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CK2 Dev Diary #61: The Dragon Throne

Hello folks!

The Swedish summer vacations are drawing to a close and I’m back and eager to talk some more Crusader Kings! What better way to kick off the end of summer than by revealing the theme of the next expansion? Yes my friends, it’s China! Now, before you get all emotional one way or the other, we’re not actually going to expand the map farther east. We considered doing that, long and hard, but eventually decided on a different approach that would not strain performance and stability beyond reason. As I mentioned in Dev Diary #51, it bothers me that the eastern edge of the map just cuts off in such an unnatural way. Playing in the Orient, you should always feel like you’re in the shadow of the Dragon. It should be an interesting and dynamic region right in the center of the Old World. So, we came up with the idea of adding China as a political entity even though you cannot actually see most of its territory.

The Dragon Throne.png


There is a new screen you can open up, which, if you’re within range of China, allows you to interact with the Emperor in various interesting ways. China can grant many wonderful boons if you’re in the emperor’s good graces, but, depending on the current status and policy of the Dragon Throne, the emperor can also decide you’d better show some respect and become a tributary state. When there is turmoil in China, displaced or fleeing armies can arrive on the map and cause all kinds of trouble. China can even seize and rule actual provinces, but the emperor leaves the governing of such areas to the Governor of the Western Protectorate (or, to be a stickler, the “Protectorate General to Pacify the West”.) Potentially, this on-map part of China can grow enormously powerful, but you should not have to worry too much as long as you enjoy the emperor’s grace…

That’s going to be all for now. I’m sure you have a million questions, but you’ll have to wait for the upcoming dev diaries. :)

Meanwhile, remember to tune in to our CK2 livestreams between 16 to 18:00 CET!
 
Exactly. Now nobody is fully happy except those who are content with China never becoming map material. The only people who are happy are the ones who are extremely adamant about not having China on the map, even at the cost of an expansion that could have been used to improve the core game.

Instead of making current material any better they decided to compromise in the worst fashion possible.

I was afraid this would happen. it's extremely obvious that elements within Paradox wanted to actually add add China, but after listening to player feedback they decided to compromise, but not really since we're still getting a China expansion.
Wow! Not only do you know the thoughts and feelings of Paradox, you also seem to speak for the whole community of CK2 players! Before you spoke I honestly thought I was satisfied with the proposed idea and excited to see how it turns out... now I know I was wrong to feel that way, you have showed me the Righteous Path and tought me the Proper Thought. Teach me, sifu! (/s)
 
Oh boi, the "GIVE UZZ CHINAAAA" guys will be happy af.
lol no. In the main thread a dev diary or two ago all the people who wanted china said if they did THIS they would be disappointed.

I haven't played CK2 in a while, the last expansion did nothing for me, and I was looking for a new region to play in to rekindle my interest. This is not it. Since this is the last expansion I guess i'm moving on and waiting for CK3.

In fact, "Daizong" is just his posthumous title (yes, that means nobody knows who is "Daizong" when he is still alive!). His real name is Li Yu (李豫).

CK2 (and EU4) name lists have always been subpar.
 
lol no. In the main thread a dev diary or two ago all the people who wanted china said if they did THIS they would be disappointed.

I haven't played CK2 in a while, the last expansion did nothing for me, and I was looking for a new region to play in to rekindle my interest. This is not it. Since this is the last expansion I guess i'm moving on and waiting for CK3.



CK2 (and EU4) name lists have always been subpar.

They could have made the China fans happy, they could have made the core game fans happy. But they didn't.

Who exactly is this DLC targetting?

The guys who are merely satisfied that China will no longer be map material? Are they the ones who'll buy this DLC?

Paradox has done a lot of dumb crap over the years, but this is the first time I've seen them compromise with the community in this fashion.
 
it was mentioned a while back there were only 2 or 3 more planned dlc (2 smaller and one bigger) TRD was one of them and i presume this will be the bigger one
Plans could have changed.
 
it was mentioned a while back there were only 2 or 3 more planned dlc (2 smaller and one bigger) TRD was one of them and i presume this will be the bigger one

They've said a lot of things a while back. Including, more recently than what you mention I think, that they'll keep making DLC as long as CK2 players keep buying enough of them. I hold no opinion on the matter except that I think it is premature to say CK2 will go one way or the other.
 
A very beautiful interface! I love the idea of an off-map interaction. I only hope that it will be as moddable as possible!
 
My two cents, regarding the performance issues and the need for new mechanics to properly make China work, making China an off map Power is probably a good idea.

1. Nobody has to worry about China steamrolling the map anymore . Ok, nobody can invade China, either, but then again, only the mongols did so successfully, and they are also only partially represented in the game.
2. There no longer is a big void to the east when you play a nation to the South of the Tarim Desert. Chinas influence was mostly cultural and economical. Military influence ended with the end of the Tang dynasty.

Some Questions arise of course.

How will the ruler change be represented? Can you choose between a historical course of events or a random course? How does unrest occur or stability rise and fall? Will the mongols also invade China? and if ,when?

hope some will be answered in the Dev diaries to come.
 
2. There no longer is a big void to the east when you play a nation to the South of the Tarim Desert. Chinas influence was mostly cultural and economical. Military influence ended with the end of the Tang dynasty.
Xi Xia, Liao, Jin held great influence in the Tarim Basin. So, did Yuan, and Qing. Only Ming and Song failed to make lasting gains beyong Yumen pass.