Crusader Kings II

**Sylon** · 03-07-2012, 17:45

The progress of my current game:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

The Navarrese Empire, 1303. I have just emerged victorious from not one, but two wars against the Byzantines, taking advantage of their civil war to grab some of their possessions in Sicily. I also took the liberty of driving the French out of Africa, and crowning myself King of Africa and Egypt. The Beige colour in the bottom right hand corner of the screen is the Basque Kingdom of Abyssinia, which is ruled by a distant relative of mine of the house Jimena after I conquered it. The distance penalties were too great for me to hold any land or even keep my vassals from revolting there, so I gave it away. It's a bit risky, since they border the Ilkhanate in Somalia and Yemen, and indeed the Ilkhanate has declared war on them once before. I had to assassinate their ruler, plunging their realm into civil war, in order to save my hapless relative.

But that is but a mere footnote to what is about to happen. While on campaign in Naples, King Typhus II the Just brought his collection of scriptures from Alexandria and Tyre. As his troops battled the Byzantines and ravaged the countryside, he studied them fervently, and as the Byzantine host shattered and retreated from the western Mediterranean, he came to a startling epiphany. By studying the older scriptures of Christianity, he came to the conclusion that the teachings of Catholicism were false, and that true understanding of the word of God could only be attained by casting aside the excesses of the Church.

At this point, most of Europe heeded the teachings of the Holy See. The Muslim Caliphates had been destroyed, the Holy Land reconquered for Christianity. Even the Golden Horde of the eastern steppes had converted to Catholicism, their conversion while being the target of a crusade being hailed as a miracle sent by Christ. A ruler, should he find himself disagreeing with the church, would be wise in such an environment to keep such views to himself. But Typhus II was not a man to keep silent about matters of faith. Unable to contain his religious zeal, he openly proclaimed his new faith of Waldensianism, and called for all loyal Christians to cast down the Church and the false Pope and embrace the true faith.

The year is 1303. The Catholic world is about to be thrown into chaos, as the most powerful Catholic ruler has denounced the faith and called for the destruction of the Holy See. Blades are being sharpened. Forces are being marshaled. Which will triumph over Europe to become the true faith- Catholicism or Waldensianism?

**Subotan** · 03-08-2012, 09:01

Hehe. After I declared independence from the HRE, the Kaiser decided to convert to Lollardism. The chaos that followed was awesome.

**Monk** · 03-08-2012, 10:10

Originally Posted by Sylon

The progress of my current game:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

The Navarrese Empire, 1303. I have just emerged victorious from not one, but two wars against the Byzantines, taking advantage of their civil war to grab some of their possessions in Sicily. I also took the liberty of driving the French out of Africa, and crowning myself King of Africa and Egypt. The Beige colour in the bottom right hand corner of the screen is the Basque Kingdom of Abyssinia, which is ruled by a distant relative of mine of the house Jimena after I conquered it. The distance penalties were too great for me to hold any land or even keep my vassals from revolting there, so I gave it away. It's a bit risky, since they border the Ilkhanate in Somalia and Yemen, and indeed the Ilkhanate has declared war on them once before. I had to assassinate their ruler, plunging their realm into civil war, in order to save my hapless relative.

But that is but a mere footnote to what is about to happen. While on campaign in Naples, King Typhus II the Just brought his collection of scriptures from Alexandria and Tyre. As his troops battled the Byzantines and ravaged the countryside, he studied them fervently, and as the Byzantine host shattered and retreated from the western Mediterranean, he came to a startling epiphany. By studying the older scriptures of Christianity, he came to the conclusion that the teachings of Catholicism were false, and that true understanding of the word of God could only be attained by casting aside the excesses of the Church.

At this point, most of Europe heeded the teachings of the Holy See. The Muslim Caliphates had been destroyed, the Holy Land reconquered for Christianity. Even the Golden Horde of the eastern steppes had converted to Catholicism, their conversion while being the target of a crusade being hailed as a miracle sent by Christ. A ruler, should he find himself disagreeing with the church, would be wise in such an environment to keep such views to himself. But Typhus II was not a man to keep silent about matters of faith. Unable to contain his religious zeal, he openly proclaimed his new faith of Waldensianism, and called for all loyal Christians to cast down the Church and the false Pope and embrace the true faith.

