Crusader Kings II

[easytarget]

Greater complexity usually just results in a flawed game because the developer can't pull it off. More things they model, the less likely they either got them all to mesh together properly or balanced them correctly. I can't even begin to count the number of times I've seen one or the other and often both.

As to the underlying suggestion unspoken here that greater complexity somehow is superior and the players who prefer simplicity in design are somehow intellectually inferior along with the games they play.

To this last piece I would respectfully suggest you readjust your attitudes, the idea is fun, not necessarily complexity, further, chess is a very simple game to learn, yet no one in this thread, or in fact, anyone who has ever signed up as a member in the history of this forum, can beat even a mediocre chess software. So much for simplicity of game design having any remote correlation to complexity, and by extension, difficulty.

[Beskar]

Crusader Kings 2, £9 on Steam, including all current DLC.. it is almost a robbery to get it at such a low price.

[Hooahguy]

Ok so Ive been eyeing this game for a bit now. Its at such a low price, should I get it? I wasnt a huge fan of EU3 or Vicky, but then again, I didnt play it much. Im only considering it because its at such a low price.

[Double A]

So... the Golden Horde has eaten Hungary and the southern half of Poland, with a contiguous empire from there, up the Ukraine, and into the big eastern wasteland, but left the 3 blobs of Kiev alone as is. They border the HRE. This could pose a problem, and I need some advice on dealing with the Mongols before they move on west. Also, the only thing standing between me and the Ilkhanate is the Sunni Caliph and his 4 counties. When you get right down to it, there is actually only one county between me and the Ilkhanate.

And all the while, two moderately powerful dukes are gearing up to rebel, so I can't really do anything about it on my lonesome, even though I have more troops than anyone else, although I recently did just worm my dynasty into the French throne. Hm, perhaps I could just DoW the Mongols and get France, my demesne, and my loyalest vassals to do all the fighting while telling everyone not dealing with a peasant rebellion to take it easy.

edit: Ok, I panicked too much about the rebellions. I bribed one duke off and finished a war where I was pressing a claim for another, so now all that's left is a few earls I don't really care about. Still, Mongols, big problem. I've never faced HAs in battle and can only assume they're better than anything I can field, and that the Mongols have a considerably large deathstack of free troops they get for being the Mongols.

And before I forget, I have 0 intrigue and am possessed. I may need help removing the latter (although I'm sure hilarious events will manifest and I can probably deal with it on my own), and definitely need help raising the former.

[Kekvit Irae]

And all the while, two moderately powerful dukes are gearing up to rebel, so I can't really do anything about it on my lonesome

You can preemptively prevent such things from happening by not assigning anyone with the Ambitious trait to the position, and regularly check to see if their heirs have Ambitious (in which case, it's a good time for an assassination). However, vassals rebelling is actually a very good thing. It means you can easily put them down (provided you have more troops than them), and they will be imprisoned if you enforce demands. A single title (best if it's the duchy) can then be revoked with no penalties from the other vassals, allowing you to give it to anyone who likes you. Keep the rebelling vassal locked up (and, if given the option, the oubliette), and they will eventually die. Vassals cant revolt again if they are in prison.

Try these strategies for more ways of preventing an all-out civil war:
http://crusaderkings-two.wikia.com/w...r_Vassals_Weak
http://crusaderkings-two.wikia.com/w...cession_Crisis

[Double A]

Oh, I have more than enough troops to put rebels down, it's just bothersome to have to transport, as I compulsively make fleets as small as possible. My main worry was that my duke of Tripoliantia was getting antsy, and I hate desert attrition rates. Fortunately, he's the guy I fought the claim war over, so now all I have to worry about is one guy in Spain and another in Iceland should their bribe fees become too high. Anyone else who rebels would take a month at the most to lock up. I was commenting on that I will be bogged down with the dukes for a year or so rather than fighting Mongols.

Also, like I said, 0 intrigue, which I predict will be the source of pretty much every problem my current character will face. I suppose it's preferable to the 5 diplomacy my last guy had when you consider I have more than enough gold to assassinate anyone, and that the main source of ire during vassal revolts, opportunistic holy wars, is now a thing of the past because Islam is on its last legs. Tengri, on the other hand...

[The Stranger]

Greater complexity usually just results in a flawed game because the developer can't pull it off. More things they model, the less likely they either got them all to mesh together properly or balanced them correctly. I can't even begin to count the number of times I've seen one or the other and often both.

As to the underlying suggestion unspoken here that greater complexity somehow is superior and the players who prefer simplicity in design are somehow intellectually inferior along with the games they play.

To this last piece I would respectfully suggest you readjust your attitudes, the idea is fun, not necessarily complexity, further, chess is a very simple game to learn, yet no one in this thread, or in fact, anyone who has ever signed up as a member in the history of this forum, can beat even a mediocre chess software. So much for simplicity of game design having any remote correlation to complexity, and by extension, difficulty.

I don't know who your post adresses, but for me I wasnt talking about complexity but about difficulty to master and the needed "skill" to play the game at a "high" level.

[Hooahguy]

So is this game closer to TW or EU3? I mean, in going to guess that the game mechanics are similar to EU, but in the trailer I saw troops moving like they do in TW, as in actually moving. Still not sure whether to get this game.

[johnhughthom]

Not like Total War at all. Not sure what video you saw, but battles are like EU.

[Hooahguy]

Well when I said like TW I meant more in simplicity.

[Kekvit Irae]

So is this game closer to TW or EU3? I mean, in going to guess that the game mechanics are similar to EU, but in the trailer I saw troops moving like they do in TW, as in actually moving. Still not sure whether to get this game.

The game is very much like EU3, though many of the game mechanics from EU3 were taken out.
Battles are still EU3-styled, though you can now instantly levy armies. How much of the army you can levy is based on factors like your vassals liking you, if you personally control a territory, etc.

[Hooahguy]

I'm just trying to figure out if I should get this. Is the learning curve as high as it is for most of these kinds of games?
EDIT: Went ahead and bought it. Carpe Diem, right? Also the sale is almost over and I have class in an hour or so.

[Kekvit Irae]

I'm just trying to figure out if I should get this. Is the learning curve as high as it is for most of these kinds of games?
EDIT: Went ahead and bought it. Carpe Diem, right? Also the sale is almost over and I have class in an hour or so.

The learning curve is actually pretty easy, especially in comparison to EU3. All you really need to do is focus on the people and not the country. Watch a few LPs of the game to get yourself adjusted quickly, though.

[tibilicus]

I'd describe myself as in EU3 pro, in my last game alone I swallowed Europe with my greater Serbia. Regarding CK2 though, one question- What am I supposed to be doing? The problem so far after an hour or so of game time is because it lacks a real economic feature like EU3, I've just spent the best part of that time sat there doing nothing. I made a couple of diplomatic decisions and law changes but what's the purpose of this all if I don't want to purely war? Also currently playing Croatia so tips are welcome.