin,KenBurnside,HenryJ.Cobb,DouglasCole,ShawnFisher,ErikFunk,
AnthonyJackson,MALloyd,ElizabethMcCoy,OnnoMeyer,andHans-ChristianVortisch
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bySteveJacksonGamesIncorporatedareregisteredtrademarksortrademarksofSteveJacksonGamesIncorporated,orusedunderlicense.
GURPSUltra-Techiscopyright©1988,1989,1990,1991,1996,1997,1999,2003,2006,2009,2014bySteveJacksonGamesIncorporated.Allrightsreserved.PrintedintheUSA.
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andpunishablebylaw.Pleasepurchaseonlyauthorizedelectroniceditions,anddonotparticipateinorencourage
theelectronicpiracyofcopyrightedmaterials.Yoursupportoftheauthor’srightsisappreciated.
2 C
ONTENTS
EXPEDITIONGEAR ...............74 Options.....................132 Bodyguards..................190
Lights.......................74 HotshotsandOverheating......133 ForceShields................192
NavigationInstruments........74 FLUIDPROJECTORS ..............134 NuclearDampers ............193
ContainersandLoad-Bearing Sprays......................134 StasisWebs .................193
Equipment................75 VortexRingProjectors........134 OtherForceFields............194
SEunrvvirivoanlmanendtCala.m..p.in..g.G..e.a.r..........7757 GUNSANDLAUNCHERS ..........135 8. MEDICAL AND
Conventionaland
Exploration,Safari,and ETCGuns................135 BIOTECH..............196
SalvageRobots.............79 GasPoweredAirGuns........139 BIOMEDICALEQUIPMENT .........196
CrossingaGravityGradient.....79
ElectromagneticGuns ........141 MedicalGear................196
TOOLSANDCONSTRUCTION GravGuns ..................143 MedicalRobots..............202
MATERIALS .................80 Gyrocs......................144 PsychiatricEquipment........203
ToolsandToolKits............80 RocketsandMissiles..........145 BiotechEquipment...........204
WorkerRobots ...............85 HandGrenades..............146 DrugsandNano .............204
HeavyEquipment,Salvage, TypicalWeaponsbyTL ........148 BiotechTechniques ...........206
andRescueGear...........87 FIREARMACCESSORIES ...........149 CYBERNETICSAND
Demolitions..................88 TargetingSystems............149 UPLOADING................207
MANUFACTURING ................89 SmartgunElectronics .........149 BodyModifications...........208
IndustrialEquipment..........89 OtherAccessories ............150 BrainImplants ..............215
FutureEconomies.............89 WARHEADSANDAMMUNITION ....152 Remote-Controlled
MemoryMaterials .............90 Conventional................152 Cybernetics...............215
VonNeumannMachines........92 NuclearandAntimatter.......156 ImplantedDigitalMind........216
PSIAMPLIFIERS ...................94 Energy .....................157 CyberneticUplift.............218
BIOCHEMICALAND TotalCyborgBrain
5. COVERT OPS Transplants...............219
NANOTECHWEAPONS .......159
AND SECURITY..........95 GasesandClouds ............159 Uploading...................219
DownloadingMinds..........220
DECEPTIONANDINTRUSION .......95 FoamsandLiquids...........160
Low-andVery-Low-Res
Burglary,Infiltration, Poisons.....................161
Copies...................220
andSabotage..............95 MetabolicNanoweapons......161
CampaignEffectsof
ForgeryandCounterfeiting.....96 MELEEANDTHROWN Uploading................221
DisguisesandSmuggling.......97
WEAPONS .................162
ECMandStealth..............98 PhysicalWeapons............162 9. VEHICLES ..............222
ComputerIntrusion ..........100
EnergyWeapons.............164 PlanetaryTravel .............222
SECURITYANDSURVEILLANCE .....101 COMBATROBOTS ...............167 SpaceTravel.................223
Barriers,Mines,andTraps ....101
WarbotsandAndroids........167 VEHICLES ......................224
FutureCrime ................101
RobotWeapons..............168 ATVs.......................224
SecurityScanners............104
Surveillanceand PERSONALVEHICLES.............225
FlyingCars..................225
TrackingDevices..........105
Counter-Surveillance TANKS226
andECM.................106 HOVERCRAFT ..................227
ENFORCEMENTANDCOERCION ...106 MINISUBS ......................228
ForensicsandLieDetection ...106 DIVERPROPULSIONSYSTEMS ......228
RestraintandRiot
TILT-ROTORTRANSPORT .........229