The year is 1303. The Catholic world is about to be thrown into chaos, as the most powerful Catholic ruler has denounced the faith and called for the destruction of the Holy See. Blades are being sharpened. Forces are being marshaled. Which will triumph over Europe to become the true faith- Catholicism or Waldensianism?

Oh my. At the height of your power your Ruler has just thrown Christendom into chaos. I'm almost envious, no matter what happens that can only end in fun.

Stomping out heresy is probably one of the hardest things to do in this game (other than take down empires, heh heh). Lollardism was responsible for a nasty twenty year period of instability within my own realm. I thought i'd never get it under control, but I finally managed to imprison or execute everyone who was ever involved with it. It directly resulted in solidifying, once and for all, my Ruler's base of power in Castille. I'd broken up so many powerful duchies into little chunks and built such a vast array of inter-realm alliances that.. well, I already mentioned my 70,000 strong army.

Thats one thing about CKII that is infinitely rewarding, i think. Whenever civil wars come along, if you can win, you have the chance to become even stronger than before. But you have to be patient, you have to act with the correct tool, and you have to be a little lucky.

**The Stranger** · 03-08-2012, 11:43

on what difficulty setting are you guys playing? and if you have tried different settings, does it make big difference?

**The Stranger** · 03-09-2012, 20:03

ok... i just got defeated in 1,5 year after starting a game. i was a count on the lower part of sardinia and i had like 4 muslim nations declare a holy war on me :S before i could blink i had an army 5 times the men i could muster in my only province :O

**Beskar** · 03-09-2012, 23:26

New patch update. It seems to be a couple of added Kingdoms, but the Wales kingdom is a big change in terms of gameplay.

What they need to add is a Kingdom de-jure CB. Will make things a little more.. "exciting". Also a way for you to realign vassals, so you have barons with the right counts with the right dukes who are with the right kings.

**naut** · 03-10-2012, 03:52

I've lost and re-loaded an earlier save about 4~ times as the Duke of Barcalona/King of Aragon. Either I get a Jihad from Africa/Andulasia or invaded by France (although that shouldn't happen again with my chancellor constantly there + marriage into the Capet line).

Fun game.

**Monk** · 03-10-2012, 08:24

Originally Posted by Tiaexz

New patch update. It seems to be a couple of added Kingdoms, but the Wales kingdom is a big change in terms of gameplay.

What they need to add is a Kingdom de-jure CB. Will make things a little more.. "exciting". Also a way for you to realign vassals, so you have barons with the right counts with the right dukes who are with the right kings.

Noticed this as well. I've already noticed much more CBs in the game so a kingom de-jure CB might not be out of the question. Maybe someway throught the plot system as well, will be interesting what they do going forward. What I like is they're already talking about 1.05 which is, apparently, coming soon and promises to be a "major" content patch. I cannot wait.

I loaded up my Castille game post 1.04 and there didnt seem to be any errors or oddities, but i'll still probably start a new game. I'd like to see how the new "nerfed" byzantines compare to their pre-patch cousins.

**Fisherking** · 03-10-2012, 08:47

Originally Posted by Monk

Noticed this as well. I've already noticed much more CBs in the game so a kingom de-jure CB might not be out of the question. Maybe someway throught the plot system as well, will be interesting what they do going forward. What I like is they're already talking about 1.05 which is, apparently, coming soon and promises to be a "major" content patch. I cannot wait.

I loaded up my Castille game post 1.04 and there didnt seem to be any errors or oddities, but i'll still probably start a new game. I'd like to see how the new "nerfed" byzantines compare to their pre-patch cousins.

Maybe I am overlooking the obvious but what is a CB?

The patch washed out my graphics. At least on the machine I first checked it on, which is not my best.

I wont get around to checking play for a day or two, however.

edit: never mind about CB... It took me a min.

**Sylon** · 03-10-2012, 12:51

Originally Posted by Monk

Noticed this as well. I've already noticed much more CBs in the game so a kingom de-jure CB might not be out of the question. Maybe someway throught the plot system as well, will be interesting what they do going forward. What I like is they're already talking about 1.05 which is, apparently, coming soon and promises to be a "major" content patch. I cannot wait.

The problem with a de iure kingdom casus belli is that it throws game balance out of equation. France will declare war on Brittany day 1, Mauretania and Africa will unite their respective ends of North Africa in a few years, and any vassal of an empire that manages to create a kingdom title will be able to steamroll over the rest of the empire. I say it works perfectly fine as it is.