Three Years of Crusader Kings III: Looking Back While Planning Ahead

Crusader Kings IIIOver the past three years, 3 million copies have been sold.

It’s kind of hard to conceive. The series’ predecessor was a cult favorite. Crusader Kings IIIThe game has been a bigger success than any of us at Paradox expected. Its nature also makes it a great fit for the Paradox community. CKIIIHas a special place within the Paradox Grand Strategy Games family.

Where so many strategy/role-playing games emphasize party-based combat or role-playing as you would find in a tabletop game, Crusader Kings The game asks that you role-play as a certain leader, or a group of leaders. The world around you moves constantly, so you can never be in complete control. Your characters’ and armies’ actions are all you have to influence. The way you play the game will change as your character’s heir assumes the role. The strategy also changes as the character changes.

The personal relationship to the characters of a family over generations is what makes CKIII one of the most approachable grand strategy games in the Paradox catalog, so it’s no surprise that it is the entry point for many thousands of people into the genre. As development progresses, it is vital that we do not lose the magical quality that makes Crusader Kings’ medieval world so inviting and appealing.

Updates to the website have been planned for some time. Crusader Kings III as “Chapters”, and we are now in the final stages of Chapter II. Every Chapter includes a large expansion, role-playing additions and flavor packs that focus on specific regions or cultures. It’s a good time to examine how Chapter II improves upon the strengths of Crusader Kings III The player’s promise is fulfilled.

In May, we released Tours & Tournaments, which is, in many ways, the typical CKIII This is a great example of our development efforts. Grand Activities are the core addition to the expansion. These are occasions where the character of the player must plan their goals, select companions, and, with luck, even improve his or her situation. In many ways, Tours & Tournaments leans heavily into the popular imagination of the Middle Ages as much as history. In many ways, Tours & Tournaments is a game of arms. It also recruits unknown talents for the army. Grand Weddings mark the unification of noble houses. They are also a great opportunity to engage in the kind of scheming associated with the game. Great Hunts require players to find common animals and notable creatures, which enhances courtly camaraderie.

These role-playing aspects are tied into the larger strategic game. In the safety of an friendly joust, soldiers can improve their skills. To strengthen alliances, throw a large wedding. These events are also affected by the introduction of a real travel system as well as new regency choices for the times when the ruler is not at home.

In August, the Event Pack Wards & Wardens was released, notable as the first Paradox Grand Strategy expansion whose theme was chosen by the community itself. If done right, event packs can help players form even stronger bonds with their games. Wards & Wardens is, at its core, events about childhood, but usually from the perspective of a parent or guardian.

The game is about the generations. Crusader Kings IIIHas always encouraged players to consider what happens when the character they are currently playing dies. Events about the raising of an heir, or even heirs, have become central. Wards & Wardens not only adds more events, but also adds new ways to influence the childhood development of the young people at court. In a realistic environment, you can experience fairy tales of evil regents stealing the power from underage kings or of loyal wetnurses raising strong and kind kids. A central player’s experience is enhanced.

Later this year, Chapter II comes to a close with Legacy of Persia, which is, like last year’s Fate of Iberia, a flavor pack that centers on a historic struggle or conflict. The historical decline and fall of the Abbasid caliphate is the basis for Legacy of Persia. It is set in the present-day Iran, Iraq and Central Asia. Struggle centered packs really push the strategic side of the game by presenting historical crises that have different phases – usually cycles of stability and instability as the participant realms achieve certain goals.

But each phase has different rules – in times of great instability, players will have options that are either impossible or less attractive when things are going well. Sometimes this will force players to engage the game in very creative ways, especially when the most viable strategies are ones that run counter to a character’s personality or preferences. (In Crusader Kings, continually defying a character’s inclination risk accruing Stress penaltis, and potentially damaging that character).

This should give you an idea of how we prepare for each year. Crusader Kings III content. Of course, not everything goes as planned, but our goals and game are always evolving, and we’re constantly learning what players expect. In 2024 there will be a great deal of activity, and we want to keep our players surprised with the latest adventures.

Crusader Kings III: Royal Edition

Paradox Interactive

☆☆☆☆☆
6

★★★★★

It is obvious that the Royal Edition of Crusader Kings III will appeal to aspiring nobles who want to build a lasting dynasty. The Royal Edition includes Crusader Kings III and an Expansion Pass covering the first three expansions. It also comes with the Expansion Pass Bonus Fashion of the Abbasid Court.

Take a dynasty back in time. Assemble new lands to solidify your legacy.
Knights, peasant revolts, pilgrimages, Viking raiders… experience the drama and pageantry of the Middle Ages.
Be faithful to your religion or embrace heresy. Or, start your new faith from the remains of old belief systems.

DEVELOP CHARACTER
You can choose from 5 different styles of play to develop your abilities in the areas of military strategy and kingdom management.
Character traits influence the outcome of your actions. Characters who go against their natural nature can cause stress, which could lead to a whole new set of problems.
You can train your children to become worthy successors or give them to trusted friends or allies as wards. Unworthy heirs are risky, unless you can find a way to get rid of them – legally or otherwise.
You can use your reputation and fear to intimidate family, vassals, or other people.

WAGE WAR
Add professional infantry and cavalry to your Royal Levies, along with exotic regional forces.
Explore new technology to boost the military and economic power of your domain.
For major battles, hire Holy Orders and mercenaries.

Plan Intriguing
You can spy on your own court and uncover plots to undermine your dynasty.
Look for allies within the court of your rivals.
You can seduce another character for political or romantic reasons.
Do favors for your subjects so they will owe you loyalty – or support for your plots against your enemies.