This is one option for a SG like background. It is not entirely compatible
with SG canon, and it does not always pick the options i like best, but i
think it neatly combines some issues discusssed here to a consistent
picture.
There is a race of high tech Amish. They have a psi power, that kicks in,
once there is a critical mass of them around (somehow defined by
population density and number of people, the exact mechanics are likely
not game relevant). It enables them to find a compromise solution for the
interests of everyone in reach of the ability, and forces them to adopt
that solution.
Propably the ability works also on aliens (such as humans), either fully,
or it just includes them in peoples, who's interests need to be
considered.
For most of them, this means a happy peacefull life. However among them
are also sadistic individuals, who derive pleasure from the suffering of
others. They are a minority, so their interests are ignored, making them a
supressed minority, unhappy with what society forces them to do.
Then came interplanetary space travel, and that allowed them to venture
outside of the influence of the dreaded psi power, to lead a lifestyle
appropriate to their nature among alien primitives.
Mainstream society is forced to supply them with some equipment, when they
come home, since if they are there, but their alien subjects are not,
their interests factor into the great compromise, while thoose of absent
aliens do not. (at least if they have something to pay for the equipment
they buy) They will however dislike going home under the spell of the
great compromise, so most of them will try to stretch the intervals
between purchases as long as they can, and only buy what they really need
or want.
Which can explain weired gaps in equipment.
That society will likely originally not have developed many advanced
weapons. After their equivalent of antiquity likely warfare became
obsolete and weapon development stopped. The expatriates will then have
started again, with ultratech at their hands, but based on weapons
technology, where crossbows propably have not been invented yet.
They also might see their empires as going back to the good old days,
explaining other antiquity look and feel.
They also will live in constant fear, that they will be forced out of
their sadistic lifestyle again, by their subjects. So they will prefere
thinly populated empires, with many remotely managed outposts, they will
avoid their own kind and they will promote sadism and cruelity among
their subjects, the closer they are the more, to preserve a sadistic
majority.
The last can explain putting villiany over ecconomic sense.
All in all, it gives a reason for isolated little empires of card carrying
villians, that have great technology, but do not use them effectivly.
One mans groundfloor is an other mans earthmissle
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Johannes Trimmel
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