ControlDevices...........107
Interrogation,Brainwashing, UTILITYVERTOL ................229
andAnimalControl........108 7. DEFENSES ..............170 GRAVBIKESANDPLATFORMS ......229
BlackOpsRobots............110 Materials ...................170 Microplanes.................230
FlightPacks.................230
BODYARMORAND
6. WEAPONRY ............112 Zero-GThrusters.............231
WeaponTables ...............112 PROTECTIVEGEAR ..........171 DROPCAPSULES ................232
BodyArmor.................171
BEAMWEAPONS ................113 TailoringArmor..............174 MATTERTRANSMISSION..........233
Lasers......................113 RigidBodyArmor............176 Technologies ................233
ChemicalInfaredLasers .......114 EnvironmentalGear MTBooths..................233
Electrolaser .................119 andSuits.................176 Telegates....................233
MicrowaveWeapons..........120 TeleportProjectors...........234
NeuralWeapons.............121 POWEREDSUITS.................181 DimensionandTimeTravel.....234
Exoskeletons ................181
ParticleAccelerators..........122 MindVoyages................235
Battlesuits ..................182
SonicWeapons..............124
PlasmaWeapons.............127 TypicalArmorbyTL ..........186 BIBLIOGRAPHY ............236
GravityWeapons.............128 DEFENSESYSTEMS...............187
NucleonicBeams ............130 OtherDefenses ..............187 INDEX....................237
RealityDisruptionBeams .....131 FORCEFIELDS ..................190
PsionicBeams...............132 ForceScreens ...............190
C 3
ONTENTS
I
NTRODUCTION
GURPS Ultra-Tech is a sourcebook of science-fiction GURPS Psionics, BESM 2nd Edition, and Transhuman
gadgets and weapons. It’s a resource for space, alternate Space.
future, techno-thriller, cyberpunk, or supers games – any Kenneth L. Peters lives in Post Falls, Idaho. He is an
setting that requires technology from tomorrow and anthropology buff and a sergeant in the United States
beyond. Marine Corps Reserve. He is the author of Transhuman
Theequipmentdescribedwithinspansthe“future”tech Space:SpacecraftoftheSolarSystem,andaco-authorof
levelsfromTL9(afewdecadesfromnow)toTL12(theage Transhuman Space: Under Pressure and several
ofmiracles).Theemphasisisonpersonalgearofallsorts, Shadowrunbooks.
from hyperspectral goggles and neutrino communicators
to gamma-ray laser rifles and dreadnought battlesuits.
Ultra-Tech also provides plenty of details on future
About GURPS
medicine, but since GURPS Bio-Tech covered genetics,
biomods, and drugs, this book emphasizes hard tech –
SteveJacksonGamesiscommittedtofullsup-
cybernetics, ultra-tech medical equipment, neural inter-
portofGURPSplayers.OuraddressisSJGames,
faces, and mind uploading. As technology advances, the
P.O.Box18957,Austin,TX78760.Pleaseinclude
line between man and machine may become increasingly
a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) any
blurred. Ultra-Tech provides rules for establishing the
time you write us! We can also be reached by
capabilitiesandlimitationsofartificialintelligence,aswell
e-mail:[email protected]:
astemplatesforroboticortotalcyborgbodies,fromhandy
technical’botstoshapeshiftingnanomorphs. New supplements and adventures. GURPS
Ultra-Tech is a catalog for players, and a resource for continues to grow – see what’s new at
the GM. Ultra-technology can propel adventures into www.sjgames.com/gurps.
action, add color and atmosphere to a science-fiction e23. Our e-publishing division offers GURPS
setting, serve as the object of a quest, or power a villain’s adventures, play aids, and support in PDF form
sinisterdesign.There’snoneedtomakeeverygadgetinthis . . . digital copies of our books, plus exclusive
bookavailableatonce–thatcanbeoverwhelming!It’sup material available only on e23! Just head over to
totheGameMastertodecideexactlywhatgeartouse... e23.sjgames.com.
buttohelpout,we’veprovidedachapterofsuggestionson Pyramid (www.sjgames.com/pyramid). Our
integrating equipment into the game and establishing monthly PDF magazine includes new rules and
alternativetechnologypathssothatthetechnologyfitsthe articles for GURPS, systemless locations, adven-
campaign. tures,andmuchmore.Lookforeachthemedissue
frome23!
