This page is a subset of the map resources page and serves as the main directory for all colour schemes created by AH.commers for the purpose of colouring allohistorical political maps of countries, regions or the entire globe.

A colour scheme is a highly standardized system of colour palettes for various countries, territories, political systems, religions, etc. that appear in political and statistical maps set in various alternate timelines.

While some AH.commers find the idea of colour schemes unnecessary, many argue that a certain degree of order is needed while colouring ones basic geopolitical maps that are used for showing the geopolitical situation of a timeline at a given moment.

As mapping was always the focus of many AHcommers, it is not surprising that the depiction of geopolitical situations grew out of its original intent to take place in the community culture.

One of the best known exemples is probably the Colour Scheme Civil War, sparked by the decision to allod a distinct color (green) for non-imperial/non-communist Russia.

The colour schemes are listed according their evolution and proximity. The ones that are currently obsolete are written in italics.

Universal Colour Scheme (UCS) - This is the original colour scheme, the first ever designed for the purposes of creating maps of alternate timelines in the map-related threads of AH.com's discussion board. Now discontinued. Spawned the following three revisions/updates/derivatives:

• a.) Thandean Colour Scheme (TCS) - Meant mainly as a major reform of Thande's original UCS. Now discontinued.
• b.) Thandean Colour Scheme + (TCS+) - “Expansion pack” of TCS, eventually evolved into the RCS. Now discontinued.
• c.) Revised Colour Scheme (RCS) - Created as a definite version of the TCS+. The RCS is best used for historical maps, but is as well for a good portion of allohistorical ones on board.
  • Ancient Revised Colour Scheme (ARCS) - More of a compatible variant of RCS for ancient and medieval maps, than a colour scheme of its own.

Global Colour Scheme (GCS) - Created as an independent effort at a new derivative of the original UCS.

Susanoism - Courtesy of Susano et al. Not so much a wholly new colour scheme, as a set of objections to Thande's colouring system, raised by Susano. Now discontinued. Unified Colour Palette (UCP) - This revision had the integral changes of Susanoism, as well as additional territories that have been added. It was eventually absorbed (sans Susanoist conventions) into the TCS. Now discontinued.

TACOS Colour Scheme (TACOS) - Collective creation, later revised twice by oshron. Alternative to UCS/RCS, considered best used for radically different timelines.

"Colour It Whatever You Like" (CIWYL) - Not so much a colour scheme as an anti-colour scheme design philosophy. Also referred to as “Munroism”.

Map Database - The AH.com archive of blank maps for mapmakers and timeline authors.

Colour Scheme Designer - A rather useful external website.

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