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Crusader Kings III: Chapter IV


Hello everyone! I'm the Community Manager with Paradox Studio Black, and today we're excited to present to you the next stage in Crusader Kings III's development: Chapter IV. Today, we'll go over the themes of each piece of content that make up the Chapter, as well as give a brief peek at their features. Without further ado, let's get into it.



Khans.png


Core Expansion: Khans of the Steppe​

The first release in Chapter IV, Khans of the Steppe, focuses on the brand-new Nomadic Government and the systems we've created to support it. Inspired by the nomadic peoples of the Eurasian Steppe, these mechanics will challenge you to adapt to a lifestyle dominated by the ebb and flow of the land's vitality, maintain your herds, and establish your dominance over the region by any means necessary.

Key Features​

Nomadic Government​

Nomads don't live in a single static location; historically they travelled across the steppe as climate and fertility demanded, and we've strived to recreate that experience in Khans of the Steppe. You'll guide your people and herds across the region, tapping into the fertility of the land for as long as it lasts. Once resources run dry, you must migrate anew. Chieftains can roam peacefully by negotiating with neighboring shepherds, or seize new pastures by force.

Herd​

Representing your horses, cattle, and overall strength within the steppe, the new Herd system becomes a cornerstone of diplomatic, martial, and economic actions. Use it to fuel your warbands, or as currency in your negotiations.

Dominance​

Prove your might on the steppe through Dominance, increasing it alongside your power and territory. At its highest level, you might even claim the mantle of Genghis Khan; the Universal Ruler.

Seasons & Survival​

Life in the steppe is harsh, affected by the changing climate and weather patterns. A White Zud could blanket the land in snow, decimating fertility and putting pressure on you to find greener pastures. Meanwhile, milder conditions can bring bountiful growth to your herds, ushering in a period of prosperity.

Khans of the Steppe releases on April 28, with dev diaries scheduled for every Tuesday until then. Be sure to mark your calendars if you're eager to try your hand at this new style of governance and rulership.




coronation.png


Event Pack: Coronations​


Beyond the steppe of Eurasia, Chapter IV introduces a new event pack simply titled: Coronations. In the medieval world, a coronation was more than just a gathering, it represented the moment where earthly and divine legitimacy converged.

Coronation Activity​

Coronations function as a new activity type, letting you experience the event first hand. Coordinate with religious authorities and conduct the perfect ceremony to establish your right to rule in the eyes of your vassals and subjects. Plan it wisely, because the consequences of this activity can echo throughout your entire reign and beyond.




AUH.png


Major Expansion: All Under Heaven​

Chapter IV's flagship Major Expansion, All Under Heaven, is set to be the largest and most ambitious expansion in Crusader Kings history. We're completing our map of the medieval world by extending its scope across all of Asia. This massive expansion brings new gameplay, unique governments, and entirely different perspectives on life in the medieval era.

Key Features​

From Ireland to Cathay​

From the celestial might of Imperial China and the unique governments of Japan and Korea, to the god-kings of the Indonesian archipelago, each new area in All Under Heaven features new cultures, faiths, and flavor.

Hegemony​

To properly represent the power and influence of China in this period, we're introducing a new tier of title above an empire: the Hegemony. This new title tier allows for further granular representation of the division of power within large-scale realms.

Dynastic Cycle​

The fate of the imperial dynasties follows a cyclical pattern, reflecting historical eras of stability and eras of chaos. Players will struggle to maintain the Mandate of Heaven and prove that they are the right choice to navigate the empire through treacherous waters.

Imperial Treasury​

A new centralized treasury system for the Chinese Emperor represents the flow of wealth upward and into the empire's coffers, letting you decide how to spend (or squander) resources that could make or break the stability of the realm.

While no release date is being announced at this time, you can expect our normal in-depth developer diaries to start for this expansion shortly after the release of Khans of the Steppe, with our first dev diary tentatively scheduled for May.



1.15 "Crown" Update: Available Now​

To properly prepare for our upcoming content in Chapter IV, we're releasing a broad set of changes to the game's existing content with our 1.15 "Crown" Update, available to all owners of Crusader Kings III right now, free of charge. This update overhauls multiple systems and fixes numerous issues to ensure your experience in the medieval world is more enjoyable.

Update Highlights​

Court Position Overhaul​

A more intuitive interface for appointing and managing your court's less essential roles. New court positions are introduced, while existing ones are given tasks that their holders can be directed to perform for various benefits. Additionally, you can now choose to replace vacancies manually, or set specific positions to be refilled automatically.

Army Automation and AI Improvements​

Focus on what's important to you while you let the AI handle martial affairs. There's also new interface elements to clarify what allied armies (or your own, if automation is enabled) are actually doing, making it easier than ever to coordinate your war efforts.

Improvements to Crusade AI​

The AI will now gather its armies before striking at its enemies as a properly coordinated force. Expect more unified Great Holy War offensives, and fiercer opposition as a defender.

