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

 

[FredricBastiat]

Never got all this attacking pdox for releasing DLC's. If you don't like it, don't buy it. For example, I fall into the camp that considered SI pretty absurd and I'll probably never buy it. I never got the ruler designer, and tbh I probably won't buy this either. But making a DLC I don't like hardly makes them evil. If you do think it is worth your money, buy it and be glad it adds to your experience. If not, you still have the game you paid for in the beginning. Actually it's a better one since the patch do add things.

 

[unmerged(751237)]

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 first version on a friend's copy long before getting the game and it didn't feel unfinished. All the Catholic stuff was fine and it's CRUSADER Kings. With the patches they just expanded the scope of the game, they didn't add stuff that should've already been in.

 

[Rozmarzony]

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

No, it isn't. : p
I'm playing since release with every new patch and every new DLC, and I doubt there are even people who could return to old versions.

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.

And I'm using them... but it isn't reason to NOT complain about horrible paradox policy when it comes to DLC.

All the Catholic stuff was fine and it's CRUSADER Kings. With the patches they just expanded the scope of the game, they didn't add stuff that should've already been in.

Do you realize that ever NOW a lot of catholic stuff is unfinished (or rather blank) like crusades/papa stuff?
Crusades have like 3? 4 maybe events, successful crusades are horribly handled etc. but remember, game is called "crusaders kings".

 

[Thure]

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)

They also add things for modders... Or things modders can't change... Okay your opinion: "Paradox should't do DLCs. This mean they shouldn't do patches, because the modders could do it better"?

And I'm using them... but it isn't reason to NOT complain about horrible paradox policy when it comes to DLC.

Di you want expansions like in EU3? Little content but you have to pay 40 Euro/Dollar

 

[hannibal_barca]

I like this approach. Keep the flagship titles alive and focus on them. We the clients will keep buying the DLC's since we love the flagship titles and Paradox doesn't have to risk funding a precarious new project that might flop.

 

[Ograv]

I think the bottom line is, people feel differently about the subject, and there are probably dozens of threads for this arguement, mostly closed when they get out of hand

And, Hinforta;

Save games should work, but since it is a major change I won't make it a promise.

 

[unmerged(751237)]

If we converted it to EUIV, would it stay Kingdom of the Fairies or would it revert to the normal name?

 

[Rozmarzony]

They also add things for modders... Or things modders can't change... Okay your opinion: "Paradox should't do DLCs. This mean they shouldn't do patches, because the modders could do it better"?

Mhm, my idea is following.
If they release some DLC, they should support it and add new content over time. Now decadence is joke, LoR is only few events, and Old Gods only add great stuff to norse religion, every other is pretty much ignored (do you know that west african is still broken and paradox did nothing to fix it?)

I really hate this.
Paradox is releasing new DLC, for next 3 patches paradox is fixing bugs caused by specific DLC, and then that DLC is never touched again.
And most of people are saying that paradox is supporting their games instead of abandoning, but look in how awful way.
They just repeat this procedure taking more and more cash... and this thread is great example of this. Instead of expanding designer they're creating new DLC - customizer.

 

[beinbear]

[video=youtube;P3ALwKeSEYs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3ALwKeSEYs[/video]

 

[Hinforta]

Ograv,
That's exactly what I was talking about. Although I can't see how those somewhat major changes might affect the saves the way they could somehow conflict with the conversion and carrying over to EU4, I hope there will no problems with that. The only true change that might affect the saves is the upcoming DLC with customising your appearance or renaming your provinces/titles.

 

[grisamentum]

I played the first version on a friend's copy long before getting the game and it didn't feel unfinished. All the Catholic stuff was fine and it's CRUSADER Kings. With the patches they just expanded the scope of the game, they didn't add stuff that should've already been in.

