• We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.

CK3 Dev Diary #86 - Under the Banner

Well met!

There is a possibility you have noticed the colourful banners decorating the halls of the upcoming Royal Court expansion and wondered just how they work. If so, you are in luck!

As I’m sure you’ve heard if you follow these diaries, equippable Artifacts are returning to the franchise in a big way, and banners are one of the types of Court Artifact which can adorn your hall.

wall1.jpg


Banners
There are currently three types of commissionable banner: Dynasty and House banners depict the respective arms of your family, while Realm banners display the arms of a specific title (generally the primary title of the commissioner). These banners are a cut above the standard colors carried by your armies and heralds; heirlooms in their own right.

You may wonder what happens if the design of a crest changes during gameplay, such as after the Norman conquest, or when using the new Coat of Arms designer to make ground-breaking contributions to the field of heraldry.

Never fear, you will not need to commission new banners every time you nudge a fleur-de-lis; the Artifact’s designs are tied to their corresponding dynasty, house, or title, and will automatically reflect the results of your questionable artistic skills.

graphicdesign.jpg


All Courts begin the game with a House banner, and also with a Dynasty banner if the ruler is a Dynasty Head. Additional banners may be commissioned at any time if you employ an Antiquarian. You will also be presented with these banners upon gaining a Court for the first time if relevant, reflecting your new status as a King or Emperor.

wales.jpg


You can also see above that you must be a member of the respective family or cadet branch to gain the full benefits of a Dynasty or House banner. While you may gloat by displaying the banners of other families — acquired through war or subterfuge doing so will only improve your Court’s grandeur.

The three banner types grant different bonuses when equipped, with greater benefits from better quality Artifacts. While House and Realm banners use the same logic as other Artifacts to determine their quality (based on the skill of the weaver and other factors), Dynasty banners are their own breed.

Dynasty Banners
Each Dynasty will generally only have one banner in the world at any given time. Unlike House and Realm banners which can be commissioned at will, Dynasty banners can only be commissioned by Dynasty Heads, and only if one does not already exist within range of you.

However, House Heads of a Dynasty will always have claims on their Dynasty’s banner, allowing them to duel or wage war for them at will.

jimena.jpg


In addition, the quality of a Dynasty banner is directly tied to its Dynasty’s Renown, granting greater benefits as your family’s fame grows.

famed.jpg


The highest tier is unlocked upon reaching Legendary Dynasty Renown level. You may be relieved to hear Dynasty banners will never lose tiers, only gain them.

To avoid unnecessary headaches, the AI knows that a Dynasty banner really belongs to the Dynasty Head, and is inclined to return it to its proper place if it ends up elsewhere, even if they are from another House (as long as they have good relations with them).

War Banners
In addition to these creatable banners, there is also a type gained only by event: the War Banner.

byz.jpg


These captured banners can only be gained after battles, and will display the emblem of the defeated side’s primary title; perfect for commemorating your glorious victories.

Banner Relics
Lastly, there are also some historical banners knocking around, such as the Banner of Muhammad, and others of more dubious provenence may be found by adventurers.

thank.jpg


I hope this has temporarily sated your hunger for banner information. Until next time!
 
  • 87Like
  • 30Love
  • 12
  • 4
  • 1Haha
Reactions:
As all the bonuses are below the "if you fulfill the requirements" text, it isn't clear the requirements aren't needed to be met to get the grandeur. Maybe move the grandeur bonus to the top (above the requirements text) to make it more clear you get it even if you don't meet the requirements.
True, but in the screenshot right after, we can see that the grandeur bonus from not meeting the requirements is not the same, as it is double.
 
  • 2
Reactions:
I wonder if banners can be cursed like other artifacts.

The war to claim the banner would be more interesting if it also knocked off the current head of the dynasty (and locked in the new one for some time, with some caveats).
 
Is there anything where we could also have the banners of the powerful vassals in the realm decorate our halls as well? It wasn't uncommon for them to be put up on the walls while court was being held or while they were visiting. Always below or underneath the king's of course.
 
  • 5Like
Reactions:
Happy to see the Royal Court is shaping up so nicely well detailed. This makes one hope all the new intricacies of the new GP functionality will really add up to cater for much more different playstyles and RPG
 
  • 1
Reactions:
Never fear, you will not need to commission new banners every time you nudge a fleur-de-lis; the Artifact’s designs are tied to their corresponding dynasty, house, or title, and will automatically reflect the results of your questionable artistic skills.

Wait what?
Damn, can we please make this an optional function? Because I would prefer a lot if the banners did NOT change on a whim, but instead remained realistic and appropriately display something that might have been at the time of their creation. I'll gladly deal with the 'micromanagement' of recommissioning a banner then and when, if that allows me to proudly display a set of banners of different age that depict the changes my house/dynasty/realm may have undergone.
 
  • 9Like
  • 6
Reactions:
Add me to the "would prefer static banners" pile. Let the old banners reflect my dynasty's bizarre, wandering history. I know there's a bit of overheard to save the banner designs separately, instead of just referencing the current, but I think it'd add enough to be worth it.
 
  • 4
  • 3Like
Reactions:
As someone who plans on redoing my game where I started as a count in Iceland and ended up as an emperor in India but this time with the new cultures and such, add me to the wanting have static banners as an option
 
  • 3Like
Reactions:
can't wait for these unique banners like the thankfulness one.
personally idc if they could be slightly overpowered, so long as theyre not so good that you always want to b-line for them.
 
Who else starts out with these artifacts at Game Start?

Most courts won't start with something unique. Major courts that are known to have had certain artifacts start with them. Which artifacts and which courts differ depending on the start date but includes the Byzantine, Fatimid, Abbasid, Holy Roman and French courts of the top of my head.
Some lesser relics are also seeded on start in courts around the world for appropriate religions.

Most unique court artifacts will find their way into a court from either being made or found by an adventurer during your game. Adventures is also how some of the unique starting artifacts might resurface if they are destroyed during a game.
 
  • 18
  • 4Like
Reactions:
Clearly just trying to steal Vicky3's thunder here.
 
  • 1Haha
Reactions:
I don’t know if I like the fact that the banners can be changed on command. I want to see the history of my dynasty reflected in the different banners I own. Not being able to save the old banners takes away some roleplaying IMO.
I agree. I think CK3 needs a "Timeline" viewer that marks milestones and major events. Banner changes, new titles created, wars, reformation of a religion, etc. Something like Civ 6's "Historic Moments".
 
  • 9Like
  • 3
  • 1Love
Reactions: