发展水平发展水平(PL)是指存在于某一特定社会或文明中的技术状态(在科幻小说中，这些社会或文明可能位于地球以外的行星上)。这种技术发展状态普遍渗透到文化的方方面面，特别是在更高级的发展水平(PL 5及以上)，因为在那一层次，远距离通讯几乎是即时的。即使在较低的发展水平时，一群人(或其他有知觉的生物)在某些方面处于一个技术水平而在另一个方面处于另一个技术水平的可能性也不大，当然也并非完全不可能。
在同一个世界，甚至同一个大陆上，不同地方的发展水平可能存在很大差异。
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PL 0: STONE AGE
The major achievements of a Stone Age society are the use of fire, the domestication of animals, and the invention of
agriculture. An individual living in a Stone Age society is primitive, but he isn’t necessarily gullible, stupid, or easily
frightened by advanced technology. Common weapons in a PL 0 civilization include the club, the dagger, the spear, and the
bow. Armor made from hide or leather is possible, as are wicker shields. Communication beyond the local tribe or settlement doesn’t exist. Travel is accomplished by foot or by simple rafts or canoes. Simple pottery, stoneworking, and woodworking
are possible.
石器时代社会的主要成就是火的运用，动物的驯化和农业的发明。一个生活在石器时代的人是原始的，但他不一定容易上当受骗，被愚弄，或者轻易被先进的技术吓到。PL 0文明中常见的武器包括棍棒、匕首、长矛和弓箭。可能存在由皮革制成的盔甲，以及柳条盾牌。与当地部落或定居点之外的交流是不存在的。旅行是通过步行或简单的木筏或独木舟完成。简单的陶器，石工，木工都是可能的。
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PL 1: BRONZE/IRON AGE
Early human civilizations began to work metal toward the end of the Stone Age. The malleability of copper led to its becoming the first metal to be“tamed.” Adding tin to copper created a much stronger alloy: bronze. This advance allowed for the crafting of tools and weapons of great durability. In turn, those improved tools made possible the working of iron, which soon replaced bronze as the metal of choice for tools and weapons.
In a Bronze/Iron Age society, advances in pottery, construction, and agriculture allow for the concentration of populations
into larger and larger groups, with a corresponding upswing in the accumulation and sharing of knowledge. The rise of
nations, citystates, and empires begins in the Bronze Age. Organized efforts to improve communications allow regional
societies to exist. Galleys and small sailing vessels are capable of relatively long voyages, and some cultures may build
extensive road or canal networks to link distant places. Improvements in agricultural efficiency permit the rise of artisans,
craftsmen, professional soldiers, and other occupations that are not directly concerned with gathering food.
The sword replaces the club and the dagger as the preferred weapon of infantry. Chariots briefly dominate warfare before
cavalry (aided by the introduction of the stirrup) renders chariots obsolete. The first true military forces or tactical systems
appear. Armor can now be made from sewn plates or scales, metal links, or even forged breastplates, and a variety of metal melee weapons dominate the battlefield.
早期人类文明在石器时代末期开始加工金属。铜的延展性使它成为第一种被“驯服”的金属。在铜中加入锡可以产生一种更坚固的合金:青铜。这一进步使人们得以制造出经久耐用的工具和武器。反过来，这些改进的工具使铁的加工成为可能，铁很快取代青铜成为工具和武器的首选金属。
在青铜/铁器时代的社会，陶器、建筑和农业的进步使得人口集中到越来越大的社群中，知识的积累和分享也随之增加。民族、城邦和帝国的兴起始于青铜时代。通过有组织的努力改善通讯，使地区性社群得以存在。帆船和小型帆船能够进行相对较长的航行，一些文明也可以建造连接遥远地方的宽阔的道路或运河网络。农业效率的提高使工匠、手工艺人、专业士兵和其他与采集食物无直接关系的职业得以兴起。
剑取代棍棒和匕首成为步兵的首选武器。战车曾一度在战争中占据主导地位，而骑兵的出现(借助马镫的引入)使将其淘汰。第一支真正的军事力量或战术系统出现。缝制，金属连接，甚至锻造的盔甲出现，各种金属近战武器主导了战场。
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PL 2: MIDDLE AGES
Maturing civilizations experience a period of turmoil and adjustment at this Progress Level. Developments continue in
architecture, commerce, metallurgy, and mathematics. Wider dissemination of information becomes possible thanks to more advanced printing techniques. Sea communications dominate in the later part of this stage of development, and sturdy seafaring carracks and galleons open the door to the next Progress Level.