From quality-of-life changes to bug squashing, the 1.15 "Crown" update refines the overall experience of the game. It's also available right now, so give it a try and let us know what you think!


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Instant Unlock: Crowns of the World​

For those eager to dive into Chapter IV content as soon as possible, anyone who purchases the Chapter IV pass will immediately receive the Crowns of the World cosmetic pack, unlocking various culture-specific crowns and turbans. Whether you play in Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa, you're sure to find new stylish ways to represent your royal persona.


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Community Q&A​

We want to ensure that the content in Chapter IV is the best it can be, and a huge part of that is building strong communications and relationships between us and our players. Your feedback on existing content as well as upcoming features is vital to this effort. To facilitate this, we're collecting questions from all of you until March 19, and will publish a video responding to as many of these as we can on March 26th. Submit your questions below in the comments, or on any of our social media channels.


Chapter IV is the most ambitious content cycle in Crusader Kings history, offering everything from the struggles of maintaining your herd as a nomadic ruler in Khans of the Steppe, to the weight of ceremony and duty in Coronations, culminating in the completion of our map of the medieval world in All Under Heaven. Whether you choose to play in the new areas being introduced to the game or your existing favorites, Chapter IV will redefine the stories you make in Crusader Kings III.

The 1.15 "Crown" Update and the Chapter IV pass are both available right now. The Crown update is available for free to all owners of Crusader Kings III, while those who purchase the Chapter IV pass will immediately receive Crowns of the World as well as all the content mentioned above as soon as it is released.
 
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Athius said:
If done well, the hordes can be a very interesting counter force against the Byzantine empire. Very curious to see how that will work out.
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That's something I've never seen anyone cover in a "what if the Byzantine Empire survived/lasted longer/remained strong" scenario, which I feel has a lot of potential.
 
I'm not sure if Hegemony should be introduced, as it doesn't seem to bring much historical or gameplay value. After all, an emperor is still an emperor, just like those of the Roman Empires (regardless of whatever the title meant in any particular language).

At the very least, an option to disable Hegemonies in Game Rules should be present (which does not disable achievements).
 
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This question would be for Paradox team - if possible, would you be able to provide me with all the new county names? Could be in a text file or you can send me on email which I can provide, I would highly appreciate it. I would use it to create an excel spreadsheet with all the current counties already on it (just gathering all the other data related to the series which I am going to start soon on my yt channel), it would save me a lot of time, thanks!
 
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The major expansion really frightens me.

On release CK 3 went smoothly on my old gaming laptop. Now I'm experiencing heavy late game lagging even on my newer one. I fear the game will be unplayable for me with AUH and I have to go back to CK 2...
 
I rarely entertain giving negative feedback because 90% of the things you guys invent eventually turns out good, but I would strongly advise against the concept of Hegemony. Whole de jure Empire thing irked me for more than a decade, Empire is by definition universal in medieval period, "Problem of Two Emperors" was a serious thing, and even when Serbs or Bulgarians proclaimed their Empires they had every intention of seizing Constantinople and thought of their state as THE Roman Empire.

While there is and could be discussion about the precise definition of the Chinese term and it's relationship to the term "Emperor" in Western sense, they are widely considered the same, pretty much universally in Western culture. Equivavlency was accepted by later Imperial China and most contemporary Chinese historians. Chinese Emperors considered themselves unversal rulers, but so did many non-Chinese Emperors (or equivalent) and some were much more decisive about the actualization of that claim than any Chinese Emperor. China was and still is a pretty big place but I fail to see the overwhelming need for the higher tier title to represent its government. What is Chinese Hegemon going to have vassal Emperors now? There will be Chinese warlords/bureaucrats depending of the period that bear the title that means universal ruler and almost every person associates with "Son of Heaven" ruler of all China and mandate to rule over everything else? Now with Tributary system in place there is even less need, after all Chinese Emperors were in vast majority of cases content with just receiving tribute from neighbouring rulers, even when Yuan Empire marched and sailed on many states in SE Asia they didn't have complete integration in actual government of China in mind, rulers who opposed were invaded mostly with intention of installing new ruler more amenable to paying tribute in mind, while any attempt of integration in Empire proper would lead to taking direct control from offending "Emperors" concept of some foreign emperor guy functioning as a part of Chinese administration would seem bonkers to them.

As for possible de jure hegemons, most of those would serve better as de jure emperors, if we must persist with that nonsense, there is no real need for three de jure empires in India or all those empires in Europe and Africa. Historical (we still don't have either Serbian or Bulgarian empire in game), titular and creatable empires can do a lot of work there if people really want to play Baltic Empire or something, not to mention the custom empire mechanic
 
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  • New historical starting bookmarks bring fresh perspectives and historical challenges. Play as iconic characters from the past or forge your unique path.
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Does this mean we'll have pre-863 bookmarks?
  • Rule as a Devaraja with the Mandala Government, uniting tributaries into vast, temple-centered empires.
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How would this work for Japan? Does it work if you're emperor? Will it have unique flavour?
Will you be able to make yourself a god in, say, Christianity and other religions?
 
