Crusader Kings 2 Holy Orders
Two weeks ago, we interviewed Paradox Development Studio on the new converter DLC that lets you import your version of medieval Europe from Crusader Kings II into Europa Univesalis IV . Now that the DLC is out, we went hunting for some of the less than historically accurate groups and nations that can be carried over. From Viking holy orders to a restored Roman Empire, here's how they pan out in EU4.
The Jomsvikings
A Norse Pagan warrior brotherhood that functions as a Holy Order in CK2, the Jomsvikings become a playable Warrior Cult (basically identical to a theocracy) if they survive with landed titles into EU4. In addition to the Land and Naval Forcelimit modifiers they gain from importing the Reformed Norse faith, they also have a unique idea group:
Feb 13, 2015 - The year is 1112 and still no orders. Is there an action I must take to spawn them?
The Jomsvikings Code: Morale of Armies +0.10
The Legend of Jomsborg: Land Forcelimit +15%, Naval Forcelimit +5%
For the Glory of the Allfather: Manpower Recovery Speed +10%
By Thor's Name: Permanent cassus belli against all non-pagans
Adopt Feudal System: Production Efficiency +10%
Implement the Högting: Stability Cost -10%
Valhalla Awaits: Yearly Prestige +1
Their traditions grant a bonus to Leader Shock and Discipline, and completing the tree grants a +10% to Infantry Combat Ability. So, war. And more war. Especially in the early game (when Shock is more important than Fire), they are likely to have one of the scariest armies in the world. I recommend the Quality ideas in the Military group, which will make your soldiers truly peerless.
The Roman Empire
If you managed to restore the Roman Empire as Byzantium using CK2's Legacy of Rome DLC, they will be imported into EU4 as an Empire with a unique idea group:
Pax Romana: National Revolt Risk -1
Legacy of Rome: Diplomatic Reputation +5
S.P.Q.R.: Stability Cost -20%
The Roman Legions: Land Forcelimit +15%, Infantry Combat Ability +10%
Roman Architecture: Production Efficiency +20%
Imperial Bureaucracy: National Tax Modifier +10%
Imperium Sine Fine: Core Creation Cost -20%
Their traditions grant +10% Discipline and +1 Yearly Legitimacy, while completing the track gives you an insane +33% Manpower. This seems more than a little overpowered, based on the other idea groups in the game. But hey, restoring Rome in CK2 isn't easy, so being rewarded with all the tools to become an intercontinental superpower is probably appropriate. In contrast to the Jomsvikings, Rome pairs well with the Quantity military ideas, which should swell your ranks to the point that globally-based legions are barely a tax on your resources.
The High American Tech Group
If your CK2 game was running the Sunset Invasion DLC when you exported it, the Europeans will find a very different version of the Americas when they arrive in EU4. All of the Native American Nations will be lifted up from the New World tech group (200% tech cost, -2 Monarch Power) to a fictional 'High American' tech group, which is identical to the Western tech group (100% tech cost, no monarch power modifiers.)
Central America is blanketed by the Aztec Empire, while their rivals, the Incans (who, if you payed attention to CK2's Aztec Invasion Events, actually invented gunpowder infantry in this universe) dominate South America. Contrary to what I was told in the interview, the other North American states from Vanilla EU4 still exist as independent nations, and they have High American technology. The Creek, Shawnee, and Huron are Feudal Monarchies. the Cherokee have a Theocracy, and the Mayans and Iroquois are.. Merchant Republics, for some reason. All follow the Aztec Religion, save the Incans, and the Shamanist Huron.
The new Aztec and Incan relgions are both considered part of the Pagan religious group. The Aztec Religion grants -1 National Revolt Risk and +0.5 Morale of Armies. The Incan Religion grants +10% Tax Modifier, and +1 Tolerance of the True Faith.
The Aztecs and Incans also get unique idea groups, while the rest of the North Americans use the generic ones.
Aztec ideas are mostly focused on warfare and forcibly colonizing the Old World:
Build the Tepochicalli and the Calmecac: Technology Cost -5%
Enact the Flower Wars: National Revolt Risk -1
Invade the Whiteskins: Naval Attrition -10%, enables Conquistadors and Explorers even if you haven't unlocked the prerequisite tech
State Administration Reform: National Tax Modifier +5%
Found the Imperial Cities: Production Efficiency +5%
Found the Imperial Jaguars and Eagles: Discipline +10%
The Imperial Road Network: Global Tariffs +10%
Aztec traditions grant +5% Infantry Combat Ability and -5% Advisor Cost. Completing the track grants +0.1 Morale of Armies.
