Crusader Kings 2

[Ailedhoo]

Those Black Death photos look exactly like all those Zombie Horde Mods

Death knows no bounds!

Also: I dig the Dance Macabre linkage Paradox did!

Spoiler super wide image :

The king in both this original artwork and the event work are one!

I'd very much like to play Crusader Kings 2 again but it seems that Paradox have taken their usual route with games. Release endless DLCs, bloat the game with features that they keep adding that make little to no sense and there's just this sense of there not actually being anything to do, especially in the early game and early bookmarks.

Regards

Save that Paradox tend to set their DLC as additional building upon a foundation rather than placing foundational pieces that should be there. Granted the DLC have been great in the amount for the game but it varies on which you want for CK2. Yes they are milking the game but it is one very strong cow.

 

[Arakhor]

You need to correct your spoiler code.

 

[Ailedhoo]

You need to correct your spoiler code.

I did so as soon as I posted.

 

[Arakhor]

Ah. We cross-posted, I see.

 

[Ailedhoo]

Ah. We cross-posted, I see.

Happens to the best of us!

Anyway I found the new disease mechanic a nice addition; always good to quicken the changing of reigns one say.

 

[EgonSpengler]

I noticed Steam is having a massive sale on Paradox games this weekend. I'm thinking of taking the plunge on CKII at -75%.

For those who already play the game, most of the DLC is on sale too, at -66% (the most recent stuff is still full price).

 

[Yeekim]

Yes they are milking the game but it is one very strong cow.

This. Reaper's Due has certainly been a great addition.
Added challenge and unpredictability just as both were wearing thin...

 

[Arakhor]

I noticed Steam is having a massive sale on Paradox games this weekend. I'm thinking of taking the plunge on CKII at -75%.

Definitely. You can always save the various DLC for later (or never, as you see fit).

This. Reaper's Due has certainly been a great addition.
Added challenge and unpredictability just as both were wearing thin...

I'd agree, but unfortunately I'm rather squeamish as regards to the nasty disease stuff.

 

[EgonSpengler]

Definitely. You can always save the various DLC for later (or never, as you see fit).

The base game alone is $10, and for $40, we get:

Crusader Kings II, Crusader Kings II: African Portraits , Crusader Kings II: African Unit Pack, Crusader Kings II: Byzantine Unit Pack , Crusader Kings II: Celtic Portraits, Crusader Kings II: Celtic Unit Pack, Crusader Kings II: Customization Pack, Crusader Kings II: Dynasty Shield II, Crusader Kings II: Dynasty Shield III, Crusader Kings II: Dynasty Shields, Crusader Kings II: Europa Universalis IV Converter, Crusader Kings II: Finno-Ugric Unit Pack, Crusader Kings II: Hymns of Abraham, Crusader Kings II: Hymns to the Old Gods, Crusader Kings II: Legacy of Rome , Crusader Kings II: Mediterranean Portraits, Crusader Kings II: Military Orders Unit Pack, Crusader Kings II: Mongol Faces, Crusader Kings II: Norse Portraits, Crusader Kings II: Norse Unit Pack, Crusader Kings II: Persian Portraits, Crusader Kings II: Persian Unit Pack, Crusader Kings II: Rajas of India, Crusader Kings II: Ruler Designer, Crusader Kings II: Russian Portraits, Crusader Kings II: Russian Unit Pack, Crusader Kings II: Saxon Unit Pack, Crusader Kings II: Songs of Albion, Crusader Kings II: Songs of Byzantium , Crusader Kings II: Songs of Faith, Crusader Kings II: Songs of India, Crusader Kings II: Songs of Prosperity, Crusader Kings II: Songs of the Caliph, Crusader Kings II: Songs of the Holy Land, Crusader Kings II: Songs of the Rus, Crusader Kings II: Sons of Abraham, Crusader Kings II: Sunset Invasion, Crusader Kings II: Sword of Islam, Crusader Kings II: The Old Gods, Crusader Kings II: The Republic, Crusader Kings II: Turkish Portraits, Crusader Kings II: Turkish Unit Pack, Crusader Kings II: Warriors of Faith Unit Pack

A lot of portraits and music, cosmetic and immersive (which I usually like - I like the array of nation-specific units in Empire: Total War, for example). I've highlighted the ones that appear to be more than that, but I haven't looked at them closely.

