Richter Scale of Cultural Development
Dr. Roeland Richter first published the Richter Scale of Cultures in 2203. Since then it has become the Federation's most important tool for determining at which point in a civilization's development the Prime Directive no longer need apply. Most first contacts missions take place when a society reaches a classification of G. Exceptions include planets that do not wish contact, planets that were already contacted by non-federation agencies, and planets that were contacted before the Richter Scale of Cultures was devised. The classifications in the Richter Scale of Cultures is not necessarily an in-order listing of power per se, although that usually is the case. Attributes like planetary government and non-aggressiveness are factored in. Ratings higher than our own (N) are extremely speculative since more advanced beings and races are not always forthcoming about themselves and we usually have no way of covertly or openly studying them.
Class |
Description |
Examples |
AAA |
No Known Intelligent Indigenous Life-forms |
Ceti Alpha V, Manark IV, Melnos IV, Miridian IV, Nelvana III, Nervala V, Ohniaka III, Omicron Ceti III, Quazulu VIII, Regulus V, Septimus Minor, Sherman's Planet, Tethys III, Titus IV, Vilmor II, Zayra IV. |
AA |
Prehistoric Age (No tools) |
Alpha Carinae II, Alpha Majoris I, Bardakia, Berengaria VII, Dimorus IV, El-Adrel IV, No'Mat, Ruah IV, Surata IV. |
AS |
Primitive Space Dwelling |
Alpha Omicron System (Junior), Giant Amoeba, Nitrium Parasites from the Pelloris Asteroid Belt near Tessen III, Ordek Nebula (Wogneers) |
A |
Stone Age |
Altair 3, Gamma Trianguli VI (Vaal), Hanson's Planet |
AR |
Primitive (RESTRICTED-NO CONTACT PERMITTED) |
Tarchannen III, Tarella, Taurus II |
B- |
Agricultural Age |
Malkus IX, Miramanee's Planet, Rousseau V |
B |
Metal Age |
Apella, Capella IV, Sigma Draconis VI, Galvin V, Malurians (before demise), Rigel VII, Zeta Bootis III (Neural) |
C- |
Scientific Intelligence with No Tools |
Janus V, Tyrellia |
C |
Scientific Age |
Barkon IV, Fendaus V, Mintaka III |
D- |
Pre-Industrialization |
M-113 (Before demise), Omega IV, Organian Society's Outward Appearance, Sigma Draconis III |
D |
Steam Age |
Argo, Brax, Canopus II, Omicron IV, Rigel VII, Tartarus V |
D+ |
Electric Age |
Landris III, Minara II (Before relocation), Mintonia, Rubicun III (Edo) |
E- |
Liquid Fuels Age |
Kraus IV, Loren III, Stakoron II, Suvin IV |
E |
Atomic Age |
Barzans, Deneb IV (Bandi), Beta III, Mordan IV, Sigma Iotia II |
F |
Space Age |
Alpha Carinae V, Altec, Argelius II, Balosnee V, Brekka, Kea IV, Penthara IV, Sarona VII, Straleb, Talin IV, Theta VII, Turkana |
F+ |
Conscientious Space Age |
Halkans, Marajaretus V, Norpin Colony, Tagus III, Thalos VII, Tohvon III |
G |
Fusion Age |
Antica (Beta Renna System), Deneb II, Drema IV, Gamma Vertis IV, Jaros II, Ligon II, Manu III, Minos Corva, Nahmi IV, Niau, Oph |
H |
Planet Age |
892 IV (Magna Roma), Angel One, Bre'el IV, Ekos, Elas, Kataan, Kenda II, Krios, Malcor III, Ornara, Phylos II, Quadra Sigma III |
I |
Star Age |
Algolia, Altair V, Antide III, Barolia, Breen, Chalna, Corvan II, Gamelan V, Largo V, Ligos VII, Miradorns, Pakleds, Pelleus V, |
J |
Expansion Age |
Alcyones, Berellians, Brakas V, Gault, Lysia, Mudor V, Nausicaa, Ogus II, Otar II, Qualor II, Sothis III (Sataarans), Shiralea |
K |
Introversion Age |
