The "don't change this" thread

[Antoine]

What are the 2 or 3 aspects of CK1 you wouldn't like to see changed (too much) ?

I'd say :

1. The tech spread system (this very limited control and the huge differences in tech levels between provinces of the same realm are just perfect for the time frame)
2. The medieval feel of character portraits (even if they may be changed a little I would hate with passion a switch to realistic colored 3d faces) and interface
3. The pre-defined kingdom/duchies areas (good both for immersion and gameplay : giving the conquest of some provinces a strategic interest according to the ones you currently own is far more interesting than allowing to create fantasy generic kingdom/duchies anywhere with just a number of provinces instead of specific ones)

 

[Radiohead]

What are the 2 or 3 aspects of CK1 you wouldn't like to see changed (too much) ?

I'd say :

1. The tech spread system (this very limited control and the huge differences in tech levels between provinces of the same realm are just perfect for the time frame)
2. The medieval feel of character portraits (even if they may be changed a little I would hate with passion a switch to realistic colored 3d faces) and interface
3. The pre-defined kingdom/duchies areas (good both for immersion and gameplay : giving the conquest of some provinces a strategic interest according to the ones you currently own is far more interesting than allowing to create fantasy generic kingdom/duchies anywhere with just a number of provinces instead of specific ones)

Ok, I agree with #1 I guess, although it would be nice if they made the technology system a little less random, and a method of monitoring where the technology has spread to.

#2 fine, sure, keep it old school.

#3, I wholeheartedly disagree, and I think it would be a mistake to include rigidly pre-defined duchies and kingdoms in the game. If you're a count, and you have a powerful neighbour that controls the one remaining county that would make your duchy and allow you to promote, you get held back and your game gets stifled, even if you end up gaining control of 3 other counties in the other direction. So in such a situation you may end up controlling 5 counties and not being able to promote to a duke, simply because you don't hold enough of the "right" counties. Why must I become a 6-province Count in order to become a duke (if that even lets me depending on where the provinces were located), when some duchies allow others to promote when they have only 2 counties under their control? Including your idea forces a pre-determined narrative that didn't exist in reality, and I would say it's more historically accurate to let things develop in a more natural way. By pre-defining all the duchies it creates "strategic" areas out of areas that weren't strategic beforehand, and wouldn't be in reality.

I should also mention that I do believe historical nations should exist, and be re-creatable - easily done by either forcing the player/computer, whoever forms the kingdom/duchy to take the most historical name from that area, or by allowing the player to choose from a drop down list of names that are area-appropriate. Hence you would not have "fantasy" realms arising, but interesting alternate histories that both fit and are plausible.

 

[DeathAndDecay]

The portraits are going to change. Get over it.

This game will be released in 2012, not 2004.

 

[yourworstnightm]

I don't mind them changing the portraits as long as they still have a medieval feel to them.

 

[unmerged(76560)]

The portraits are going to change. Get over it.

This game will be released in 2012, not 2004.

Yes, but without portraits this game would have no soul. It's before all a roleplaying game, we want to identificate to the count, his wife, the bastard son, the ugly assassin, the jealous sister, etc...
I hope they will put a lot of love and richness in the portraits. I want to spend hours to choose a wife which i will really fall in love with ! I want to laugh at the stupid haircut of my silly neighbour ! I want a living game, not just another puzzle for hardcore gamers and students in mathematics. Crusader Kings is my favorite game because it is fun, because it is the sims without having to go to the toilets every five minuts !
Give love to the portraits ! They ARE the game !

 

[LordofSaxony]

Yes, but without portraits this game would have no soul. It's before all a roleplaying game, we want to identificate to the count, his wife, the bastard son, the ugly assassin, the jealous sister, etc...
I hope they will put a lot of love and richness in the portraits. I want to spend hours to choose a wife which i will really fall in love with ! I want to laugh at the stupid haircut of my silly neighbour ! I want a living game, not just another puzzle for hardcore gamers and students in mathematics. Crusader Kings is my favorite game because it is fun, because it is the sims without having to go to the toilets every five minuts !
Give love to the portraits ! They ARE the game !