Ck2 Vassalize Holy Order Holy Fury
Incan ideas focus more on economy and infrastructure.
Census Record Quipo: National Manpower Modifier +5%
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Enforce Quechua: Stability Cost -5%
The Written Word: Technology Cost -10%
Official Axe-monies: National Trade Income +10%
Imperial Gold Trading: Merchants +1
State Administration Reform: National Tax Modifier +5%
The Imperial Road Network: Global Tariffs +10%
Incan traditions grant +20% Fort Defense and -5% Advisor Cost.Completing the track grants +10% Land Forcelimit.
If you haven't yet, check out our review of Europa Universalis IV .
| Crusader Kings II | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Paradox Development Studio |
| Publisher(s) | Paradox Interactive |
| Director(s) | Henrik Fåhraeus |
| Producer(s) | Johan Andersson |
| Designer(s) | Henrik Fåhraeus Christopher King |
| Programmer(s) | Henrik Fåhraeus Johan Lerström Fredrik Zetterman |
| Artist(s) | Fredrik Toll |
| Composer(s) | Andreas Waldetoft |
| Engine | Clausewitz Engine |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux |
| Release | Microsoft Windows February 14, 2012 OS X May 24, 2012 Linux January 14, 2013 |
| Genre(s) | Grand strategy, role-playing |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, Multiplayer |
Crusader Kings II is a grand strategy game set in the Middle Ages, developed by Paradox Development Studio and published by Paradox Interactive as a sequel to Crusader Kings. It was released for Microsoft Windows on February 14, 2012. An OS X version, Paradox Interactive's first in-house development for the operating system, was released on May 24, 2012. A Linux version was also released on January 14, 2013.
It has sold over 1 million copies, which made it Paradox's most successful release before Europa Universalis IV.[1]
- 1Gameplay
Gameplay[edit]
The game is a dynastysimulator where the player controls a Medieval dynasty from 1066 to 1453, though the DLCThe Old Gods and Charlemagne allow for earlier start dates of 867 and 769, respectively. Through the strategic use of war, marriages and assassinations among many other things, the player works to achieve success for their dynasty. The game contains numerous historical figures such as William the Conqueror, Charlemagne, Genghis Khan, Harold Godwinson, Robert Guiscard, Robert the Bruce, Harald Hardrada, El Cid, Constantine X Doukas, Harun al-Rashid, Alexios I Komnenos, Richard the Lionheart, Ivar the Boneless, Alfred the Great, Baldwin I of Jerusalem, and Saladin, but allows for the player to choose less significant figures such as minor dukes and counts, and creation of entirely new characters with the use of the 'Ruler Designer' DLC.
Success is defined solely by the player. The only in-game objective is to obtain as many prestige and piety points as possible in order to surpass the various historically relevant European dynasties in a fictional prestige ranking (the three most prestigious ones being the Capetian, the Rurikovich and the Habsburg dynasties). The game ends when the player's current character dies without an heir of the same dynasty to succeed him/her, when all landed titles of the count rank or above are stripped from all members of the player's dynasty (including themselves), or when the game reaches its end in 1453.
The game employs a genetics and education system where children will inherit many traits, culture, religion and skills from their parents and guardian. This adds an additional layer of strategy to marriages, such that a player will attempt not only to form beneficial alliances, but also to select marriage partners with strong heritable traits to maximise the quality of offspring and thus strengthen the dynasty. This requires balancing sometimes conflicting interests. For example, while one possible marriage might allow some desirable alliance to be formed with another ruler, it may also require marrying a Spouse with some undesirable traits. Such a trade-off can occur in the reverse as well: one possible spouse could possess highly desirable traits but yield no new alliances for the player's dynasty.[2]
While the player can choose any noble with at least a county in their possession to play as, there are some Government types that are unplayable without modding the game. These include Theocracies (such as The Papacy), holy orders, mercenaries, and republics. The merchant republic government type, however, is playable with The Republic expansion. In addition, all non-Christian characters are unplayable without the purchase of the DLC that unlocks them, including Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Taoists, Zoroastrians, Jains, Zunists and various Pagans.
