CK2 Dev Diary #44: Mystical Q&A

[Doomdark]

Hi folks!

Tomorrow is the release day for Monks and Mystics and, of course, the 2.7 patch - exciting times! Now, we've already covered the new features pretty well, so... how about a Q&A? Unleash your questions about everything CK!

(Oh, and don't miss the livestreams later today, 16:00 CET as usual!)

 

[Deleted member 471407]

So when this the idea for this game was first conceived, was it intended to be about crusader kings, or was there a type of game that y'all wanted to make and a game about kings who were crusaders was the setting that worked best?

I think others can give a more detailed and fleshed out answer. But from what I can recall, naming this game Crusader Kings was considered a big mistake as the name somewhat constrained the ambitions of it. So the second thing you say there is probably what's closest to the truth

 

[Servancour]

Will Christians be able to join assassin Orders ?. Or will that only be limited to Muslims

The Assassins only allow characters who are Shia to join.

What will be the new achievements added with M&M?

Yes. There are ten new achievements available. Which should be listed in Steam already, so check them out!

 

[Alfray Stryke]

Are you still planning only one more major dlc/expansion before CK2 development is finished, or do you think there would be enough interest (both internally in features you'd want to make and externally in customers willing to purchase more) to continue into the future?

 

[Moah]

Will the character finder ever get a filter to only show people you can convert to your religion?

It is not planned at this time, but it can always be added to our "TODO" list. Make a suggestion post in the suggestion forum.

Will Christians be able to join assassin Orders ?. Or will that only be limited to Muslims

Only Shia Muslims.

2. Is it possible to join a Secret Religion even if you have not converted from said religion? I mean to become, for example, a Secret Shia if you are a count in the HRE

You can be invited in the secret cult by a member.

Will you be adding more societies/secret cults in the future?

Definitely.

 

[Meneth]

What will be the new achievements added with M&M?

You can see them at the bottom of this list: https://steamcommunity.com/stats/203770/achievements

 

[Meneth]

Will Mods be able to modify the assassin Requirement and make it that any religion can join it if they are invited to it ?

Yes.

 

[Doomdark]

So when this the idea for this game was first conceived, was it intended to be about crusader kings, or was there a type of game that y'all wanted to make and a game about kings who were crusaders was the setting that worked best?

We wanted to make a game about hundreds of scheming rulers who could act out in many different ways. We also wanted to cover the medieval era (since we hadn't done that already) - meaning the game would have to feature the Crusades. The Crusades were, however, never meant to be a core mechanic, and therefore I've never been entirely happy with the name.

 

[Moah]

Is there a sufi orders in Monks and Mistics?

No.

 

[Moah]

Also: any chance the strategy/troop composition/battle- system to become a bit easier to tackle without spreadsheets?

I personally have ideas for that, but nothing's been decided yet.

 

[Doomdark]

How much larger is the code base of the game now compared to the size when it was initially released? I'm curious to know how much more complex the game has gotten over the years.

That's a tricky question to answer since much of the code base has also been heavily reworked. I think it's better to compare the features on release to where we are today.

 

[Moah]

http://manuals.ootpdevelopments.com/index.php?man=ootp16&page=ratings_overview

Is there a way you could implement something like this? Stats that can be "scaled"? I know there is a Hidden Stats Mod (I made it, haven't updated it lately... will do with this dlc), but that's entirely going the other way. This scaling may give people a middle way, if they are "tired" of just scumming the stats for that one councillor or bride.

Concluding: keep up the good work and thanks for the game!

I am not 100% sure what you mean here. In OOTP it's only the representation that changes, the relative values of the stats stay the same. It's harder for us in CK2 to do that since there's no theoretical upper limit to the values of stats.

 

[Doomdark]

Do you regret how the way CK works means that some nations will always be NPC only? (inland republics and all theocracies)

Not really. I am very attached to the core concept of playing a bloodline rather than a country as such. However, inland Republics could in theory be made playable like we did with our Merchant Republics.

 

[Doomdark]

Will you add new portraits for South and West Slavs? Or will they just stay with default ones?

I'd say it's quite possible that they will get special portraits eventually...

 

[Meneth]

I am not 100% sure what you mean here. In OOTP it's only the representation that changes, the relative values of the stats stay the same. It's harder for us in CK2 to do that since there's no theoretical upper limit to the values of stats.

Sure there is: 2^31 / 1000

 

[Doomdark]

Crusader Kings 2 has become really fleshed out compared to how it was at release. Is there any specific mechanism or thing you still find lacking and really want to see improved upon before CK2 reaches its final, ultimate version?

There are many things that could have been done better, of course. However, many of them would require fundamental changes to the game mechanics and would probably be better explored in a sequel.

 

[Doomdark]

A crusader Kings massively multiplayer online grand strategy role-playing game. When?

When King Arthur returns from Avalon.

 

[Doomdark]

Will you be adding more societies/secret cults in the future?

Likely.

 

[Meneth]

Also, you might not wanna tell, but how many different artifacts are there if you buy the DLC? Are we talking 20 or 200? Just curious...

Off of the top of my head, I think it is in the 50-100 range, though do note that a significant number are variations on the same idea. E.G., nicer versions of swords and such.

 

[Moah]

Societies seem perfect to model nobles being members of holy orders. Was it considered in the making of the expansion ?

You can join monastic orders as a "lay member" or patron of sort.