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Thread: Microscope Ancient Fantasy
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2018-03-07, 03:31 PM (ISO 8601)
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Microscope Ancient Fantasy
This is the Ancient Fantasy Microscope Game! On the table for future Timelines of Microscope are: Ancient History, General Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Sci-Fi, and others.
We're starting with the Maybes and Nevers. I'll start, so here's my addition to the Maybes:
Maybe Never Everyone is capable of some level of magic abilities
After this will be the Beginning-End stage, after which we'll continue thusly:
1 Everyone chooses something freely twice
2 Add 1 thing based on Lens' theme, and Lens adds a nested pair
3 Everyone chooses 1 thing freely
4 Add 1 thing based on Lens' theme, and Lens adds a nested pair
5 Everyone chooses 1 thing freely
and then repeat #2-5 over and over.
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2018-03-07, 03:37 PM (ISO 8601)
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2018-03-07, 03:58 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Microscope Ancient Fantasy
Maybe Never Everyone is capable of some level of magic abilities. There are no true prophecies. A variety of exotic tameable creatures/mounts. Last edited by Ultharian; 2018-03-07 at 04:10 PM.
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2018-03-07, 04:10 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Microscope Ancient Fantasy
Maybe Never Everyone is capable of some level of magic abilities. There are no true prophecies. A variety of exotic tameable creatures/mounts. No-one is capable of using all forms of magic.
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2018-03-07, 04:22 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Oct 2010
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2018-03-07, 07:32 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Jan 2018
Re: Microscope Ancient Fantasy
Maybe Never Everyone is capable of some level of magic abilities. There are no true prophecies. A variety of exotic tameable creatures/mounts. No-one is capable of using all forms of magic. Fairies/ Elemental spirits/ Nymphs No dragons.
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2018-03-07, 07:36 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Microscope Ancient Fantasy
Maybe Never Everyone is capable of some level of magic abilities. There are no true prophecies. A variety of exotic tameable creatures/mounts. No-one is capable of using all forms of magic. Fairies/ Elemental spirits/ Nymphs No dragons. Gods
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2018-03-07, 08:44 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Jan 2018
Re: Microscope Ancient Fantasy
Maybe Never Everyone is capable of some level of magic abilities. There are no true prophecies. A variety of exotic tameable creatures/mounts. No-one is capable of using all forms of magic. Fairies/ Elemental spirits/ Nymphs No dragons. Gods Giants Last edited by Captain Coffee; 2018-03-07 at 08:45 PM.
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2018-03-07, 09:12 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Microscope Ancient Fantasy
Maybe Never Everyone is capable of some level of magic abilities. There are no true prophecies. A variety of exotic tameable creatures/mounts. No-one is capable of using all forms of magic. Fairies/ Elemental spirits/ Nymphs No dragons. Gods Giants Ancient Astronauts
Remember these are totally up for discussion, so if that's not something folks like, say so. I think it'd be fascinating to see a setting where early, early civilization and empire building could reach the moon via magic, but I recognize that not everone would agree.
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2018-03-07, 09:19 PM (ISO 8601)
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2018-03-07, 10:46 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Oct 2010
Re: Microscope Ancient Fantasy
Maybe Never Everyone is capable of some level of magic abilities. There are no true prophecies. A variety of exotic tameable creatures/mounts. No-one is capable of using all forms of magic. Fairies/ Elemental spirits/ Nymphs No dragons. Gods No highly-advanced cultures/aliens. Giants Ancient Astronauts
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2018-03-07, 10:58 PM (ISO 8601)
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2018-03-07, 11:03 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Oct 2010
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2018-03-08, 12:44 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Microscope Ancient Fantasy
I agree!
I was less thinking about some giant tower-connecting-the-spheres (not sure where that came from) than any number of myths where people are kicked, thrown, banished, or fly to the moon.
For instance, we could have the city of Babylon trying to breed smaller, more controllable rocs (as in the giant birds) for their lunar roc-ette program.
...And now, I flee!
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2018-03-08, 01:55 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Oct 2010
Re: Microscope Ancient Fantasy
I thought you were talking about the Psuedo-Scientific theory of Ancient Astronauts where aliens come to earth in prehistoric or ancient times. I just wanted to make sure we weren't going full science fiction with the concept this early. It's all good!