For China:
1. Will it be possible to adapt meritocracy as, say, Byzantium, European kingdoms, and the Caliphate?
1.1: If so, is meritocracy an upgrade to administrative, with less family politics but with influence and merit?
2. Will it be possible to have tribal, nomadic and feudal hegemonies?
3. Will colonization techniques be added, with the new nomadic systems?

I personally really hope that meritocracy can become an upgrade to administrative. I'd love to make Byzantium an even more efficient empire and play a long campaign that ends up in the Roman Empire becoming a Western Hegemony that mimicks China in many ways. Will there be special content for two hegemonies interacting? Like an early version of the cold war.

Increasing Power, Increasing Responsibilities
My dream playthrough would be this:
Landless - Nomadic - Tribal - Feudal - Administrative - Meritocratic

Making intra-DLC compatibilities, that would require both to unlock further features, would kill mid-to-late-game power creep issues and increase satisfaction.

Admin and Merit Republics
If merchant republics ever come in the future, there would have to be reworks to the entire government type system to allow for dynamism so that you could have an administrative or meritocratic republic.
 
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Knight of Flours said:
I rarely entertain giving negative feedback because 90% of the things you guys invent eventually turns out good, but I would strongly advise against the concept of Hegemony. Whole de jure Empire thing irked me for more than a decade, Empire is by definition universal in medieval period, "Problem of Two Emperors" was a serious thing, and even when Serbs or Bulgarians proclaimed their Empires they had every intention of seizing Constantinople and thought of their state as THE Roman Empire.

While there is and could be discussion about the precise definition of the Chinese term and it's relationship to the term "Emperor" in Western sense, they are widely considered the same, pretty much universally in Western culture. Equivavlency was accepted by later Imperial China and most contemporary Chinese historians. Chinese Emperors considered themselves unversal rulers, but so did many non-Chinese Emperors (or equivalent) and some were much more decisive about the actualization of that claim than any Chinese Emperor. China was and still is a pretty big place but I fail to see the overwhelming need for the higher tier title to represent its government. What is Chinese Hegemon going to have vassal Emperors now? There will be Chinese warlords/bureaucrats depending of the period that bear the title that means universal ruler and almost every person associates with "Son of Heaven" ruler of all China and mandate to rule over everything else? Now with Tributary system in place there is even less need, after all Chinese Emperors were in vast majority of cases content with just receiving tribute from neighbouring rulers, even when Yuan Empire marched and sailed on many states in SE Asia they didn't have complete integration in actual government of China in mind, rulers who opposed were invaded mostly with intention of installing new ruler more amenable to paying tribute in mind, while any attempt of integration in Empire proper would lead to taking direct control from offending "Emperors" concept of some foreign emperor guy functioning as a part of Chinese administration would seem bonkers to them.

As for possible de jure hegemons, most of those would serve better as de jure emperors, if we must persist with that nonsense, there is no real need for three de jure empires in India or all those empires in Europe and Africa. Historical (we still don't have either Serbian or Bulgarian empire in game), titular and creatable empires can do a lot of work there if people really want to play Baltic Empire or something, not to mention the custom empire mechanic
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Yes, they had. Chinese hegamony would have/ tried to have emperor vassal on occasions. It was abnormal to have another Emperor as vassal, except during the period of CK3.

The title Song Emperor was conferred by Jurchen on 1142.
The title Qi Emperor was conferred by Jurchen on 1130.
The title Chu Emperor was confered by Jurchen on 1127.
The title Xia Emperor was conferred by Khitan on 1123.
The title East Huai Emperor was conferred by Khitan on 1119.
The title Han Emperor was conferred by Khithan from 951-979.
The title Jin Empeor was conferred by Khithan from 936-947.

All used the title Emperor.
 
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Operativ said:
I'm not sure if Hegemony should be introduced, as it doesn't seem to bring much historical or gameplay value. After all, an emperor is still an emperor, just like those of the Roman Empires (regardless of whatever the title meant in any particular language).

At the very least, an option to disable Hegemonies in Game Rules should be present (which does not disable achievements).
Click to expand...
China is about the size of Europe. It's too big to be one empire. The new Hegemony tier allows China to be split up into many empires and once Tang implodes, there will be plenty of people in the region calling themselves emperor. Only one of them will claim hegemony, though.
 
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Jia Xu said:
China is about the size of Europe. It's too big to be one empire. The new Hegemony tier allows China to be split up into many empires and once Tang implodes, there will be plenty of people in the region calling themselves emperor. Only one of them will claim hegemony, though.
Click to expand...

Even fully restored Roman empire is the size of several de jure empires as well. If not for the fact that Syria and Egypt are considered de jure kingdoms than de jure empires, it would be even more empires as well.
 
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