It's a 4X, you colonize territories, tiles, IA factions (minor and major), .... There is no "period". Surely a choice of maps with multiple Islands/Continents.

The Colonial era IRL had several prerequisites:

1. Technological advances enabled Europeans to reach distant locations and subdue native resistance (Compass, Shipbuilding, Gunpowder and Horses).

2. Social Organization allowed Europeans to regularly and successfully mount these expeditions (Nation States, Joint Stock Companies)

3. Social attitudes permitted the colonization of already settled land (ideas of primitive savages, religious/social dominance)

4. Native attitudes did not lead to the technological and social achievements necessary to resist European colonization

Amplitude could artificially make scenarios or settings where there is a remote and unadvanced culture, but I don't know how satisfying that would be.

Eulogos wrote:
I'm also hoping that as the game goes by they can merge with or conquer each other to form minor states.

This is a very interesting idea.

I love this ideas