User blog comment:CrimsonAssassin/What Next: The Future of the PM Franchise/@comment-25931399-20150830012756

If we want to distant ourselves from PM franchise, but stick to a similar tact, 1295 is a good choice. Earlier in time means more opportunity to change the fate of Europe. The beginning of the Little Ice Age creates global climactic upheval that puts everyone on the same playing field. Religion is less confusing as this is before the Avingon papacy in 1305 (as opposed to the PM games, which were in the middle of the Great Western Schism). Aslo, being entirely before the Rennaissance gives everyone the opportunity (even outside of western europe) to build art and technology. The only downside is the mongols, as the Mongol empire inherited by Kublai Khan is still technically in tact, and therefore creates a sort of wank in Asia. Also, Rabban bar Sauma > Marco Polo any day. If you don't know who that is, read the Monks of Kublai Khan, it's amazing.