Home Trending Latest threads New posts Developer diaries
Jump to latest Follow Reply
  • 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.
Crusader Kings II 69946 Bug Reports 19719 User Modifications 10605 Suggestions 5969 Tech Support 6374 After Action Reports
Previous dev diary Next dev diary
Show only dev responses

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?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • 578
  • 70
  • 3
Reactions:
Sort by date Sort by reaction score
klopkr said:
What do i need to give you to get something so important as saving your presets?
Click to expand...

If an apple pie isn't good enough, may I offer Fudge Brownies?
 
forradalmar said:
suggestion:

maximum amount of lifestyle traits: default/3/no cap
Click to expand...

I believe this can be quite cheesy, should disable achievments at least. Some traits are really easy to get and can give you a really nice boost to stats and relations.

Also, it seems a bit unrealistic to me - being a master seducer, master of duels and master of necronomicons (i really don't remember the right name) and still finding time to rule your realm and conquer more.
 
  • 3
  • 1
Reactions:
Glitterhoof:
On/Off/Pope
 
  • 6
Reactions:
I for one support secret bears!
 
Frank327 said:
If I remember correctly I tried doing that but the india region showed up anyways. Also I'm afraid that I'll be missing some of the general religion features by disabling ROI. Anyways, the same principle applies to sunset invasion which is chosen as part of the pregame options.

I don't know if it's possible to just take out a region like that in pregame without messing with balance or other stuff but if it's at all possible it would be nice.
Click to expand...

I thought so. ;/ It's just 'locked' then. Then the option to turn off loading some areas is really good.
I would like the world to be bigger because I fortunately do not have to worry about performance - that's why I did not see the need to shrink it down.
 
Another suggestion:

Empires: On / Off (only HRE and East Roman) / Custom (with de-jure empires emerging after certain time)
 
  • 1
Reactions:
  • 1
Reactions:
An option to turn off melting pots or make them all work like Norse would be nice. As it stands, if you play as a Visigothic ruler for example your population will keep switching until the end of the game, while Norse stops in the 1100s if Scandinavia hasn't been formed.
 
  • 1
Reactions:
I'm most excited to be able to have Sunset Invasion and Mongols be both set to random. Will there be an invasion? From which direction? Who knows?

Side note: This also means when we get the eventual African themed expansion that they can add a horde mechanic from the savanahs of Africa. Muahahhaa.
 
  • 2
Reactions:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back