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2018-03-08, 02:34 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Microscope Ancient Fantasy
Whoa. I remember it now, and I'm sure that's why I chose the phrase subconsciously!
But no, I agree with you, about not wanting high-tech cultures or aliens. I was suggesting crazy things like the Rabbit in the Moon, or Sinbad's Voyages, or diverse other myths that involve travel to the moon and back. :) So I welcome your addition!Last edited by Ultharian; 2018-03-08 at 02:35 AM.
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2018-03-08, 03:48 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Mar 2017
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Re: Microscope Ancient Fantasy
Maybe Never Everyone is capable of some level of magic abilities. There are no true prophecies. A variety of exotic tameable creatures/mounts. No-one is capable of using all forms of magic. Fairies/ Elemental spirits/ Nymphs No dragons. Gods No highly-advanced cultures/aliens. Giants Returning to life once dead Ancient Astronauts
I’ve seen enough marvel movies, I don’t need anymore of that.
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2018-03-08, 11:16 PM (ISO 8601)
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2018-03-08, 11:40 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Feb 2018
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Re: Microscope Ancient Fantasy
Do we have any theme beyond just 'Ancient History'?
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2018-03-08, 11:42 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Oct 2010
Re: Microscope Ancient Fantasy
One of the commonalities of ancient storytelling is a creation myth. So the creation of the world seems like a good place to start.
I like the idea of the ending being a milestone in human history, maybe even the transition from an ancient world to a medieval or modern world. The core idea being that no matter what hardships happen during the story, progress will always win out. Things will always move forward.
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2018-03-09, 12:29 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Microscope Ancient Fantasy
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2018-03-09, 01:58 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Microscope Ancient Fantasy
I think that 'Creation Myth' is a great starting point! It gets the gods on the stage, as well as setting some initial ideas about our people.
I think Medieval era is a maybe for the endpoint, but I'm not sure. It seems pretty far from 'Creation.'
Maybe an 'Age of Empires'?
Roughly talking mid-iron age, Rome, Egypt, Greece, etc...When the first really big 'world-spanning' governments come into being. I think my concern with the Medieval period is that it's actually viewed by some people as a 'descent' from those earlier empires (which is ridiculous) to the extent of being labeled in some books as 'the Dark Ages.'
Thoughts?
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2018-03-09, 02:30 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Oct 2010
Re: Microscope Ancient Fantasy
In my experience Microscope does long periods of time very easily. It's not terribly difficult to handle hundreds of years in a single period by only hitting on the bullet-points.
I wasn't thinking of the middle ages as a descent either, that's why I mentioned progress. Civilization made huge strides in the middle ages, it's true that plagues were a real issue that caused societal devastation, but Dark Ages is a misnomer for sure.
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2018-03-09, 04:33 AM (ISO 8601)
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2018-03-09, 04:34 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Microscope Ancient Fantasy
While I like a creation myth as a starting point I’m not so sure on a medieval period as an idea for the ending, partially because it’s very subjective. If we were using this in our timeline when would it be? The collapse of the Roman Empire? Charlemagne building his empire? 1066 is another point I’ve seen used. And at this point no huge earth shattering changes were happening in other places, even in nearby nations like Byzantium or the near east.
I think if we want a good ending point we should make it a little bit more global.
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2018-03-09, 11:26 AM (ISO 8601)
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2018-03-09, 12:11 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Microscope Ancient Fantasy
To me, the question of where to end depends largely on the way we intend to use this world, or whether we intend to use this world, when we are done. If we are going to play another game in this world, I would prefer to end as the world is starting to become a more stable and organized place, but hasn't fully arrived yet. A world where some civilizations have risen and fallen, and is on the edge of something new. That new thing could be empires like Rome or it could be feudalism, but if we are gaming in the setting, I'd like this to end before we fully arrive. Does that make sense?
If our intention is just to play a cool game of microscope, I'm good with ending anywhere.
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2018-03-09, 12:21 PM (ISO 8601)
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2018-03-09, 12:22 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Microscope Ancient Fantasy
Well if a fall of Rome happened on a larger scale that would be pretty specific, although the idea of the capitals of empire’s falling one by one against plagues and barbarism is a little dark. Perhaps carry on through the early medical and then the invention of a new life changing device in the proto-Renaissance.
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2018-03-09, 12:33 PM (ISO 8601)
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