Acamar III, Alpha Proxima II, Beta Antares IV, Coridan, Epsilon Hydra VII, Gamaris V, Mizar II, Narendra III, Nimbus III, Pelia |
K+ |
Enlightment Age |
15 Lyncis II (Cait), Bajor, Gaspar VII, Hoek IV, Hurkos III, Kurl (Before Demise), Mariah IV, Mataline II, Meles II, Memory Alpha |
L |
Power Age |
Angosia III, Beltane IX, Benzar, Devidia II, Dopteria, Eminar VII, Epsilon Canaris III, Lenaria, Mantilles, Mariposa, Melina II, Midos V, Milika III, Morikin VII, Oceanus IV, Promelians, Rakhar, Rigel II, Rutia IV, Tagra IV, Tarsus IV, Vendikar, Zadar IV. |
M |
Ion Age |
Alpha Cygnus IX, Ardana, Bilana III, Catualla, Canopus III, Dachlyds, Daran V, Delos IV, Deneb V, Gonal IV, Hurada III, Kaelon II, Kaldra IV, Krisa, Kostalain, Lemma II, Makus III, Menthars (Before Demise), Merak II, Nehru Colony, Zaldor. |
MR |
Ion Age (RESTRICTED-NO CONTACT PERMITTED) |
Kavis Alpha IV (Evolved Nanites), Ktaria, Mab-Bu VA, Moab IV, Rigel VIII (Orion), Sarthong V, Tanuga IV, Velara III. |
N- |
Pre-Technocracy Age |
Aurelia, Axanar, Beta Lankal, Beta Thoridar, Beta V, Beth Delta 1, Bolarus IX, Cardassia, Edo (Edoans), Ferenginar, Kora II, Malaya IV, Talaria, Tau Ceti III (Kaferia), Tiburon. |
N |
Technocracy Age |
51 Cygni V (Tellar), Alpha Centauri, Alpha III, Andor (Epsilon Indii VIII), Arvada III, Babel, Benecia, Bersallis III, Beta Agni II, Boreth, Borka VI, Cygnet 1II, Deneva, Earth, Gideon, Gornar, Haven, Klaestron IV, Marcos 1II, Minos Korva, Q'onos (Klinzhai), Rigel IV, Rigel V. |
NR |
Technocracy Age (RESTRICTED-NO CONTACT PERMITTED) |
Minos, Platonius, Remus, Romulus, Scalos, Sheliak Corporate, Tau Cygna V, Tholia, Tilonus IV. |
N+ |
Civil Technocracy Age |
Betazed, Caldonia, Chandra V, Danula II, Delb II, Delta IV, Efrosia, Icor IX, New Fabrina, Ramatis III, Tamaria, Trill, Ulians, Vulcan, Yonada, Zakdor. |
N+PR |
Civil Technocracy Age(RESTRICTED-NO CONTACT PERMITTED) |
Gagarin IV, Torona IV. |
NS |
Space Dwelling Civil Age |
Beta Renna Cloud, Beta 1II-A Entity, Calamarain, Crystaline Entity, Dikironium Cloud Entity, FGC-IVVII Entities, Gamma Canaris Entity (Companion), Space Jellyfish. |
O |
Techno-Power Age |
Bynaus, Cerebus II, Legara IV, Medusa, Mudd, Sarpeidon (Before Demise), Vorgons (From the 27th Century) |
P |
Super Techno-Power Age |
Amusement Park Planet, Dyson Sphere Builders, Iconia (Before demise), Old Ones of Exo III (Before Demise), Rubicun III (Edo God), Sargon's Planet (Before demise), Triacus (Epsilon Indii IV, before demise). |
PS |
Space Dwelling Super Techno-Power Age |
Gomtuu (Tin Man), V'ger, "Whale" Probe |
Q |
Cloaking Age |
Aldea |
R |
Exploratory Age |
Cytherians, Tkon Empire (Before demise), Makers (of Androids on planet Mudd), Vians. |
S |
Transformation Age |
Antos IV, Daled IV |
T |
Illusory Age |
Melkotia, Prakal II. |
TR |
Illusory Age (RESTRICTED-NO CONTACT PERMITTED) |
Talos IV |
U |
Dimensional Age |
Guardian of Forever, Tau Alpha C (Traveler), Triskelion (Providers) |
V |
Altering Age |
Excalbia, Trelane of Gothos, Kelvans, Pollux V (Apollo-Before demise), Pyris VII beings (Korob & Sylvia) |
W |
Galactic Age |
Bajoran Wormhole Entities (Prophets), Dowds, Kalandans, Metrons, Preservers. |
WR |
Galactic Age (RESTRICTED-NO CONTACT PERMITTED) |
Vagra II (Armus), Lactra VII |
X- |
Pre-Non-Corporeal |
Discarders of Armus, Zalkonians. |
X |
Non-Corporeal Age |
Organians, Thasians, Koinonians, Zetarians. |
XX |
Nigh Omnipotence Age |
The Q Continuum. |