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CK2 Dev Diary #17: Crusader Cats

Hello everyone! I’m Virvatuli, one of the Content Designers on The Reaper’s Due, which also happens to be my very first project here at Paradox. It’s been so much fun working on this DLC and I hope you’ll have even more fun playing it! In this week’s DD (another first for me), I will reveal one of Reaper’s most important features. Oh, okay, it might not be that important, but at least it’s my personal favourite and pet project. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you cats.

For the longest time, there’s been a issue regarding the representation of pets in Crusader Kings 2. In the realm of companion animals, there has been a worrisome lack of diversity. Most of you who play Way of Life have probably had a loyal hunting dog, there have been some events regarding birds of prey, and a lucky few Conclave players might have encountered a tiny rodent friend. Sadly, that has been pretty much it on the pet front. To rectify this serious problem we’ve added some additional furry and feathered friends in The Reaper’s Due. As we did, of course we couldn’t leave out the best animal of them all: our Feline Overlords, Befurred Ninjas, Gods of the Internet.

In the new DLC you can befriend a cat in a number of ways. However, as any Dwarf Fortress player or real-life cat lover knows, you do not adopt a cat. A cat adopts you. Once your feline friend has decided that you’re the one and only slave for it, you will receive a fancy “Pet Cat” character modifier (unless you scare it away, you horrible person). It will give your character +1 health, as the cat brings you so much happiness, and +1 intrigue, because we all know that cat owners are a bit more clever than everyone else (hey, it’s science!).

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However, most things can become troublesome in excess, even your love for felines. In every cat owner’s life there comes a time when you ask yourself if you shouldn’t get just one more. At some point, the answer is probably no, at least if you don’t want to scare off all of your friends and repulse the courtiers.

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Unless you want to become even sneakier, that is. Then go ahead and become a Crazy Cat Lady, or a Crazy Cat Lord, if that’s how you identify.

At first thought, one might think that cats would be a very insignificant aspect of a medieval ruler’s life, however, when the Plague comes around to visit this changes drastically. Most of you probably know that the Black Death was likely spread by fleas on rats. Sadly this fact is unknown to ye olde peasant, and when people start to die, some of them might point fingers to our furry protectors. Believe it or not, there are some people who do not like cats. It’s crazy, I know, but trust me on this. How will you deal with their growing fears? Do remember, if you don’t have cats, you’ll have plenty of rats…

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This sneak peak of cats is all you’ll get for now. Don’t worry though, The Reaper’s Due is out on the 25th of August and then you can experience cats for yourself in all their whiskered glory. Next week Darkrenown will talk about more assorted features. Now I need to get back to scripting, there’re still some cat-related subjects which need further exploration… Adieu!
 
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Will you add some events for falconeers? I never saw any event related to this and I feel it's a bit of a wasted opportunity as it feels very medievalish.
 
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is this possible to use cat as advisor?
Do cat get relation penalty if he is not part of a council, like powerful vassals get?
Can cat vassalize our character?
 
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Will we get any info on the Content pack that will release alongside the Reaper's Due? Didn't notice any new portraits in all the promotional screens so I was wondering if there will be a new portrait pack.
 
Interesting choice for new content to add in The Reapers Due, but it is a protection against rats and flavour is always good.
 
I think your way of communicating is a bit offensive!
I know you try to be funny, but I actually feel you are giving me "the finger" here - I as a customer ask a question - I have the idea that cats were pet animals in Egypt, but was first really introduced to Europe as a pet in the 15-1600 perhaps - so it is a legit question, and you as a person from Paradox act like this?
I don't get it... It feels like you think you are superior when writing like that.

And sorry, it is not because I sit curled in the corner right now crying - and I can get through it, don't worry - I just want to tell you that the way you communicate is not very "customer-friendly" in my eyes.

I'm afraid I agree. The new paradox team have completely broken down in customer (or friend-like) communication. These type of sarcastical answers to real questions have become more frequent recently, and I'm not sure if it's all of paradox or just some people, but it's not funny or respectful.
 
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There's something missing from this dev diary.

Horses.

It is rumored that on the distant steppes, the khans can get personal horses, but in feudal Europe? Nary a horse to be found.

A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!
 
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I'm afraid I agree. The new paradox team have completely broken down in customer (or friend-like) communication. These type of sarcastical answers to real questions have become more frequent recently, and I'm not sure if it's all of paradox or just some people, but it's not funny or respectful.

In fairness, you do self-describe as cynical and paranoid. ;)
 
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Cats were introduced to Europe during the Neolithic or Bronze Age and generally kept around to hunt mice and rats.

Domestic pets as we know them today are a relatively modern thing though.
Alley Cat Allies said that cats were introduced into Roman life after Egypt became a Roman province in 31 BC and were widespread in Europe around the 4th century AD. I'm not saying you're wrong or that I'm right, I'm just curious as to where you learned that.
 
Honest question: Will the cat feature have any expanded options with Sword of Islam? The Prophet Muhammad was very fond of cats if I recall and they enjoy a privileged position in the Middle East even to this day. It would seem odd for there to be Sunni/Shia peasant revolts over cats.
 
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Ok so now where is my dog pet that I can use to interact with my captive ?
I want to feed them to my dog, I want my dog to protect me from other people...

I want a dog, a real one that will kill those filthy cats !
 
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