As populations increase and knowledge of agriculture evolves, an increasing percentage of the population relocates into
growing cities and towns. Toward the end of this Progress Level, the feudal system, in which a small class of nobles ruled a
large population of agricultural workers, begins to collapse. Specialized crafts develop, universities appear, and the middle
class is born. The first corporations emerge in the form of trade guilds. The evolution of strong systems of trade and finance tends to distribute a society’s wealth more evenly among its members, diluting the power of the nobility.
Tools of warfare undergo a significant revolution. Sophisticated chain and plate armors protect warriors from harm, and
elaborate fortifications become something of an art form. Toward the end of the Middle Ages, the introduction of simple
gunpowder weapons signals the imminent end of knights, heavy armor, and organized armies of swordsmen.
成熟的文明在这一发展阶段上经历了一个动荡和调整的时期。建筑、商业、冶金和数学的发展仍在继续。由于更先进的印刷技术，更广泛的信息传播成为可能。在这个发展阶段的后期，海上交通占主导地位，坚固的航海大帆船为下一个发展阶段打开了大门。随着人口的增加和农业知识的发展，越来越多的人口迁移到不断发展的城市和城镇。在这个发展阶段的末尾，由少数贵族阶层统治大量农业工人的封建制度开始瓦解。专业技术发展，大学出现，中产阶级诞生。第一批公司以行业协会的形式出现。强大的贸易和金融体系的演变往往会使社会财富在其成员之间更加均匀地分配，从而稀释贵族的权力。战争工具经历了一场重大的革命。复杂的链条和板甲保护战士免受伤害，精心设计的防御工事堪比一种艺术形式。在中世纪末期，简单火药武器的引入标志着骑士、重型装甲和剑士组成的军队即将结束。
PL 3：理性时代理性时代是人类历史上思想和思想体系的发展优先于技术发明的时代。科学方法增进了人类对世界的理解。实验成为系统地检验自然的物理性质的手段。各种科学学科的研究--化学、电磁学、医学、生物学和天文学--蓬勃发展。诸如显微镜和望远镜之类的仪器使科学家能够大大扩展他们的观察和发现的范围。对科学的信赖在社会各阶层产生了波澜。迷信消失了，对世界的探索达到了顶峰。社会开始尝试新的组织形式，例如民主、公司和经济联盟继续发展。
在经济上，这一发展阶段是从中世纪的家庭作坊向工业化的过渡。大炮成为海战的主导因素，而大量的火枪和马拉野战炮则统治着战场。甚至可靠的弓箭也消失了，取而代之的是燧发枪。轻型近战武器仍然很常见。
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PL 4: INDUSTRIAL AGE
In the fourth Progress Level, the theoretical knowledge of the previous era matures into widespread practical application. The harnessing of hydraulic, steam, and electric power creates an explosion of commerce and industry. Developments such as the telegraph, the telephone, and the radio make true global communication possible. Breakthroughs in manufacturing techniques allow the construction of heavy ironclad vessels, rail transportation, and architecture of previously unimaginable size.
Pioneers venture high into the atmosphere and descend into the sea’s depths.
Urbanization is complete as individuals gather in smaller environments where they can more easily exchange goods and
information. Corporations expand in power, many establishing themselves throughout the explored world. Governments are based on political and economic factors.
The means of war change swiftly through the period. Aircraft and submersibles join the list of military assets. Reliable and
accurate rifles, pistols, and machine guns become common. Mechanized war machines herald the first great change in the art of battle since the end of the knight.
