This document provides comments on the rules to be used with the Eastern Expansion Maps. The rules themselves are described separately in two other documents.
[1.2] These maps cover the region between the right hand edge of the standard map and modern day north-western India. This extension is analogous to the Western Extension Map published by Avalon Hill, but somewhat larger. It also has far more areas and city sites on it, this reflects the fact that this area is a far more interesting one to students of protohistory than is Western Europe.
[2] The maps roughly cover modern-day Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and north-western India. Some coastlines have been adjusted to reflect the silting up of river deltas during or since the period of the game. I was pleased to discover that this also appears to have been done around the Tigris-Euphrates delta on the standard map.
[2.3] In other words its existence is entirely aesthetic.
[3.1] The region covered by the Persian Extension Map is today central Iran and a northern part of the United Arab Emirates.
[3.2] The region covered by the Lower Indus Valley Extension Map is today southern Pakistan, south-eastern Afghanistan and northern Oman.
[3.3] The region covered by the Upper Indus Valley Extension Map is today eastern Afghanistan, northern Pakistan and the edges of some bordering countries.
[3.4] The region covered by the Ganges Valley Extension Map is today northern and western India. Notice there are no player arrival areas on this map, this will probably lead to some heroic treks (or unseemly stampedes). It's fairly easy to get stuck over here without a coastline, in which case a game effect (can't build ships) rapidly leads to disaster.
[4] There are three playing positions provided on these maps. If all the eastern extension maps are used then all three of the three player positions will probably be occupied. If the Ganges Valley Extension Map is not used but all other Eastern Extension Maps are then probably two of the three playing positions will be occupied. If only the Persian Extension Map and left hand half of the Lower Indus Valley Extension Map are in play then Persia will probably have a player, but neither of the others will.
[4.1] During most of the game Persia represents the various civilisations (mostly thinly scattered trading cities) of South Central Asia. At the end of the game they represent the Achmaenid empire.
The Persian start area represents the Achmaenid homeland of Persis.
I don't know what symbol to use for Persian counters. None of the artefacts I've seen shouts Achmaenid to me.
[4.2] Early in the game Indus represents the proto-Indus village culture of northern Baluchistan and southern Afghanistan. In the early middle game Indus represents the very large Indus Valley civilisation with capitals at Harappa (Upper Indus Valley Extension Map) and Mohenjo-Daro (Lower Indus Valley Extension Map). Historically the Indus Valley civilisation collapsed in the middle game, partly due to the arrival of the Aryans. After the Indus civilisation's historical collapse Indus represents a hypothetical continuation of or successor culture to the Indus Valley civilisation.
The Indus start area represents Baluchistan and the Helmand valley in southern Afghanistan.
An aspect of the Indus Valley civilisation many don't appreciate is its sheer scale, it was much larger than other contemporary river cultures like Egypt and Sumer. It controlled fourteen city sites, and I haven't been all that generous in handing them out.
There's no easy recognition symbol for Indus valley civilisation. The most interesting artefact may be the standardised brick (they were all 28cm by 14cm by 7cm ... an admirable yet disturbing culture) but you can't put that on a board game counter. There are also some medium-well-known statues: a bust and a rather anomalous temple dancer.
[4.3] The name is confusing, because India really represents the Aryans, who gave rise to Indian civilisation but also to the inhabitants of northern Iran (`Iran' means `land of the Aryans'). Early in the game India represents a hypothetical migration onto these maps that became civilised early. Historically the Aryans migrated into Iran, then through the Punjab into the Indus valley about 2000 B.C., then eastwards into India. Here they became civilised late in the game and gave rise to the Hindu civilisation of the Ganges valley. India represents a hypothetical Aryan people that developed a civilisation (or inherited one from the Harappans) considerably sooner than they historically did.
The Indian start area is the nearest point to the area marked `Aryans' on my map of Achmaenid Persia. I hope it represents a plausible map boundary crossing point for the Aryan migration into the Punjab.
The Aryans in this game have more or less nothing to do with Germans, nazis, etc.. They do use swastikas, though, as a symbol of good luck. I'd be nonetheless reluctant to advise anyone to use a swastika as their emblem on an improvised counter. A picture of Siva (i.e. an Indian-looking woman with six arms) is the best choice that occurs to me.
[3.5 and 3.6] Objectives of the Asian Dawn Movement: The motive for having either [3.5] or [3.6] is to make Asia playable. In the standard game Asia is, in my experience, hardly ever played. Essentially, Asia and Assyria share too much real estate for anybody sensible to want to choose either, once the other has been selected. AST characteristics and a better entry corridor make Assyria the better choice.
In most scenarios this doesn't matter, Asia just doesn't appear. But in [5.21] and [5.22] all possible player positions are filled, so something has to be done.
[4] I wanted to be able to support absurdly large numbers of players, but the map doesn't have room for everybody. So I have to reduce their maximum number of cities, but I want to still have all kinds of cards, so ...
[5] Some of the scenarios are for either only a small number of players or for a very large number of players. Since Civilization is really intended for about 6 players, they might not work very well. But since there is rarely a shortage of players with more persistence than sense, it's just as well to give them guidance. I'd really only recommend playing scenarios [5.4] through [5.17], and even the ones at the edges are a little dodgy.
[5.18] My sentimental favourite.
[7.0] Version: This is version beta3.
This file is part of an expansion for the board game Advanced Civilization. This web site also contains further board game material and material unrelated to board games. Please send feedback to the author, David Bofinger.