Bay 12 Games Forum

((A game set in the Ancient World, but Alternate History (AH) and most likely involving fantasy elements))

((Gonna keep this one fairy simple. No novel-like intro here))

The ancient world was a place of wonder and mystique. Mighty empires and stubborn tribes. Here, one can become a legend or die in obscurity.

Dominating Europe, the Romanum Imperia enforces Pax Romana, its terrifying legions protecting its borders and bringing the wrath of Jupiter down on any foe stupid or brave enough to anger them.

To the North and North East, Germanics, Slavs, Finno-Ugrics, Rhoxolani Sarmatians, Sythians, Greek Colonists, Alans, Cumans, Tengrics and many more barbarian and horse lord steppe peoples live, war and thrive. Their fleeting confederations war against one another and the Romans nearby.

To the south, past the deserts of Africa, the Nubian Kingdoms, the proud sons of Kush, test Roman defenses in Aegyptus, and lend aid to their Sabaean and Arab neighbours in the Arab peninsula, who also cause problems for the Romans and their Petran and Palmyran allies.

And to the east, Romes old nemesis, the Parthians, now known as the Sassanian Persians, ever pretentious, ever stubborn, to brave or stupid to bend the knee to the might of Rome......

.....and in the far east, a storm brews. Survivors claim it is heralded by a thundering of hooves and a storm of arrows, their advance unrelenting and unbreakable. How will this unstoppable force react when it encounters an unmovable object?


Internally, the reforms of Marcus Aurelius in the later 2nd century AD reduced the power of the Emperor, reinstating the power of the Senate and the people, leading to the change from Absolute Rulership to that of a more Constitutional Empire, with a warrior-Emperor Head of State and a powerful government giving representation and intelligent, clear governance to the people and the military.

Without the strain of being ruled by a single man, the rise of regionalism never happened. The fracturing of the empire, never happened. The third century crisis, never happened. Rome only grew stronger, richer, more powerful.

Now, Rome marches, but its enemies stand firm.

Where do you stand? For, or against?


Who are you? (Name, Gender, profession etc)

Where do you hail from:

1) Rome/Roman Empire Province (Write In) - The famous (or infamous) sons of Mars and Jupiter, daughters of Venus and Diana.

2) Greek Colonist - Hailing from the Bosphorus and Caffa Province (Crimea), these Greeks left Greece after the Romans annexed the city states. They brought their knowledge, equpiment and skills, and now the little Bosphoran Empire is a constant thorn in Romes side.

3) Barbarian/Steppe Tribe (From any Germanic, Slavic, Finno-Ugric, Ughur, Rhoxolani Sarmatian, Sythian, Alan, Cuman, Tengric, Turkoman or other Barbarian tribe from the period 100BC onwards; if the tribe is obscure, please provide a sources so I can be as accurate as possible when writing them).

4) Nubian - The black african sons of Kush, known for their brutal efficiency, martial prowess and powerful longbows. Also like pyramids.

5) Petran or Palmyran - The crafty and manupilative Queendoms of Petra and Palmyra attached themselves to the might of Rome like limpets once the superiority of Roman Might was assured. They are Romes eyes in the east, their people capable of infiltrating and influencing Romes enemies.

6) Sassanian/Parthian - The nemesis of Rome. Their mounted troops are the bane of Romes heavy infantry, and their Empire reaches almost as far as that of the Romans themselves.

7) Other. Write in. I am also allowing Indian and Chinese starts as both the Romans and Parthians/Sassanians had contact with India and China.


THe object of the game is to play a witness and participent in an alternate 4th century AD Ancient world. You can be a member of the military, working your way up the ranks and taking direct part in the conflicts of the time, or you can be a civilian, caught up in the trouble and tribulations of the world whilst at the same time experiencing some of the more mysterious goings on both at home and abroad in your home nation/tribe...