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Hello everyone!

Today is Tuesday and that means it’s time for another fascinating Developer Diary. My name is Divine and I’ve been part of the Crusader Kings team since last autumn as a scripter and now I’m going to tell you about some of the events that we’ve been working on for the soon-to-be-released expansion, Horse Lords!

DD_silk.jpg


If you control a part of the Silk Road you can now build trade posts to make sure to get some of the riches that is traveling along the route. However, there might be more people who want a share of the wealth, so you’ll probably have to guard your treasure chests. There’s also a possibility to gain the help of a trade governor who might attract more traders and riches to your land... or his mishaps might prove to be more of a headache for you to cope with.

As mentioned in a previous dev diary, rulers on the Steppe can send out their sons and brothers to take up arms and become mercenaries. The life of a mercenary, though, is a harsh one and a lot of things can happen when you’re out adventuring in a foreign court; so we’ve added some events about various things that can occur for the captain of such a created mercenary band.

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For instance, the Mercenary Captain, being on the field fighting for a living, has a chance to improve his military education trait to one of the stronger ones. These mercenaries also get a few events to interact with their employer or the ruler of the province they are hanging out in. One of these events is for instance eloping with a person of the employer’s court. It can be a daughter, son or a skilled courtier.

Since the Mercenary Captain is earning his keep from being hired he also gets some choices on what to spend it on. For example, improving his Band of Mercenaries or spend it all on women and vice.

DD_horse.jpg


A ruler of the Steppe was not much of a ruler unless his clan had a thriving herd of livestock to support them. Thus, it is only natural that we needed to have some events about horses! If you’re living on the Steppes as a nomad, you can now adopt a favorite war horse. There are some events associated with having a horse and what you do together with it - both ordinary and unusual happenings.

So that’s a little sneak peek of the things that can happen on the wide Steppes and everything I had to say for today. I hope you are all hyped for the upcoming expansion that is now just a week away!

Oh! And I might actually have heard legends about certain altaic families behaving in odd ways lately… with hideous faces and beast-like behavior.
 
So when characters Elope, do they become lovers? I'm only asking because It wouldn't make much sense for my children to run away and marry a mercenary if they didn't love them.
 
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So when characters Elope, do they become lovers? I'm only asking because It wouldn't make much sense for my children to run away and marry a mercenary if they didn't love them.
Yes they become lovers, flee from your realm and you become rival with the mercenary captain (meaning you can't hire him anymore to get him back to your realm) and your daughter/son should stay in the court of the mercenary.

It also means if you are the mercenary captain's father that you might get a son come home with exotic girlfriends from all around the world.
 
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Oh! And I might actually have heard legends about certain altaic families behaving in odd ways lately… with hideous faces and beast-like behavior.

Secret Bears DLC Confirmed:cool:
 
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I hope dynamic mercs make it to rest of the map eventually (at least as additions). ;)
How big and expensive are the new dynamic mercs going get (on average and max)? What happens if they try to seize land of their employer? Will the player be able to inherit the land seized on such an occasion?
 
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So you can effectively be landless?
No they can only abandon completely devoid land with no settlements (including your nomad capital)
 
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I'm disappointed that they didn't add Manichaeism as a religion in and of itself as the DLC was a perfect fit for it but this DLC may very well be one of my favourites regardless. It looks as nifty as TOG.
 
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I can't wait for this DLC. I'm pretty sure that 90% of my games will be as Steppe Nomads from now on :D I love that Chinese meddling event- I was right, they are representing China via an abstraction (sort of)...

(Incidentally, for those interested, I'm planning on rebooting the Iron Horde in a new game once this is released- same 867 Kirghiz start, same basic prophetic premise, but with the new shiny mechanics!).
 
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Original idea was for the dynamic mercs to replace the static ones but it was awful way to play the game so we kept the static ones together with the dynamic ones. No you can't send your sons to join existing mercs. But it is scriptable to do what you want yes.

Out of curiosity, what made awful to play?
 
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Could you give a very rough overview of what the mongol changes are? It seems that Temujin shows up with a united horde title, will it split at death or something?
 
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Does this mean as a Nomad I'm pretty much free to change religion more or less without penalty other than the other clans maybe caring

So could I in theory, raid Punjab and kidnap some Hindus and become a Hindu Horde?

Also could I then raid north leaving my old lands behind until I reach the North Sea take ship to England and take over forming the Turkish Hindu Empire of Brittiania?
 
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I'm guessing the Chinese dude is just going to Altaic or a modifier.

But, we're slowly approaching it, oh yes indeed.
 
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Thank you Divine, Doomdark and Groogy for the DD and replies.

Question: Once a Horde/Nomad ruler converts to a religion with Holy Orders, will they have: levies, dynamic mercenary companies, static mercenaries and Holy Orders available to use?

Are Holy Orders and/or static mercenary companies being reassessed, rebalanced or tweaked?
 
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Regarding the Force Tributary CB, are there restrictions on how often it can be used and who it can be used on? Otherwise I fear that the HRE will just make France, Poland, Hungary, etc it's puppets without restraint.
 
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