The Catholic stuff is by far the worst stuff in the game (except for maybe playing something totally unintended, like Hellenic.) Let's see, entire investiture system is a joke, indulgences are a straight money->piety trade with no effect on anything else (the money just disappears, too; the Pope doesn't even get it), the antipope system is a completely tacked-on mess, crusades are buggy and break if the target has civil wars, excommunication is basically a demand for a bribe, etc.

Hilarious that you think it's anywhere near complete. When the Catholic DLC comes in the fall you're realize how incomplete this game has been for the last year and a half.

 

[Kainser]

^^^ It is the least fleshed out *now*, but at launch (which is what he is talking about) so was it definitely the most dynamic religion. The game was complete at launch, everything they've released since then have just been bonuses.

The weird thing is that I don't remember seeing nearly this much bitching about the old model Paradox used where they would release expansion packs which basically were patches that you had to pay for. If you didn't buy it so would you be stuck with a broken game in many cases. The DLC model that they are using for CK2 seems to be 100% superior to that, yet people complain about it here all the time (yet never offer a better alternative)

I don't get the Paradox forums.

pAnd I'm using them... but it isn't reason to NOT complain about horrible paradox policy when it comes to DLC.

And how are you suggesting that Paradox should finance their several years worth of free updates?

 

[Rozmarzony]

And how are you suggesting that Paradox should finance their several years worth of free updates?

Mhm, my idea is following.
If they release some DLC, they should support it and add new content over time. Now decadence is joke, LoR is only few events, and Old Gods only add great stuff to norse religion, every other is pretty much ignored (do you know that west african is still broken and paradox did nothing to fix it?)

I really hate this.
Paradox is releasing new DLC, for next 3 patches paradox is fixing bugs caused by specific DLC, and then that DLC is never touched again.
And most of people are saying that paradox is supporting their games instead of abandoning, but look in how awful way.
They just repeat this procedure taking more and more cash... and this thread is great example of this. Instead of expanding designer they're creating new DLC - customizer.

^^

 

[Darkrenown]

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)

If you think free mods are much better than our DLCs then go ahead and play them, everyone wins.

 

[unmerged(751237)]

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.

50G made more sense then 350g to assassinate your own newborn child or a man in your prison(so you wouldn't get execution penalty). Your invasion thing I don't get. You still just need the Pope to like you more and it costed 500 piety back then too. Only difference was you could request them on smaller nations.

 

[Rozmarzony]

If you think free mods are much better than our DLCs then go ahead and play them, everyone wins.

But I need specific DLC to play them (and I want to have latest and full game by the way), but after taking those DLC, they are not supported or rather expanded, like I explained in my other post.
Everyone would win if you (I mean, paradox) would add new stuff to once released DLCs.

It is truly so demanding, impossible thing?
But hey, I'm still buying all DLCs supporting your company, so I still have hope in paradox to change their policy.

 

[wolfing]

Very cool! Although I am wondering how much will the customizer cost. Everything the customizer does can be made via modding or savegame editing (certainly, in a more troublesome way) and I don't see how it is worth the price of the Ruler Designer ($4.99 if I remember correctly). On the other hand, the ruler designer can be substituted with modding and savegame editing as well, although it is more problematic to do so.

If you don't like the price, you can always wait a month or two to get it in a steam sale ($2 probably)

 

[Caudimordax]

As soon as they update, will do. Who even plays Paradox titles without mods...

 

[Mr. Capiatlist]

and I want to have latest and full game by the way

This caught me off guard: you want all the features, you just don't want to pay?

However, I am not the best person to be asking about the DLC policy from a gamer perspective, I am a publisher's best friend: a kid who grew up a gamer and now has disposable income that he spends on games. Gaming, unfortunately, can be a very expensive hobby. Not Warhammer expensive, but generally a pretty expensive hobby when you think about it.

 

[Kainser]

As soon as they update, will do. Who even plays Paradox titles without mods...

Well, according to the latest statistics post from Johan that I saw: Around ~75% of all players.