Things are getting busy at the office with the upcoming release of Europa Universalis IV, but as has been said before, we're still very much committed to the continued support and further expansion of Crusader Kings II. With Doomdark currently Down Under, Johan asked me to put together a short dev diary highlighting some of the current stuff we've been working on.

Patch 1.11:
1.11 will be deployed next week, and the new patch will include a few features that should make dealing with plots a bit easier. After hatching a plot, you can now tell the game to automatically invite all plotters who are willing to join your scheme. No more having to browse through the Potential Plotters list and individually sending requests to every single character who wants to join!

Also, you can now set the game to always demand that characters end their plots as soon as they come to your attention. Another handy addition is that you can now see at a glance which potential plotters can be won over to your side if they are bribed.

Among the other things added is a new Siege Leader trait (finally), a favorite IP table for the multiplayer menu and some additional support for modders.

Crusader Kings II to Europa Universalis IV Converter:
Johan already posted a dev diary about the Converter last week in the Europa Universalis IV forum, and there is an interview with Groogy here that goes into some more detail. I don't have much to add except that we're pretty pleased with the result and it actually works better than we had anticipated when development began.

Customizer:
This is a smaller DLC on the scale of the Ruler Designer, but it's something that many have asked for. It will give players an easy way to customize several items in their games when they are already well underway.

You can have your character pay a visit to the barber, where their hairstyle or facial hair can be altered... within reason (no bearded women, sorry). Below you can see the new look I gave King Charles II the Not-So-Bald:

View attachment CKII_111_DD_The_Bald.jpg

You can rename any title held by you or your vassals:

View attachment CKII_111_DD_Northwest_Francia.jpg

Finally, if you feel the need to shake things up a bit, you can alter the name and shield of your dynasty:

View attachment CKII_111_DD_de_Poher.jpg

Hopefully this will tide you over for a while, until we're ready to tell you more about what the future will bring to Crusader Kings II.


Here are the highlights from the Crusader Kings II to Europa Universalis IV Converter livestream with Johan & Doomdark!
[video=youtube;FWqQgp1Vh9U]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWqQgp1Vh9U[/video]

You can find the full live-stream for the CK2 to EU4 converter here:
http://www.twitch.tv/paradoxinteractive/b/438261345

ps. And you can pre-order Europa Universalis IV here:
http://www.europauniversalis4.com/buy

 

[Kainser]

This isn't good thing.
Basically paradox again released unfinished game, and fans are still happy because developers are finishing it using DLC and patches... taking at time a lot of $...

(Play version 1.01, then you will know what im talking about)

I played the release version of CK2 and it was perfectly playable and, in fact, tons of fun!

It's not like we're talking about vanilla EU3/HoI3 here or something dude.

 

[orthezuma]

am i reading this correctly? in coa picture there says "style= catholic" and there're arrows near it, so can i choose a muslim style coa for christian rulers and vice versa?

 

[Rozmarzony]

Yes there is a massive difference, but in my opinion it went from good to great, unlike HoI3. But let's just agree to disagree then.

That's true. ; p

I played the release version of CK2 and it was perfectly playable and, in fact, tons of fun!

It was a lot of tun, but wasn't playable in terms of balance/proper gameplay.
50g for assasinations for everyone... invasions for everyone if papa liked you more, almost no ambitions/plots, those crusades! (they're still awful however) and much more.

 

[panther-anthro]

Renaming titles. RENAMING TITLES. RENAMING TITLES STRAIGHT FROM THE GAME.

I just died of happiness, and you guys are to blame!

Greater Suenik will live once more!

 

[Hinforta]

To EU4 you mean? The save converter is seperate from the customizer.

I'm talking about the compatibility of the saves 1.03 with the new patch. I've almost finished my game as the Roman Empire when all of sudden a new patch is announced so I wonder, if my saves are going to conflict with the patch or not and if they are going to carry over properly.

 

[Aardvark Bellay]

I probably miss something here in regards to the customizer.

The only difference to the Ruler Designer seems to be the renaming of your dynasty and realm(vassal) names. Facial hair and such stuff was supposed to work with the RD as well, just like shield customisation.
Feels like instead of a proper update to the RD they release another DLC to cash in.
...i still hope i miss something here.

:blink:



Please tell me if i'm wrong and why.

 

[Rozmarzony]

They should work Hinforta.
I still have savegame pre-republic and it works perfectly with every new patch.

The only difference to the Ruler Designer seems to be the renaming of your dynasty and realm(vassal) names. Facial hair and such stuff was supposed to work with the RD as well, just like shield customisation.
Feels like instead of a proper update to the RD they release another DLC to cash in.
...i still hope i miss something here.

Customizer = in-game
Designer = pre-game

Actually, they should expand designer like you're saying, but if they could have some $ from fans, why not create something "new"?

I will not be surprised, if they will release muslim major expansion 2 fixing decadence and rest muslim stuff.... for more $. =D

 

[Ruwaard]

I must say, that I'm a lot more enthusiastic about the customizer dlc than I ever was about the ruler designer dlc. In short I like this dlc.

And another patch. Some mods, I guess in part due to the summer in the northern hemisphere, weren't even fully compatible with the 1.10X-patches. Still improvements to the plot system are welcome.

 

[Cymsdale]

So what I gather is instead of improving the game over time, Paradox should have never released it. For the past year and a half they should have just released dev diaries telling us how much fun we will be having once the game is finally "finished" and no possible improvements on it are left to make. Only then, when it is perfect and complete, should we be allowed to purchase it. Any earlier than that and they are just ripping off loyal customers.

 

[Kainser]

That's true. ; p


It was a lot of tun, but wasn't playable in terms of balance/proper gameplay.
50g for assasinations for everyone... invasions for everyone if papa liked you more, almost no ambitions/plots, those crusades! (they're still awful however) and much more.

