Crusader Kings II ~ Quick Answers

[Andrew0Red]

Any small Baltic kingdom with a coastal "traditional capital". Maybe Pomerania? Or Finland?

Maybe Estonia? 7 counties, traditional capital is coastal.

 

[jonjowett]

You would have to ask Paradox about that. It's simply hardcoded behaviour.

IIRC, they thought that, for many European nations, it would be very odd for them to be governed from elsewhere. And this happened all the time during normal gameplay. (Eg. France governed from the Pyrennees.) So the AI was given an inclination to return to the traditional capital, and succession laws were adjusted to prefer that capital.

 

[kiannameiou]

4 dynasty of the same name, not bastards, all different coa. Is this the same day name bug?

 

[jonjowett]

4 dynasty of the same name, not bastards, all different coa. Is this the same day name bug?

This definitely seems like some kind of bug.

Spoiler: Reasoning

• Dynasty names for characters that require them (eg. lowborns that gain a title) can be generated from the county ("of {townname}") or picked from a list.
• I believe the source for the list is ...\common\dynasties\00_dynasties.txt:
  • First, if any of the dynasties of the correct culture do not already exist in the history of this particular game, give the character that dynasty (including custom CoA, if defined)
  • Then, generate new dynasties with the same name as an existing correct-culture dynasty, but a different ID (and CoA)
• "Wilks" is specified as a dynasty for characters of Prussian culture, and there are 15 Prussian dynasties listed in the text file
• It seems implausible that AI characters of Prussian culture would conquer so much and spread so far that the game has had to generate ~60 new dynasties for Prussians. Even 4 kingdoms ruled by Prussians seems implausible - they usually stick to themselves and die out when the Christians hit Mil Org tech 4.

However, if you check your save and the founding member of each Wilks dynasty is Prussian - and if there are a lot of other Prussian dynasties around - then maybe this is legitimate and intended behaviour. (The game randomly picked "Wilks" 4 times for the 4 successful Prussians.)

 

[Poppydo]

After bought Holy Fury, I restart to play as Mathilda of Tuscany again, and now I'm King of Sicily. I asked to be crowned by the Pope, and he send me an errand job to kick Excommunicated King (of Denmark) ass. If I do nothing, what will happen to me? Getting Excommunicated?

I'm mean, Denmark so far away, my levy will arrive in there 8 months later, and the war already over, because right now Duke of Saxony targeting him too with 30% War Score.

The Pope hate me because I hold Duchy of Ferrara & Spoleto (dejure part of Papacy)

 

[jonjowett]

After bought Holy Fury, I restart to play as Mathilda of Tuscany again, and now I'm King of Sicily. I asked to be crowned by the Pope, and he send me an errand job to kick Excommunicated King (of Denmark) ass. If I do nothing, what will happen to me? Getting Excommunicated?

If you accept, you will be immediately forced into a war. If you refuse, you won't be crowned, and you'll have an ever-increasing negative opinion modifier from all your vassals. (IE: Unless your diplo stat is amazing, you're going to have faction problems.) And you won't be able to ask the same Pope for a coronation for 10 years.

However, you can be crowned by anyone - it doesn't have to be the Pope. The next best option is a high-tier bishop, but I think you can go for any random priest if you're desperate. (Or you can murder the Pope...)

I'm mean, Denmark so far away, my levy will arrive in there 8 months later, and the war already over, because right now Duke of Saxony targeting him too with 30% War Score.

If you somehow win, the coronation will proceed.

If the war is invalidated, it's treated as a win and the coronation will proceed (...\common\cb_types\00_cb_types.txt , line 6516). (If I've read your question correctly, this is what you think will happen - you will declare war, Saxony will win their excomm war in a few months, and your excomm war will be invalidated as a result.)

If you lose, you don't get crowned, but some flags are cleared "to avoid locking the player in the middle of the negotiation forever". I think this means you can ask the Pope again.

The Pope hate me because I hold Duchy of Ferrara & Spoleto (dejure part of Papacy)

One option is to drift those duchies into your primary title (Sicily): Make sure you keep Sicily as your primary title for 50-100 years (depending on your game rules); eventually, these duchies will drift out of the Papacy and into Sicily. (And the Pope won't hate you so much any more.)

Alternatively, maybe you can usurp the king-tier title that has all this de jure land? The title will be completely renamed (from "the Papacy" to "Romagna"); the Pope will be very angry for a while; but none of his successors will want your land.

 

[Andrew0Red]

'm mean, Denmark so far away, my levy will arrive in there 8 months later, and the war already over, because right now Duke of Saxony targeting him too with 30% War Score.

You'll want to sail, not walk.

You may want to dismiss your fleets upon arrival, so you don't pay for it while you're doing land-battle (though this will reduce tactical options). Remember all of Denmark is land-connected!

