What is CK all about?

[Red_Communist]

Just curious how CK works and what you can do in it, etc.

I'm interested in buying CKII when it comes out so that's why I'm asking.

 

[Sam L]

Just curious how CK works and what you can do in it, etc.

I'm interested in buying CKII when it comes out so that's why I'm asking.

I suggest buying CKV now. It's cheap and good and you will get an introduction to the game. That's the best way to learn.

You pick a King, Duke or Count at the beginning of the game. By picking a realm, you become the person who rules that realm. Your aim is to increase the prestige and piety of your character. The aim is to keep your dynasty on the throne of that realm and include other realms if possible. Once that character dies, you take on the role of that person's successor. You will be called to Crusades during the game to reclaim lands. If you don't do it, you will lose piety.

Aside from that you manage your court like who gets married, who's running your diplomacy, finances etc... and decide on laws and research for the realm which is like other Paradox games. When you have kids you decide how they are educated and events will appear where their personalities are shaped like in real life.

 

[TempestDK]

... and vassals .... you WILL eventually be needing vassals, as you can't rule everything yourself. Keeping those people in line is also part of the game. Managing their loyalty, friendships and rivalries.

This game focuses more on characters than on countries, thus you can be the King of Denmark, Sweden, Norway and England at the same time. At any time can you give out most of your titles to sons, relatives or just loyal subjects.

So compared to the other PI games, it is a different expereince, but one you will be hard pressed to find in any other game.

 

[A_Dane]

One funny thing is, when you have build up a grand empire (I once held Denmark, Norway and invaded England after getting a claim through inheritance.) it took years, and had to put down some revolts, but finally i secured the throne, just to have my king (and his only son), die in rapid succesion. The fool i was, i had not put salic primanocture, so my daughters son inherited instead, and i was transferred to become some duke in Germany (No idea i even had a bloodrelation in Germany, he turned out to be the very last of the knytling line... never seen that happen in a 1066 start).

I never succeeded in bringing my empire back under my hoof, only DK-Norway :/

 

[DarthJF]

This game focuses more on characters than on countries, thus you can be the King of Denmark, Sweden, Norway and England at the same time. At any time can you give out most of your titles to sons, relatives or just loyal subjects.

Yeah, it's not about nations. One example I use to give people is that you can start the game as a count in Ireland, and by the end of the game, your descendants might be Kings of Egypt.

The thing I love in CK is that you can start as a king and get involved in crusades, ruthless empire building and bullying those beneath you, or you can take some lonely count and slowly rise to power through scheaming and marriage. When you finally manage to overthrow your legitimate liege and become the new king it's really, really satisfying.