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CK2 Dev Diary #17: Crusader Cats

Hello everyone! I’m Virvatuli, one of the Content Designers on The Reaper’s Due, which also happens to be my very first project here at Paradox. It’s been so much fun working on this DLC and I hope you’ll have even more fun playing it! In this week’s DD (another first for me), I will reveal one of Reaper’s most important features. Oh, okay, it might not be that important, but at least it’s my personal favourite and pet project. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you cats.

For the longest time, there’s been a issue regarding the representation of pets in Crusader Kings 2. In the realm of companion animals, there has been a worrisome lack of diversity. Most of you who play Way of Life have probably had a loyal hunting dog, there have been some events regarding birds of prey, and a lucky few Conclave players might have encountered a tiny rodent friend. Sadly, that has been pretty much it on the pet front. To rectify this serious problem we’ve added some additional furry and feathered friends in The Reaper’s Due. As we did, of course we couldn’t leave out the best animal of them all: our Feline Overlords, Befurred Ninjas, Gods of the Internet.

In the new DLC you can befriend a cat in a number of ways. However, as any Dwarf Fortress player or real-life cat lover knows, you do not adopt a cat. A cat adopts you. Once your feline friend has decided that you’re the one and only slave for it, you will receive a fancy “Pet Cat” character modifier (unless you scare it away, you horrible person). It will give your character +1 health, as the cat brings you so much happiness, and +1 intrigue, because we all know that cat owners are a bit more clever than everyone else (hey, it’s science!).

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However, most things can become troublesome in excess, even your love for felines. In every cat owner’s life there comes a time when you ask yourself if you shouldn’t get just one more. At some point, the answer is probably no, at least if you don’t want to scare off all of your friends and repulse the courtiers.

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Unless you want to become even sneakier, that is. Then go ahead and become a Crazy Cat Lady, or a Crazy Cat Lord, if that’s how you identify.

At first thought, one might think that cats would be a very insignificant aspect of a medieval ruler’s life, however, when the Plague comes around to visit this changes drastically. Most of you probably know that the Black Death was likely spread by fleas on rats. Sadly this fact is unknown to ye olde peasant, and when people start to die, some of them might point fingers to our furry protectors. Believe it or not, there are some people who do not like cats. It’s crazy, I know, but trust me on this. How will you deal with their growing fears? Do remember, if you don’t have cats, you’ll have plenty of rats…

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This sneak peak of cats is all you’ll get for now. Don’t worry though, The Reaper’s Due is out on the 25th of August and then you can experience cats for yourself in all their whiskered glory. Next week Darkrenown will talk about more assorted features. Now I need to get back to scripting, there’re still some cat-related subjects which need further exploration… Adieu!
 
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Hmm, ok. Paradox sure has different priorities in adding features to their product than I would have. I respect that, but this DLC doesn't seem to have any features that I am particularly interested in. Let's see what the next one brings.
 
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can we torture the cats?
Or maybe make them... play with my hunting dog?:cool:
 
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Yes. I for one welcome our new Feline Overlords.

Yes! Quite!

Cats should also trigger events to rid the slave of stress and depression. After all, serving such glorious beasts brings peace to the soul!

They might also take to the field of battle, perchance? Such as the famous Norse shield-cats and the Byzantine cats-of-prey known to pluck out their enemy's eyeballs... and... bat them around? Little known internet fact: the Byzantines were famous cat-lovers, and devised many of their means to manage recalcitrant vassals and the like based on the habits of cats with their food....

Toodles,
--Khanwulf

PS. Next, bring us hedghogs! For those who feel more introverted and prickly, of course!
 
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Dogs > cats

Strictly speaking? Yes: domestic dogs mass more on average than domestic cats.

You weren't attempting to express a value judgement I assume? --because that would be terribly wrong and we'd have to pity you. While stroking the cat(s).

--Khanwulf
 
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Please tell me that there is a glitter hoof equivalent event so that we can have a Byzantine Cat Emperor of the world!
 
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Will there be the capacity for DF levels of Catsplosions?

I feel like it would be a funny event chain if you are paranoid or lunatic (and a dwarf maybe? :p) and don't have a cat, but several of your courtiers do, about solving the growing cat problem...
 
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So now... my ideal character would be satanspawn, who's a mystic and has the Necronomicron, is an immortal and has a cat(s?). Maybe throw wolfblood in there for more fun.

I really need Witch Queen to be an acquirable title.
 
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So now... my ideal character would be satanspawn, whose a mystic and has the Necronomicron, is an immortal and has a cat(s?). Maybe throw wolfblood in there for more fun.

I really need Witch Queen to be an acquirable title.
And the cherry on top...you are a horse
 
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Can Aztecs have cats......DID Aztecs have cats....?
 
The first known domestication of cats was done by Kittyllinati secret society in Ur shortly after the founding of the city.
I believe you left out a few words, that should read "The first known domestication of humans by cats..."
 
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There's more to the story. Viking has like cats. Christian hate cats. Not all the time. It start at the beginning of the late middle age. Do you like cats? Ok the next stake is yours. Cat = devil! The cat has aThe german word for heretic is Ketzer. It comes from Katze (Cat).
I thought Ketzer was originally the German for Cathars.
 
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To be honest, I too thought cats were rare during the CK2 period Europe, and people had ferrets instead to control for rodents.

Also, in Finland we had domesticated snakes at least until 1800's. Hope we'll see those too... :D
 
To be honest, I too thought cats were rare during the CK2 period Europe, and people had ferrets instead to control for rodents.

Also, in Finland we had domesticated snakes at least until 1800's. Hope we'll see those too... :D

Messe ocus Pangur Bán,
cechtar nathar fria saindan:
bíth a menmasam fri seilgg,
mu memna céin im saincheirdd.

I and white Felix,
each of us two (keeps) at his specialty:
his mind is set on hunting,
my mind on my special subject.
 
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