Crusader Kings II ~ Quick Answers

[jhhowell]

I think gavelkind vs. elective gavelkind is one of those "tastes differ, agree to disagree" subjects. You make some interesting points and I can see why you hold your position on the subject; thanks!

I was also not aware of the decreased maintenance on raiding fleets. That would make a huge difference; good to know!

Re: game difficulty - same as jonjowett, normal with lots of fiddling in the game rules settings to get the game set up the way I want it. Difficulty in Paradox games is from your selection of starting position and what you want to accomplish (to reference some of the classic EU2 AARs, world conquest starting as Trabizond or Tibet, for example ), not anything in the game mechanics.

 

[YouWeiDe]

what game rules do you guys like? Historical ones like the Status of women and it disables part of Conclave Laws? De Jure title requirements or the title is destroyed if you don't hold any de jure territory? or things like shorter de jure drift(50 years still let's you play Ironman)? Something else?

 

[jhhowell]

I'm trying to remember what's different from the defaults in my settings.

• Supernatural Events = Off is the most important setting for me. I do allow Absurd Events = On though I'm not entirely certain what those events are. The Meldrick events referencing Black Adder are very funny but they're part of the ambition/focus systems of boosting particularly weak stats, so I'm pretty sure they're not the Absurd Events.
• Gender Equality = Default; normally I'd take Historical on any setting that allows it, but this is a rare exception.
• Adventurers = Rare. I wish there were two game rules, one for regular adventurers and one for raider adventurers. I don't mind the former, but the latter are way too common and annoy me tremendously (you've probably seen me refer to them as vermin or rats before, the way they're always scurrying around underfoot). Since one game rule governs both, Rare is a decent compromise for me. I couldn't care less about Ironman or achievements.
• Diplomatic Range = On. Looking at the options, Restricted is tempting. I'd have to do a bit of testing to see what that means in practice.
• I think I've seen people recommend boosting Provincial Revolt Strength, so I might try that next time.
• AI Seduction and AI Intrigue both set to Off. I think this one is a matter of personal taste; I find the frequency of AI seduction and intrigue excessive and annoying. If there was an option to reduce it without eliminating it entirely, I'd probably pick that, but these are just off/on switches.
• Titles Named After Dynasties = Off. I found it very confusing to see Saffarids and Samanids, etc. Easier for me to keep track of them as Transoxiana and Khorasan, instead.

It's certainly possible there are other settings I've forgotten that I changed (and some of the above may well be defaults). I don't think I've messed with the de jure settings. I wouldn't set de jure drift any faster than the default 100 years; longer would be fine but in practice I don't think it would matter much.

 

[Aardvark Bellay]

what game rules do you guys like?

It really depends how i want to play.

Standard is defensive pacts, court limit rule and aztec invasion off.
Very likely off are AI seduction* and intrigue focuses, devil worshippers, and secret religious cults.
Next in line are supernatural and absurd events off (forgot which is the more fantasy stuff related), limited de jure drift on,
unlimited invitation, open interfaith marriage and less epidemics. Then adventurers and turkish conquerors off, but rarely.
Shattered retreat used to be off, but it more or less works now even if potential ten provinces distance is still absurd.

Intended to use
Halfing demesne is sure interesting and turning off Reapers Due illnesses. Exclave independence should be reasonable and turning off
the new casus bellis. It's ridiculous when the HRE vassalises France that way.
I likely forgot one or two.

* when seduction is on i used to use mods modifying the behaviour, but they are all old.

 

[MateuszS]

What are good reformation options for pagan MR?

 

[DPS]

What are good reformation options for pagan MR?

That would depend a lot on which faith was being reformed, but Cosmopolitan, Astrology, Religious Tax, and Hierocratic would seem reasonable for many pagans if they were an MR.

 

[YouWeiDe]

what is considered a dishonorable duel? I got a pretty big negative opinion modifier for that

 

[MateuszS]

what is considered a dishonorable duel? I got a pretty big negative opinion modifier for that

Target is:
- old (80 years), but not immortal
- child, while attacker is not
- less, than 10 years old, while attacker is not
- ill and treated badly/seriously ill and not treated well/ill, not treated well and has other problems (is maimed or simply quite old)
- injured
- disabled (blind, mangled etc.)
- woman* and/or priest outside the lodge, the latter is problematic especially for non-pagans
Obviously, murdering the target is also bad.

*This is actually stupid, because applies also to the female attackers.

TL, DR: don't bully women and children, as well, as the elders and ill.

 

[DPS]

FWIW, in my games I don't get the opinion malus for dueling women. I don't know if it's a bug or not.

 

[Tiax]

Playing as k_ruthenia, I want to have a custom name for my kingdom, but it keeps being automatically reverted to "Kievan Rus". Is there a way to turn that off?

 

[Yxklyx]

Target is:
- old (80 years), but not immortal
- child, while attacker is not
- less, than 10 years old, while attacker is not
- ill and treated badly/seriously ill and not treated well/ill, not treated well and has other problems (is maimed or simply quite old)
- injured
- disabled (blind, mangled etc.)
- woman* and/or priest outside the lodge, the latter is problematic especially for non-pagans
Obviously, murdering the target is also bad.

*This is actually stupid, because applies also to the female attackers.

