Things are getting busy at the office with the upcoming release of Europa Universalis IV, but as has been said before, we're still very much committed to the continued support and further expansion of Crusader Kings II. With Doomdark currently Down Under, Johan asked me to put together a short dev diary highlighting some of the current stuff we've been working on.

Patch 1.11:
1.11 will be deployed next week, and the new patch will include a few features that should make dealing with plots a bit easier. After hatching a plot, you can now tell the game to automatically invite all plotters who are willing to join your scheme. No more having to browse through the Potential Plotters list and individually sending requests to every single character who wants to join!

Also, you can now set the game to always demand that characters end their plots as soon as they come to your attention. Another handy addition is that you can now see at a glance which potential plotters can be won over to your side if they are bribed.

Among the other things added is a new Siege Leader trait (finally), a favorite IP table for the multiplayer menu and some additional support for modders.

Crusader Kings II to Europa Universalis IV Converter:
Johan already posted a dev diary about the Converter last week in the Europa Universalis IV forum, and there is an interview with Groogy here that goes into some more detail. I don't have much to add except that we're pretty pleased with the result and it actually works better than we had anticipated when development began.

Customizer:
This is a smaller DLC on the scale of the Ruler Designer, but it's something that many have asked for. It will give players an easy way to customize several items in their games when they are already well underway.

You can have your character pay a visit to the barber, where their hairstyle or facial hair can be altered... within reason (no bearded women, sorry). Below you can see the new look I gave King Charles II the Not-So-Bald:

View attachment CKII_111_DD_The_Bald.jpg

You can rename any title held by you or your vassals:

View attachment CKII_111_DD_Northwest_Francia.jpg

Finally, if you feel the need to shake things up a bit, you can alter the name and shield of your dynasty:

View attachment CKII_111_DD_de_Poher.jpg

Hopefully this will tide you over for a while, until we're ready to tell you more about what the future will bring to Crusader Kings II.


Here are the highlights from the Crusader Kings II to Europa Universalis IV Converter livestream with Johan & Doomdark!
[video=youtube;FWqQgp1Vh9U]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWqQgp1Vh9U[/video]

You can find the full live-stream for the CK2 to EU4 converter here:
http://www.twitch.tv/paradoxinteractive/b/438261345

ps. And you can pre-order Europa Universalis IV here:
http://www.europauniversalis4.com/buy

 

[masternr]

Best patch thus far!

 

[kraussda]

This! During release of Ck2, there were mongols faces.
Why not include them in-game? BECAUSE WE CAN HAVE MORE MONEY...

Without entire DLC thing it couldn't even have place.

Now, i'm not a game designer, but I would argue that not including mongol faces don't constitute breaking the game for DLC's sake, which is really the only condition in which a developer ISN'T allowed to withhold content like this for money. Yes, they released it as DLC instead of with the base game because they wanted money. Here is how that got them more money:

The art assets that are included in the mongol face pack took time and effort to make. Including them with the base game would raise the price of the base game. This would alienate a huge swath of customers who are willing to pay $40 for a game and not willing to pay $42. DLC doesn't make more money for a game by raising the total cost of all the software. If it were all packaged together then released it would still cost the same amount (or very very very close). DLC makes money by allowing consumers to tailor which parts of the software they want and which parts they don't, thereby widening your reach in the market.

 

[Mixxer5]

Uhh, you need to either have a border or have territory in the de iure kingdom you're attacking. I don't see the problem.

It still allows Muslims to do crazy things with borders... And I'm not sure if owning Crete doesn't count as border with Greece (conquered by them during some pesky revolt, which could be overworked as well, so every average and worse ruler doesn't get overthrown.

This! During release of Ck2, there were mongols faces.
Why not include them in-game? BECAUSE WE CAN HAVE MORE MONEY...

Without entire DLC thing it couldn't even have place.

Plus we have things like Mediterranean faces... And people who bought them complaining (luckily I've only seen screenshots). Would it be part of expansion pack, it'd be hard to complain, but when you buy something specifically and it turns to be... bad, then annoyance can be high.

And last but not least- expansion packs usually had plenty of mechanisms that were made to work together. Dlcs are made to work independently. So with every dlc with have tons of complaints.