 

[Double A]

The unit packs are more like if Empire had DLC for generals and armies on the campaign map. Of course, pdox games don't have battles, so all your combat is on the campaign map.

 

[EgonSpengler]

The unit packs are more like if Empire had DLC for generals and armies on the campaign map. Of course, pdox games don't have battles, so all your combat is on the campaign map.

Right, I think one of the Civ games did that. Or maybe it was a mod. At any rate, I usually like that sort of stuff, even if it's just cosmetic.

 

[Arakhor]

A lot of portraits and music, cosmetic and immersive (which I usually like - I like the array of nation-specific units in Empire: Total War, for example). I've highlighted the ones that appear to be more than that, but I haven't looked at them closely.

That's an excellent deal, yes. I would certainly recommend the Dynasty Shield packs and of course the EU IV converter allows you to carry a CK2 game into EU IV. The Ruler Designer does what it says on the tin and ensures that you don't need to play the default rulers.

 

[Double A]

Right, I think one of the Civ games did that. Or maybe it was a mod. At any rate, I usually like that sort of stuff, even if it's just cosmetic.

I mean I do too, I'm just letting you know what you're getting. I personally can't play without the portrait packs.

 

[Civ'ed]

I'd agree, but unfortunately I'm rather squeamish as regards to the nasty disease stuff.

You haven't lived until Charlemagne has died of severe dysentery while you weren't looking.

 

[Arakhor]

As opposed to possible asbestos poisoning?

 

[Civ'ed]

actually, it's almost fun to see the various ways charlemagne kicks the bucket

• Dysentery
• Disfigured and wearing a leper's mask
• murdered
• killed in battle
• reduced to a one-legged man until his eventual death
• gone lunatic as a result of awkward great pox treatment that ended up killing one of his offspring

Charlemagne very rarely manages to achieve "not dead"-hood in my games nowadays.

 

[Double A]

which I guess just goes to show how weird it was that he ended up with all of germany and france

 

[Quintillus]

A lot of portraits and music, cosmetic and immersive (which I usually like - I like the array of nation-specific units in Empire: Total War, for example). I've highlighted the ones that appear to be more than that, but I haven't looked at them closely.

Sons of Abraham is also more than portraits/music/cosmetic; it's the expansion that focused on improved mechanics for Jewish countries and Christian theocracies, and IIRC it also had a Papal overhaul.

Really hard to go wrong at $10. If you're skeptical, go for the base without expansions, and you can always pick them up at a sale if it's a hit. If you're already a fan of EU3/4/CK1/Sengoku, the set is probably a pretty safe bet.

I've been impressed by how good the reviews for The Reaper's Due are. Probably will pick it up before I dive back into CKII the next time; it's both the best-reviewed expansion and one of the least expensive.

 

[Double A]

is sengoku even playable

 

[EgonSpengler]

A handful of hours of Crusader Kings II yesterday didn't go well. In two different games I got crushed when I tried to expand my holdings.

In a "learning game" as the King of Leon I followed the game's prompts and had my brother, the King of Castille, killed so I could inherit his lands. Unfortunately, I also inherited the war against seemingly all of Islam that I didn't even know he was fighting, and my army was promptly overwhelmed. I need to figure out how to get more information, even something as simple as which of my neighbors are fighting each other (could I have allied with my brother instead and taken some land to my south?).

So I told the "Learning Game" to kiss my Irish behind and, in a new game, took some advice from the web and started a game as the Count of Tir Connaill (a family home, irl, many generations past). At first, I was thinking of taking over Ulster, but then I noticed that Connacht was under the thumb of a 9-year-old (again, bad information, someone important died right next door and I didn't know it). I sent my Chancellor to find me some small-print on which to base a claim and invaded. With the aid of some mercenaries, it looked like a sure thing. Then I was attacked by an "adventurer" from Northumbria, I ran out of money, my mercenaries went home, and my army was overwhelmed in short order.