CK2 Dev Diary #61: The Dragon Throne

[sreckom92]

You shouldn't, which is why this DLC is so bad. If you don't have two other DLCs, much of the content related to this one is gone. At least with ROI you could play in India, with this "China themed" expansion you can't even play in China. So what's even the point of it?

How many people actually play in the Tarim Basin?

DLC is bad, but you don't know the full extent of it's features..
And even if this expansion is solely about Tarim Basin, and it adds nothing to other areas....it still fleshes out more characters than The Republic expansion.
This might be a very small expansion. So what?
Are small expansions so bad? You don't have to buy it.
It mostly seems that you're annoyed how China isn't getting a full representation.
Really immature behavior.

 

[Legionary Guard]

THE VAST MAJORITY OF POSTS ARE NEGATIVE OR APATHETIC

I don't get why he's being downvoted so much this time. I mean, he's not wrong. The general reception over on Reddit seems pretty mixed-at-best.

 

[TheDarkMaster]

How does the empire play with the Mongol invasion events? I'd assume that most of the time the empire would essentially become defunct until after the initial stages of the invasion finish?

Also, any chance that Greenland or Vinland will see official off-map tiles?

 

[Trained Medicu]

Liao Hongji and Li Daizong.

WTF.

 

[Arcvalons]

I know when a DD hits the forum the devs have made their mind, but do consider again just adding China to the map in the future. Perhaps make it a game rule, since many people don't like the idea.

 

[Andrzej I]

I don't get why he's being downvoted so much this time. I mean, he's not wrong. The general reception over on Reddit seems pretty mixed-at-best.

I think it has more to do with the attitude and conjecture than being factually wrong on some issues. Presentation counts!

That being said, I for one am looking forward to hearing more about what they intend on doing with this new mechanic. It might be interesting to see it used for other entities. Maybe the Papacy to give it some fangs? One can hope, I guess.

I will admit, though, I do agree with a number of those quoted Reddit posts, more already-in-game mechanics would've been appreciated over adding new material. The Crusades, for being one of the defining moments of the era, are still woefully shallow...

 

[sreckom92]

I don't get why he's being downvoted so much this time. I mean, he's not wrong. The general reception over on Reddit seems pretty mixed-at-best.

There are 96 comments on that Reddit thread you posted.
It seems to me more of a collection of angry China fans, than a realistic measure on which to base the overall general reception.

 

[Warial]

Liao Hongji and Li Daizong.

WTF.

Thanks for the reminder. @Meneth will the names of Liao Emperors be changed then?

 

[abcdgh]

temple name is for the emperor who is dead, and u don't call an emperor as family_name + temple_name, it should be dynasty_name + temple_name, in this case, u may call an dead emperor as tang daizong

 

[mudcrabmerchant]

To the people crying for more mechanics for the least interesting part of the world in this time period, adding in Chinese interaction to the eastern edge of the map pretty much caps off all further widening of the game. The only other possibility is expanding Africa further south, but I assume that would actually cross the threshold of being too unpopular to be the focus of a DLC.

Which means the last 2-3 DLC for CKII will have to be expanding mechanics for what already exists. Don't really know what you expect though, every previous "depth" expansion has been incredibly lackluster. Modders have already made the game 100x more interesting than any DLC ever can, and the main thing this game needs before development ends are ways to model bureaucratic governments (which may very well come with this DLC), and better represent trade - both of which even mods can't really handle due to fundamental restrictions.

 

[Foreign Alien]

Thanks for the reminder. @Meneth will the names of Liao Emperors be changed then?

This is just another expression of Paradox's "we're doing it but not really" mentality. OMG RULERS have DIFFERENT NAMES? Let's COMBINE THEM TOGETHER so NEITHER ARE CORRECT.

 

[Foefaller]

How do you know NEBuddhists will get their own version of Buddhism? Do you work at Paradox? Was it announced in a previous dev diary?

Also, yes, great you get to play as nomadic not-nomads.

I think he's talking about Bon, which was mentioned in the Roof of the World Dev diary, though that's a pagan faith.

They did mention in the religious one that Nestorians were getting a culture group and at least one holy site in the Tibet region, maybe they'll add some Stamford Bridge Nestorian rulers near the area so you can interact with China w/o any other DLCs?

 

[sreckom92]

Why even bother making a China expansion without China?

Because:
A. playerbase is divided on this matter, and Paradox doesn't want to potentially annoy a significant portion of it's customers
B. Paradox stated how they are concerned about possible performance issues
C. there are probably areas on this current map that should be fleshed out more

 

[Andrelvis]

Societies, artifacts, off-map interactions... I must say I absolutely love the direction CK2 is taking with the latest DLCs

 

[Andrzej I]

the main thing this game needs before development ends are ways to model bureaucratic governments (which may very well come with this DLC), and better represent trade - both of which even mods can't really handle due to fundamental restrictions.

I think some mechanics for deeper Crusade interactions could be useful too. Some way to reflect both the diverse composition of the Crusader armies as well as the fracturing of the Crusader states between a number of the various parties involved would be neat.

 

[Ferrero]

I am extremely happy that a suggestion of mine was added in!

Will other powers be added, such as kingdoms in SEA? Will they be moddable in?

 

[hahaha01357]

Who gets to be emperor when China was historically disunited? (ie. during the 5 dynasties 907 - 960) What happens when the emperor is weak? (ie. Tang after An Lushan Rebellion) What happens when there're "two" Chinas? (Liao/Jin and Song)

 

[spendabuck]

Disregarding all of the arguing over the DLC, I don't think anybody has commented on what appears to be new government types based on the portraits:

The one on the top left is colored similarly to Nomadic government, but it isn't as bright, and there isn't the option to bring up the clans interface in the top left. I don't know what it could be, though. As for the one in the interface, I'm assuming that it's for the Western Protectorate (as the Emperor of China is in the center), so it could either be a 'Protectorate' government, with a new Governor being elected by the Emperor (perhaps you can gain Imperial favor to inherit, not unlike Merchant Republic inheritance), or an Imperial government, which, in that case, I'd love to see implemented for the Byzantines.

There's been a lot of debate over the DLC (though it seems like most people like it, with only a very vocal minority protesting it), but I'm really looking forward to seeing all the new content for the eastern part of the map. A few questions: will the player be able to take control of China, becoming the Emperor? Will East Asian religions be added (Confucianism and Daoism mostly)? Seeing how this expansion is focusing on Asia, can we expect any changes in India or the Middle East as well?

 

[Shampoocat]

Will you be able to play as the western protectorate?

 

[Arcvalons]

Because:
A. playerbase is divided on this matter, and Paradox doesn't want to potentially annoy a significant portion of it's customers

Now they can annoy all those who want China properly and those that don't want anything to do with China (and most of the fanbase is in either of those groups).