I think it would be good to add on CK2+ Wiki or in main CK2+ thread the basic differences between CK2+ and vanilla, and main improvements / changes that this mod provides. Many players know the mod since Wiz's releases, but I think there are also many new CK2+ users, or those who want to try this great mod but don't have much knowledge about it, since there is no basic summary at the moment (only recent changelogs or old CK2+ thread which is not actual and closed). I'm sure there are lots of people who are not aware of many CK2+ features, or think that there is something wrong with the mod itself, which might discourage them for further playing.
Thats why maybe there would be a possibility of at least summarising the basic features? I think there are some things that are very often asked for, or there is hardly any info about them and creating a short description would be useful:
1. Hardcore mode - some information would be useful - which things aspects of gameplay are made harder and which of them affect both player and AI and which affect player only.
2. Swearing fealty to mongols - I think this is great thing that, even as a king, it is possible to swear fealty to them (event when they become your neighbours) and even more players would try CK2+ if they were aware of this feature.
3. Basic differences between CK2+ / vanilla - nerfes, balance and realism changes:
- slower speed of title fabrication
- overall less effective actions of council members
- expansion with claims slowed down: to press a vassals claim on target title, that vassal needs to have a higher rank than that title - so to press vassals' claim on county, he / she needs to be a duke, if you want him to remain your vassal. He / she will need to be a king if you want to press his claim for a duchy
- to press Kingdom de jure CB's, you need to have at least Medium CA
- to revoke an infidel title you need to have High CA
- You need to have Kingdom title to change Crown Authority or laws other than succesion laws
- Number of retinues in each unit is decreased to 300, and they are more expensive in maintenance
- higher child mortality, children and their mothers can die because of complications during childbirth
- higher mortality from sicknesses, battles, leprosy, plagues, pneumonia
- characters no longer live up to 90 years (young and old traits), but also dont randomly die "a natural death" before age of 50
- removed overpowered aspects of republics (coastal CB only against counties where you have trade post in), muslims (no muslim invasion CB) and pagans (no coastal CB for Norse, no Tribal invasions)
- Holy wars and Conquest CBs have 5 year cooldown
- slower culture and religion spread (no vanilla's culture blitzkrieg)
- nerfed amount of levies available for empires
4. Basic differences between CK2+ / vanilla - new features:
- completely changed faction system
- balanced province income, amount of levies and many more things
- balanced HRE and ERE, they no longer expand everywhere every time
- more ambitions and plots (thanks to Additional Objectives)
- new bookmarks and starting dates (such as 1000 A.D. Millenium)
- changed colours of many independent realms, so that they actually differ from each other
- balanced effects of character's skills
- dynastic stain, tyranny traits, dishonourable penalty even when plotting a murder in intrigue window, so finally assassination plots are also risky (no longer unpunished crimes)
- holy orders for every religion (except Orthodox), so that every one would have a chance to defend (not only catholics or norse)
- titular empires instead of weird, fantasy de jure empires
- empires dissolve if have not enough holdings, Byzantine Empire dissolves when it looses Constantinopole
- 4th crusade - often in XII or XIII century there is crusade called by pope against Byzantine Empire
- added Jewish courtiers, Jewish culture, Jewish Khazars and Semen
- traits are more balanced and not positive or negative only anymore
- giving estates mechanics - you can give smaller or larger estates to your kinsmen to make them wealthy and more loyal to you
- de jure drift takes 50 years (100 in hardcore)
- there is no end of the game 1453, you can play as long as you like
- if Kingdom / Empire Crown Authority is "Autonomius vassals" and successful revolt takes place, then leader of rebels becomes the new liege
5. Many more changes that make CK2 more challenging but also a lot more enjoyable
Those are things that came up to my mind now, for sure there is much more that I forgot about it. I hope this will help somehow, sorry for my poor english skills, still a lot of work to to on this matter
