Tamerlane

THE IMMORTAL GOD-EMPEROR OF MANKIND LAUGHS AT YOUR FRAIL "FORCE"!

Also, whatever happened to that idea for a fan-made MLP episode?

Does anyone remember that old adage of Sturgeon's Law?

You have an unlimited budget, and the masked man promises that he can get any actor on set. He also claims to know dark rituals to resurrect the dead, and youthen the aged, so you can get people from WHENever you want as well.

There goes my plan to have 19th century European figures to play the Mane Six.

You know, there's something about the New Lunar Republic that reminds me of the rise and fall of President Louis-Napoleon of the Second French Republic.

Dear Princess Celestia,

I learned today that only Muslims were allowed to serve in the town militias of the Ottoman Empire during the 16th century.

Wait a second...

Nyet.

I've been contemplating a story set in Marabia for quite awhile now. Basically, the story would revolve around a Pegasus named Autumn Breeze, who becomes obsessed with the Daring Do books as a colt, and subsequently decides to become an archaeologist. After going to study in Canterlot, Autumn (who calls himself Monsoon, after his childhood alter-ego) goes an joins an archaeological dig that will go to Marabia to investigate a recently uncovered settlement. However, when Monsoon realises that being an archaeologist isn't as glamourous as he thought, he begins to wander off and subsequently discovers that the settlement was actually a spell-testing site for the cruel dictator Sultan Hazred, and ends up in a dangerous complex with real traps. After nearly getting killed nearly a dozen times, Monsoon eventually comes to have some sort of epiphany about fantasy and reality (or something like that). Any thoughts on my story idea? Any ways to improve it, or maybe contribute on what the nature of Monsoon's epiphany is?

It has been centuries since the extinction of Mankind, and the world is a very difference place. In the place of humanity, the Earth has been inherited by a variety of sentient ungulates and many 'mythical' creatures. However, it is the descendant of the common horse that looks like they will be the masters of this new world. Ponies are divided into three 'kinds': Earth Ponies, which apart from the presence of "Cutie Marks" and unusual hair colouring, are very similar to ponies. Unicorns have the ability to wield magic with via use of their horns, whilst Pegasi have the ability to fly with their wings and can miraculously walk on clouds. However, the spirit of unity and cooperation have yet to be universal, and these new factions are all competing for dominance in this new world..

Welcome to Europa Equestrianus, a play-by-post game of the Imperium Offtopicum variety. Imperium Offtopicum (IOT) is a role-playing game spun out of the Altered Maps thread in Off-Topic of Civilization Fanatics Forum, hence the name. Players assume the role of leader of a nation of their own creation, and interact with each other on such issues as law, economy, science and technology, humanitarianism, and national defence. This particular version is a "lite" IOT, with rules simplified for the sake of beginner learning. The rules here are simpler than many of the recent IOT derivatives, as the people here are probably beginners in this genre. The game will also focus only on Europe, for similar reasons.

The Rules

Note: all rules are subject to change, so please keep an eye out for them.

House Rules

1. Do not flame, troll, or personally insult any other player OOC or IC. At all. You may comment on certain things negatively, but don't take it further than that.

2. Stay on topic. Make sure all comments are relevant to the fictional world of the current IOT and have nothing to do with your personal religious/political beliefs.

3. Your posts should actually consist of something relevant to your nation and not just one-liner comments. Do not spam.

4. Long diplomatic discussions belong to the realms of Social Groups or visitor and private messaging, not the Game Thread.

5. No powergaming. By definition, powergaming is making your country surpass every other country by all terms including armed forces, technology, etc.

6. The GM is supreme. He reserves the right to change game rules, ignore or modify orders, impose restrictions on players, disband player nations, and so on.

7. Above all else, RESPECT THY FELLOW FORUMERS.

I'll usually warn players first if they break the rules. If they break the rules repeatedly, then I'll apply this:

1st Strike: Player is suspended from the game for one turn.

2nd Strike: Player is suspended from the game for three turns.

3rd Strike: Player nation dissolved, and the player banned from ever rejoining.

I reserve the right to ignore this policy for players who really piss me off, and kick them out of the game instantly.