P H Internet. Visit us on the World Wide Web
UBLICATION ISTORY
at www.sjgames.com for errata, updates, Q&A,
This is the third edition of GURPS Ultra-Tech; it has and much more. To discuss GURPS with
beenrevisedtotheGURPSFourthEditionrules.Theold- our staff and your fellow gamers, visit our
estmaterialincludedheredatesbacktothethreechapters forums at forums.sjgames.com. You can find
ofequipmentinthefirsteditionofGURPSSpace(bySteve the web page for GURPS Ultra-Tech at
JacksonandWilliamA.Barton).Thismaterialwasincor- www.sjgames.com/gurps/books/ultra-tech.
poratedintoGURPSUltra-Tech(byDavidPulver).GURPS Bibliographies. Many of our books have exten-
Ultra-Tech2addedmoregadgets,includingsomeadapted sivebibliographies,andwe’reputtingthemonline
fromGURPSCyberpunk(byLoydBlankenship).Material –withlinkstoletyoubuytheresourcesthatinter-
in the present edition was also inspired by technology in estyou!Gotoeachbook’swebpageandlookfor
GURPS Psionics, GURPS Robots, and Transhuman the“Bibliography”link.
Space. Errata.Everyonemakesmistakes,includingus
–butwedoourbesttofixourerrors.Up-to-date
ABOUT THE AUTHORS erratapagesforallGURPSreleases,includingthis
book,areavailableonourwebsite–seeabove.
David L. Pulver lives in Victoria, British Columbia. He
Rulesandstatisticsinthisbookarespecifically
hasbeenascience-fictionfanandavidgamerformostof
for the GURPS Basic Set, Fourth Edition. Page
hislife.Heisaco-authoroftheGURPSBasicSet,Fourth
referencesthatbeginwithBrefertothatbook,not
Edition,andhaswrittenorco-authoredover60othergam-
thisone.
ing books, including GURPS Bio-Tech, GURPS Robots,
4 I
NTRODUCTION
C O
HAPTER NE
U -
LTRA
T
ECHNOLOGY
The trouble with commanding the Imperial Secret Today’s visitor was Merlin, the AI who ran the psycho-
Service’sclandestineGalacticOperationsDirectorate,Colonel historydivision.Itdidn’twasteanytime.
Erasmusreflected,wasthatwheneveryouhadanunexpect- “I have some very bad news,” said the Artificial
edcaller,itwasalwaysbadnews. Intelligence.
ColonelErasmusforcedasmile.“Ofcourseyoudo.”The
AI’s avatar, who seemed to get younger each time they met,
shimmeredbeforehisdesk.“I’malittlebusy.”
“You’ll be busier. We have an evolving singularity in the
localbubble.”Merlinwavedahand,andaholographicpro-
jectionoftheTerranSectormaterialized,extendingacross
timeandspace.“Observe.TheBubbleclientstates–here.
Andhere...”
“An expansionist threat from the Thearchy of
Buckminister?”Erasmusshookhisheadindisbelief.
“You’vefriedacircuit,Merlin.They’reasafe-techciv-
ilization, steadily regressing to retro-tech. If they
invade,it’llbetheLudenburgStarEmpireallover
again.” He smiled wistfully. “Infantry with
auto-rifles and steel helmets, pouring out of
hyperdrive ships . . . I even saw some horse
cavalry.Itwasalmostfun.”
“This won’t be. Your data is obsolete,
Erasmus. The new synod’s given its backing
to the Accelerationist faction in the clergy –
scientificprogressnowglorifiestheCreator.I’ve
plottedtheirculturaldynamism.Takealookat
this.”