Sure, but most companies would just have left the game like that. Instead Paradox have been balancing and patching in new features for free for 1.5 years now, and I'm really confused over how this is considered a bad thing.

The game has to actually be released at some point. And CK2 was a perfectly serviceable game at release. Again, I would understand if you complained about this over HoI3 or EU3 (which were genuinely bad at release and weren't fixed until you bought expansions), but not CK2.

 

[Rozmarzony]

Sure, but most companies would just have left the game like that. Instead Paradox have been balancing and patching in new features for free for 1.5 years now, and I'm really confused over how this is considered a bad thing.

The game has to actually be released at some point.

CK2 is the game with most DLC ever released (if not, it's pretty much on the top of it)...
If it isn't pretty much corporation apporach, then what is?

You're saying about other companies, but other companies (most of them at least) don't release hundreds of DLC for more money.

You're right about everything, BUT it would be ok, if they would give something for free, not in DLC.
And don't say they actually giving us it, because while releasing new DLC, they must implement some stuff into vanilla game... (or just look at customizer DLC for example, instead of expanding designer they're creating new dlc)
Just look at mods, few modders are capable of creating more events than entire paradox for example. Isn't it weird?

 

[Kainser]

CK2 is the game with most DLC ever relased (if not, it's pretty much on the top of it)...

Haha, it's not even close. (I believe Train Simulator is currently on top with 100+ pieces of DLC on Steam, but even after that so are there plenty of games with more or the same amount of DLC as CK2, and often DLC that your game suffers without unlike CK2 DLC)

You're saying about other companies, but other companies (most of teM) don't release hundreds of DLC for some money.

And none of that DLC is necessary for a complete game experience. You can ignore it completely and still have an amazing game. And that DLC is what have allowed Paradox to patch the game with *free* updates.

 

[Darkrenown]

You're right about everything, BUT it would be ok, if they would give something for free, not in DLC.

Have you seen the patchnotes for CK2? Tons of new stuff is added for free, and we can do that because CK2 is being funded by the DLCs.

 

[Sieda]

I've been waiting a long time for the customizer.

Not that you couldn't "customize" these sorts of things through file editing with a bit of advanced planning... but this makes it so much easier and less time consuming. Thank you Paradox!


Speaking of saving time; I must have missed the bit about automatically ending plots on my first glance through. So much time wasted having to ask people to end plots every day or two in a large Empire.

 

[Cymsdale]

CK2 is the game with most DLC ever released
If it isn't pretty much corporation apporach, then what is?

And if you do not buy a single piece of DLC, you still get 1.5 years worth of improvements. So what's your point?

 

[Aardvark Bellay]

.......

Customizer = in-game
Designer = pre-game

Actually, they should expand designer like you're saying, but if they could have some $ from fans, why not create something "new"?

I will not be surprised, if they will release muslim major expansion 2 fixing decadence and rest muslim stuff.... for more $. =D

I'm afraid you're right. Sounds a lot like "We know, but well, they will buy it anyway. Hehe" :angry: ......sure i will probably buy it as well with a discount on it, but still.....even though i could still mod most of these things.
The question for me is not if they keep expanding the game by DLC along patches, i'm fine with the basic idea and concept, but how and what.

 

[Gurluas]

This isn't good thing.
Basically paradox again released unfinished game, and fans are still happy because developers are finishing it using DLC and patches... taking at time a lot of $...

(Play version 1.01, then you will know what im talking about)

Incorrect, they released a good game, and unlike so many others who abandons their games, Paradox is keeping the game alive, adding new features and expanding it.
Most companies release a game, makes 2-3 DLCs, or less (Like with Deus Ex Human Revolution or the new X-COM) and then dumps it.

You should applaud Paradox for keeping the game alive.

 

[Rozmarzony]

Have you seen the patchnotes for CK2? Tons of new stuff is added for free, and we can do that because CK2 is being funded by the DLCs.

That's what im saying, if people like me wouldn't buy those DLC, small % of people who are not buying DLC will get small part of it.
Comfortable policy I would say, because now you can tell everyone how you are giving some free stuff, getting at same time a LOT of cash for pretty simple DLC. (As I said, modders are capable of creating more/better stuff with less people and for free)

I'm not saying you're the most evil thing in games industry... but paradox is like every other corporation. Looking only for getting more and more $ while doing some great games.

Most companies release a game, makes 2-3 DLCs, or less (Like with Deus Ex Human Revolution or the new X-COM) and then dumps it.

And? How such game as Deus Ex could be expanded by some patches? I completed it 2 days ago and whoap, it's pretty much completed, great game almost without bugs with really nice gameplay.
Comapring FPS game to sandbox game... makes a lot of sense.

 

[Kainser]

That's what im saying, if people like me wouldn't buy those DLC, small % of people who are not buying DLC will get small part of it.

Nobody is forcing you to buy the DLC and they are not necessary for CK2 to be a good game.

Comfortable policy I would say, because now you can tell everyone how you are giving some free stuff, getting at same time a LOT of cash for pretty simple DLC. (As I said, modders are capable of creating more/better stuff with less people and for free)

Then feel free to use those mods instead of buying DLC if you feel that the Modders are doing a much better work than Paradox. They are free as you said.

A lot of people are obviously disagreeing with you since the DLC Paradox is releasing is supposedly very profitable.

 

[Jorlem]

Maybe it's too late, but I just have a small request: is it possible to make it so that when you lose your game (die without heirs) it would autosave so I could go to the save and start as a new country? Pretty please? <3

You can do this already, sort of. While the game over screen is up, if you hold down the escape key, the menu will flicker in and out. All you need to do is rapidly click the mouse on Quick Save until it catches, and the game will save. Then you can load up the save as normal, and select a new character.