So I’m going to start this with a summary of Ages. I refer to them as hard points in time, which I’m sure will upset anyone who actually studies history, as every civilization has entered the various ages at their own pace. Best example is probably Japan, which only entered the Bronze Age at about 300 BCE, while the Romans at the same time had already entered the Iron Age. Go figure.

So, to start I’ll explain that there are eight races on this world. Humans, Elves, Dwarves, and Beastkin. Beastkin are neat, in that they come in many different individual species, though all of the species will be from an omnivore or carnivore group with minor exceptions. No farm animals, no deer or anything like that. Also no reptiles or birds, for reasons that will be noted in the next paragraph.

Other than those four you also have the Orcs, Tengu, Naga, and Dungeons. For those who don’t know, the Tengu are bird men, who have the head of either crows or I’ve also heard blackbirds. Not sure about the second one, but mine will be crows. And the Naga are a race of snake people who are almost entirely snake. However they have humanlike features as well, especially the younger they are. The older a Naga is, the more likely they will gain more snakelike features.

And yes, Dungeons are a race all to their own. Granted I should say that they are Dungeon Cores, or something like that, but everyone will understand. The Dungeons are the only race that doesn’t reproduce naturally, is not required to actually meet the requirements for advancement by Age, and aren’t even required to reveal themselves as a sentient race. However, the flip side of that is their restrictions, which I’ll talk about later.

The reason I explained all of this with the Ages is because I’ve decided that for the world to advance an age, all of them have to advance. What this means is that the entire world will not advance in technology or culture until every race has obtained at least the baseline for changing the Age. From Stone Age to Bronze Age, all that means is a civilization needs to be using bronze for most of their tools and such. Not so hard, right.

For the technology ages that is actually the key thing. From Stone Age to the Information Age and possibly beyond, everything relies on meeting some technological requirement. Stone Age was stone tools, and that corresponds, with Bronze and Iron Ages as well.

The next Age, the Classical Age, starts with the discovery of Histiography and Writing really. Some civilizations will discover writing before this point of course, but until every civilization has both, the world won’t advance.

The Ages go as such for technology: Stone, Bronze, Iron, Classical, Early Medieval, Late Medieval, Renaissance, Exploration, Industrial, Machine, Information and finally Space. Each one is best described by specific technologies that were invented essentially for use in those ages. For example, the Age of Exploration was heavily influenced by technologies that were designed for sailing ships, things like improving the sails, and improving upon the hull plans for said ships.

That said, we also have some other Ages. Magic Ages. These are essentially the same as the technology ages except, well, magic. The big difference here is that the Technology Ages have to advance for a civilization, the Magic Ages do not. The Magic Ages require specific milestones to advance, such as the creation of new spells, or the forming of magical schools. If there aren’t anyone to advance that in a civilization, magic will stagnate, at least in advancement. But it can still keep up with the other civilizations through technology. Technology is the important one overall.

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Kind of weird, as this will be a fantasy story, with some science fiction elements, but it’s okay. At a certain point, the world will be “united” enough, that if there are any advancements, everyone should be getting it at the same time roughly. Granted that’s a semi-standard approach to the whole thing, with magic taking a secondary role in the whole endeavor.

The Ages of Magic will go: Primordial, Gods, Runic, Archaic, Grimoire, Alchemy, Divination, Academia, Early Enchantment, Late Enchantment, Grand, and Dimensional.

As you might infer, the Space Age, and the Age of Dimensional Magic are similar in that they both involve the leaving of the celestial body on which the story will take place. To help explain this, I will generally describe the different Ages.

Stone Age= People first used stone tools.

Bronze= People first used Bronze tools

Iron= Majority of people were using Iron tools that had carbon reinforcing them.

Classical= Recording history and writing become major things.

Early Medieval= Started with the Castles and such, but feudalism also started here.

Late Medieval= Siege warfare became big, this was the time period where the Magna Carta was created, and lasted for quite a while.

Renaissance= Gunpowder weapons take on a major role.

Exploration= Explorers went and completed several goals, such as circumnavigation, and opening trade routes between continents by the sea.

Industrial= Invention of several basic machines means mass production of items.

Machine= Machine driven or powered items become a normal occurrence. This includes vehicles and powered production machines. In all, increases production rates again, while reducing number of people required to manufacture.

Information= Significant Jump. Computers, the Internet, and cellular phones allow for instant communication with anyone in the world.

Space= Also known as the Inner Solar Age, commits to traveling between the planets and moons of the solar system.

Primordial= Age when Magic is completely untamed

Gods= Gods come and create the first divine magic users. Only possible after the Gods have broken the strength of the Primordial Age.

Runic= Somehow, mortals are given the basic keys to using magic outside of Divine Magic. Most commonly this is because of Runes that mortals use to achieve magical effects.

Archaic= First “official” practicioners. First magical orders are formed.

Grimoire= Practicioners start recording. Books that are used are referred to as Grimoires, and hold a practicioners entire life experience with magic.

Alchemy= Schools of magic are formed and slowly separated. Alchemy takes the forefront of this, as alchemists are able to create potions, change lead to gold, and create the Elixer of Life.

Divination= The second most useful school of magic to ordinary people rises in strength with the increase of “commercial” magic.

Academia= Creation of the Academies for Magic, whatever they are officially named, and disbands the apprentice system for the majority of practicioners.

Early Enchantment= Starts creating magical items that anyone can use, forms groups to research new enchantments.

Late Enchantment= Streamlines the process of creating enchantments, while also increasing safety measures. Can get into mass production of enchantments.

Grand= Also known as the Grand Age of Magic. During the Grand Age everyone is capable of using some form of magic, be it artifact or some other method.

Dimensional= Uses Gate or Portal magic to transport to alternate worlds. Depends on where you want to go what type of gate or portal you require.