Is paradox really telling us all to quit the game?

[gamer78]

Design seems to be about given than earned.. Even successfull historical leaders or counties should have difficulties. I don't think is about programmers sadly about design decision. EU is definetely the admiral boat but this game also important about people enjoying etymology and clothes.

 

[Benismann]

I can't let mr Dark Ages plug his mod without plugging my own mod too.
KGD: The Great Rebalace is my take on rebalancing the game, and the main difference from Dark Ages here is that mine is a lot more vanilla-esque, mostly just making mechanics that exist work, fixing "intended loopholes" (like the existance of 2 avaricious tree decisions that just spawn gold outta thin air) and making AI much more competent. It's definitely not as hard as Dark ages are, but it should still be an improvement in difficulty overall.
And it also has hard-er mode just in case.

 

[Ral Rednaxela]

I can't let mr Dark Ages plug his mod without plugging my own mod too.
KGD: The Great Rebalace is my take on rebalancing the game, and the main difference from Dark Ages here is that mine is a lot more vanilla-esque, mostly just making mechanics that exist work, fixing "intended loopholes" (like the existance of 2 avaricious tree decisions that just spawn gold outta thin air) and making AI much more competent. It's definitely not as hard as Dark ages are, but it should still be an improvement in difficulty overall.
And it also has hard-er mode just in case.

I will check out your mod as well. Have you updated it yet for the Steppe DLC?

 

[Benismann]

I will check out your mod as well. Have you updated it yet for the Steppe DLC?

Updated it to be compatible literally a day after DLC released. Since then i already got to dunk nomads with an actual nerf :Р

 

[Torredebelem]

I can't let mr Dark Ages plug his mod without plugging my own mod too.
KGD: The Great Rebalace is my take on rebalancing the game, and the main difference from Dark Ages here is that mine is a lot more vanilla-esque, mostly just making mechanics that exist work, fixing "intended loopholes" (like the existance of 2 avaricious tree decisions that just spawn gold outta thin air) and making AI much more competent. It's definitely not as hard as Dark ages are, but it should still be an improvement in difficulty overall.
And it also has hard-er mode just in case.

It is very good that we offer the player base different takes and approaches on what is definitely the original game's main weakness: its lack of balance.

 

[Bisonmask]

It hurts to say, but Crusader Kings 3 has become a fantasy game where you fulfill your medieval fantasies. To call it a great strategy game is an insult.

has become?

 

[Amina144]

It hurts to say, but Crusader Kings 3 has become a fantasy game where you fulfill your medieval fantasies. To call it a great strategy game is an insult.

Are there any actual strategy games? It feels like all of them are basically "stack modifiers till you win" games.

 

[foreman_domai]

I've been playing off and on for like 13 years and I still suck and lose with maybe only like 4 or 5 games where I succeeded and ran away with growth and military power to be untouchable. Most of my games rarely get past the 3rd or 4th King if I even get that far. I don't play "easy" starts though and never have; and always do light "role-playing" in that I have specific goals and I try not to veer from them in gamey ways, but not over the top with limiting myself. The game always does well enough in providing at least 2 or more regional powers that grow as I do and gun for me eventually, and wars tend to cascade in that I think I am going to execute a well timed war and take a duchy or kingdom level title, but quickly other kingdoms or empires take advantage of the situation and I've got 2 or 3 other wars on my hands. I've actually stopped playing since the Mongol DLC, not because I dislike it but because it's been exceedingly hard to get off the ground in the (non-horde) games I want to play. Waves of Holy Wars against me even not in the steppe region will draw in Adventurers and horde armies through mercenaries that are basically untouchable... even with stacks of pikes in mountain regions.

 

[Nazarow]

It’s because Paradox has made it a goal to completely neuter the game in order to appeal to the masses. And when they do try to make the game slightly more difficult, the player base they’ve cultivated and coddled for years refuses to accept it—so they instantly back down. That’s why the game feels so shallow and aimless: they’re too afraid to follow through on meaningful mechanics because they fear alienating their audience.

In contrast, games like Imperator, EU, and Project Caesar seem to start with a clear vision in mind. That attracts players who want to engage with that vision, which in turn makes developing mechanics feel less like entertaining toddlers by jingling keys and more like a conversation between equals—players and devs working together to understand and build on the game’s core ideas.

Johan and his team are cultivating a hardcore player base interested in a sandbox rooted in history, with depth and difficulty in mind. Meanwhile, the CK3 team seems focused on catering to Redditors and YouTubers who post the same shallow blob screenshots over and over, then get mad at the very idea of making their power fantasy even slightly less easy.

It’s incredibly telling who their target audience is, especially considering they don’t even bother to include a hard mode—you just get “Easy” or “Very Easy.”

