I view the Points of Light as a campaign concept, not a hard-coded setting. This allows various GMs to determine these sorts of questions themselves. Lazy ones, like me, borrow published setting timelines like
Eberron's for keeping track of historical impacts. I like the detail of a full history that links ancient ruins and current society together.. but I just don't have the energy to make one up.
So, for your campaign you have to look at a number of things you want to gain from this history.
- How recent is the memory of empirial greatness?
- How lost are the ruins? Is there lost magic/technology?
- Are the empires sequential or co-existing?
- are the empires bound by land-masses or water?
- how much of the empire remained in lore and legend?
- Is the language lost or splintered into daily use?
You can look at earths historical timelines,
like the one here, for inspiration for duration and level of impact on the present society.
As to how long between empires? Looking at it from the perspective of social memory, it would take at least 3 generations for a given populace to 'forget' a strong social structure and build a new strong structure. Any less and the new order will not be distinctly different. This estimate would, of course, be altered by the introduction of a strong social force such as invasion/immigration of an opposing social construct.
So, off the cuff answers from my gaming style:
Approximately how long has it been since the human empire fell?
- 100 years. Some of the older survivors recall the glory of the empire, and it will be another 150 or so years to rebuild. The darkest of times.
How long did it last?
- I would want an empire that left a lasting impression, so at least 800 years, similar to the Holy Roman Empire.
Were the Tiefling and Dragonborn empires before that?
- Both empires were simultaneous, altho seperated geographically, and were on the decline as the Human empire raised on the force of arcane knowledge.
If so, how long did they last, and how long of a gap between empires?
- Both were longer lasting, altho more isolated empires. Similar to the Mayan empire (1,100 years), but less travelled. It has been 700 years or so since they fell, meaning the stories of thier greatness are isolated in a few rare stories and most of thier secrets are buried deep in lost temples/ruins. But not so far that a few zealots wish to regain the power and glory of thier lost empires.
This is a very broad stroke approach, but sets the stage for adventuring and conflict.
I hope this helps!