Holographic equations appeared, hanging
in the air. It had been a while since Erasmus
had taken techno-sociology, but he could still
decipherthem.“Aradicalsuperscienceculture
in40years?”
“SoIpredict.They’vegottheirownAIsnow.
Last month, they began experimenting with
nanotechnology.Combinethatwiththeirexist-
ingFTLtechnology...”
“Apocalypse now. I get it. Unfortunately, all
myoperativesarealittlebusy.”
“Anythingimportant?”
“Preventing a nuclear war. Tracking down
severalgramsofstolenantimatter.Findingamissing
princess.Thedailygrind.Iexpectresultssoon.”
“Tellthemtohurry.”
GURPS Ultra-Tech is a catalog of technologies and
equipment from TL9 (extrapolations of existing develop-
ments) to TL12 (devices that verge on the miraculous).
This chapter provides general background and rules for
ultra-technology, along with guidelines for adjusting the
availabilityofequipmentinacampaign.
U -T 5
LTRA ECHNOLOGY
A T
GES OF ECHNOLOGY
The following is an overview of a typical sequence for nuclearexplosions.Mini-nukesincreasetheriskofnuclear
thedevelopmentofultra-technology. warbyblurringtheboundariesbetweenconventionaland
nucleararms.
TL9 – T M Bodyarmoradvancesevenmorerapidlythanweapons.
HE ICROTECH
Comfortableclimate-controlledsuitscanprotecttheentire
A body, and space suits become lightweight vacc suits.
GE
Advances in micro-turbines and robotics make powered
Majoradvancesoccurinthematerialscience,especial- suits feasible, both exoskeletons (for civilian and military
ly in the fabrication of nano-scale materials, the applications)andbattlesuits.
developmentofcompositematerials,andinpolymer-based Perhaps the most significant developments are in
electronics. This leads to the widespread use of devices bioscience. Functional organs can be grown with tissue
suchasprintedcomputers,flexiblebatteries,andbio-com- engineering and transplanted into the body. Wonder
patibleimplants,aswellasproductssuchasvideowallpa- drugsandothertreatmentscanbedeliveredinsmartcap-
perandchameleonsuits. sules. Not all diseases are cured, but lifespans may
Micro-mechanical electromagnetic systems – tiny sen- increasesubstantially.
sorsandactuators–drasticallyshrinkmanyelectronicand
Superscience:Monomolecularwireandplasmaweapon-
mechanicaldevices.Theresultsaredramatic,rangingfrom
ry are developed. It’s common for faster-than-light drives,
vehiclesurfacesthatcanchangetheiraerodynamicproper-
parachronic travel, reactionless drives, or other super-
tiestolabs-on-a-chipandartificialgills.
science transport systems to appear. TL9 cultures can
Fuelcellsandgasturbinesareminiaturizedandusedas
spreadoutrapidlytootherworlds.
powercellsforelectronicsandotherportabledevices.Ona
larger scale, nuclear fusion and solar power free society
fromdependencyonfossilfuels,althoughtheymayremain TL10 – THE ROBOTIC AGE
economicallyimportant.
Computers, sensors, and communicators are faster, Artificialintelligencebecomessmarterandcheaper,and
smarter, and smaller, and can be built into almost any- thefirstvolitionalAIs–machinesthatcanthinklikepeople
thing.Wearablecomputersareinexpensive. –appear.Inexpensivesapientmachinesarecommonplace.
Quantum computers can solve problems and break Swarmsoftinymicrobotscanbebuilt,andbiomechanical
encryption by computing every possible solution at once, nanomachines can perform prodigious feats of medicine
but quantum communication systems trump that with andgeneticengineering.
unbreakable encryption. Neural interfaces link mind and People who can afford to take full advantage of TL10
machine, and cybernetic implants do not merely replace medicinemayliveforcenturiesormore.Assciencegainsa
injuredbodyparts,butactuallyenhancethem. greaterunderstandingofthehumanmind,morecomplex
Mobile robots are commonplace, used in everything neuro-techandcyberneticsbecomeavailable...it’spossi-
from nursing to vehicle operation to combat. However, ble to cybernetically possess bodies, control minds, and
they lack self-initiative, and many are teleoperated. recordsensoryinformation.
