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CK2 Dev Diary #34: Facts about Artifacts, Real talk about Relics

Hello all, it’s been a while, but it’s my turn to write a Dev Diary again! Today I’m going to tell you about the Treasury system we’re adding in 2.7. This system itself is part of the free patch. However, a lot of the content for it is part of Monks and Mystics.

The Treasury is where characters store their items, such as weapons, artifacts, or holy relics. In many ways items are much like Character Modifiers which you are likely already familiar with, but Character Modifiers are a fairly limited and not entirely clear system. With the new Treasury system we have greater control over how they work and when they are active as well as more UI space to display and explain them. Not only that, this system allows items to be inheritable and stealable.

We hope that seeing your character’s items as physical object rather than just a number on their character sheet will offer greater immersion, especially for player who like to focus on role-playing. Sure, in the past you could find a nice axe to increase your personal combat skill, but it was just another number - now you’ll see a gleaming axe, ready to hew the limbs from your foes!
artifacts_example_isolated.png

this is not quite final artwork, but it should be similar to what we end up with

As an example, say your Character has found the Holy Grail - you will now see the Grail in your Treasury with a picture and a description as well as the effects of owning it. Further, if some Norseman comes along and raids your castle, there’s a chance that he’ll make off with your precious Grail - however, since he’s not a Christian your most holy relic is nothing more than a fancy cup to him.

As mentioned, items are also inheritable, they all go to a character’s primary heir. In the event someone dies without an heir, the items will pass to their liege if they have one, but they have a chance of being lost in the process. If an independant character dies without heirs, their items are lost - although if time permits we have talked about them having a chance to be snapped up by powerful vassals.

For 2.7 we’re converting several character modifiers into items, such as the +1 axe you might find while raiding, the saint’s bones you might find on a pilgrimage, or the trophy you made from the skull of your rival. With Monks and Mystics we’re adding a lot more, such as:
  • Commissioning swords from skilled smiths.
  • Buying fabulous Crown Jewels.
  • Hunting for Holy Artifacts.
As well as the items you can find or make while playing, we have also added a system to place some Artifacts into character’s Treasuries when a new game is started. These are mostly placed at random to keep things interesting, but there are also a few historical artifacts given to famous characters.
Paradox_CK2_TreasureChamber_big_v02.jpg
 
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I too hope the things are more fluid leaving the treasury:

The cheesemaker's daughter my trusting son is so fond of is wearing the crown jewel. Again...

Demons be gone! I shall sacrifice this relic to cast you out!

The secret society of Saint John of the Scarecrows is interested in offering me membership in exchange for my gilded raven.

Where is the True Cross of Christ? And what is my hunting dog chewing on?
 
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Just do it earlier to get a good relic +20 to something... Munchkin style :)

Also we can play till 1453... Why thinking of 1337?

Because it's the last bookmark and you're not guaranteed the course of events that led up to Joan of Arc's appearance.
 
I suggest Thor's hammer for Norsemen and Spear of Athena for Greeks. (Of course it won't be the real godly weapons of myth, but they look like it and make the wearer think he has the favor of it's godly weilder. Only accecible if supernatural (fantasy) is enabled.
No just no, no norseman would ever steal thor's hammer, if you did then who would hold back the frost giants? And Athena is a pagan god, they burn you at the stake for worshipping her.

RPG is not the same as fantasy. I like roleplaying in CKII as long as it is historical (much more than the "strategy" part [I do not think the game is that strategical at all compared to e.g. chess or go]). Not liking in fantasy (although it is perfectable acceptable and cool for MODs). Not to say I dislike fantasy, just not in CKII. Especially since it is one of the things which is perfect to MOD in.

