XiaNaphryz
LATIN, MATRIPEDICABUS, DO YOU SPEAK IT
If you need it, this is a good instructional LP guide for the vanilla game:
http://lparchive.org/Crusader-Kings-2/
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Let's talk about Grand Strategy.
- Thread starter ThoseDeafMutes
- Start date
If you need it, this is a good instructional LP guide for the vanilla game:
http://lparchive.org/Crusader-Kings-2/
PoweredByHentai
Member
Thanks! Bookmarking this for great justice.
eyeball_kid
Member
So does that mean that CK2 does not have good enough AI that if you squint a bit, you can imagine that the NPCs have personalities with their own agendas and machinations?
LurkerPrime
Member
By virtue of their power, your power, and the power of those around each of you, they will be funneled into predictable (or semi-predictable) tactics that appears to gvie them 'personality.' You'll always have that one neighbour that keeps fabricating claims, or that one relative that keeps trying to kill heirs, or that one vassel that just can't stay satisified; it's infuriating and its awesome. This, coupled with the sheer scope of the global map (not to mention your character's mortality) means you'll never be able to control everything.
Basically, Crusader Kings 2 is only repetitive if the player allows it to be.
eyeball_kid
Member
That's acceptable, thanks. The previous quote of "you almost have to roleplay with yourself" made it sound like there was no sense of intelligent forces weaving their own way through the various empires.
XiaNaphryz
LATIN, MATRIPEDICABUS, DO YOU SPEAK IT
Roleplaying a personal narrative of what happens goes a long way. You may also want to check the LP link I posted above if you want further help getting started and into the game more.
You get out of CK2 what you put into it. What's not going to happen is a digital GRRM fellating you in your seat. But if you make the effort to create a narrative of your escapades, you'll quickly find that CK2 tells some of the best "stories" in the medium.
And this is true of any Grand Strategy game, really.
And this is true of any Grand Strategy game, really.
LurkerPrime
Member
Yup, basically.
If you play the same lineage long enough, you'll be making your own rivals, enemies, and allies without even trying.
It is almost magical how well CK2 aids in the creation of a player-driven story through its events, character traits, and political actions. I reckon that's a big reason why it took off the way it did - Paradox absolutely nailed it.
eyeball_kid
Member
Well, sure. I've played a lot of Romance of the Three Kingdoms and you pretty much have to roleplay everything. I just assumed that CK2 was more sophisticated in making a rich and believable world around you, and it sounds that it is.
If you're pressing someone else's claim, they'll become your vassal if they're either already your vassal (invite to court, give landed title) or are a member of your dynasty, as long as you're not pushing for a title equal or higher rank than your own of course.
Pollux
Member
Ohh. That makes parts of CK2 so much easier. Now I'm not going to have to wait on fabricating claims to expand my realm. Thanks!
thequickandthedead
Member
Is it possible to enjoy these game in short bursts (like half an hour maybe)? I used to play Victoria 2 quite a bit but whenever I sat down it always took over an hour for a game to really get going.
Absolutely, it'll vary with each game and depends on your position, but I find that with EU especially, it's perfectly feasible. You just need to avoid more complex situations, playing within the HRE for example requires a bit more thought and so might not be as simple to just sit down and go. But a straight-forward colonial game with a nation such as Portugal would be easy to jump in to and go.
LurkerPrime
Member
I can't remember for EU4, but in Crusader Kings 2 you can save anywhere and there are multiple speed settings. So, as long as you can remember what you were doing it shouldn't be a problem.
ThoseDeafMutes
Member
EU4 on sale today, 75% off.
LurkerPrime
Member
Have the original, any DLC recommendations?
ThoseDeafMutes
Member
steelersrock01
Neo Member
All of the big expansions (Wealth of Nations, Res Publica and Conquest of Paradise) are 75% off, except for Art of War which just released and is sadly still $20. Can't go wrong picking up the cheap ones.
hydrophilic attack
Member
These games should not be called grand strategy games. They should be called strategy games.
The games that have an incorrect label are those we traditionally call strategy games. A lot of them are not about strategy but rather about tactics. They should be called tactics games and should not be called strategy games.
I blame the education system for people not knowing the distinction between tactics and strategy.
The games that have an incorrect label are those we traditionally call strategy games. A lot of them are not about strategy but rather about tactics. They should be called tactics games and should not be called strategy games.
I blame the education system for people not knowing the distinction between tactics and strategy.
I think the name RTS is appropriate for traditional RTS game that have base building and resource collecting because those two are part of strategy (which is why DoW 2 is closer to squad tactics than RTS). Considering the scale of Grand Strategy compared to any of its contemporary in the same strategy genre, I think the name is fitting too.
Grand Tactic could only made possible by Warhammer: Total War or Warhammaer 40k: Total War games.
ThoseDeafMutes
Member
A lot of games are tactically focused but also have a strategy element. The base building / resource management is strategic in a sense.
ThoseDeafMutes
Member
A couple of extra musical tracks and some unique sprites for Muslim countries, IIRC. It's not significant, has 0 gameplay impact if that's what you're wondering.
Check out Scourge of War. You can play a bunch of Civil War battles from army commander all the way down to brigade commander.
Yup that was what I was wondering. Thanks for the info.
As a newcomer should I buy any dlc or will the vanilla game suffice for now?
ThoseDeafMutes
Member
I'm so used to having all the DLC that I legitimately don't know what having the DLC packs versus just the latest patch changes, lol.
Art of War was amazing but I'm not sure how many of its changes are included in the base game for the latest patch.
