The level of technology available when the vehicle is designed has a significant impact on what can be included in your vehicle. The Drawing Board considers nine levels of technology, referred to as TR (Tech Rating). TR 0 is the modern-day, 21st century world. Negative TRs indicate more primitive technology; positive TRs indicate higher, science fiction technology.

This is stone-age technology. Contrary to popular opinion, however, stone-age people did have technology, and they did have vehicles. Said vehicles were limited to rafts, dugout canoes, travois and sledges, but they did exist. Some advanced communities used rollers to help transport heavy objects on land.

The Bronze Age saw surprisingly advanced vehicles, especially for ships and land transportation. While early sails were smaller and less efficient than later versions, skilled oarsmen powered many vessels. Animal-drawn land vehicles, such as carts, wagons, and chariots, became widespread. The chariot, a testament to the engineering and tactical thinking of the era, emerged as a powerful and mobile force on the battlefield.

The Middle Ages witnessed a significant leap forward in shipbuilding with the introduction of improved sails, such as lateen sails, and sturdier hull designs like clinker-built construction. Advancements in harnessing techniques allowed for greater efficiency in animal-drawn vehicles. Winter travel also saw improvements with the development of sledges featuring better runners for easier movement on snow. Improved steering mechanisms on wagons and carriages enhanced maneuverability and comfort for passengers.

Sails reached their pinnacle in design during this time period, but the seeds of change were sown with the exploration of alternative propulsion. The introduction of steam power led to the development of paddle wheelers. While this new technology wasn't yet sufficiently compact or efficient for land vehicles, new advancements in metallurgy led to better suspension, making land travel easier and more comfortable. Perhaps the most significant change for vehicles was the rise of firearms. This revolutionized warfare, forcing a re-evaluation of vehicle design for both offense and defense.

The rise of industrialism saw an explosion in vehicle technologies. Steam-powered railways, automobiles, tanks, the development of the airplane…all of this happened against a backdrop of major world conflicts. This is the earliest time-period in which submarines and airplanes become viable.

This is the modern era, the 21st century. Aircraft fly faster than the speed of sound; trains have been streamlined to operate at ridiculous speeds as well. Spacecraft are still in their infancy, but have become common enough that people no longer view them as science fiction impossibilities. Nuclear power allows ships to remain at sea for years, or allow submarines to remain submerged for weeks.