EDIT:

Now, i'm not a game designer, but I would argue that not including mongol faces don't constitute breaking the game for DLC's sake, which is really the only condition in which a developer ISN'T allowed to withhold content like this for money. Yes, they released it as DLC instead of with the base game because they wanted money. Here is how that got them more money:

The art assets that are included in the mongol face pack took time and effort to make. Including them with the base game would raise the price of the base game. This would alienate a huge swath of customers who are willing to pay $40 for a game and not willing to pay $45. DLC doesn't make more money for a game by raising the total cost of all the software, if it were all packaged together then released it would still cost the same amount (or very very very close). DLC makes money by allowing consumers to tailor which parts of the software they want and which parts they don't, thereby widening your reach in the market.

Including Mongol faces in base game would increase overall price, but including it as dlc with pre-order wouldn't? Interesting view on economy, certainly.

And take a note that portraits are just tiny fraction of game itself. Even if what You said is right, knowledge itself that something is created before release, and released on (base game) release, creates frustration.

 

[Ekrenor]

You can't change the map color through the Customizer, sorry.

This is a huge let down for me. :sad:
I am disappointed that you put out a customization DLC (which I would be very happy to buy) which only allows extremely limited targeted customization. Given that you are asking money for something that simply provides an easier way to edit savegame files, it should be at least a very flexible tool.

Also, that barber icon on the character portrait looks annoying. Why not moving it to the empty space to the top right?

 

[kraussda]

This is a huge let down for me. :sad:
I am disappointed that you put out a customization DLC (which I would be very happy to buy) which only allows extremely limited targeted customization. Given that you are asking money for something that simply provides an easier way to edit savegame files, it should be at least a very flexible tool.

Also, that barber icon on the character portrait looks annoying. Why not moving it to the empty space to the top right?

If you are adept at editing save games and don't think that paying for this DLC will be worth your money for the convenience in what it does...DON'T BUY IT, KEEP EDITING YOUR SAVES TO DO WHAT THE DLC DOES AND DON'T COMPLAIN! People who DO want it WILL buy it.

 

[Rozmarzony]

If you are adept at editing save games and don't think that paying for this DLC will be worth your money for the convenience in what it does...DON'T BUY IT, KEEP EDITING YOUR SAVES TO DO WHAT THE DLC DOES AND DON'T COMPLAIN! People who DO want it WILL buy it.

Horrible argument.

 

[Mixxer5]

This is a huge let down for me. :sad:
I am disappointed that you put out a customization DLC (which I would be very happy to buy) which only allows extremely limited targeted customization. Given that you are asking money for something that simply provides an easier way to edit savegame files, it should be at least a very flexible tool.

Also, that barber icon on the character portrait looks annoying. Why not moving it to the empty space to the top right?

There should be some extra menu for it or something like that. Barber icon next to assassinate and declare war options seem a little out of place

If you are adept at editing save games and don't think that paying for this DLC will be worth your money for the convenience in what it does...DON'T BUY IT, KEEP EDITING YOUR SAVES TO DO WHAT THE DLC DOES AND DON'T COMPLAIN! People who DO want it WILL buy it.

No, no, no... Seriously? Surely there would be enthusiasts would devs release tamagotchi dlc who would buy it, but for Christ sake- why shouldn't we complain if we don't like something? We're consumers, if we pay much enough, devs will (probably) add most of features we would request.

 

[kraussda]

It's like if I'm in front of an audience and I'm selling a stool. "With this stool you can reach the top shelf" I tell the audience. Then a really tall guy comes up and yells "FUCK YOU MAN I CAN ALREADY REACH THE TOP SHELF YOU'RE A CROOK FOR SELLING THIS CRAP!" I would probably say, "Hey man, not everyone is tall and some people might want a stool. Don't want it? Don't buy it."

 

[codeGnave]

Will renaming a title cause that to show instead of an arabian dynastic name?

 

[Mixxer5]

It's like if I'm in front of an audience and I'm selling a stool. "With this stool you can reach the top shelf" I tell the audience. Then a really tall guy comes up and yells "FUCK YOU MAN I CAN ALREADY REACH THE TOP SHELF YOU'RE A CROOK FOR SELLING THIS CRAP!" I would probably say, "Hey man, not everyone is tall and some people might want a stool. Don't want it? Don't buy it."