The second aspect is I would not want a +2 str sword in CKII with all of the equipment gathering and minmaxing you have in fantasy RPG games. I really don't want to hunt equipment, so when I got the level +2 sword, I am supposed to chase the level +3 sword. That leaves us with "historical" equipment, which is fine. Although I wonder what it adds. For special religious artifacts, sure, maybe. Haven't made up my mind - I guess I'll give it the benefit of the doubt. For random <arbitrary-adjective e.g. masterwork (for all the idiots out there - we're just instantiating an example)> weapon/armour - it actually lowers the immersion if they are just stock items without any meaningful use or history. It also raises the question which objects should be represented. As for swords, there are probably 50.000 (idiot warning) in the realm, so would a few specific ones be interesting enough to model. What is the criteria for determining what to model and not? Besides if I am the King of France or whatever, I'm pretty sure I have the goddemn best armour there is if I wanted to. I would not walk around with some semi-tattered bronze chainmail (again, idiot warning, beware). I'd probably have a fitted platemail with all the latest and best shizzles of the middle ages. So what does it add to have some random platemail showing? I hope it is connected to some event and has enough history before it qualifies.
I think you overestimate how powerful this mechanic is going to be. Hunting for the best regular items aren't going to do much good. And I suspect that relics will not be farmeable at all.

Regarding which armor and weaponry to model in the game, I'd advocate just for rarely specially well creafted ones -say, from ahead-of-their-time smiths which are only relevant for the first generation, until the general quality of the craftsmen catch up. So, if you are pretty innovative in some particular tech you could rarely get a plate armor a generation before it's historical spread in the continent. Or something like that. I hope at least historically-minded mods take that approach
For this reason I would very much like to see the bonuses of items change over time, a master crafted sword from the 19th century would be pretty meh in the 14th century. Same thing with armour. Swords should probably turn into ceremonial swords over time.
 
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Hello,

I don't know if it was mentioned, but if some Norsemen come and raid your castle and take one of your relic... Is there a way to counter them? For example, if you crush their army or chase them off, are you able to recover your lost artifact? Raiding as of now, beside the possibility of losing troops, they still leave with whatever gold they stole from your holding... Would be nice to see an overhaul along with this
 
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  • Buying fabulous Crown Jewels.
PARADOX YOU'RE BEING DUMB IF YOU DONT PUT CUSTUMIZABLE CROWNS BEING ABLE TO BE SHOWN ON THE CHARACTER PORTRAIT!
 
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Different, relics on different cultures should add diferent bonuses, Like cristian owning a Thorn from crist crown, should have piety bonus, but norse having it, should have prestige bonus couse he took it from enemy and shows hes prowess
 
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Different, relics on different cultures should add diferent bonuses, Like cristian owning a Thorn from crist crown, should have piety bonus, but norse having it, should have prestige bonus couse he took it from enemy and shows hes prowess

Christians should get a CB to retake it.
 
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I list few ideas for this new feature, so peaople tell what you think about it,

Beside the Main ineheritable treasure, there should be hidden stash, what only worthy heir can accsess, if stash is not opened on 3-5 generation then it goes to lost, game will generate random number for it and it can luckyilt be found by anyone and can be opened(solved) whoever has certain(worthy) stats to trigger the event chain.

also prestigious, piuos characters should be able to commision family heirlooms.

non rulers should also have ability to hold treasures.

Persons should have ambition to hunt relics, and event chain are triggered randomly to checkout rumors. And if you success to locate relic, artifact you should be able to go there to try to get it.

"you have info that, ring what count roland wears actually belonged to charlemane" so now you be able to try targeted plot for that ring. Some relics should be hidden, like rings and neckleces, you wear them but no one knows origin, but origin can be detected and detecter can see it, he can also spread rumors so others may see it.

To steal relics there should be levels, like try to steal it(sneaky), bribe some one to steal it, but he may keep it, use brute force, excange for prisoners, plot to kill and claim relic if he wears it.
 
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  • Buying fabulous Crown Jewels.
PARADOX YOU'RE BEING DUMB IF YOU DONT PUT CUSTUMIZABLE CROWNS BEING ABLE TO BE SHOWN ON THE CHARACTER PORTRAIT!
I agree with the sentiment but not with the tone.
 
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