[quote=Vahir]
On technology: I'd prefer it to be pre-1300, which would give us platemail and crossbows, but exclude gunpowder.
[/quote]

Crossbows have been around since 420 AD, and gunpowder has been used since the Greek ages, supposedly. But there was definitely gunpowder by 1044 AD. Also, plate mail with no lamellar elements wasn't until about mid-1400's.