by Mark G. McLaughlin (with input from Fred Schachter) Part II: If You Want a War Let it Begin Here…With the “Hateful Eight” As with its predecessors (Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea GMT Games – Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea and Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East GMT Games – Ancient Civilizations of the […]
By Mark McLaughlin & Fred Schachter Japan first made its mark on history in the Jomon period of the Mesolithic age – about 10,000 BC (six Millennia before the first era portrayed by GMT’s Ancient Civilizations of East Asia game). The incipient and then initial Jomon Periods were followed by four more of that name,
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Designer Blogs
By Mark McLaughlin & Fred Schachter The Peoples from the Sea represent the oft forgotten and overlooked amalgam of nomadic tribes that have roamed the seas around Southeast Asia since before the dawn of kingdoms and nation states. Since more than one tribe is involved, ACEA identifies them as “Peoples from the Sea” rather than
by Mark G. McLaughlin (with input from Fred Schachter) Introduction by Ancient Civilizations of East Asia (ACEA) co-designer, Fred Schachter: What a game design/game development journey it’s been from ACIS, to ACME, and now to ACEA! The team, which includes those who’ve helped play test, proofread and refine the system over the years, have us
The Xiongnu were the bane of ancient Chinese civilization for centuries. These fearsome nomadic horse lords of the steppes, depicted as Desert areas on ACEA’s map, often had a chokehold on the east-west trade routes which later became known as the Silk Road. With their powerful cavalry and enriched by tolls (and outright robbery), the
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Designer Blogs
Previous InsideGMT pieces alluded to Ancient Civilizations of East Asia’s Cultural Development Tracks being intrinsic to the game. This differs from the series two preceding titles, Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea and Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East where playing with a Cultural Development Tracks Display is entirely optional. For more regarding ACIS and
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Designer Blogs
The Dong Son was a Bronze Age civilization that arose in what is now modern-day Vietnam. Although well-known for their use of large drums in battle. They were not primarily a military power, but instead were more of a religious, cultural, intellectual kingdom, and one that was more known for fishing, nautical exploration and trading
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Designer Blogs
The Jin (also often known as the Wu in deference to the Jin’s founder, Emperor Wu) played a vital role in many of the wars of ancient China’s unification – and in the rebellions that undermined such efforts to bring China under the rule of a single dynasty. They were an inventive, artistic, and highly
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Designer Blogs
Introduction by ACEA Co-Designer, Fred Schachter: This article’s Part 1 of 2 provided Designer Chris Vorder Bruegge’s general overview, with historical references, of how Ancient Civilizations of East Asia was designed. This included video links readers may find of interest in gaining appreciation of the game’s historical context. In Part 2 of 2, Author Chris
Meet the Zhou: A Civilization of GMT’s Ancient Civilizations of East Asia By Mark McLaughlin & Fred Schachter The Zhou were one of the key civilizations which helped define China and its culture. They endured for some 789 years, from c. 1046 BC until 256 BC, the longest span of any dynasty in Chinese history. Their core source of power was
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Designer Blogs