TL, DR: don't bully women and children, as well, as the elders and ill.

Doesn't the in-game text tell you when it would be dishonorable or does that not work for all targets?

 

[YouWeiDe]

what are some of the hardest starts in 867 start date?
No DLC for nomads, Muslims, India.

 

[jhhowell]

Not an exhaustive list, but:

• AElla of Northumbria - you're at war with the Great Heathen Army, which really wants to introduce you to something called the Blood Eagle.
• Mandak of Kolguyev (that island in the Arctic Ocean) - hard in the sense of what are you ever going to be able to do with a very poor province on an island, so you need ships (which cost money, which you don't have and can't easily get) to go anywhere. And the surrounding territory is no better, aside from not being on an island. Obviously there are many options if you're into "incredibly poor, far from anything, can't do much of anything" flavors of hard.
• Wahsudan Justanid of Gilan - the other Zoroastrian start, much harder than Vandad Karen of Dihistan (which is not exactly the easiest start). Fewer event troops, less territory, same issues of being surrounded by religious enemies who will be happy to conquer you given half a chance. And the Abbasids are just one province from having a border with you.
• Denha Yahballaha of Socotra - the only independent Nestorian. Could be interesting.

Honorable mention to Moldavia and Navarre. The former isn't directly involved in the Magyar Conquest of Hungary, but you have to figure being anywhere near the Magyars at this time is a rough start. The latter - small & neighbors the Umayyads looks challenging.

 

[Urza]

How to become Khagan as a Khan?

 

[jonjowett]

How to become Khagan as a Khan?

The less murdery option is to use the "install khagan" CB. This can only trigger in two ways: if you refuse a tyrannical demand from the khagan and via the overthrow khagan faction. The first is very unlikely to happen, so you'll need to: form the faction, send the demand (intrigue menu), and win the war. (It's not strictly necessary to get other clans in your faction, but it's probably a good idea.)

The more murdery option is to: be the biggest adult khan; systematically murder khagans and their family members until all of his possible heirs (brother/son/uncle/nephew) are children; then murder the khan. (A child cannot be khagan!) "Biggest" seems to mean "most prestige and population". (And note that you only need to be the biggest adult khan. Yes, this is another problem that can be solved with murder!)

EDIT: There is also the sloooow option: Marry the daughter of the khagan; have kids; ensure that one of your kids with the khagan's daughter will be your heir (ie. has the most prestige); kill the khagan; kill the khagan's daughter; kill yourself; you now have a claim on the khaganate; press it. This is IMO strictly worse than the overthrow khagan faction - both require you to win a war, but this one has a lot of preparatory steps.

 

[Rockphed]

what are some of the hardest starts in 867 start date?
No DLC for nomads, Muslims, India.

I can't remember if it is an 867 or 768 start, but one of the counts in Alania is Jewish with an Orthodox lord. I haven't made it work yet (partially because merchant republics got borked up in 3.0), but your goal is to 1. stay Jewish, 2. form a merchant republic, and 3. found Israel and build the 3rd temple. Good luck. This start is actually easier with Horse Lords since you can (to some extent) ally the Khazars and have their help staving off the various and sundry Orthodox lords who would kick you out.

 

[ZlNT]

what is considered a dishonorable duel? I got a pretty big negative opinion modifier for that

Could be a bit late, but it is dishonorable when you duel:
1. Old people - 50+ years old. Even if you are older than the other participant, it is still dishonorable, lol
2. Women - 100% true if your character is male; I think it is ok to duel females if you are a woman yourself, but I am not sure
3. Sick people - make sure they are not ill when you challenge them
4. Priests

As far as I remember, that's it.

EDIT: practice duels within warrior lodges are always ok, because the participants do not fight to death

 

[DPS]

Could be a bit late, but it is dishonorable when you duel:
1. Old people - 50+ years old. Even if you are older than the other participant, it is still dishonorable, lol

Yeah, it doesn't make much sense that it's dishonorable if you're 80 and the opponent is 50, but that's how it works.

2. Women - 100% true if your character is male; I think it is ok to duel females if you are a woman yourself, but I am not sure

Maybe this is how it's supposed to work, but in my games, I often duel women without it being considered dishonorable, unless they're old or sick. It's also dishonorable if they're pregnant.

3. Sick people - make sure they are not ill when you challenge them

Note that for purposes of dueling, sick people aren't just those who are ill, but also those with a number of physical disabilities.

4. Priests

I didn't know that. Is it just Christian priests, or maybe just priests of your own faith?

As far as I remember, that's it.

EDIT: practice duels within warrior lodges are always ok, because the participants do not fight to death

Yeah, even though those practice duels often end up being fatal anyway. Battlefield duels are also always OK, AFAIK. And probably it's ok if the other character challenges you, but I'm not sure because I don't think I've ever been challenged by a character who it would have otherwise been considered dishonorable to duel.

 

[MateuszS]

I have question of my own. Where in the files can I check if said religion will send priest abroad?

 

[jonjowett]

I have question of my own. Where in the files can I check if said religion will send priest abroad?

All organised religions can send their court chaplain to independent realms that follow a non-organised religion.

Non-organised = unreformed pagan.
Organised = everything else.

I think this is a feature of the engine - I don't think it's set by the text files. (But I'm not certain and it's hard to prove a negative.)