User blog comment:CrimsonAssassin/What Next: The Future of the PM Franchise/@comment-4656717-20150903074004/@comment-4656717-20150903085620

See that's the issue. In 1295, they were effectively a state (complete with army, navy, papal privileges, and commanderies in Europe) without territory, exiled in the Kingdom of Cyprus. By 1309, they controlled Rhodes. I was getting psyched to play as the Order, but I hadn't reckoned on the start date changing so dramatically. Similarly, would the Templars be open to players? They were suppressed in 1312 otl, but what if a player did a Hospitaller-esque land grab?