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CK2 Dev Diary - The Rules of the Game

Well people, what do you know? I needed a break from the Stellaris crunch, so here’s an unscheduled dev diary! All the hubbub about Defensive Pacts and Shattered Retreats got me thinking about an old ambition I’ve had to improve the game set-up screens in order to allow players to customize their experience without having to resort to modding. The idea is inspired by games like Civilization and the Second Wave DLC for XCOM: Enemy Unknown, which allow players to change various advanced options and settings for a different experience in the game. I really like such options and typically make good use of them myself.

Now, of course there is such a thing as “the way the game was meant to be played”. That is, how the designers made the game and like to play it themselves. However, variety is the spice of life, and after 11 Crusader Kings II expansions things are not as clear-cut anymore. It’s actually pretty funny that I’ve been using a small personal mod for CK2 for awhile myself. There are some downsides to modding and using mods though:
  • It requires awareness that it’s possible, and where to find existing mods. The modding scene is a jungle.
  • It takes a modicum of extra effort and skill.
  • It might not feel quite legitimate (it can feel a bit like cheating) and you might not get any Achievements.
  • Mods typically do not have the same level of support as the base game. Many become fossilized or are otherwise problematic.
For these reasons especially, I think that adding a bunch of Paradox-approved, fully supported in-game rule variations is a good idea. Thus, when you start a new game, you are now presented with several interesting options. Most of them are simple flavor variations, but some are more fundamental and will disable Achievements in Ironman mode. Here’s the list of options we are currently showing in the new screen (still a work in progress though):
  • Sandbox vs Ironman
  • Shattered Retreats: On/Off
  • Defensive Pacts: On/Off
  • Gender Equality: Default/Historical/All/Players
  • Sunset Invasion: 13th Century/Random/Off
  • Mongol Invasion: Historical/Random/Off
  • Raiding: Historical/Unrestricted/None
  • Epidemics: Dynamic/Historical/Deadly
  • “Supernatural” Events: On/Off
  • Adventurers: Normal/Rare/None
  • Provincial Revolts: Normal/Rare/None
  • Regencies: On/Off
  • De Jure Drift: Default/Restricted/Off
  • Dynamic Kingdoms and Empires: On/Off
  • Diplomatic Range: On/Off
Red options disable Achievements.

Crusader Kings II - Rules 01.jpg


Our new rule system is itself fully moddable, so that modders can use the same system with pretty much any options they might want!

Crusader Kings II - Rules 02.jpg


I look forward to your thoughts and comments. Are there any rule variations you think we’ve missed, or that you would really like to see?
 
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Furion Matsuya said:
Indeed and now finally most of the GAME IS RUINED/GAME IS BROKEN complaints will stop, thank the goddess!



Coalitions are defensive pacts, I assume if you turned them off infamy would go as well as it's useless without the pacts unless it just influenced opinion or something.
Click to expand...
I recommend devs add that option in: Game is buggy/game is ruined/game is broken, just for laughs..
 
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Doomdark said:
I don't think we can swing that. It's not a trivial matter.
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Oh, indeed, it is not trivial, which is why we are asking for it. Ever since its implementation, the game has been much harder on systems. If there is anything that would make the game better for me , that would be it.
 
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1st of April ? Long gone. Check.
Flanders ? Ah, that's a joke. Somewhat sad here, but check.

Wow, that came unexpected.
Let me yu guys and gals, instead of , as usual for once.
Tank yu.

I still can't belive you make this option idea true. So great. :)
I think i will faint.....
 
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DreadLindwyrm said:
On a different note - I notice that your screenshot suggests that Ironman is disabled, but achievements are enabled?

"Sandbox" should disable achievements as well.
Click to expand...

Oh, it will. It's just a work in progress.

ASPGolan said:
Interesting, great addition.

One question springs to mind, though: does anybody know where we can read up on how dynamic kingdoms and empires work? It's the only feature in the list that doesn't ring any bells to me.
Click to expand...

It's the decisions to "Form a Kingdom" or "Form an Empire" included in Charlemagne. It allows you to create a custom kingdom/empire based on your primary title.

GothicEmperor said:
What does 'restricted de jure drift' mean, exactly?
Click to expand...

It's restricted to only allow de jure drift for bordering titles. So no horrible border gore on the de jure map.
 
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Pete0714 said:
Oh, indeed, it is not trivial, which is why we are asking for it. Ever since its implementation, the game has been much harder on systems. If there is anything that would make the game better for me , that would be it.
Click to expand...

I hear you, but I think the time to implement that feature would be better spent optimizing the game instead.
 
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Moah said:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/platypi

According to merriam-webster, "platypi" is a valid plural for "platypus" in english, and I personally find "platypuses" horrible, so I'll keep using platypi. I've also grown fond of Dominus Novus correcting me every time ;)
Click to expand...

Moah said:
As a french man, I sound pretentious by default.
Click to expand...

And as an Australian, who really cares? The true plural is simply platypus. Stop trying to over complicate things. The logic here is simple.

Group of dogs. Group of cats. Group of kangaroos. Group of platypus. Group of moose.

Watch out for snakes. Watch out for spiders. Watch out for koalas. Watch out for platypus.

No one says watch out for platypuses - for obvious reasons ;) - or any other "official" non-sense. Nor would you say a group of platypi. Just like you wouldn't call a group of moose, meese or mooses, along with other numerous animals.

Also for those suggesting map changes within this screen. I don't think that is even plausible, since maps are created at launch. This would need to be done pre launch.
 
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That is great stuff! Thanks for listening.

Please make a "disable coalitions" option happen. I know many players dislike Coalitions in CKII.

Otherwise keep up the good work.
 
LordKevster said:
Please make a "disable coalitions" option happen. I know many players dislike Coalitions in CKII
Click to expand...

Is in.

Defensive Pacts: On/Off
Click to expand...

-------------------

On another topic, australians have no language.
None considerable at least and i did anthropological studies on them, so i know. Well actualy i was drunk with them most of the time, but eh..well that was required.

Dracko81 said:
Also for those suggesting map changes within this screen. I don't think that is even plausible, since maps are created at launch. This would need to be done pre launch.
Click to expand...

No-India mods didn't change the map as such. They changed what appears on it.
 
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That's all nice.
But what does dynamic kingdoms/empires mean?
 
I don't really get why Diplomatic Range off would mean no achivements, it's sometimes just annoying.

Anywways Great DD, and I think these rules will be a welcome addition to the game.
 
Doomdark said:
I don't think we can swing that. It's not a trivial matter.
Click to expand...

Doomdark said:
I hear you, but I think the time to implement that feature would be better spent optimizing the game instead.
Click to expand...
Couldn't this be done by turning those provinces into a wasteland if the option is set? Worse come to worst, it could involve forcing a reload like EU4 does nowadays, if need be.
 
Andrzej2 said:
Nice. I would also like to have option to disable matrilinear marriages. They are ahistorical and I don't like them. They should result with creating new cadet branch dynasty. For example like Maria Theresa married prince of Lotharingia so their children were from new dynasty Habsburg-Lotharingien. We don't have cadet branches for now so I would like to have matrilinear marriages disabled entirely.
Click to expand...
Without matrilinear marriages, playing as a woman is pretty damning unless you are elective. It also rules out creating a woman in the ruler designer entirely
 
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Dracko81 said:
Counties and such are setup at launch, you can't just cut them without rebuilding the history.
Click to expand...

Sure, but that doesn't change the map as such. History files can be deleted/deactivated. It worked before.
My post was just intended as a comment on your comment.
I have no vested interest in discussing this or playing without India.
 
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