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CK2 Dev Diary #61: The Dragon Throne

Hello folks!

The Swedish summer vacations are drawing to a close and I’m back and eager to talk some more Crusader Kings! What better way to kick off the end of summer than by revealing the theme of the next expansion? Yes my friends, it’s China! Now, before you get all emotional one way or the other, we’re not actually going to expand the map farther east. We considered doing that, long and hard, but eventually decided on a different approach that would not strain performance and stability beyond reason. As I mentioned in Dev Diary #51, it bothers me that the eastern edge of the map just cuts off in such an unnatural way. Playing in the Orient, you should always feel like you’re in the shadow of the Dragon. It should be an interesting and dynamic region right in the center of the Old World. So, we came up with the idea of adding China as a political entity even though you cannot actually see most of its territory.

The Dragon Throne.png


There is a new screen you can open up, which, if you’re within range of China, allows you to interact with the Emperor in various interesting ways. China can grant many wonderful boons if you’re in the emperor’s good graces, but, depending on the current status and policy of the Dragon Throne, the emperor can also decide you’d better show some respect and become a tributary state. When there is turmoil in China, displaced or fleeing armies can arrive on the map and cause all kinds of trouble. China can even seize and rule actual provinces, but the emperor leaves the governing of such areas to the Governor of the Western Protectorate (or, to be a stickler, the “Protectorate General to Pacify the West”.) Potentially, this on-map part of China can grow enormously powerful, but you should not have to worry too much as long as you enjoy the emperor’s grace…

That’s going to be all for now. I’m sure you have a million questions, but you’ll have to wait for the upcoming dev diaries. :)

Meanwhile, remember to tune in to our CK2 livestreams between 16 to 18:00 CET!
 
What, so that BS I said about the western dragon + barbels thing being a "China" mechanic button was true? Somehow I do my best thinking when shooting from the hip. :confused:

Is there any chance the Silk Road will be enhanced to be more of a target for people to control? or perhaps some events around it?

I wouldn't set my hopes too high - PDS historically doesn't like to tie DLC features to other DLCs' mechanics. For good reason.
 
I called it. The "large" "last" expansion, aka what this thing was originally supposed to be, was China. They backed out at some point because reasons and this is the compromise we're getting. It's something but I'm sure a lot of people will be upset that

a) they're still doing an expansion on China and not x thing they wanted

b) they're not doing China the way China fans would have wanted

Well, why do people not like China? Because it adds another continent just like India that most people probably won't be doing a whole lot with. It would also require alot of new mechanics to make it historically accurate. Both would overburden the game costing a lot more resources(for devs and for performance) for a new part of the game most players wont have anything to do with anyway. This mechanic mostly negates both those problems satisfying those people.

For the people that want China, while they won't be able to play China directly they can still play as the Chinese, who get their own portraits as well, and influence Chinese politics(although we're still unsure how) without needing too much in the way of new game mechanics.

I think it's a good compromise, especially seeing how much doors the feature will open in terms of modding.
 
Wow, Paradox, off map invasions, you're soooooooooooooooooooo creative.

You've got Aztecs and Mongols, you had to go after the Chinese as well.

Maybe you should just rename CK2 "the unseen hordes" and be done with it.
 
Wow, Paradox, off map invasions, you're soooooooooooooooooooo creative.

You've got Aztecs and Mongols, you had to go after the Chinese as well.

Maybe you should just rename CK2 "the unseen hordes" and be done with it.
It's not like they are forcing you to buy this content....
 
About the People asking if China can be conquered by the hordes:
I am 90% certain it can happen. But probably more like an Event. So when Dschingis Khan spawns per Event, there is a High Chance that he already conquered China per Event, or something. If you yourself can change the dynasty of the Emperor is another case.
For more information we have just to wait some weeks.

All in all I like that you try to align CK2 and EU IV feature wise.
 
Yes - the Emperor and Dynasty will be converted, and EU4 Ming will be replaced by whatever is in CK2 (Yuan, Tang, etc). Culture and religion will also be converted over. Any land held by the Protectorate will be given to China proper. :)

I can see the eu4 conversion games now...
 
Not at all impressed, Go all in or not at all, if your not going to give us China on the map then give us better mechanics for whats on the map.

Better HRE
Proper Byzantium
Better interactions with religious leaders
Revamped Crusades
Better holy orders
Cadet branches

Not something that A. Absolutely wont leave the China guys satisfied and B. only effects the eastern portion of the map
 
Not at all impressed, Go all in or not at all, if your not going to give us China on the map then give us better mechanics for whats on the map.

Better HRE
Proper Byzantium
Better interactions with religious leaders
Revamped Crusades
Better holy orders
Cadet branches

Not something that A. Absolutely wont leave the China guys satisfied and B. only effects the eastern portion of the map

Exactly. Now nobody is fully happy except those who are content with China never becoming map material. The only people who are happy are the ones who are extremely adamant about not having China on the map, even at the cost of an expansion that could have been used to improve the core game.

Instead of making current material any better they decided to compromise in the worst fashion possible.

I was afraid this would happen. it's extremely obvious that elements within Paradox wanted to actually add add China, but after listening to player feedback they decided to compromise, but not really since we're still getting a China expansion.

All that bullshit about "if Paradox devs want it it'll happen". Turns out not only are they weak willed they heed the advice of their fans in the worst ways.

Do it or don't do it.
 
Edit: That said I enjoyed the joke "Kejsaren av Kina tycker inte om te" (The emperor of china does not like tea, it's a children game/pun), does that game even exist outside of sweden? But basing a mechanic on a joke is not a respectful way of treating an ancient culture.
Couldn't they have added that like/dislike thing without thinking of the game?