This 4-player variant takes place on a map of the known world in 1492, when much of the globe was actually unknown to the Europeans. To supplement this initial map, the GM creates his own version of the rest of the world which connects on all sides with the known world, but need not have any resemblance to the real world as we know it. By making the majority, of the playing board unknown, the players have to 'discover' it gradually as did the early explorers. Somewhat modified rules apply. This 9-player variant takes place on a map that is similar to the standard map but slightly expanded to include a bit more of Northern Africa and Western Asia.
Standard rules apply.
This eight-player variant takes place in 1700 on a map similar to the standard map but extending a bit farther East into Asia. There are a number of modifications to the standard rules, including the fact that each turn represents a full year, meaning that most units may give two orders per turn, or may make a single double-strength order. This map covers the same area as the standard map but takes place 200 years earlier and has corresponding geographic divisions. Standard Diplomacy rules apply, except for a rule concerning movement across the Strait of Gibraltar. A nine-player variant which takes place on a modified version of the standard map.