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It's Tuesday and time for another dev diary on the latest expansion for Crusader Kings II; Sons of Abraham. The topics of the day are pilgrimages, Judaism and religious events. First off though, for those who read last week's diary, we've changed how the Ash'ari and Mu'tazilite traits are handled a bit. They are now much more significant, because an Ash'ari no longer gives decadence to his dynasty, and the Learning bonus for Mutazilites is correspondingly higher (currently +5).

CKII_SoA_DD_03_Start_of_Pilgrimage.jpg

Right, so, on the subject of Islam, one thing we were quite happy with in Sword of Islam was the addition of the decision to go on the Hajj, with the little adventure and the special trait you got at the end. Naturally, a lot of people thought we should add a similar thing for Christians, so that is exactly what we have done in Sons of Abraham. Christians get to choose between several different holy places. For example, Catholics can go to Canterbury, Santiago, Cologne, Rome or Jerusalem. During the journey, a regent will be appointed for pilgrim rulers and various adventures will unfold. Going on a pilgrimage costs a bit of money, and there are of course risks, but successful pilgrims will enjoy monthly piety and respect from their brothers and sisters of the faith for the rest of their lives. There could also be some unexpected benefits...

CKII_SoA_DD_03_Pilgrim_Adventure.jpg

In the same vein, we have added tons of events dealing with religious life, for Christians especially. Some are complex event chains (for example, there is one inspired by Joan of Arc) and others are simple (e.g. monks cure your illness.) There are events about relics, immoral priests (of most religions), the crusades, etc.

However, the feature in Sons of Abraham that appears to have garnered the most attention is probably the addition of the Jewish religion. Prior to the addition of the 867 start date in The Old Gods, adding Judaism to the game seemed relatively pointless due to the lack of significant Jewish rulers. In 867 though, there is indeed a powerful Jewish state; the Turkic Khazar Khaganate, which we previously represented as being of the Tengri faith, but which was historically well into the process of converting to Judaism at the time. (I think it is plausible enough that they did this in order to counteract foreign interference justified by Muslim and Christian proselytizing. Furthermore, it can be very beneficial for an empire to have a religion of its own as a vehicle for cultural cohesion and dominance.) Now, playing as the Khazars is not easy even in 867, due mostly to their powerful and aggressive neighbors, like the Pechenegs and the Cumans, but there is also a real risk of religious internal strife. In other words, it's a worthy challenge, like playing as the Zoroastrian House of Karen.

CKII_SoA_DD_03_Rabbi_at_Work.jpg

Of course, there is an even tougher challenge available, even for those who do not have The Old Gods; one last Jewish Khazar duke is still clinging on in the Saray region in 1066, vassal to the Cumans. Now, Jewish players have similar goals to strive for as the Zoroastrians; you can try to restore the ancient united kingdom of Israel and Judah, restore the High Priesthood under the Kohen Gadol, and even rebuild the Temple.

CKII_SoA_DD_03_The_Last_Khazars.jpg

Apart from the Khazar Jews, there are also the Ashkenazim and Sephardim, in the form of learned men and courtiers who can show up in your court. If you run out of money as a non-Jewish ruler, you can also choose to borrow money from Jewish merchants. If you do not want to pay them back, you can actually expel the Jews from the realm (similar to what you can do with the Holy Orders.) You will, however, stop getting the benefits of having remarkably skilled Jewish courtiers to serve in your council, and you and your descendants cannot borrow any more money from their community. Obviously, this is a pretty terrible thing to do, but it does, unfortunately, have several historical precedents.

CKII_SoA_DD_03_Jewish_Decisions.jpg

I believe that about sums up the features of this little expansion. Next week I'll go through all the stuff we're giving you for free!
 
Interesting dev diary.

Judging from the way they described it, the Jewish pogorms are implemented in a way that is both simple and balanced, which is good - either you get nice courtiers and money, or you won't. I think keeping things simple and relatively abstracted avoids the controversy and potential offensiveness of it.


Edir: also I'm sad there are only Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews. There should also be mizrahi jews since during this time they were more distinct from the Sephardic Jews. So we have Ashkenazi in Europe, Sephardic in the Mediterranean, and mizrahi in the Middle East - would work out well.

I don't really know, but in the thread that suggested it they were more-or-less county sized. Not to mention that it doesn't have to be 100% accurate. The Jewish Khazar duke in 1066 isn't real either, just a way to make Jews playable for those without TOG. So I'd say: give Abyssinia about 4 more counties, including 2 in de-jure duchy of Semien, and make Ethiopians use petty kingdoms, and bam! We've got ourselves the Kingdom of Semien without making Ethiopians any weaker.

Frankly both sides of Africa need a serious map overhaul anyways.
 
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Beta Israel? :)

Otherwise, looks great! Particularly excited about Pilgrimage; will there be any special ones for Orthodoxy and/or Miaphysites?
 
