The Cross-Discovery Association Metric (often abbreviated as CDAM - awkwardly pronounced by a few informally as Kh-dam, or even C-Dam) is a measurement deployed by the OA governance in determining a level of trade, threat, or versatility of a distant realm based on how they can relate to the OA itself.
There are numerous values and levels warranting a place on the list. This criteria is supposed to especially reflect the relations the OA in determining Vahamin trade/diplomacy, or how a
Solavore prepares when entering it. Often the merits observed for a rating include...
- Do they know what the OA is?
- Is the world relative enough that they can come to the OA and survive?
- What is their technological level? Does it include cross-universal travel or manipulation?
- Has a traveler or rift been discovered by them before?
- Do they integrate any cross-uni changes as divine, scientific, or other?
- Is there a true existence of something potentially divine, or similar within the subject area?
- What is the probability ratio of hostile:peace meetings of the sentient beings?
- Would they be interested in material or data exchange?
- Are they actively making demands, or trying to interfere with OA activity?
- Do they have natives migrating, renting, or living as a minority race of the OA?
The following is the closest best system configured to OA standards of the time. When placed on the list, and rated, a species and/or universe is subjected to change should any major developments occur. Alternatively there is a secondary scale at play. The classifying name better distinguishes its place, while a number distinguishes its ease of access and regulatory standing from readings of 0-2; Two being more of a threat, or needing legal clearing, while a zero is most relaxed.
Class: Zero - 0
These worlds have absolutely no foreseeable or known trace idea of the OA. In all likelihood, the OA itself doesn't know much about them either, barely visits, or is in a drone-only phase. At its best, the place knows existence of something coming from a mystified idea of portals or rifts, but doesn't understand nearly enough context. - Example: A Vahamin might have arrived for a quick study, and their entire idea of the OA is
"Space Creature descends from a flashing star, and speaks funny things."
Class: Token - 0
Token Class people or regions are those in a category that know of the OA, but don't quite know anything serious about the OA, up to and including potentially that said name or acronym. These people or worlds are only aware of the consistent trend that there are visitors from another place, and they may have forged cultures, rites, tributes, or fables around them that are merely anecdotal or false in entirety. Often they can be exploited for those with the ready mortality to try it.
Silyfian are a good example.
Class: Storm - 2
Storm class is a very hostile class that tend to be just as ignorant. These are often races or places that get discovered to be primitive enough that they can do nearly no OA harm, but may very much be harmful and instantly hostile to any OA visit or interference. They won't hire a Solavore, nor even take the time to understand the language to discuss with the likes of Vahamin. They want outsiders gone, and likely have little to offer. As such most are recommended to be avoided, or to at least approach with a reason and protection.
Class: Vahakin - 1
Vahakin is named in part after the Vahamins themselves. This classification in category is where the people are more conscious and correct of the OA, but don't entirely possess the same parity of tech. Often these races are stuck on their own universe, or share in jumps with the OA officials, but in either scenario are willing and able to deal in trade, info, or relations. This is often also the stage where Solavores are viable to see some reoccuring contract work, though it often needs to be handled with some proxy involvement like a messenger. Smuggled goods can start being more of a ripe danger though, as can be occasional smaller political requests or demands that may use ease of trade as a leverage.
Class: Comet - 1
Comet class variants are those that can travel back, and might make as many visits or tours as the OA would itself. They tend to be curious study types often like the Vahamins, which sometimes leads to fair exchanges, or mutual alliances, but other times it can get very weird or disturbing fast. On the other hand, they may think the same of OA. These races tend to have the potential to do some harm, or ask for political favors in cross-association, often forbidding or asking to ban the entire function of jobs like Solavores. However despite the risks or political persuasion, they are recognized mostly as more friendly or neutral, and OA civilians may visit under most decent circumstances the same way they might a Token or Vahakin class. Technically if the OA considers a system to be a "Sister Verse" (Vulnerable to rifts or a major OA contributor, but not legally notarized as an OA territory), it is also put under this classification.
Class: Hornet - 2
A Hornet class type is arguably the worst on the CDAM. It's a region or race intelligent enough to cross-travel, trace, or even outsmart or outpower most of the OA. Often this classification also suggests they are hostile or easily ready to be so, and may seek to steal data, follow back vessels or drones, and are likely prepared to kill Solavore hunters on sight... or even have ways to kill any intrusion on entry. These regions are often forbidden without serious legal approval and reason. May be stealthily monitored strictly as a defense to ensure the other side doesn't launch an offense.
Class: Solrant - 2
The name comes from an old poem, ranting about an angry star ready to consume its universe. Solrant has since become slang for some adjectives, including this classification. Solrant class systems are places where the environment itself is not going to welcome any serious travel. For safety reasons its often forbidden access without some proper authorizing. While these systems can be unstable for physics reasons, or material incompatibility, etc, there is a chance that a Zero class, or Vahakin grade place goes to Solrant over something like a microbacterial outbreak that the OA people are deathly vulnerable to. As such, this has also been considered by some to be the "Pandemic" rating.
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