Crusader Kings II Newbie Questions

[makif130289]

Hi, as I look games in GamersGate I saw that CKII preorder has begun. I am really curious about the game but I didn't follow Dev Diaries so I don't have much idea about the features and the gameplay. I will preorder the game but before that I want to hear opinions of fellow forum members.

For me medieval era grand strategy game is synonymous with Medieval II Total War and its wonderful mods. I tried to play CKI but I just find graphics very obsolete and interface confusing. Now, CKII is coming and I finally want to replace MTW2 with this game. I have two questions :

1) Are islamic factions playable ? Seljuks, Fatımids, Moors etc. ? Without them, I think any medieval era game is just half missing.

2) How was demo ? I don't ask details of the game, just want to learn if I will get stable product in release ?

Thanks in advance for answers.

 

[DarkieBabZ]

1. No
2. Yes you will get a stable game (atleast in my opinion)

 

[RJL18]

Hi, as I look games in GamersGate I saw that CKII preorder has begun. I am really curious about the game but I didn't follow Dev Diaries so I don't have much idea about the features and the gameplay. I will preorder the game but before that I want to hear opinions of fellow forum members.

For me medieval era grand strategy game is synonymous with Medieval II Total War and its wonderful mods. I tried to play CKI but I just find graphics very obsolete and interface confusing. Now, CKII is coming and I finally want to replace MTW2 with this game. I have two questions :

1) Are islamic factions playable ? Seljuks, Fatımids, Moors etc. ? Without them, I think any medieval era game is just half missing.

2) How was demo ? I don't ask details of the game, just want to learn if I will get stable product in release ?

Thanks in advance for answers.

To answer question 2 - the demo was insanely stable. I got no crashes. I am very very confident that if the demo is this bug-free (relatively) and stable then the release is going to amazing. My advice = buy this game. The UI is alot neater now too.

 

[Bleedinbob]

Hi Makif, I would download and try the demo first. Compared to previous releases, the tutorial is above-par and is not only more stable, but more balanced.

Rarely do I buy games on release date but after the demo, I don't know if I can resist.

 

[Tbeaz161]

No you can only play as christian lords as far as I know.

I found the demo very enjoyable.

Also I noticed you said you find grand strategy is synonomous to Mefieval 2 and I just thought it would be fair to say that CK2 is nothing like any of the Total War games it has a much smaller combat focus then Medieval 2 and focus alot on politics and intrigue. If you can get use to the game thought it's probably one of the most unique rts's you've ever played.

 

[makif130289]

1. No
2. Yes you will get a stable game (atleast in my opinion)

Thanks for the quick answer. But it is big disappointment for me; medieval era game without ability to play islamic factions. I wish Paradox was not this much eurocentric.

 

[RJL18]

Thanks for the quick answer. But it is big disappointment for me; medieval era game without ability to play islamic factions. I wish Paradox was not this much eurocentric.

There will be a muslim mod out very soon I expect if you are that bothered about it.

 

[unmerged(58493)]

The focus of the game is on Christian feudal lords (hence the name), so while Catholics and Orthodoxs (and those Ethiopian Monophysite rascals) are playable , Muslims and pagans are not. The prospect of a future DLC allowing Muslim factions to be playable has been bandied about, but I'm not sure if that will be a reality or not; regardless, they won't be available on release.

 

[makif130289]

No you can only play as christian lords as far as I know.

I found the demo very enjoyable.

Also I noticed you said you find grand strategy is synonomous to Mefieval 2 and I just thought it would be fair to say that CK2 is nothing like any of the Total War games it has a much smaller combat focus then Medieval 2 and focus alot on politics and intrigue. If you can get use to the game thought it's probably one of the most unique rts's you've ever played.

I know, in spite of being big fan of MTW series, I never liked tactical aspect of the game. That's why, I hoped CKII as medieval grand strategy that will overthrow the throne of MTW2.

 

[DarkieBabZ]

Thanks for the quick answer. But it is big disappointment for me; medieval era game without ability to play islamic factions. I wish Paradox was not this much eurocentric.

Well, its called crusader kings for a reason ^^ but I see your point, I am 100% sure that we will see a future expansion/dlc to enable this, but in a way so it makes sense.
Also, there is bound to be alot of mods with it in.

 

[Umkharss]

Well, it is called "Crusader Kings", not "Seljukid Sultans".

 

[RJL18]

I know, in spite of being big fan of MTW series, I never liked tactical aspect of the game. That's why, I hoped CKII as medieval grand strategy that will overthrow the throne of MTW2.

Agree. MTW2 is the best TW game EASILY imo

 

[unmerged(209891)]

1. Technically, Muslims are not supposed to be playable...but they actually are. When you select a character to play and press start, it takes a few moments for the map to load- during this loading time you can click on any province on the map and you will play as that character, even if they are muslim. However, the game is still designed to be played by christian realms, so playing as a muslim character won't really have the proper events and "flavor" like christian characters do. Its is likely that Paradox will eventually release a DLC expansion that makes muslim characters fully playable.

2. There are some bugs and issues, but overall its pretty damn stable. Try the demo, its fun, and use that trick to play as any character you want.

 

[DarkieBabZ]

For me medieval era grand strategy game is synonymous with Medieval II Total War and its wonderful mods. I tried to play CKI but I just find graphics very obsolete and interface confusing. Now, CKII is coming and I finally want to replace MTW2 with this game. I have two questions

You have to remember that TW and PI games are nothing alike, I like both series but from different reasons, I would say the never TW games have gone downhill since Rome, but thats a mere opinion I guess. (Original MTW, was great for its time).