I'm so excited for this! :laugh:

Going on a pilgrimage sounds like a good time haha
 
So, if we choose to expel Jews from our realm, does that mean all Jewish characters within it, be they in our court or the court of our vassals, be expelled?

Also, what if we choose to expel them but one or more of our vassals is Jewish? Rebellion seems like a likely result, no?
 
St. Davids (a tiny city in South West Wales) should be a pilgramage site. Pope Calixtus II in the 12C decreed that two pilgrimages to St David's were equivalent to one to Rome ("Roma semel quantum dat bis Menevia tantum")
 
Nice! Can't wait to milk them for money!
 
I was REALLY looking forward to a decadence make over, the current system is just so broken... :(

I'd rather they delay it, why wait for later to add it in, this is the perfect time to implement a decadence rework.
 
Will the divisions in Jewish culture and the existence of a Jewish diaspora still exist if Israel is formed? Imo a lot of Jews should just start migrating over and start turning up in courts within Israel. Having distinctions based on where they are in Europe would also seem a bit odd - why not make it so they become a single culture over time if Israel is formed?
 
Will the divisions in Jewish culture and the existence of a Jewish diaspora still exist if Israel is formed? Imo a lot of Jews should just start migrating over and start turning up in courts within Israel. Having distinctions based on where they are in Europe would also seem a bit odd - why not make it so they become a single culture over time if Israel is formed?

I don't see why. Today Israel exist and we are more mobile than at this time. And the Sephardi and Ashkenazi still exist. And that in Israel too. I don't see why it should be different at the time of the game.
 
Culturally, ethnically or linguistically? I thought Israel functioned as a kind of melting pot of the diaspora's traditions.
 
Will the divisions in Jewish culture and the existence of a Jewish diaspora still exist if Israel is formed? Imo a lot of Jews should just start migrating over and start turning up in courts within Israel. Having distinctions based on where they are in Europe would also seem a bit odd - why not make it so they become a single culture over time if Israel is formed?

Melting pots are pretty messy to handle.


One way you could interpret it is, say, if Sephardic Jews re-founded Israel, then Sephardic Jewish culture will be seen as the culture of the elite and ruling class, so everyone will try to be like that.
 
Is Rome supposed to be harder to reach on pilgrimage? Why is it put in the same league with Jerusalem? Also, do you get to choose the specific holy site you want to visit?
 
I am disappointed but unsurprised at the lack of mention of Beta Israel. I suppose we may hear something next week, though, as it could fall under the category of free patch stuff.

I agree with cyber that the Arab/Mizrahi Jews should have been added as a third 'branch' but relatively speaking I'm quite happy with what has been announced. It's strange that the decadence system rework didn't make this DLC, as you're charging people for it and decadence is the most complained about feature of being a Muslim in CK II.

Anyway, I look forward to the patch notes. That's always the best bit. :)
 
St. Davids (a tiny city in South West Wales) should be a pilgramage site. Pope Calixtus II in the 12C decreed that two pilgrimages to St David's were equivalent to one to Rome ("Roma semel quantum dat bis Menevia tantum")

There has to be some balance to this.
 
I would assume that Christians are bothered and will seek the destruction (or at least forced conversion) of anyone who doesn't share their beliefs...

Nope, the reason Crusades started was because the Pilgrims were attacked, not because the city was held by infidels per se (the Abrahamist faiths tolerated one another to certain extent). Seeing as Crusades are now activated by events that happen, it is possible that holder of Jerusalem can choose if he will let Christian Pilgrims in or not. If he does, Crusade for Jerusalem should have lesser chance to happen.

I'd rather they delay it, why wait for later to add it in, this is the perfect time to implement a decadence rework.

1. Because not everyone cares about Muslims enough to see the DLC delayed for them
2. PI can't delay the DLC too much: not only do they have to make money, but they can't fully focus on next DLC until this one is done
 
I am disappointed but unsurprised at the lack of mention of Beta Israel. I suppose we may hear something next week, though, as it could fall under the category of free patch stuff.

I agree with cyber that the Arab/Mizrahi Jews should have been added as a third 'branch' but relatively speaking I'm quite happy with what has been announced. It's strange that the decadence system rework didn't make this DLC, as you're charging people for it and decadence is the most complained about feature of being a Muslim in CK II.

Anyway, I look forward to the patch notes. That's always the best bit. :)

The devs said the Khazars are the only playable Jewish state, so there's that. Here's hoping to an Africa revamp in the future, my Berber buddy!


1. Because not everyone cares about Muslims enough to see the DLC delayed for them
2. PI can't delay the DLC too much: not only do they have to make money, but they can't fully focus on next DLC until this one is done

And

3. They might not have tested, balanced, or even found a decent way to implement it yet (i.e. still in the planning stages), meaning they won't make it in time for SoA.