FrivYeti/SaGComm
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Communications Technology
In the Third Age, people no longer rely entirely on Exalts and spirits to communicate across distances. The proliferation of Essence-powered devices has enabled some people to have easy access to long-distance technology, and this has, in many ways, made the world a smaller place (figuratively, of course). There are a wide variety of these devices...
Telephones
Resources oo; Resources o per month to stay connected, Resources oo per month for long-distance.
Instant communications are relatively easy in the Third Age. Telephones connect to Essence-lines, carrying words over almost any distance. These technomagical devices can only carry words to the magical signature of another telephone, which must be inputted. If the second 'phone is within a few kilometres of the first, the signal will be powerful enough to establish a connection and carry on a conversation. Telephones remain fairly large, about the size of a large box, and must be plugged into an Essence outlet and a connection port to function. Cellular phones do not currently exist outside of artifacts. Most people can't afford their own telephone, but apartment buildings can share them, and the middle classes always have their own.
To make a 'long-distance' call, a telephone must be connected into a relay set which allows multiple telephone networks to connect to each other. This is much more expensive, and generally not available to the poor or lower middle classes.
Radios
Resources oo
Broadcasting into homes can now be done as well. A radio is a single-direction telephone, designed to pick up wide-ranged broadcasts. Radio broadcasts are, in most nations, only done by perhaps a dozen stations, but allow recorded music and news (as well as live events) to be easily broadcast to large numbers of people. While radios are a bit expensive, most families can scrape together enough money for at least a beat-up and partially functional one, and listening to the radio is a common pastime among the poor in large cities.
Television
Resources ooo