Androids that can look human (even if they don’t act Molecular nanotechnology is routinely used in manu-
human)areexpensivebutavailable. facturing.Manyproductscanbeself-assembled“fromthe
Improvementsinmaterialtechnologyleadtoaffordable bottomup”usingmethodsanalogoustothewaybiological
spacetransportsystems,suchassingle-stage-to-orbitshut- organisms grow. The tools used are biomechanical in
tlesorspaceelevators.Cheaperaccesstoorbitmayboost nature, combining proteins and engineered viruses with
otherspacetechnology,suchasnuclearenginesforinter- metals and other inorganic materials. Bio-nanomachines
planetary journeys, beamed power from solar satellites, constructmostbiotechproductsandareusedinmedicine
and life support technology. Industry and even colonists and genetic engineering, but molecular manufacturing is
may go into space, taking advantage of the gravity-free still limited to making specialized components and
environmenttomineasteroidsordevelopbetterindustrial products that can be assembled in “wet” environments.
processes. Macro-scale products using metals, semiconductors,
Smallarmstechnologystillreliesonconventionalguns diamond-hard materials, and ceramics still rely on “top
down”manufacturingtechniques.
(with improved ammunition and smart electronics) but
Oneexampleofthenewbio-nanotechproductsispseudo-
specialized non-lethal energy weapons such as electro-
alivepolymersthatarecapableofself-repair.These“living
lasersandsonicnauseatorsappear.Sodothefirstbulky
bio-plastics”makearangeoftough,lightweight,andself-
laser sniper rifles, heavy electromagnetic railguns, and
maintainingequipmentpossible.
lasercannon.
Material and power generation technology continues
Antimatter is now routinely manufactured. It’s used in
to improve. Super-strong composite materials are rela-
medicine(asaradiationsource)butistooexpensivetobe
tivelyinexpensive.Weaponstechnologytakesaquantum
usedasafuelorexplosive.Itisstillusefulinspacepropul-
leapwiththedevelopmentofpowercellsthatcanpower
sion and weaponry, as a catalyst for triggering “clean”
6 U -T
LTRA ECHNOLOGY
effective man-portable electromagnetic guns and high- TL12 – T A
HE GE OF
energylasers,althoughconventionalweaponsmayremain
in use with smarter ammunition. Nuclear fusion reactors MIRACLES
are small enough to power battle tanks and fighter-sized
spacecraft. TL12 societies use their understanding of the universe
toproducedevicesandeffectsthatareincomprehensibleto
Superscience:Gravitycontroltechnologyleadstoartifi- lessadvancedcultures.TheTL11advancesinnanotechnol-
cialgravityandcontragravitybeingusedinpersonalvehi- ogyandexoticmatterarefullyintegratedintocivilization,
cles, houses, and weapons, as well as reactionless space along with new devices such as living metal, gamma-ray
drives. Nuclear dampers can neutralize the threat of lasers,andself-replicatingnanomachineswarms.
nuclear weapons. New superscience weaponry becomes Simple pills can regenerate the body in a matter of
available,notablyplasmagunsandexoticsonicbeams. hours,orgrownewcyberneticimplantsamatterofdays.
Pocketantimatterreactorspowervehicles,andspaceships
TL11 – T A andcitiesrunontotalconversionofmasstoenergy.Entire
HE GE OF
planets can be moved, or disassembled to build a shell
EXOTIC MATTER around a star. Devastating personal weapons are devel-
oped,whilenanomachinescandirectlyimprintconscious-
Technology achieves precise control over the atomic
nessintohumanbrains.
structureofobjects.Amaturemolecularnanotechnology
MostaspectsofaTL12civilizationcanberunbyintel-
is available, capable of inexpensively fabricating most
ligent machines, and most people might be machines,
products with atomic-level precision. Nanofactories
whetherwhollyorinpart.Sentientrobotscouldreproduce
(pp.91-93)makeproductsoutofdiamond-hardmaterial
themselvesrapidly,spreadinglikeaplaguetoterraform(or
(“diamondoid”).
