Europe's Empires¶

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Goals and Objectives¶

Primary Goal:
Create a fully playable Genesys RPG setting supplement based on real-world European naval empires during the Age of Sail (c. 1550–1850), blending historical accuracy with role-playing adaptability.

Objectives:

• Develop detailed faction and nation profiles inspired by historical powers (e.g., Britain, Spain, France).
• Design rules for naval warfare, trade, exploration, diplomacy, and revolution.
• Provide lore and content for storytelling, including conflicts, characters, and events.
• Offer historical immersion with the option for alt-history campaigns.
• Deliver a visually compelling product with maps, character art, and ship diagrams.

2. Scope¶

Included in Scope:

• Europe-centered maritime and colonial history as thematic core.
• Detailed descriptions of 5–6 major factions based on real-world analogs.
• Custom Genesys mechanics (naval combat, diplomacy, commerce).
• Player options: archetypes, talents, gear, naval ranks.
• Adventure hooks inspired by real and fictional events.
• Original maps, ship layouts, and visual design elements.

Excluded from Scope:

• Full treatment of non-European perspectives unless directly involved in European conflicts.
• Magic or fantastical elements (unless added via optional modules or alt-history variations).
• Full campaign modules (only adventure seeds/hooks are included).

3. Deliverables¶

Type	Description
Setting Guide PDF	~60–100 pages, covering nations, politics, history, NPCs, and lore
Rule Modules	Mechanics for naval combat, sea trade, navigation, diplomacy
Player Content	Archetypes (e.g., Officer, Revolutionary), gear lists, naval ranks
Adventure Hooks	Plot seeds based on real wars, revolutions, mutinies, and trade disputes
Maps	1700s Europe, trade routes, naval theaters
Artwork	Portraits (officers, rebels, merchants), ship cross-sections, flags, faction crests

4. Target Audience¶

• Genesys RPG GMs and players looking for historical or alt-history campaigns.
• Fans of historical roleplaying, maritime campaigns, and exploration themes.
• Educators and hobbyists interested in gamifying the Age of Sail.
• Crowdfunding backers or RPG zine readers (if published commercially).

5. Milestones & Timeline¶

Milestone	Target Date	Description
Project Planning	Week 1	Establish goals, research base
Lore Drafting Begins	Week 2	Nation profiles, conflict history, naval cultures
Mechanics Design	Week 4	Naval combat, trade, diplomacy, archetypes
First Playtest Packet	Week 6	Core rules, sample factions, basic encounters
Artwork Commissioning	Week 6–8	Begin map and character art work
Beta Testing & Revisions	Week 9	Revise based on early testing feedback
Layout & Polish	Week 11	Prepare final draft with visuals and formatting
Release or Print Prep	Week 12+	Publish to backers, website, or store

6. Risks and Considerations¶

Category	Risk	Mitigation
Historical Sensitivity	Use of real events (e.g., colonization, slavery) may offend	Use renamed analogs or include safety tools and disclaimers
Overcomplex Mechanics	Naval rules could bog down gameplay	Focus on narrative abstraction and modular add-ons
Art Delays	Commissioned art may arrive late	Use placeholders and buffer weeks for final layout
Playtest Gaps	Limited tester pool may cause blind spots	Host open playtest invites online (Discord, Reddit)
Tone Confusion	Players unsure if this is historical or fantastical	Provide clear options: “Historical Mode” vs “Alt-History Mode”

7. Tools and Platforms¶

Tool	Purpose
Redmine	Issue tracking, project planning, task assignment
Google Docs / Notion	Collaborative drafting and documentation
Foundry VTT or Roll20	Digital playtesting
Midjourney / DALL·E / Artbreeder	Temporary placeholder art
Affinity Publisher / InDesign	Layout and publishing
DriveThruRPG or itch.io	Distribution platform