What if, on January 1st of the year 500 BC, people began to learn use magic, and build magical technology? It's up to the players. This is an alternate history game in which players edit a map of the ancient world, to show the progression of history, and accompany it with descriptive text, inventions, cultural developments, etc.
How to Edit the Map:
Just save or copy the map into MS Paint, or a similar program, zoom to your desired amount, and use the eyedropper, fill, and pencil tools to draw up new borders and fill them in the color of a nation.
Rules:
1. At least in the beginning, try to obey the facts of history. Not to the letter, but enough to have cultures be somewhat accurate.
2. Despite the wide use of magic being intended in this game, please don't go crazy with it at the start. No golem armies of Hannibal,a t least until it's gone on for some time.
3. Don't blatantly contradict the updates of others, and obey the posting order.
4. Add some cultural and scientific texture to the game, besides the bread and butter that is military action.
5. Each turn will last ten years. For example, the first turn will be from 500 BC to 490 BC.
6. The image map is required to post an update, even if there are no visible changes.
How to Play:
Post in the thread with a post marked -Reserved-. You'll then have at most 12 hours to complete the update. If you don't complete the reserved spot by editing the post withing that time limit, the turn will go on to the next person in line for a turn. People can play as often or as little as you like, and anyone can have a turn.
Summary of the World:
In Asia, the Chinese Zhou-dynasty states war with each other, theoretically controlled by an emperor, but acting like separate nations. In Vietnam, the predynastic Vietnamese thrive upon the Red River. In India, loosely-connected city-states trade amongst each other. The great city-states of Greece create great cultural works and philosophy, as well as being a military powerhouse. In Rome, a humble republic has arrived, yet to expand beyond their city, with the old Etruscans to the north and Greek colonies to the south, as well as other small latin cities. In North Africa, Carthage's oligarchy searches for new ways to make money off of the ancient world. The mighty Persian Empire Finally, in the Americas, cultures in the Yucatan and the Andes are trapped in the stone age, but the arrival of magics could change them. It could change the entire world.
Side Note: Black lines mark national borders, nations with white fill are cultural groups, and grey lines mark provincial boundaries.