eat!)aplanetinamatterofmonths,orbuildanyindustry
Not everything can be built in nanofactories, however.
thatisrequired.Rawmaterialsareeasytocomeby.While
The most advanced TL11 products tinker with the sub-
asteroid belts may be already used up, TL12 cultures can
atomicstructureofmattertocreateexoticmaterials.This
dismantleJupiter-sizedgasgiantsforparts.
may involve replacing electrons with super-massive parti-
Of course, if several TL12 nations existed in the same
cles (such as muons) to create hyperdense matter.
areaandnoonewantedtoleave,theywouldsoonrunout
Dependingonitsstability,thismaybeusedasacatalystfor
ofgasgiants.Thenthingsmightgetnasty...
fusionreactions(resultinginmorecompactpowerplants),
or as a component in computer hardware, armor, and Superscience: Matter transmitters can “beam up” or
otherequipment. “beam down” without a receiving booth at the other end.
Antimatterisanotherexoticmaterialthatcomesofage Regeneration rays may supersede nanotechnology for
atTL11.Asitspriceofmanufacturedrops,itbeginstosee rapidtreatmentofinjuries.Forcefieldscanaltertheflow
useasameansofcompactenergystorage.Antimatterrock- of time. Disintegrators and reality disruptor weapons
etenginesarealsoavailable. can destroy almost any target that is not protected by
Avastarrayofpowerfulbeamweaponsarenowavail- superscience defenses. Fortunately, personal force fields
able,includingportableparticlebeams(blasters)andX-ray andstasisfieldscanstopthem.
lasers. In response,armor becomes strongerand smarter,
andisusuallymadeofdiamondoidcompositesandexotic
alloys.Mostarmorispowered,fromskintightsmartsuitsto
nuclear-powereddreadnoughtbattlesuits. Even Higher TLs
Nanotechnologydominatesmedicine.Thestandardway
to heal someone is to take him apart (using the chrysalis Incrediblyadvancedtechnologiesaredifficultto
machine)andputhimbacktogetheragaininperfectcon- conceptualize,neverminduseinplay.Evenso,it’s
dition.Mindscanbecopiedwithoutdestroyingtheoriginal hardtoresistthequestionof“What’snext?”
body. Oneoptionistoassumeanageoftechnological
stagnationsetsin.TL12sciencemayanswerallthe
Superscience: Contragravity is miniaturized, resulting fundamentalquestionsoftheuniverse,andtechno-
inpersonalflyingbeltsandsmall,hyper-agilerobotmis- logical progress may not be possible. There is no
siles.Forcescreengeneratorsprotectvehiclesandinstal- TL13; science catalogs what exists rather than
lations,butarenotyetsuitableforpersonaluse.Ranged explainingit.Engineeringisnolongeraboutinven-
gravity projectors are available, leading to tractor and tion,butmerelyapplication.
pressor beams and gravitic weapons. Hypergravity tech- Anotherpossibilityistocontinueastraight-line
nology can produce stabilized hyperdense armor and progression.TL13devicesarelikeTL12butweigh
compact nuclear reactors. Matter transmission can tele- or cost half or two-thirds as much, and so on. Or
portpeoplefromplacetoplace,aslongasthereishard- superscience developments can have their TL
waretosendandreceive.Supersciencesensorscan“scan” bumpeduptoTL13+.Theymayrepresentboldnew
for just about anything, and even see through walls. inventions,orartifactsfromcivilizationsthatruled
Rangedneurotechdevicessuchasdreamnetsandneural thegalaxyeonsago.
disruptorsareintroduced.Recordedmindscanbeplayed
backintolivingbodies.
U -T 7
LTRA ECHNOLOGY
T L
ECH EVEL
Tech Level (TL) is an index of a society’s average Accelerated progression is extremely fast, in keeping
technological achievement, especially in its baseline withsomeoptimisticfuturistortranshumanistspecula-
technology. tions. At this speed, humans will reach TL12 before we
can do much in the way of colonizing the universe.