Expansion packs[edit]
| Name | Release date | Accompanying Patch | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sword of Islam | 26 June 2012 | 1.06 | This expansion pack allows the player to play as Muslim rulers. It also adds story events involving Sunni and Shia Muslims.[3] |
| Legacy of Rome | 16 October 2012 | 1.07 | Legacy of Rome is focused around the Byzantine Empire, adding new events and game mechanics. It also adds the 'Retinue' mechanic allowing the player to maintain a standing army.[4] |
| Sunset Invasion | 15 November 2012 | 1.08 | The main feature of Sunset Invasion is the fictional invasion of more technologically advanced Aztecs, from the late 13th century onwards to the end of the game alongside a new religion and culture unique to them.[5] |
| The Republic | 15 Jan 2013 | 1.09 | Makes naval-based merchant republics playable with their own unique play-style centering around wealth and elections. It also adds a few new casus bellis and events concerning Republican politics and familial feuds. |
| The Old Gods | 28 May 2013 | 1.10 | Adds a new 867 AD start date and makes pagans playable with their own unique mechanics. Also unlocks new revolt mechanics and adventurer claimants. |
| Sons of Abraham | 18 November 2013 | 2.0 | Gives further depth to the three Abrahamic faiths; Christianity in particular, but has also added some content for Muslims, as well as the Jewish faith. Also adds Holy Orders for all faiths alongside new Events. |
| Rajas of India | 25 March 2014 | 2.1 | Makes Hindu, Buddhist and Jain rulers playable. Expands the map as far east as Bengal. With Patch 2.8, Taoist rulers will now also be unlocked by this DLC. |
| Charlemagne | 14 October 2014 | 2.2 | Unlocks several improvements to narrative aspects of the game, custom kingdoms and empires, vice royalty and the 769 start date. |
| Way of Life | 16 December 2014 | 2.3 | Improves role-playing and immersion, by letting player influence more directly the type of events that may happen, rather than relying solely on personality traits or randomness. |
| Horse Lords | 14 July 2015 | 2.4 | Unlocks playing as a nomadic government. |
| Conclave | 2 February 2016 | 2.5 | Improves interaction with your vassals, gives power to the council and overhauls the education for children system. |
| The Reaper's Due | 25 August 2016 | 2.6 | Improves the Plague, epidemics, minor diseases, prosperity and interactions with your court. |
| Monks and Mystics | 7 March 2017 | 2.7 | Adds societies, artifacts and relics, new councilor jobs and the ability to give commands to allied armies. |
| Jade Dragon | 16 November 2017 | 2.8 | Adds interactions with China, new Chinese artifacts, new Casus Bellis, and Rally Points along with making the Tibetan plateau playable. |
| Holy Fury | 13 November 2018[6] | 3.0 | Allows the player to 'design' Pagan religions upon reformation, introduces new crusade mechanics and events, mechanics for coronations, sainthood and bloodlines and also includes shattered and random maps.[7] |
Release and reception[edit]
Ck2 Norse Holy Order
| Reception | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Crusader Kings 2 Holy Orders Youtube
A demo was released on February 4, 2012, which featured four playable characters over a 20-year span.[12] A marketing campaign for the game featured light comedy videos on the concept of the Seven Deadly Sins.[13]
The game was met with generally positive Reviews and has attained a metascore of 82 at Metacritic.[14]GameSpot reviewer Shaun McInnis stated 'Through a complex system of diplomacy and backstabbing, Crusader Kings II makes every power struggle an engrossing one' and he lauded the gameplay while noting the 'lackluster tutorials'.[9]IGN summed up their review by saying 'An intense learning curve, but a unique strategy experience'.[10] IGN rated the gameplay and 'lasting appeal' a 9/10.[10] A reviewer for Rock, Paper, Shotgun stated that Crusader Kings II was 'probably the most human strategy game' he ever played.[15] Rob Zacny of PC PowerPlay, who gave the game a 7/10 score, called it a 'brilliant treatment of feudalism in terms of strategy and story' but also stated it 'requires major investment to overcome information overload'.[11]Kotaku named the game as one of their game of the year nominees.[16]
Amazon.com: Open Welcome Sign, Super Bright LED Open Sign, Store Sign, Business Sign, Window Sign, LED Neon Sign: Office Products. Open sign in window word. Buy Neon Open Sign with Hours of Operation, Lighted Business Hours Window Display - Red illumination, Number Stickers Not Included: Neon Signs. Flashing Window Signs Feature Low-Cost LED Illumination. These LED open closed signs are standards of the industry seen in almost every strip mall, retail store, or business. Since all these lighted open closed signs utilize LED illumination, the cost to leave them on during the. Items 1 - 20 of 20 - Let customers know you are open for business with lighted open signs. Shop from over 20 styles including static or flashing, stocked for same.
