The Ragnar Brothers web site has announced an upcoming revision of the “History of the World” board game. The design notes posted on their site explain that History of the World was originally produced by Ragnar Brothers, then Gibsons, Avalon Hill, and Hasbro. The rights to the game have returned to Ragnar Brothers and they’ve decided to produce their own version again, and they’re calling it “A Brief History of the World” in light of some changes.

Specifically, they wanted to produce a “quality, large-scale game aimed at both the hobby and the family market” while reducing playing time and downtime. This resulted in some new mechanisms and what Ragnar Brothers believes is greater historical accuracy.

The article goes on to explain how they’re handling armies, terrain, and other details. The entire combat system has been overhauled, combining an over-run mechanic with an invasion bonus. It’s actually a very interesting bit of reading about how changing one part of a game’s design can have unintended effects on others.