Agree. MTW2 is the best TW game EASILY imo

..... then you never played rome and let alone the original mtw and shogun... "a matter of opinion I guess"


Still all in all, PI games is abit above the TW games im0, I guess I like more complexity.

 

[RJL18]

You have to remember that TW and PI games are nothing alike, I like both series but from different reasons, I would say the never TW games have gone downhill since Rome, but thats a mere opinion I guess. (Original MTW, was great for its time).



..... then you never played rome and let alone the original mtw and shogun... "a matter of opinion I guess"


Still all in all, PI games is abit above the TW games im0, I guess I like more complexity.

True. Rome and shogun 1 were some of my other favourites too. However, MTW2 was probably better imo. ALl good though. And yes, I agree. Shogun2 + empire tw were terrible. Shocked they got good reviews. I suppose that showsz the corruption in the review industry. I think TW has stood still (or gone backwards) gameplay and feature wise. Whereas paradox have built and built and every new release seems to get better.

 

[DarkieBabZ]

1. Technically, Muslims are not supposed to be playable...but they actually are. When you select a character to play and press start, it takes a few moments for the map to load- during this loading time you can click on any province on the map and you will play as that character, even if they are muslim. However, the game is still designed to be played by christian realms, so playing as a muslim character won't really have the proper events and "flavor" like christian characters do. Its is likely that Paradox will eventually release a DLC expansion that makes muslim characters fully playable.

2. There are some bugs and issues, but overall its pretty damn stable. Try the demo, its fun, and use that trick to play as any character you want.

This might be a demo issue, I mean.. they even made us able to mod so we can play along time if we wanted... I am pretty sure its PI way of letting us enjoy the demo abit longer due to the pushback... I could be wrong ofc, but well..

 

[unmerged(209891)]

I'm not so sure about that, the Total War games are incredible, there's nothing else like them on the market. Rome is legendary, Empire is great with the DMUC mod, Shogun has the best multiplayer out of any of them and Napoleon has the most beautiful map of Europe I've ever seen plus Naval Battles so gorgeous even Horatio Nelson would approve. Medieval 2 stands out to me because of the mods. Stainless Steel is great, Broken Crescent extends the map all the way through the Middle East to India, and the Third Age mod....holy shit. Armies of hobbits and Rohhirim battling fully textured cave trolls, mumakill, and orcs in the shadow of Minas Tirth...if you are at all a fan of Lord of The Rings you need to play Third Age. Its better than all the "real" Lord of The Rings computer games.

 

[DarkieBabZ]

True. Rome and shogun 1 were some of my other favourites too. However, MTW2 was probably better imo. ALl good though. And yes, I agree. Shogun2 + empire tw were terrible. Shocked they got good reviews. I suppose that showsz the corruption in the review industry. I think TW has stood still (or gone backwards) gameplay and feature wise. Whereas paradox have built and built and every new release seems to get better.

Reviews are a matter of opinion and opinions are like heads, we all have one.
TW is mainstream now and cater alot more to the broader public, not to mention that the full focus is now on GFX and the Real time battles. (its always been the main focus, but now its all it got tbh)

PI don't have to cater super broad and they have a dedicated community here that supports most of their games and they are superb at communicating with the community (something alot of other devs could learn from)

 

[RJL18]

Reviews are a matter of opinion and opinions are like heads, we all have one.
TW is mainstream now and cater alot more to the broader public, not to mention that the full focus is now on GFX and the Real time battles. (its always been the main focus, but now its all it got tbh)

PI don't have to cater super broad and they have a dedicated community here that supports most of their games and they are superb at communicating with the community (something alot of other devs could learn from)

Well I guess thats paradoxs usp (and they realise they need to keep it or they will get outmarketted by ea/activision). They stay true to their roots whilst alot of other gaming companies sell out (like by making their pc games console ports). I am glad they do because paradox is easily my favourite gaming company. Honestly I was so happy when I found these games existed. Thats probably why I own all their games and in fact I own quite a few of them twice. I just buy their games now on principle because they have earnt my trust and I want to support them. I think TW series has sold out for mass appeal. And in the process they please nobody. They might sell games by putting a ton of money into marketing rather than development but its a short term strategy imo. TW like you say is just gfx and battles now. The rest of it has gone backwards.

 

[unmerged(209891)]

Reviews are a matter of opinion and opinions are like heads, we all have one.
TW is mainstream now and cater alot more to the broader public, not to mention that the full focus is now on GFX and the Real time battles. (its always been the main focus, but now its all it got tbh)

The TW games might be mainstream, many of the mods made for them by one of the most dedicating modding communities to ever exist are not. If you were disappointed with the newer releases, head over the TW center forums and check out the some of the mods like DMUC for Empire or All in One for Napoelon. All the TW games have some pretty incredible mods that add challenge, depth, and historical realism.

I think TW series has sold out for mass appeal. And in the process they please nobody. They might sell games by putting a ton of money into marketing rather than development but its a short term strategy imo. TW like you say is just gfx and battles now. The rest of it has gone backwards.

Do you actually play them? Obviously everyone won't like them and you're entitled to your opinion, but I've found that a lot of negativity toward the TW games come from people who don't have computers powerful enough to run them. For anyone who has ever played with army men, toy knights, or built lego castles, the TW games make them all come to life in a way that people could have never even dreamed of 20 years ago. They're spectacular and without a doubt some of the best strategy games ever created.