By September 2014, Crusader Kings II had sold more than 1 million copies, with the expansion pack and DLC sales totaling over 7 million units. According to Paradox Interactive, the game was played by an average of 12,500 players every day, with an average playtime of 99 hours per player.[17]
Modding[edit]
When a Crusader Kings II (CK2) game is launched, Paradox servers collect information about the game setup such as game version, single player or multiplayer, and what mods are in use.[18] Data collected on 23 April 2017 showed that at least 42% of users on that day had activated at least one mod.[18] Data also reveals that multiplayer 'cheat mods' are popular too, as are graphics or GUI mods. A number of realism mods have been produced by fans such as Historical Immersion Project and CK2+.[19][20]
A number of total conversion mods are available:
- A Game of Thrones, based on George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy novels, released in May 2012,[21][22][23] which 'has long been the most popular CK2 mod.'[18]
- Elder Kings, based on Bethesda Softworks's The Elder Scrolls video game series, released on April 1, 2013.
- Middle Earth Project,[19] based on the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, released 2014.[24]
- Witcher Kings, based on Andrzej Sapkowski's The Witcher series of novels, as well as CD Projekt Red's video game series.
- After the End, which is set in the 27th century in a post-apocalyptic North America.
- The Winter King, based on The Warlord Chronicles trilogy by Bernard Cornwell.
- When the World Stopped Making Sense, which is set in the Dark Ages and adds Pre-Schism Christian Denominations such as Nicene Christianity, Arianism, and Insular Christianity along with other religions such as Celtic Polytheism and Ancient Egyptian religion.
Paradox actively encourages such modding, and the company is 'constantly considering how we can ensure new additions to the game are moddable, and we often go back and tweak existing functionality to open it further to modding.'[18]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^Zacny, Rob (September 20, 2014). 'How Crusader Kings 2 caught Paradox by surprise'. Archived from the original on September 22, 2014.
- ^Joe Martin (February 9, 2012). 'Crusader Kings 2 PC Preview'. bit-tech. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
- ^Hatfield, Tom (31 May 2012). 'Crusader Kings 2 Sword of Islam expansion announced, will let you side with Saladin'. PC Gamer. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
- ^Petitte, Omri (30 August 2012). 'Crusader Kings 2: Legacy of Rome expansion lets you flex your Byzantium Maximus'. PC Gamer. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
- ^Hafer, T.J. (31 October 2012). 'Crusader Kings II DLC sacrifices history, adds Aztec invasion of Europe'. PC Gamer. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
- ^Horti, Samuel (13 October 2018). 'Crusader Kings 2's Holy Fury DLC release date announced'. pcgamer. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
- ^Donelly, Joe. 'Crusader Kings 2 unveils Holy Fury DLC'. PC Gamer. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
- ^'Crusader Kings II for PC Reviews'. Metacritic. 2012-02-14. Retrieved 2013-04-21.
- ^ abShaun McInnis (February 16, 2012). 'Crusader Kings II Review'. GameSpot. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
- ^ abcEric Neigher (March 5, 2012). 'Crusader Kings II Review'. IGN. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
- ^ abZacny, Rob (1 May 2012), 'Crusader Kings II', PC PowerPlay, Australia: nextmedia, no. 203, p. 52
- ^'Crusader Kings II Demo'. Fileplanet.com. Retrieved 2013-04-21.
- ^Gonzalez, Christina (10 January 2012). 'Crusader Kings II: Greed Enters the Fray in The Latest Deadly Sins Comic Trailer'. RTSguru.com. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
- ^'Crusader Kings II for PC Reviews'. Metacritic. Retrieved 2015-09-30.
- ^Adam Smith (2012-02-23). 'Wot I Think: Crusader Kings II'. Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
When the consequences are so human they mean all the much more and this is probably the most human strategy game I’ve ever played. If it doesn’t wind up being among my very favourite games of the year, spectacular things will occur in the next ten months.
- ^Plunkett, Luke (4 January 2013). 'Why Crusader Kings II Should Be Game Of The Year'. Kotaku. Gawker Media. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
- ^Graft, Kris (September 18, 2014). 'Aiming for the 'niche' pays off for million-selling strategy game'. Gamasutra. Archived from the original on November 10, 2014.
- ^ abcd'CK2 Dev Diary #49: Mods and mod telemetry'. 2018-01-18.
- ^ abDonnelly, Joe (2017-03-23). 'Best Crusader Kings 2 mods'. Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
- ^'[CK2] List of Mods'. www.twcenter.net. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
- ^Plunkett, Luke (28 May 2012). 'There is an Awesome Game of Thrones Video Game. You Can Play it Right Now'. Kotaku. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
- ^Adam Smith (May 28, 2012). 'A Mod Of A Game Of Thrones: Crusader Kings II'. Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
- ^'Crusader Kings 2's Game of Thrones mod update lets you feast on new scenarios Mods, News'. PC Gamer. Retrieved 2013-04-21.
- ^'Paradox Wiki'. 18 January 2018.