Crusader Kings II

[Tagaziel]

I've been wondering: how many of you are currently playing the best strategy game to come out in 2012?

 

I'm currently alternating between my Polish megagame (which actually transformed into the Wendish Empire, consisting of Lithuania, Ruthenia, and Finland, the latter accidentally due to inheritance shenanigans) and the Byzantine Empire (which is now the Roman Empire back again and Orthodoxy rules supreme).

 

Byzantine gameplay is pretty damn awesome, especially blinding and castrating your political opponents. The current standing policy is to blind rebellion leaders and infidels (roughly in line with the Byzantine custom), giving Orthodoxy adherents a pass.

 

I have yet to check out the Muslim gameplay, which was added in Sword of Islam. Did anyone play it? The decadence meter seems like an interesting addition. Most importantly, are there fun options to torture people, like in the Byzantine Empire?

 

 

For those interested: Paradox megagame for Poland: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4. The last part waits for an update, as I have a backlog of screencaps to go through.

 

I try to keep expansions within reasonable limits, to provide for a sem-plausible alternative history, but sometimes you just accidentally the whole Finland.

 

[Rosbjerg]

I really like playing Muslims, more than any other faction actually. They can declare war for a hit to piety and a monthly cost (but it's easy to replenish) and you get to kill off troublesome family members if they get too decadent. So it's easy to control your family.

They are not big on torture though, it's fairly simple beheading and then were done with it - but Islam pays a big role as an Arab character. So it's important to observe the Ramadan and go on pilgrimage.. oh and you can have up to 4 wives, which means they are allied to everyone haha

 

Love playing Vikings too - the pillage function is very powerful, but perhaps a little OP as has been discussed before, but it's so fun. :D

[Tagaziel]

Really? Any recommendations for a starting dynasty? I'm a dirty liberal, so historically tolerant rulers would be a big thing for me.

 

Also, give my regards to Claudius.

Edited June 18, 2013 by Tagaziel

[Tigranes]

http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/index.php?threads/incline-to-the-dark-ages-lets-play-crusader-kings-2-the-old-gods.83593/

 

My last CK2 run with a Norwegian count. It's a great game.

[Rosbjerg]

Well, I guess you could say that Muslims were the liberals of that age, religiously tolerant for the time etc.. The Abbasid (Baghdad) were the Caliphs of the Sunni faith and so were traditionally looked upon as, at least outwardly, having to live up to the tenets of Islam and be a little less decadent.

[Tigranes]

Not many liberal rulers in those times for obvious reasons. You could try and create a fully multikult realm with many cultures and religions but homogenisation is in fact hard to prevent.

[Rosbjerg]

Especially if you play as a Muslim ruler as you tend to conquer very diverse regions pretty early on (unless you take the Fatimads). I can also recommend playing as the Almohad or Moors as they would later be called by Europeans. Start as the brother (I think) of the ruler and claim the throne and then do a reverse reconquista. Challenging and fun.

[Tagaziel]

I am aware that the medieval times were dark times (and if I didn't, the game likes to remind me of that every time I castrate a boy), but you're right, I forgot that Islam was much more tolerant than Christianity in the medieval times.

 

I guess after I finalize the Byzzie playthrough, it'll be time to hit the south.

[Katphood]

I am not into strategy games but I am gonna get my hands on this as soon as it hits the sales. Tagz obsession over this game made me curious.

[Rostere]

The best strategy game of 2012? The BEST GAME of 2012.

[NOK222]

Norwegian Emperor and Falklyr. For the All Father!

[Cultist]

There's only one way - Rape and Pillage. Set sail to abduct and rape women across the world. Paradox sure knows how to catch hearts of mainstream strategy gamer.

Seriously things are way too easy for pagans:

1. Get 6000+ archer retinue.

2 Start abducting women from the loosers on the coast.

3. Sooner or later you'll capture one with Strong or even Genius.

4. Make her concubine.

5. Repeat until you get 3 concubines

6. PROFIT!

Even with reduced birthrate there's a neat chance that you'll get heir with that trait. And when properly raped concubine reaches 45 years, set her aside and take another 3 concubines in search for best traits.

Edited June 20, 2013 by Cultist

[Rosbjerg]

Why do you think Scandinavian women are rated as some of the most beautiful in the world? That's exactly how it went down..

[Keyrock]

There's only one way - Rape and Pillage. Set sail to abduct and rape women across the world. Paradox sure knows how to catch hearts of mainstream strategy gamer.

Seriously things are way too easy for pagans:

1. Get 6000+ archer retinue.

2 Start abducting women from the loosers on the coast.

3. Sooner or later you'll capture one with Strong or even Genius.

4. Make her concubine.

5. Repeat until you get 3 concubines

6. PROFIT!

Even with reduced birthrate there's a neat chance that you'll get heir with that trait. And when properly raped concubine reaches 45 years, set her aside and take another 3 concubines in search for best traits.

Isn't this pretty much how it happened IRL?

 

In other news, I need to get back to building my Polish Empire, but when I do I know it will consume all my life gaming time again.

Edited June 20, 2013 by Keyrock

[Cultist]

Isn't this pretty much how it happened IRL?

They only bothered with Attractive

[Rosbjerg]

Have you guys tried erecting runestones? You're given choices on what to write on it based on traits and the characters history. As my king only real fame was his gluttony, he just erected a massive runestone... with his favorite recipes.. haha...

[Bester]

Why do you think Scandinavian women are rated as some of the most beautiful in the world? That's exactly how it went down..

As far as stereotypes go, scandinavian women are rated as some of the most frigid and feminist women in the world who scream "rape" at any occasion, even if somebody didn't tell her "goodbye" at work. I believe it's polish and ukranian women who are rated as the hottest. Spanish and greek women are rated as the easiest. Of course I only traveled half a globe, so I'm only saying what people of the world in general think. Maybe your stereotype really exists where you come from.

[Tagaziel]

Have you guys tried erecting runestones? You're given choices on what to write on it based on traits and the characters history. As my king only real fame was his gluttony, he just erected a massive runestone... with his favorite recipes.. haha...

Stop making me want to buy the Old Gods!

[Oerwinde]

I'm assuming the summer sale will have it for 75% off as usual, so I'm planning on grabbing it then along with Heart of Darkness for Vicky 2. Unless Vicky 2 is a daily deal for the Paradox weekend this weekend, in that case I'll grab HoD then.

[melkathi]

I'm assuming the summer sale will have it for 75% off as usual, so I'm planning on grabbing it then along with Heart of Darkness for Vicky 2. Unless Vicky 2 is a daily deal for the Paradox weekend this weekend, in that case I'll grab HoD then.

 

Yeah might as well wait through the paradox weekend and see how prices are going.

[melkathi]

75% Off on Steam as of right now

[Keyrock]

75% Off on Steam as of right now

DLCs too?

[melkathi]

 

75% Off on Steam as of right now

DLCs too?

 

 

Everything except the last one with them pagans

[Keyrock]

 

 

75% Off on Steam as of right now

DLCs too?

 

 

Everything except the last one with them pagans

 

Curses!  

 

I'll likely scoop up Sword of Islam and the Byzantine Empire (don't remember the name off the top of my head) DLCs though.

[SadExchange]

How much micro managing does this game have?  Would it be akin to something like Knights of Honor?