Hey guys , I recently got Crusader Kings II but right now I am lost on how to play effectively. For people who have played the game and understand it well enough, what tips can you give me? or what would you suggest?
Crusader Kings II tips
- Thread starter Mondai Randy
- Start date
Recommended Videos
start in ireland, it's small and isolated enough that you won't have to worry about any kings or emperors butting in and is also reasonable to take over in a short time. Really I could write a book on tips even though I not even that good at the game but starting here is a good place
http://crusaderkings-two.wikia.com/wiki/Crusader_Kings_II_Wiki
this here is a pretty good guide on how to become the king of ireland
http://crusaderkings-two.wikia.com/wiki/Tale_of_an_Irishman_:_How_the_count_of_Dublin_became_King_of_Ireland
good luck
http://crusaderkings-two.wikia.com/wiki/Crusader_Kings_II_Wiki
this here is a pretty good guide on how to become the king of ireland
http://crusaderkings-two.wikia.com/wiki/Tale_of_an_Irishman_:_How_the_count_of_Dublin_became_King_of_Ireland
good luck
thank you Orange , I appreciate the reply 
, if anyone else has anymore suggestions , you are welcome to post
That sounds like a fun way to play wombat
, if anyone else has anymore suggestions , you are welcome to post That sounds like a fun way to play wombat
The game is far diffirent from the other paradox interactive grand strategy titles.Mondai Randy said:
Less about taking over the world, and more about making sure your bloodline lives out. Building up a military and economy are less direct than in other paradox games that i've played. (Done by improving componants of cities, rather than actual recruitment and what not)
Some tips for you (If you aren't planning on cheating [I cheat, because it's fun])
When the game starts out- and if your current character is unmarried- before you even unpause the game, select the 'Arrange marriage' button, and select a partner. (Try to pick the ones with the highest skills, as they feed onto your state skills [a combination between you and your vassals]) Also try to pick one with a modest oppinion of you.
Another important thing, if you start out in a country with vassals- don't try to remove them. This isn't EU3- Vassals make the game somewhat easier for you (Less stuff to manage) And if you are holding too much territory, everyone starts to hate you.
I see someone else has suggested a good starting point (The Holy Roman Empire isn't a bad one, either, because it is like impossible to lose) and a guide, so I'll spare you the rest.
Like Orange said, a small independent realm is a good place to start.
In games as complex as CK2 it helps for me to focus on a few things first, and then learn more as I become comfortable with the basic featues.
A few things on top of my mind that are useful to focus on initially:
- Be familiar with your direct vassals and the things that influence their opinion of you.
- Be familiar with your crown laws, how titles are inherited, but don't start changing laws around.
- Know your maximum demesne size (the number of holdings that you are allowed to own directly). It's shown in the top right of the screen. Stay within that limit. If you get too many holdings hand some of them out to vassals you trust.
- Keep some money in reserve. If you get into a war having enough cash to hire mercenaries can make a big difference in the early game.
- Make sure that your heir gets a guardian, it's often beneficial to pick yourself as guardian, and look for a suitable spouse early on.
- Levies incur running costs, but are free to raise and disband. If you don't need the forces disband them in friendly territory.
- If you feel like waging some war, muslim nations are good practice. They may kick your butt, but they usually won't invade your home territory. Spain is a good area in the early game for a bit of casual warfare.
- Never, ever, wage war on the Holy Roman Empire. ;-)
In games as complex as CK2 it helps for me to focus on a few things first, and then learn more as I become comfortable with the basic featues.
A few things on top of my mind that are useful to focus on initially:
- Be familiar with your direct vassals and the things that influence their opinion of you.
- Be familiar with your crown laws, how titles are inherited, but don't start changing laws around.
- Know your maximum demesne size (the number of holdings that you are allowed to own directly). It's shown in the top right of the screen. Stay within that limit. If you get too many holdings hand some of them out to vassals you trust.
- Keep some money in reserve. If you get into a war having enough cash to hire mercenaries can make a big difference in the early game.
- Make sure that your heir gets a guardian, it's often beneficial to pick yourself as guardian, and look for a suitable spouse early on.
- Levies incur running costs, but are free to raise and disband. If you don't need the forces disband them in friendly territory.
- If you feel like waging some war, muslim nations are good practice. They may kick your butt, but they usually won't invade your home territory. Spain is a good area in the early game for a bit of casual warfare.
- Never, ever, wage war on the Holy Roman Empire. ;-)
Don't worry about playing the game "effectively" for starters. As a strategy game with clear victory conditions, it's a bit humdrum. Play it as a story generator. As a story generator, it shines.Mondai Randy said:
Role play it a bit. Have a wroth leader? Make wroth decisions. Greedy lord? Hoard your money, don't use it to beef up infrastructure. If you're devious or ambitious, hatch lots of plots. And let things play out as they will, even if it results in less than optimal scores. Like Dwarf Fortress, CK2 is a game that can spawn fascinating narratives the more willing you are to let it go off the rails from time to time, but unlike Dwarf Fortress it won't FORCE you off the rails. You need to meet it halfway.
Couple tips I haven't seen mentioned,
- When investing in your holdings, focus on the upgrades that will get you more tax income first, ie Town Market, Castle Town, and Church Town.
- For the new technology setup introduced in the 1.10 patch try to focus on Military Organization (it will increase the amount of Retinues you can hire) and Majesty (it will increase your monthly prestige and piety gain)
- When sending kids of your dynasty to be educated look less at stats and more at traits, stay away from people with cruel and slothful. Furthermore make sure the guardian you set for your heir is both of your culture and your religion, you can take an opinion penalty from your vassals if your heir is of the wrong culture/religion.
- Stay away from the assassination option and focus on plots if you want to kill someone, plots are more likely to succeed and less likely that you will be caught behind the attempt.
- When investing in your holdings, focus on the upgrades that will get you more tax income first, ie Town Market, Castle Town, and Church Town.
- For the new technology setup introduced in the 1.10 patch try to focus on Military Organization (it will increase the amount of Retinues you can hire) and Majesty (it will increase your monthly prestige and piety gain)
- When sending kids of your dynasty to be educated look less at stats and more at traits, stay away from people with cruel and slothful. Furthermore make sure the guardian you set for your heir is both of your culture and your religion, you can take an opinion penalty from your vassals if your heir is of the wrong culture/religion.
- Stay away from the assassination option and focus on plots if you want to kill someone, plots are more likely to succeed and less likely that you will be caught behind the attempt.