在第四个发展阶段，上一个时代的理论知识转化为成熟而广泛的实践应用。液压、蒸汽和电力的利用带来了工商业的爆炸式发展。电报、电话和无线电等的发展使真正的全球通信成为可能。制造技术的突破使得重型铁甲船的建造、铁路运输和以前无法想象的规模建筑得以实现。
先驱者冒险进入高空大气层，然后潜入深海。
随着个人聚集在更小的环境中，他们可以更容易地交换商品和信息。公司的权力不断扩大，许多公司在世界各地建立了自己的分部。政府则建立在政治和经济因素的基础上。
战争手段在这一时期迅速变化。飞机和潜水器也加入了军事资产的行列。可靠而准确的步枪、手枪和机枪变得普遍起来。现代化战争机器预示着自骑士时代以来战争艺术的第一次巨大变革。
PL 5:信息时代工业时代依靠化学动力，但在信息时代，计算机技术和电子主宰了一切。卫星信息系统和互联网以数字方式将全球连接起来。这一发展阶段，核裂变动力和武器的引入降低了化石燃料的重要性。汽车取代了火车成为普遍的出行方式。太空旅行的第一阶段：包括大型化学火箭、无人探测器和卫星，以及短期载人任务。
这个时代的科技使公民更多地参与政治。国际联盟的出现开始消解国家之间的边界。公司企业聚集力量，并开始威胁政府权威。科技对个人生活方式的影响大于对整个社会的影响。当前的大多数武器都是工业时代装备的改良版。步枪、机枪和重型榴弹炮仍在世界各地的士兵中使用。计算机火控系统和制导武器使战争更加精确和有效。试验过但从未使用过的战略武器展示了该物种有在几分钟内灭绝自己的力量。
人类经历的信息时代是充满小危机的焦虑岁月。随着时代的推移，这种紧张关系逐渐缓解，随着时代的结束，新的超级力量形成了。
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PL 6: FUSION AGE
The development of fusion power provides an efficient, nonexpendable energy source that almost obliterates the need for
chemical fuel sources. Advanced space exploration and colonization become possible. Computers become even more
accessible, reliable, and powerful, leading to the development of virtual systems and widespread access to the global Internet.Slowly, society experiences another revolution as individual nations are replaced by world powers. Megacorporations number among these new superpowers as the line between the national citizen and corporate employee is rendered indistinct. Armed with the means to eradicate the entire species, the world powers keep conflicts to the level of skirmishing and posturing, and integration of the Information Age’s improvements proceed peacefully.
Scientific advanced in genetic engineering lead to artificial evolution and the first government- and corporate-sanctioned
attempts to genetically manipulate human beings. Early results are encouraging, with the manifestation of positive and
negative mutations in the species toward the end of the age. Scientists also perfect cloning technology, and the first human clones are created.
In the later years of this age, the first crude applications of gravity induction technology appear, in the form of civilian and
military vehicles that can move through the air without using physical propulsion or consumption of fuel. Chemical-powered explosives and firearms remain the weapons of choice; fusion technology can’t be effectively miniaturized for personal combat. Nevertheless, advanced chemistry and superconducting technology change the materials and capabilities of many weapons. True spaceships become possible, propelled by powerful fusion drives, but still require a reaction mass to traverse space.
The age sees the tenuous settlement of other planets and asteroids within the same star system.
核聚变的发展提供了一种高效的、非消耗性的能源，几乎消除了对化学燃料的需求。先进的太空探索和殖民成为可能。计算机变得更加可靠和强大，访问更加便捷，这也导致了虚拟系统的发展和对全球互联网的广泛访问。渐渐地，随着个别国家被世界强国取代，社会经历了另一场革命。随着国民和企业雇员之间的界限变得模糊，大型企业逐渐出现在这些新的超级力量之中。拥有了消灭整个物种的手段，超级力量们将冲突保持在小规模冲突和故作姿态的水平，信息时代的进步和平地进行着整合。
基因工程的进步导致了人工进化和第一个被政府和企业认可的基因改造人类。早期的结果是令人鼓舞的，该新物种在年龄接近暮年时表现出了正面和负面的突变。科学家还完善了克隆技术，第一个克隆人诞生了。
在这个时代的后期，重力感应技术的第一个粗略应用出现了，其形式为民用和军用车辆，可以在不使用物理推进或消耗燃料的情况下使其在空中移动。化学炸药和火器仍然是首选武器;核聚变技术不能有效地小型化用于个人作战。
然而，先进的化学和超导技术改变了许多武器的材料和性能。真正的宇宙飞船在强大的核聚变引擎的推动下成为可能，当然仍然需要反应物质才能穿越空间。
这个时代见证了同一星系中其他行星和小行星的移民定居。
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PL 7: GRAVITY AGE
As this Progress Level opens, the invention of two key technologies herald humanity’s climb to the stars. The gravity induction reactor systematically replaces fusion power as an even more efficient source of energy that can be miniaturized with great ease. With the use of the mass reactor, world powers explore, divide, and colonize the entirety of the local star system. For the most part, life on the home planet is unchanged.