Inactive players (AWOL for more than 3 turns) risk facing the Wrath of the GM (WoG) ie having their nation disbanded. These players can rejoin the game, but their old territories won't be restored to them; they'll start off with 10 claims like every new player.

Joining the Game

To join the game, first choose a nation name and colour to represent your realms. Perhaps tell us a bit about your nation; your government, policies, history, and so on. Claim any five provinces on the map, with the condition that they either have to be contiguous or on the coast. When making coastal nations, common sense is the rule of thumb: a country consisting of Sicily and Southern Italy would be okay, but NOT a country of Lapland and Morocco.

You will also need to fill out what species your country will be. There are four categories:

-Earth Pony: +50% income bonus

-Unicorn: +50% research bonus

-Pegasus: Can attack and claim two territories from their borders

-Non-Pony (Griffon, Buffalo, etc): +50% on combat rolls.

The Map

Updates

This IOT is a turn-based game. Each turn ends and a new turn begins with an Update. Updates occur 24 hours after half the players have sent in their orders. Any player who have not sent in their orders by this point will be PMed.

Roleplaying

Roleplaying is the essence of IOT. It’s how your nation develops. It’s how alliances are formed and broken. Roleplaying is very encouraged. Feel free to inhabit your nation with whoever or whatever you want.

Expansion

If you are not at war, you can peacefully claim FIVE provinces each turn. If no other nation claims the same territory, they will be annexed to your empire on update. They must be next to your own territories or on the coast. Note that you cannot expand in this manner in wartime.

Island Chains (shown in boxes) are counted as one territory for purposes of claiming, while small islands (defined as islands with 5 or less pixels) are only half a territory. 1-pixel islands aren't counted as territories at all and are immediately part of the nearest territory you have claimed. Small land territories are treated likewise.

The Sahara, Empty Quarter and Siberia are impassable and cannot be claimed.

Industrial Capacity

Industrial Capacity (IC) is the backbone of your economy. With it, you can settle territories or build units with them. Each territory produces 1 IC. You can also invest in Infrastructure, which costs 2 IC, which produces 1 IC.

Terrestrial(?) Warfare

Armies cost 5 IC to build, while Navies cost 10 IC to build. Navies are used to take control of sea zone, as described below.

Armies only attack countries that are are connected to your territory or are on the coast. You'll need to have at 1 navy per army if you are to attack the latter.

Armies compete against each other by adding them up and rolling a number on the RNG. For example if there is a conflict between 10 and 20 armies, I will roll a number between 1 and 20, with >10 being a victory for the first faction. A casualty roll will then be done, determining how many armies are lost for each side. Any army not used to attack defends. You can only attack a province adjacent to yours, or a coastal province if you destroy his navy. If you are defending from a surprise attack, your forces will be distributed evenly across the front.If a war starts going badly, you may experience revolts.

Technology

Your research goes into military tech. Military tech, in turn, unlocks a variety of bonuses.

Each Technology costs 100 * the level. There's an unlimited number; every level you have over an opponent adds +10% to your rolls. In the case of other percentage bonuses, your Military level bonuses are applied first, and any secondary bonuses are applied on top of that. This may seem like a small bonus at first, but remember that a country with a Tech Level of 7 would have +70% added to their combat rolls!

Naval Warfare

As you will see, there are no sea provinces, and therefore naval warfare works a little differently than terrestrial warfare. Each navy costs 10 IC, which you may send your navy to destroy the enemies navy so you can invade or blockade him with. If you blockade him he may lose 25% of his income, if its an island nation and you blockade him he may even lose 75%.

Trade

Provided that neither of them are blockaded, any nation can send IC, Armies or Navies to another country.

Victory:

Victory is achieved in the following ways:

Military: Have 1000 armies and at least 50% more than your closest rival.

Domination: You and your allies control every province.

Scientific: Research Tech Level 20

Just wondering, is everyone (or mostly everyone) here have a username based on a personal OC? Because I have an OC, but my username is in no way related.

Tamerlane is in no way an OC.

Several people may recall that Know Your Meme was once Encyclopedia Dramatica.

