272 BC

**Dodge_272** · 11-18-2007, 18:50

why 272 BC?

**Basileus Seleukeia** · 11-18-2007, 19:01

Perhaps because Pyrrhus was still alive and ready to kick in this year, whereas in the next he was brown bread and not coming back? At least that's what I thought.

**Centurio Nixalsverdrus** · 11-18-2007, 19:12

I think in 270 the SPQR were already in control of all of southern Italy.

**Watchman** · 11-18-2007, 19:17

And Epeiros had gone from a potential Macedon mk.II to a declining regional power.

**Teleklos Archelaou** · 11-18-2007, 19:22

I think two of the biggest determinents for that exact date were that it was the latest we could have Pyrrhos alive, and it also was the earliest we could even think about having a Chremonidean League. It's just a little too early for the latter really (certainly if you go by the date the League was legally announced by the Athenians), but it gives us the best setup at about this time. Any earlier and Pontos really can't be it's own faction either, and we are at the earliest limit for Baktria really to think about operating separately from teh Seleukids too. Later and we have to chuck out the Epeirotes though, and the Romans have a little too much territory to be as interesting (if we make it any later).

**TWFanatic** · 11-18-2007, 20:05

It's also the same starting date as vanilla RTW.

**J.Alco** · 11-19-2007, 04:04

Originally Posted by Dodge_272

why 272 BC?

Who's to say? Why does a peacock need all those feathers?

**Maeran** · 11-19-2007, 04:26

Because the peahens like it. And because the normal developmental cycle in the peacock and it's relatives allows for so many tail feathers ( I don't remember how many, but I think that it is the same for all birds).

I'm aware that I am answering the rhetorical question, but it's one with an answer that has nothing to do with a decision reached by a bunch of humans, as the EB start date was.