That's understandable. It's only $15 more to get all the dlc so I may just go that route anyway.
Zuhzuhzombie!!
Member
Love EU4, even though I'm only average at it. Art of War expansion that released a few months back is practically EU5 for all the additions it makes.
If you're going to nab EU4, I'd say that Art of War and Wealth of Nations are definitely necessary.
If you're going to nab EU4, I'd say that Art of War and Wealth of Nations are definitely necessary.
LurkerPrime
Member
Alright, you've convinced me.
GMG with one of their coupons is probably the cheapest place to get it right now, assuming the codes will work on it to begin with. Loyalty discount codes (-22%) definitely work, even on newer releases like these.
GrandHarrier
Member
Load up on the CK2 add-ons. It's amazing the differences they make to the experience. Ones I'd suggest in particular are:
Old Gods (play as Pagans / Norse, earlier time period start)
Sword of Islam (play as Muslims)
The new "Way of Life" add-on for more RP hilarity.
Most add-ons also add a ton of new events and the more of those you have the more diverse every game session becomes.
I find CK2 leaps and bounds more engrossing than EU4, though the latter is still a very good game.
motorised mallard
Member
Yeah those are the big ones. Conquest of Paradise if you want to play natives of Americas or colonizing is too taxing on you. Res Puplica if you want to play the small mechant nations, Venice, Genoa etc. The Digital Extreme edition and Pre-order "pack" could be worth it if you plan to play a lot of Islamic nations (Digital EE) or Byzantium (Pre-order). Oh and the 'Murican Dream if you wan't mess around with the US.
The rest is only visuals or music, visuals were kind of a waste before because you didn't see the units unless you wanted to play zoomed in the whole time, now the battle results actually show those. The music is quite good generally, AoW pack maybe not so much, that I recommend those.
Also, I have a spare CK2 lying around in my Steam inventory.
Is there a easy/smart way to get rid off it here if I don't want to have a PM flood? Also I haven't gifted stuff in a while so I don't remember/know what it gives you if you send it by email.
I'm very tempted to buy it, but I already own EU3 and haven't played it yet. Should I start out by trying EU3 to see if I like it before buying EU4, or is EU4 different enough that they're not very similar experiences?
I actually just watched some videos of EU3 the other day because I had forgotten what it was like. It's definitely similar enough that you could try to learn EU3 first, but EU4 is a far superior game so if you're serious about it I'd just get it.
I'd just grab EU4 tbh
In EU4, I wish I would have known about the religious leagues in the AoW expansion. I was Emperor as Protestant Prussia with all 7 electors backing me. I just bought the expansions and turned em on, boot up my game and find out I am not eligible to be emperor and my ruler then dies in a few days after an unpause. Oldenburg became emperor and I am now destroying the catholic league. It's funny right now, 3 electors are backing France for now since it's Catholic but it joined me to crush the catholic league.
EdwardTivrusky
Member
I just noticed that Sengoku on Steam is £1.99 until 2nd Jan. I've seen it mentioned and figured i'd post a reminder.
I lucked out a few years ago when a massive Paradox bundle was on sale at something like 90% off! Almost their entire catalogue on Steam for about £30. Bought! I've since dabbled in a couple of them and regularly buy the DLC when on sale too.
I thoroughly recommend looking at some After Action Reports (AAR) on Paradox Plaza for inspiration and entertainment. I'll have to raid my old bookmarks to check for others.
I lucked out a few years ago when a massive Paradox bundle was on sale at something like 90% off! Almost their entire catalogue on Steam for about £30. Bought! I've since dabbled in a couple of them and regularly buy the DLC when on sale too.
I thoroughly recommend looking at some After Action Reports (AAR) on Paradox Plaza for inspiration and entertainment. I'll have to raid my old bookmarks to check for others.
hunchback
Member
Does anyone else take forever deciding on your first wife in CK2? I sit there comparing each and every attribute. What is best for your first wife? Do you want one that marries for love? Which of her skills or traits are most important? I tried following the LP that someone posted, but it didn't play out like the LP and I was overwhelmed pretty quickly. The names of people and land are different also. I'm really enjoying myself even though I know I'm just scratching the surface of the game.
- You want a lot of traits like "Kind" and "Patient" if you want her to be a good mother to your children.
- You want good congenital traits (shaped like a heart) if you're implementing a eugenics program.
- You want her Intrigue to be as low as possible because your wife can be very good at sabotaging you if she doesn't like you.
- You should aim for neutral personality stats that are compatible with yours. So, a Zealot and a Cynic is no bueno, or Gregarious and Shy.
- If you want her to be a baby factory, you should look for traits like Lust or the gold education traits that give bonuses to Fertility.
- Her Stewardship gets added to yours for the sake of calculating Demesne size, so you want a really high Stewardship, which works well with the gold educational traits
tl;dr
Genes > Childbearing > Childrearing > Political naivete
- You want good congenital traits (shaped like a heart) if you're implementing a eugenics program.
- You want her Intrigue to be as low as possible because your wife can be very good at sabotaging you if she doesn't like you.
- You should aim for neutral personality stats that are compatible with yours. So, a Zealot and a Cynic is no bueno, or Gregarious and Shy.
- If you want her to be a baby factory, you should look for traits like Lust or the gold education traits that give bonuses to Fertility.
- Her Stewardship gets added to yours for the sake of calculating Demesne size, so you want a really high Stewardship, which works well with the gold educational traits
tl;dr
Genes > Childbearing > Childrearing > Political naivete