Actually, it's OhInternet that used to be Encyclopedia Dramatica. The owner of the site was so dissapointed about how fast the quality of the site dropped by 2011 that she deleted the site and restarted it as OhInternet. ED was never bought by CIHC.

Is this something you are trying to use for a fanfic?

Yes it is.

Well, the worldbuilding came first, the fanfic idea came later.

Now this idea came to me when my mind somehow crossed Arabian horses with My Little Pony.

The idea in question is to create a pony counterpart to the Abbasid Caliphate*, which would be similar to both it and Equestria, but different in many ways. As of the moment, here are some ideas that I came up with, in order of how much thought I gave into it. For the moment, this pseudo-Arabia will be called Dar al-Hisaanin, while an inhabitant is a Hisan.

RELIGION

Curiously, unlike in Equestria, where Celestia is beloved and Luna is shunned, the Hisaanin fear Celestia as the goddess of the harsh desert sun, while Luna is venerated as a benelovent patroness of the habitable night, navigation, astrology, and the lunar calendar. However, whe news of Luna's betrayal and her transformation into Nightmare Moon to Dar al-Hisaanin, the ponies there pretty much panicked, with many turning to Nightmare Moon's cult in fear. Eventually though, a sect preaching of Nightmare Moon's redemption and return as Luna gained prominence, and NMM's cult was banned.

However, Celestia isn't completely shunned; their official dogma states that destruction is a natural part of life, and that both sisters are to be respected as part of the balance of nature. Doesn't stop the 'regular' Hisaanin ponies from fearing Celestia, though.

HISTORY

In my current idea of things, Dar al-Hisaanin is only settled shortly before Luna betrays Celestia, with her popularity only being established in that odd stretch of time after she is banished and when contact is made with Equestria. Most settlements are based arouund aquifers, oases, or even the occaisonal river or lake.

GEOGRAPHY AND POLITICS

Since Dar al-Hisaanin is obviously not ruled by an immortal pony goddess, head of the throne passes from sire to colt, similar to real life monarchies. The ruler of the region is the Emir, who at the time of the Friendship is Magic events is al-Barqa, a pegasus. The Emir's court is in the city of Asilandria, which is also a great centre of magic and learning.

The local equivalent of the Royal Guard is the Desert Guard, which is recruited from the still nomadic herds in the desert.

The second biggest city is Neighshapur, which is the centre of Luna's cult. It is also known for its vast mineral wealth, and is the commercial centre of Dar al-Hisaanin.

Of similar note is Destriascus, which happens to be the oldest city in the area that falls into decline. Although it's a peaceful town to anypony who is just passing by, it's also the secret headquarters of Nightmare Moon's cult, which seeks to turn Luna permanently into Nightmare Moon and bring Eternal Night to the world of Equestria. Needless to say, it's also under heavy surveillance by both Equestrian Royal Guards and the Desert Guards.

MAGIC AND SCIENCE

Like the real life Abbasid Caliphate, Dar al-Hisaanin is a centre of science and scholarship (sharp minds are often needed in a desert where creative solutions are needed for problems). Unicorns, Earth Ponies and Pegasi alike are often seen studying in its many libraries.

Water is brought from underground sources through magic and good old fashioned pipes

Due to the scarcity of water in the desert, the unicorns of Dar al-Hisaan are trained in water dousing, and are thus of high important in society.

MY NOTES

Obviously, this is far from the complete version. My main concern is coming up with a proper name, with Luna's issues with her unpopularity in Equestria being another issue.

Any thoughts, critiques, and general opinions?

*Arabia's golden age in the 8th and 9th centuries when culture and science flourished. If you're a complete noob at Middle Eastern history, basically think Arabian Nights.

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." -Arthur C Clarke

I believe the standard term for a female fan of the series is "Pegasister".

I will, Doc Hoof, I will.

About myself.: Je pense, donc je suis.

How did you hear about Canterlot.com?: The internet.

My one favourite main cast pony?: Twilight Sparkle

As the title says.

Besides Friendship is Magic, I am quite interested in History, evolutionary science, and strategy games like Civilization IV, Cossacks: Back to War, and (to a lesser extent) Rome: Total War.