T Perhaps we won’t even bother, if the “inner space” of
ECHNOLOGICAL
nanotechnology and virtual reality provides everything
P weneed.
ROGRESSION
Fast progression is an optimistic pace of development
HowquicklyasocietyadvancesinTechLevelcanbea which recognizes that societies take some time to assimi-
crucial element of a science fiction setting, especially one late technologies. It assumes that the pace of invention
thatproceedsfromEarth’spresent. begins to flag as certain fundamental physical limits are
A rapid pace of technological change lets the GM add approached; it’s harder to play with atomic or subatomic
advanced technology to our own world without having to technologies.
makemanychangesinpresent-daycultureorinternation- Mediumprogressioncouldresultfrom“bumpsinthe
al politics. Most cyberpunk worlds are examples of this. road”suchaswarsordisasters,ortheinfluenceofpolit-
Rapidchangesuggestsadynamicsocietythatisstruggling ical movements or religious orthodoxy that impose a
tocometotermswiththelatestdevelopments. cautious approach to the sciences. This provides plenty
At the other extreme, many events common to science oftimeforhumanitytoestablishinterstellarcoloniesor
fiction settings require centuries or millennia: the estab- change society drastically without progressing beyond
lishment of large extraterrestrial populations, the rise of TL10.
newcivilizationsorempires,ortheterraformingofplanets. Slow progression might be the result of multiple wars,
If the GM wants to combine these long-range social and resource exhaustion, or powerful anti-technology move-
political developments with TL9 or TL10 equipment, it’s mentsthatputthebrakesonprogress.Aslowlydeveloping
necessarytohaveaslowpaceoftechnologicalchange.This society may have organizations devoted to controlling
may take the form of a superscience technology (such as “dangerous”technology.
FTLtravel)appearingatTL9,followedbyalongperiodof Retarded progression usually stems from technological
slowertechnologicalgrowth. stagnation,ofteninconjunctionwithaDarkAgethatcaus-
ThetablebelowdepictsfiveexamplesofTLprogression: esamajordeclineorfallofcivilization.Thisgivesplentyof
accelerated,fast,medium,slow,andretarded.Eachhasa timeforinterstellarempirestobeestablishedwithouttech-
setof“typical”startdatesforTL9+technologies,fromthe nologychanginghumanitybeyondrecognition,andpushes
perspective of a present-day terrestrial human baseline in the development of TL12 civilization into the very far
which TL8 began around 1980. These progressions can future.
easilybeadaptedtootherstartdatesforalienoralternate-
Otheroptionscanalsoexist.Acivilizationcouldreacha
historycultures.
particularTLplateauandthenfreezeorregressduetocat-
aclysmic events or social changes. A society might be
TL Progression Start Dates
stymiedbyphysicallimits,suchasonethatdevelopsunder-
TL Accelerated Fast Medium Slow Retarded wateroronaworldwithfewmetals.Societiescouldalso
9 2020 2025 2030 2040 2050 take a path where the main TL remained constant, but
10 2050 2075 2120 2200 2500 where steady progress was made in superscience, or even
11 2100 2200 2500 3000 7000 inpsionicsormagic.
12 2200 2600 4000 8000 20000
T P
ECHNOLOGY ATHS
ThestandardGURPStechlevelsrepresentjustoneof ApplytheSplitTechLevelrule(p.B511)asliberallyasyou
many paths that describe how different technologies wishtosimulateaparticularworldorgenre.Forinstance,in
paceoneanotherindevelopment.Thetechlevelsofthe a“cyberpunk”society,computing,bionics,andbiotechnolo-
various items in this book should be treated simply as gymightbeoneortwoTLsmoreadvanced.Incontrast,a
guidelines – a culture may develop some technologies “retro-tech”settingthatmimics1940ssci-fimighthavecom-
more rapidly than others. This might result from putersfrozenatTL6butothertechnologiesanywherefrom
accident,economics,abanonresearchincertainareas, TL9toTL12.Anycombinationispossible!Afew“alternative
or the way the laws of physics work in that particular technology” concepts appear below. Feel free to use them,
universe. modifythem,combinethem,orcreateyourown.
8 U -T
LTRA ECHNOLOGY