This is really unfortunate. I am a very obvious potential customer: I own most paradox games, played thousands of CK2 hours, etc., happily buy all the DLC for these games, and would love to enjoy CK3. But I just know that I wouldn't, given the lack of challenge that has been discussed so often here and on reddit, and so I haven't spent my money on it.

I suspect there are many more like me with the proven track record of buying Paradox products but turned off by the lack of CK3 challenge, and I don't understand why the developers don't think we're a good target market to cater to. It's a real shame.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to being challenged in EUV, All Hail Johan!

 

[okawfj]

After looking at EU5 feedback threads and gameplay videos, I feel sad when I compare it to the current state of CK3.

 

[Alphonce]

After looking at EU5 feedback threads and gameplay videos, I feel sad when I compare it to the current state of CK3.

It’s sad because the solutions are there — just open up a bit more and listen to the community and modders. Create a suggestions page on the official Discord (like the one for the AGOT mod where we can all vote on suggestions and give our feedback)... etc. It’s a shame. I know it’s absolutely not easy to make a game, and I’m not saying otherwise, but please, just lend an ear — even a little — and we’ll do the rest by supporting and buying your product.

 

[gamer78]

threre is

Are there any actual strategy games? It feels like all of them are basically "stack modifiers till you win" games.

There is culture/decadence system in Field of Glory Empires in Roman times by AGEOD. Basicly means you expand more you lose culture and development. And the newer one Field of Glory Kingdoms -similar time frame as CK'3-. Culture is replaced by fame or legacy as I remember. Basicly I remember development is based on other civilizations in the world not about your county. It is calculated very turn. And trade is automatic about buildings and some modifiers. Buildings are random for every new game in each county. But you can change what you build with a cost.

 

[EmperorDweeb]

It’s sad because the solutions are there — just open up a bit more and listen to the community and modders. Create a suggestions page on the official Discord (like the one for the AGOT mod where we can all vote on suggestions and give our feedback)... etc. It’s a shame. I know it’s absolutely not easy to make a game, and I’m not saying otherwise, but please, just lend an ear — even a little — and we’ll do the rest by supporting and buying your product.

AGOT make me sad sometimes because sometimes because of how much better mechanics are implemented than they are in vanilla, things like Legtitmacy being title specific than simply tied to the character. It feels like the modding community has solved a lot of CK3's problems but Paradox lacks the resources or the will to implement them.

 

[Koppel235]

AGOT make me sad sometimes because sometimes because of how much better mechanics are implemented than they are in vanilla, things like Legtitmacy being title specific than simply the character. It feels like the modding community has solved a lot of CK3's problems but Paradox lacks the resources or the will to implement them.

Its the will.They dont want to get angry the casuals like the streamers or the meme reddit crowd.

 

[Ral Rednaxela]

AGOT make me sad sometimes because sometimes because of how much better mechanics are implemented than they are in vanilla, things like Legtitmacy being title specific than simply the character. It feels like the modding community has solved a lot of CK3's problems but Paradox lacks the resources or the will to implement them.

I wish the AGOT team would make a simpler overhaul mod of base game CK3, as I have no interest in playing in the Game of Thrones universe. They're a talented modding team but they've also sucked up a lot of modding talent that could otherwise be improving the base game.

 

[Benismann]

Create a suggestions page on the official Discord

Just saying, pc-feedback is the suggestions page in ck3's discord. They should prob split it into actual suggestions and bug reports and what not, but it is there.

 

[Benismann]

It feels like the modding community has solved a lot of CK3's problems but Paradox lacks the resources or the will to implement them.

sadly every time i see paradox integrate a mod into base game people always go "booo lazy paradox stealing mods again"

 

[Trarco]

I can't let mr Dark Ages plug his mod without plugging my own mod too.
KGD: The Great Rebalace is my take on rebalancing the game, and the main difference from Dark Ages here is that mine is a lot more vanilla-esque, mostly just making mechanics that exist work, fixing "intended loopholes" (like the existance of 2 avaricious tree decisions that just spawn gold outta thin air) and making AI much more competent. It's definitely not as hard as Dark ages are, but it should still be an improvement in difficulty overall.
And it also has hard-er mode just in case.

I will definitely try it. Do you know if More Interactive Vassals work with your mod?

 

[Benismann]

I will definitely try it. Do you know if More Interactive Vassals work with your mod?

They clash in a couple of places, but it should be mostly fine?.. Holy orders will be a bit too powerful probably. I would advice against MIV though as it does change the balance a lot.

 

[SpiritRiven]

They clash in a couple of places, but it should be mostly fine?.. Holy orders will be a bit too powerful probably. I would advice against MIV though as it does change the balance a lot.

That's a pity. MiV is basically obligatory at this point, you should consider making it conflict free if you can