Take Your pills and tell doctor how You feel. Because now I'm certain You're overreacting.

 

[unmerged(767278)]

will this be save compatible?

 

[Mixxer5]

will this be save compatible?

These are mostly tweaks, so it most likely will be. Much bigger patches were.

 

[Ekrenor]

If you are adept at editing save games and don't think that paying for this DLC will be worth your money for the convenience in what it does...DON'T BUY IT, KEEP EDITING YOUR SAVES TO DO WHAT THE DLC DOES AND DON'T COMPLAIN! People who DO want it WILL buy it.

Read again: I am trying to help Paradox selling me (and other people) stuff. I am trying to help them get my money.

All I am saying is that if the product has enough convenience-to-price ratio than I am willing to shell money for it. This kind of "complaint" is not complaint, is actually pretty useful feedback for a company to receive.

(Also: I am fairly amused by the whole "complainer" stigma... DLCs are not free products, and customers of course vote with their wallet – so what's wrong with letting my "intention of vote" known to Paradox?)

 

[unmerged(751237)]

This! During release of Ck2, there were mongols faces.
Why not include them in-game? BECAUSE WE CAN HAVE MORE MONEY...

Without entire DLC thing it couldn't even have place.

And I dont want to even mention Eu4 situation, when developers cut off some stuff, created from it DLCs and are giving to people, who send enough e-mail to their friends... ; (

Show me a screen of these Mongol faces if you have any. That sounds like completely like what EA are doing.

EDIT: This DLC is ridiculous. You can customise your looks, dynasty COA and kingdom name and that's about it. If you're going to make a separate DLC instead of expanding Ruler Designer, at least include more stuff than that. Stuff like changing a nation's colour or COA could make this DLC much better and actually worth buying instead of just editing save files.

 

[kraussda]

Take Your pills and tell doctor how You feel. Because now I'm certain You're overreacting.

I offered my view of what the DLC conversation looks like to someone who studies economics for a living. Also, yes, I'm very obviously frustrated by absolutely minimal amount of thought people use when evaluating the DLC model. Just as people are very obviously frustrated by the DLC. Telling someone "to take their pills and tell doctor how they feel" is far less constructive than both complaining about DLC and complaining about complaining about DLC. You say I'm overreacting, well at least I'm adding to the conversation rather than hurling insults.

 

[Mixxer5]

Show me a screen of these Mongol faces if you have any. That sounds like completely like what EA are doing.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/203773/?l=english

Here You are. It's clearly flavor dlc, but still...

@up: Yes- You ARE overreacting. If You study economy as You say, You should know that in capitalism producers produce on consumer demand (majority of consumers in this case). If You're basically telling someone to go to hell with his (rather rational) observations, then something certainly is wrong. Unless communism is back?

 

[unmerged(779862)]

I'm really pleased to see that the patch will include changes addressing micromanagement. CK2 is far from the worst I've played in that respect, but given how complex it is it's not surprising that some areas are really micro/tedium sinks. It's very positive that Paradox are working on improving this and not just putting all their time into DLCs they charge for.

Something I'd really like to see in future patches is some improvements to the people search function. I spend a lot of my play time scrolling down lists of people looking for specific traits or combinations. I think it would dramatically improve my experience of the game if it had:
- Include/exclude filters on traits so I could filter out ambitious or envious lords when looking to grant land, or look for only Midas Touched (or whatever) when picking a tutor. Traits are key for almost every search I do.
- Ability to save multiple searches. I use 3 main ones - for land grants, tutors and wives. They have different parameters and it's kind of tedious to keep having to manually switch all my search options between them.
- Reset filters button
- Maybe more specific age filtering. If I'm choosing a wife I want her under 30, maybe under 20 if it's for a betrothal. When granting land I want under 45 or so because there's no point picking a good vassal just for them to die straight away of old age.

 

[unmerged(751237)]

http://store.steampowered.com/app/203773/?l=english

Here You are. It's clearly flavor dlc, but still...

I meant the ones that were going to be in the game at release

 

[b_raven]

Is patch changelog available somewhere?

 

[Yeronimo]

Could at least have added a couple of new haircuts/beards in the process.