Okay, I'm writing a game set in the Germania of Der Ring des Nibelungen and need a map of the realm (or the Rhine region) that dates from 400 BC - 600 BC. Does anybody have an idea of where I may track one down? Or, if you have the time and the talent (or software) would you like to contribute one?

If I have to, I suppose that I can omit a map (I'm flush with Rackham art), though I think that it would be nice to include one. There's just something about a map that adds focus to a setting/game and I want this one as 'playable' as possible straight out of the box.

Thanks in advance!

Quote400 BC - 600 BC.

AD, no?

Map for historical overview? search for migration period / Völkerwanderung
Contemporary Map  -> doesn´t exist.

This one should be a nice start, Theoderich der Große = Dietrich von Bern

Quote from: SettembriniAD, no?

D'oh! Yes.

QuoteMap for historical overview? search for migration period / Völkerwanderung

Thank you.

The "Burgunderreich" (Empire of Burgundy) is the backdrop.
"Ring des Nibelungen" is definitely more mythical and allegoric compared to the 12th century middle german epic Saga.

The actual place where the most stuff from the first half of the Saga happens, is Worms.

Also check out the museum: http://www.nibelungenmuseum.de/goto.php?lang=en&seite=static&navi_id=3&subnavi_id=2&page_id=rundgang#

Quote from: Settembrini"Ring des Nibelungen" is definitely more mythical and allegoric compared to the 12th century middle german epic Saga.

I know. I think it is for this reason that it works better for a roleplaying game. That said, I'm setting it up as a very human-centered game, with gods, dwarves, giants and nymphs being parts of the setting, rather than player  characters. That said, care has been taken to imbue mortal PCs with the power of legend (i.e., supernatural traits).

Specifically, I've invested some time in creating a system of inherited supernatural traits (e.g., being able to ingest lethal poision without ill effect) to promote generational roleplay, as well as introducing rules for tragic fates and heroic destiny (both of which entail more than granting dice adds to characters).

It will probably still be a while before I can finish it (due to my new PC still being offline), though I'm more exicted about it than I have been with other recent projects. At this point, I plan to use Simple20 as the driving system, though JAGS is also starting to look very appealing (I printed off 300+ pages of JAGS Fantasy today).

Edit: Nevermind, Sett has it covered.

Thanks Set. I'm currently working myself on a campaign in that time period, and it's useful to stumble accidentaly over a suitable europe map.

The map posted above is a few decades too late for what you want

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgundians

Here is a source of maps for european history. The first kingdom of Burgundy (the one you want to write about) is where Allemani is on the 500 AD map. The Burgundians moved south after the destruction of the first kingdom.

http://www.euratlas.com/time1.htm

there is this

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/history_europe.html

I can't seem to find a map of the first kingdom but here is its description of its extant

Quoten AD 406 the Alans, Vandals, the Suevi, and possibly the Burgundians crossed the Rhine and invaded Gaul. In 411, the Burgundian king Gundahar or Gundicar set up a puppet emperor, Jovinus, in cooperation with Goar, king of the Alans. With the authority of the Gallic emperor that he controlled, Gundahar settled on the left or western (i.e. Roman) bank of the Rhine, between the river Lauter and the Nahe, seizing Worms, Speyer, and Straßburg. Apparently as part of a truce, the Emperor Honorius later officially "granted" them the land. Olympiodorus of Thebes also mentions a Guntiarios who was called "commander of the Burgundians" in the context of the 411 usurping of Germania Secunda by Jovinus. (Prosper, a. 386)

QuoteDespite their new status as foederati, Burgundian raids into Roman upper Gallia Belgica became intolerable and were ruthlessly brought to an end in 436, when the Roman general Aëtius called in Hun mercenaries who overwhelmed the Rhineland kingdom (with its capital at the old Celtic Roman settlement of Borbetomagus, now called Worms) in 437. Gundahar was killed in the fighting, reportedly along with the majority of the Burgundian tribe. (Prosper; Chronica Gallica 452; Hydatius; and Sidonius Apollinaris)

This is a great plot line btw. A corrupt Roman General in the decay of the western empire making a deal with the devil himself, (in the form of the huns) to crush our noble burgundians. Of course the so called burgundian raids are a result of prior provocations by said general. The burgundian raided roman territory to rescue various members of their clans that moved further west for trading and settlement and were being unjustly treated by Aëtius

Of course the Roman point of view is probably a little different.

please ignore

Estar´s right,  you should review all the maps from the 4th century onward.  
That´s the earlier map:




And  one dealing with the migration:

QuoteI can't seem to find a map of the first kingdom but here is its description of its extant

That´s natural, as conventional history has it, that real states (regarding the germanic tribes) came into place only around the 470ies.

The time of the first kingdom is always depicted with arrows all over europe, instead of solid territories.

Thanks for all of the help, folks!