I agree, I hope they put a lot of effort into the portraits, and I also hope there are a lot of customizations (hair, nose, clothing, etc) to make characters very unique.

I'd say.. the three things I don't want to change are..

1. That it concentrates on the Christan European noble families, which they are already doing so that's great. I don't mind seeing an eastern expansion later on if people really want that.

2. Tech spread. Although, I would like a bit more techs, still the natural spread of techs was a rather cool idea.

3. Prestige, and the way it works.

 

[Chaingun]

1. Keeping this the one of Paradox games where random screw ups and accidents are most likely to happen, because as we know accidents (such as unexpected deaths) are fun. At least when it is clearly explained why such a screw up may happen, such as via traits.

 

[Radiohead]

2. Tech spread. Although, I would like a bit more techs, still the natural spread of techs was a rather cool idea.

I would think that the spread of techs may work similarly to "civilization" level in Rome? Essentially you can research a bit on your own, and then the techs spread by contact, either direct, or through trade.

Seems like the logical way to do things, and there should be a way to be able to research yourself instead of having tech be entirely organically spread from some central hub - otherwise you'd never be able to get ahead.

 

[philios82]

What are the 2 or 3 aspects of CK1 you wouldn't like to see changed (too much) ?

I'd say :

1. The tech spread system (this very limited control and the huge differences in tech levels between provinces of the same realm are just perfect for the time frame)
2. The medieval feel of character portraits (even if they may be changed a little I would hate with passion a switch to realistic colored 3d faces) and interface
3. The pre-defined kingdom/duchies areas (good both for immersion and gameplay : giving the conquest of some provinces a strategic interest according to the ones you currently own is far more interesting than allowing to create fantasy generic kingdom/duchies anywhere with just a number of provinces instead of specific ones)

The tech system in CK was great because it felt more organic, I can't think of a less fruity way to explain it than that.

I think no.3 is a dead cert to make it in, I can't see any other way that would make sense.

I don't really care about the portraits as long as they look period appropriate.

My must keep feature is the recruitment system. Standing armies, ala every other strategy game ever, would really put me off. They're fine for other eras, but they don't represent the feudal system nearly as well. I love the idea of having little control over the troops I can take to war, it makes things much more atmospheric.

 

[Empty86]

I don't mind them changing the portraits as long as they still have a medieval feel to them.

Agreed...

 

[SAS]

One thing to keep, the Club foot trait. I joke.

I like the focus on ones dynasty.

 

[Cuthuthulu]

Also the kinslayer trait. Everything is better with kin slaying.

 

[SAS]

Also the kinslayer trait. Everything is better with kin slaying.

To arms!

 

[tretii_sleva]

There is no feature in original game I wouldn't like to change. Change everything.

 

[Karlburg]

The idea that there was some inherent logic to when feudal kingdoms and duchies were formed in Western Europe is kind of hilarious. Feudal statelets, 'artificial' kingdoms and duchies should abound during this period.

 

[TempestDK]

Please people, come with your own suggestions, unless you are like tretii_sleva who wants everything to change

1. Portraits are fine, just need some more variations.

2. Feel of playing a person and his/her dynasty. Don't water it down like Rome where you end up feeling detached from your family.

3. Random, fun events as Chaingun mentioned. Where prodegy heirs turn stressed and crazy and end up tearing the whole empire apart... you can never be safe, no matter how powerful a realm you have. And some things you just have no control over

I love how you can send off you 18 year old son to his now wonderful Duchy to learn how to rule, and when he returns to take over after the current ruler dies, you notice that he is now a crazed heretical kinslayer .. fun times ahead

 

[Aat Jago]

I'd love to see the army system unchanged. Because that fits the feudal period well. Well, maybe the Byzantine could be an exception with their theme system. But for the feudal western catholic world, the old system is the best IMHO.

 

[telesien]

Don't change the gender generation at birth. "Loosing" game because of 5 daughters was Fun but not fun. Reloafing just birth is easier.

 

[the_hdk]

For me the most important is they keep it character oriented not like Rome. Rome had no feeling to it. So they need to keep the RPG feel high maybe even higher than CK1 was

 

[the_legion]

Please don't forget the "comet sighted" event. This would be a game-breaker.