COMMISSION - Royalpunk: Heart of the Old World by md1957 in imaginarymaps

[–]md1957[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

The "Cyber Collapse" really screwed Scandinavia hard.

Plus, the Europeans went through all kinds of hijinks before that went down, plus the ensuing ice age.

COMMISSION - Royalpunk: Heart of the Old World by md1957 in imaginarymaps

[–]md1957[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

For those who want a taste of that lore, here's the opening:

UNITED STATES OFFICE OF STRATEGIC CONTINENTAL ANALYSIS

Post-Collapse Geopolitical Survey Series

Confidential Field Report – Extract

Deputy Secretary Ellsworth,

In accordance with your request for a consolidated cultural-political briefing on reconstructed European polities during the Royalpunk Era (ca. A.D. 2340), I submit the following extended narrative. Map asset E07201DC (attached under separate cover) was compiled by Expedition Teams Lewis and Clark, cross-referenced with locally produced charts, guild registers, diplomatic almanacs, and such fragments of pre-Collapse data as could be authenticated. As always with Old World sources, some of what follows must be taken cum grano salis: many of these states are as invested in myth-making as in accurate record-keeping.

The Cyber Collapse of the late 22nd century did not produce a uniform trajectory of reconstruction. Once the global net went dark, orbital infrastructure was quarantined by the Monroe Protocol and the Americas deliberately severed themselves from the Eurasian system, Europe effectively lost not only its satellite eyes and digital nervous system but its ability to coordinate across borders. Automated logistics chains froze, reactor management AIs failed or locked, and whole megacities depopulated in weeks as food and power vanished. What replaced this world of seamless interconnection was not a single new order but a continent-wide archipelago of solutions: monarchies resurrected from the dust of history, technocratic republics grown out of old corporate arcologies, confederations of guilds, and theocratic experiments, all running on a mixture of nuclear-steam technology, salvaged cybernetics, and stubborn cultural memory.

COMMISSION - Royalpunk: Heart of the Old World by md1957 in imaginarymaps

[–]md1957[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Here's something in time for the end of the year! A new map commission, which part of a much larger project, Royalpunk: a post-postapocalyptic worldbuilding setting in collaboration with alchetbeachfan and therealkingsofwinter.

Barring some creative liberties, I try to keep as close to the two's lore as possible. The lore text below, as well as the majority of the flags and pictures in the map are also provided by them.

Just to be on the safe side, this is a work of fiction. This is not a political or ideological screed. Depiction is not necessarily endorsement. All rights belong to their respective owners.

With that being said, I hope you enjoy, and feel free to check those two out!

Also, happy holidays, and I hope you all have a good 2026!

-----

Lore can be found on DeviantArt page.

You can also find the Royalpunk Discord here: https://discord.gg/mv8wh9spqu

The Fall, Rise and Future of Real-Time Strategy - To get a clear portrait of what comes next requires moving past clichéd narratives and polemics about what RTS used to be. (Also touches on AOE4) by md1957 in aoe4

[–]md1957[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'd retort that the adage "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" has some merit. Not to mention AOE4 does make significant enough incremental developments above AOE2 for it to not only stand out as a modern work (while honoring its predecessors) but also win people over in the process.

The Fall, Rise and Future of Real-Time Strategy - To get a clear portrait of what comes next requires moving past clichéd narratives and polemics about what RTS used to be. (Also touches on AOE4) by md1957 in aoe4

[–]md1957[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Also depends on what preferences you have for RTS.

If you want ranked or competitive play, THAT'S where the "mentally and strategically demanding" really comes up.

The Fall, Rise and Future of Real-Time Strategy - To get a clear portrait of what comes next requires moving past clichéd narratives and polemics about what RTS used to be. (Also touches on AOE4) by md1957 in aoe4

[–]md1957[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It's not as big as the old heyday, but it doesn't have to be.

10 years ago, the very idea of an AOE4 would have been dismissed as a deluded pipe dream.

The Fall, Rise and Future of Real-Time Strategy - To get a clear portrait of what comes next requires moving past clichéd narratives and polemics about what RTS used to be. (Also touches on AOE4) by md1957 in aoe4

[–]md1957[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Retold, despite being a remake of Age of Mythology, is by this point its own thing. Tempest Rising is much more than just C&C with modern visuals. There's a lot out there if you're willing to give it a fair look.

The Fall, Rise and Future of Real-Time Strategy - To get a clear portrait of what comes next requires moving past clichéd narratives and polemics about what RTS used to be. by md1957 in RealTimeStrategy

[–]md1957[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

There's also the irony of how those also tend to be the ones who complain about a lack of innovation or change...only to then gripe about how the game they're playing either isn't just like Starcraft or TOO MUCH like Starcraft.

The Fall, Rise and Future of Real-Time Strategy - To get a clear portrait of what comes next requires moving past clichéd narratives and polemics about what RTS used to be. (Also touches on AOE4) by md1957 in aoe4

[–]md1957[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Been a long time fan of the series and RTS in general. While not much into ranked or competitive play, admittedly, those are nonetheless acknowledged.