[@AdorableSaucer] Here's a good question for NJ which I'd like to run by you, could they know how to make gunpowder? Is there a way they could have feasibly attained that knowledge? If so, do they jump straight to smokeless or are they stuck on black powder? They know what guns are, so the idea's there at least. 

Also, about resource extraction. I assume that we have the ability to explore for natural deposits of certain resources? Like iron, among other things. Some of us, at least, I doubt there're many resources to be extracted from the desert.

Sorry for the 20 questions, but I think this is probably important. There's the potential that firearms are some arcane technology they can't wrap their heads around