The second advance of the era brings perhaps the greatest upheaval in the history of human civilization. The introduction and integration of gravity induction technology leads to the creation of the induction engine, which allows starships to bridge the gap between the stars. Political and economic reorganization occurs as the species spreads far from home.
Projectile firearms are in their last days, as crude energy weapons become available. Powered armor is available to warriors of this age. Personal (melee) weapons enjoy a resurgence, due in large part to a shift in military tactics—armed conflict between individuals seldom occurs on an army scale, but more frequently involves engagements of small units in conditions when ranged weapons are not necessarily effective.
Computer technology links every society, settlement, and outpost of a star system in a single information net, creating an unparalleled and expedient exchange of knowledge and data for business, entertainment, and research.
随着这一发展阶段的开始，两项关键技术的发明拉开了人类开拓群星的序幕。引力感应反应堆，作为一种甚至更高效并非常容易小型化的能源，系统地取代了核聚变。随着大规模反应堆的使用，世界强权探索、分裂和殖民整个本地恒星系统。在大部分情况下，母星上的生活是不变的。
时代的第二个进步带来的也许是人类文明史上最大的剧变。引力感应技术的引入和集成导致了感应引擎的诞生，它可以让星际飞船跨越恒星之间的天堑。随着物种远离家园，政治和经济的重组发生了。
随着粗糙的早期能量武器的出现，实弹火器的时代接近终结。这个时代的战士可以使用动力装甲。个人(近战)武器重新兴起，很大程度上是由于军事战术的转变——个人之间的武装冲突很少发生在军队规模上，更多的是在远程武器不一定有效的，小单位之间的交战。
计算机技术将一个恒星系统中的每个社会、定居点和前哨站连接在一个单一的信息网络中，为商业、娱乐和科研创造了一个无与伦比的知识和数据的便利交换渠道。
PL 8:能量时代感应发动机技术的不断小型化使得鹅卵石大小的反应堆可以创造并利用基本力。强大的个人力场屏障和能量武器主宰了战场，投掷武器在统治了战场一千年后终于消失了。更加小型化的传感器、护盾和引擎允许批量生产小型、实用的星际战斗机。另一方面，先进的建筑技术允许人类在太空中建造巨大的、自给自足的城市。
PL 9及以上一般来说，这一阶段的技术水平是无法达到或理解的，尽管可能存在一些孤立的世界或未被发现的物种可以接近它。在通常情况下应该是这样，早期的标志性技术被抛弃，取而代之的是更优雅、更强大的技术。
在技术发展的这个阶段，物质在亚原子水平上的操控、穿越时间的能力或“折叠空间”以缩短旅行距离的能力都是可能的。
购买较低或较高发展水平的物品发展水平是相对的，根据战役的经济情况，GM可能会选择让某些更高或更低发展水平的道具变得不可用、更便宜或更贵。为了游戏的平衡，GM如果想让角色获得低PL和高PL的道具，应该按照以下方式调整道具的购买DC。
•-2为每比当前的发展水平低一级的购买DC，但贵重古董除外。
•+5为每比当前的发展水平高一级的购买DC(购买尖端技术的限制)。
未来的低发展水平大多数现代战役都设置为PL 5。因此，设定在地球未来的战役通常以拥有PL 6或更高的社会为特征。然而，未来背景中的角色可能仍然会遇到技术落后的社会，可能是通过探索时间旅行,到另一个世界的旅行或其他情节设置。因此，较低的发展水平包含其中。
引力感应引力控制是PL 7的主要特点之一。引力科学和引力工程的发展带来了许多神奇的装置:悬浮汽车、不需要反应物质的星际引擎以及广泛的军事工具。正如电磁学的发现刺激了电的应用，引力能装置的发明导致了对重量的有效控制。
引力感应依赖于爱因斯坦狭义相对论中首次提出的现象:当一个物体的速度接近光速时，该物体的质量接近无穷。通过使用回旋加速器将微小粒子加速到接近光速，引力发生器在粒子和周围物质之间产生引力子。通过使用感应线圈，这些引力子可以被收集、导向或储存。
在PL 7，特殊应用的引力感应器可以缩小到冰球的大小。一个强大到足以抵消地球对人类引力的感应器大约只有铁饼大小，而飞行汽车中需要一个备胎大小的引力引擎。
