The Obligatory CK2 Strange Screenshot Thread

[olivenkranz]

Blue Monday.
So there I am, casually starting a CK2 game as a lowly Count in Lombardy, partly because I intend to divorce a Lombard Princess to get the achievement, and play the game and still be a Lombard in 1300 and beyond, for that other Lombard achievement. There should be a 3rd achievement for marrying a Lombard Princess after 1300, and staying married for 50 years. I should know - I'm married to a Lombard in real life (although she's not exactly a Princess, more like a Shieldmaiden with Martial of 25 and Intrigue of 35).

Ok so I'm in the typical white-tiled Lombardy, right? That's all I expect. White-tiled Lombardy, until 1300. And then something happens, and you may not believe in Fate or that life truly has no coincidences, but still, here goes - I'm listening (and somewhat watching) Music Television (MTV) Classic channel, where I have discovered they actually play Music Videos again - after all these years, I'm finally seeing and hearing Music again on MTV instead of some wacked out social experimental show, and since I'm really enjoying the music, the channel puts on:

- New Order, Blue Monday ('88 version).

And then it happens, my screen turns blue, totally blue, as I'm zoomed in on Lombardy's Northern counties only, and then it goes insta-blue, because the internal revolt that had been going for an untold number of game years, apparently resulted in West Francia's King usurping all of Lombardy. In all my CK2 games, I've never seen this before, where West Francia stays intact from game start, and grows to subsume Lombardy. Bear in mind, Lombardy was kicking it - I was always Joining War to help my Lombardy King, and we together were dominating (I'd taken over 3x Counties along the way and just shy of being Duke except I'm stuck in Milano just North of the King who also held the Duchy title). We'd taken Barcelona Duchy, actually taking it to the Muslims in early game, instead of the other way around, which is why West Francia on this screenshot is creeping into Spain. Oh, just before this screenshot, the King of Lombardy died, and his sister took over, who is the Duchess mentioned in the pop-up message in top-right.

But I still wonder - was it MTV spinning "Blue Monday" that did this to me? And, as reminder, today is Monday.
Enjoy the Blue...of the map. And enjoy your Monday, wherever you are.
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P.S. If you really want a more "Interesting" song about the color blue, along with quite a backstory about the performing artist who sings the song, check out "Love is Blue (L'amour Est Bleu)" by Claudine Longet. Oh, speaking of difficult marriages - don't marry Claudine. Spider didn't earn the "Achievement" but maybe Andy Williams did, and the Rolling Stones wrote a song about her (titled "Claudine" of course). If you don't know what I'm talking about - you need to get to know Claudine Longet. She was actually good in the Peter Sellers movie "The Party" - a movie that was essentially banned from broadcast TV.

Bonus Blues material:
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I've seen that a lot of times. Karloman dies, Karl gets it and then goes on to take Lombardy from Desiderius. I think You might get Lombardy back if you get the Kingdom of Italy on a Lombard character again, but I am unsure, been too long since I last played that.

 

[Nuclear Elvis]

I've seen that a lot of times. Karloman dies, Karl gets it and then goes on to take Lombardy from Desiderius. I think You might get Lombardy back if you get the Kingdom of Italy on a Lombard character again, but I am unsure, been too long since I last played that.

Is it especially triggered by Lombardy king/queen being Excommunicated also? That dynamic was in play also, after I viewed all the messages in background, that the King of Lombardy was Excommunicated, and then after he died from personal combat, the newly-crowned Queen of Lombardy was immediately Excommunicated also (I guess the Pope hated the whole family). She's the one appearing as if only a Duke in the upper right message, after she lost title as Queen of Lombardy.

 

[Poliut]

Is it especially triggered by Lombardy king/queen being Excommunicated also? That dynamic was in play also, after I viewed all the messages in background, that the King of Lombardy was Excommunicated, and then after he died from personal combat, the newly-crowned Queen of Lombardy was immediately Excommunicated also (I guess the Pope hated the whole family). She's the one appearing as if only a Duke in the upper right message, after she lost title as Queen of Lombardy.

It's rather easy for the King/Queen of Lombardy/Italy to be recipients of excommunication since they often hold de jure Papal States territory (which the Pope no likey!).

 

[Nuclear Elvis]

It's rather easy for the King/Queen of Lombardy/Italy to be recipients of excommunication since they often hold de jure Papal States territory (which the Pope no likey!).

Thanks for that reminder, I forgot about that Game Start condition in Lombardy. Somebody stuck the sign "Excommunicate Me" on the backs of Lombardy royals.