Dear Forum Sodales and Atlas Games,
I have been a lurker here for a very very long time. Recently, I was suprised that I was unable to find a chunky good chronological timeline of the Order that was up to date, beyond this excellent but ancient post from 2006: Hermetic Timeline
The one-pagers from various supplements not really scratching the itch either.
With that as a base, I decided to do what any enterprising magus would and I took it upon myself to research and deliver an upgraded version to enjoy for myself and my sodales, and that can quickly be ready to share with the young and curious magi at your table for many adventures.
It's still a work in progress and not entirely completed, but in the spirit of Bonisagus, I'm now sharing my discoveries as they are currently in the hope that you all can help me fill in the missing pieces and correct my egregious errors:
I have updated with most of Arm5e canon (the appendix has details of what's been done and what's still to do) and multiplied the page count (now amassing well over 100 pages).
My sodales are welcome to post suggested updates and corrections here, but it can also be done directly as comments on the document itself. I assure you I will take them all into account, if just but mockingly ;).
Disclaimer:
As such this document should be considered a freely put together fan resource for the Ars Magica game, and no infringement on the rights of Atlas Games or anybody else is intended. Please continue to support Ars Magica and Atlas Games by buying all the excellent supplements available!
UPDATE 1: v2.01 Work is still very much in progress, I update this from time to time and I want to review the remaining Arm5e works before I consider it a full release. You're welcome to use as-is but understand it's updated more or less live for now (just did a major review for the Levant).
The document settings allow you to comment in it directly, which a few of you have done and there are accepted edits and additions thanks to that! Keep them coming (or let me know here).
UPDATE 2: v2.02 and 2.03 Another dozen books added, and the hefty (and difficult) Normandy Tribunal book incorporated - resulting in about 30 more pages of timeline. Only 5 more locational books left before all ArM5e books have been reviewed...
UPDATE 4: v2.04 Four more books done and only The Contested Isle - The Hibernian Tribunal remains out of all ArM5e. It may take a while since it seems to have a lot of dates and I've never read it before. After that, I may return to some previous editions or enhance the existing a bit. I'm not yet fully satisfied with all parts.
Currently at over 150 pages vs version 1.1's 45 or so.
UPDATE 5: v2.05 All ArM5e books have now been trawled (Hibernia was exhausting to do, but a lot of fun!). Added & fixed quite a few other things. Clarified several Novgorod entries. Added more suitable "historical" magic entries. Cleaned up many entries. This is getting very close to what I would call a "Complete Arm5e Canon" chronology. Feel free to help me nail what I have missed!
UPDATE 6: v2.06 Several comprehensive rereviews and fixes around founding of the Order, Schism War and a lot of additions to the Rhine Tribunal from Guardians of the Forest - as well as some trawling through older 3e and 4e supplements.
I'm nearing the point where I can consider this a full release of "The History of Magic and The Order of Hermes" covering all of the (valid) Ars Magica's supplements officially released, throughout the editions.
From here on it's more or less only fixes and clarifications needed. Now is the time where I really could use some help from my sodales filling in what's been missed, misunderstood or erroneously compiled.
UPDATE 7: v2.07
Yes, I'm still polishing and improving this from time to time (it's being used in my own campaign).
I just rereviewed, updated and expanded Grand Tribunal and Tribunal rulings up until 1179, mainly based on source material in ArM4e, specifically Hermetic Law and Politics. I felt there where interesting nuances that were lacking in the chronology previously. Many tribunal entries should be better and make more sense now but more can probably be done.
Page count is now 187. Also another reminder that anyone with a google account can comment directly in the document to suggest improvements and fixing errors.
UPDATE 8: v2.08
It's been a few months. I'm still polishing and improving this from time to time (it's being used in my own still running campaign) as well as sorting out the community suggestions for fixes and improvements. It's pretty much at the point where I don't foresee me doing more major changes really.
As mentioned, anyone with a google account can comment directly in the document to suggest improvements and fixing errors. I would like to ask the community's kind help with another pass of this this right now, as the there are discussions to sort out a release in nicer looking PDF format.
I would not mind contributions from Finis Terrae (I don't speak spanish), as well as the "TODO" list at the very end of the document.