 

[jonjowett]

I'm mean, Denmark so far away, my levy will arrive in there 8 months later, and the war already over, because right now Duke of Saxony targeting him too with 30% War Score.

You'll want to sail, not walk.

Agreed, but probably not for the same reason as you: Sicily is quite far away from Denmark by boat, so the travel time is still going to be pretty long. However, if you sail there, your army won't take attrition en route.

You may want to dismiss your fleets upon arrival, so you don't pay for it while you're doing land-battle (though this will reduce tactical options). Remember all of Denmark is land-connected!

I disagree, in most circumstances, because dismissing your fleet outside a home port destroys half of it. It can take a very long time for fleet size to recover, which can seriously hamper your plans for the next few decades.

Similarly, but a bit less importantly, it's generally a good idea to dismiss your levies on home soil. Yes, your armies can walk back home from Denmark, but they'll take attrition enroute - embarking them on a fleet avoids this completely.

 

[jonjowett]

And now, my turn to ask a question: Can anyone explain why this duchy in Alania is drifting into the kingdom of Yemen?

I have "de jure restricted" game rule, and the duchy is landlocked, and no adjacent duchies are in Yemen. A plain reading of the game rule suggests that de jure drift should not occur in this case. The unusual factor is that the king of Yemen has his capital in the duchy, but I don't see why that should cause de jure drift.

Aside: I took this screenshot on a 2nd of January, after watching the drift progress tick up.

 

[Whizzer]

The unusual factor is that the king of Yemen has his capital in the duchy, but I don't see why that should cause de jure drift.

This is exactly why it happens. It allows titular kingdoms to gain de jure. Arguably, that shouldn't happen to non-titular titles, but it's hardcoded, so there's no way to change that.

 

[jonjowett]

This is exactly why it happens. It allows titular kingdoms to gain de jure. Arguably, that shouldn't happen to non-titular titles, but it's hardcoded, so there's no way to change that.

Thanks for confirming. I think it's rather silly for non-titular titles to gain de jure this way - it's a pity we can't do much about it.

 

[noobermenschen]

Tactical question:

If you want to ambush an AI army, your bait army only needs to be smaller than the AI army you're trying to bushwhack. What if you anticipate an amphibious landing?

I am the target of a prepared invasion. My capitol is coastal and hills and I would like to defend there. If I have too large an army sitting there the pagans will land the next province over and force me to attack across a strait. If my army is too small the reinforcements will be too late and stampeded in the rout.

I have seen the AI land 8000 against 3000, roughly 2 1/2 -to- 1. I am anticipating three waves of 5-6k (though this is 6 months out, those numbers may grow), which would mean an army of about 2000 hopefully shouldn't scare them off. I can raise the levee of my capitol holding (1100 or so) once the fighting starts for an added surprise, but that will likely only work for the first wave, the enemy realm is close and the second wave could arrive before the first battle is over.

My alternative is to swoop down from an inland province once they land before their morale recovers, but that means I will be attacking into hills. I am out numbered 3-1 (again 6 months out and my Queen is dying so several wild cards), though I can make it 3-2 with mercs for about 18 months max. Catholic moral authority is 0% so many of my stronger neighbors are Cathar. The year is 836 so no holy orders. Nearby Catholic rulers have their plates very full so I am not anticipating much help.

 

[Andrew0Red]

I can raise the levee of my capitol holding (1100 or so) once the fighting starts

Hmm, don't armies start with 0 morale? Adding soldiers that pretty much prebroken might not be enough to sway the outcome. Also goes for hiring mercenaries (but I think they'll apear elsewhere if there's fighting in your capital).

I think your best bet is having a slightly smaller army in your capital (say, 75% of their size), then park reinforcements in the closest neighbouring province (not necessarily yours). The AI seems utterly unaware of combat modifiers like army composition, commanders, straights &c, so it'll probably charge in with 100:75. Then, the main force's job is simply holding out until the reinforcements arrive. Iirc, reinforcements won't trigger stuff like across-a-straight-penalty.

Be your own walkthough: Unless you're playing Ironman, make a seperate save, then try out something, and whatever happens, reload the save. This allows you to learn stuff without wrecking your game. And as long as you always reload regardless of the outcome when experimenting, I wouldn't consider it cheating.

 

[Whizzer]

Hmm, don't armies start with 0 morale?

Vassal levies do, but your demesne levies always start out with full morale.

 

[Poppydo]

Agreed, but probably not for the same reason as you: Sicily is quite far away from Denmark by boat, so the travel time is still going to be pretty long. However, if you sail there, your army won't take attrition en route.



I disagree, in most circumstances, because dismissing your fleet outside a home port destroys half of it. It can take a very long time for fleet size to recover, which can seriously hamper your plans for the next few decades.

Similarly, but a bit less importantly, it's generally a good idea to dismiss your levies on home soil. Yes, your armies can walk back home from Denmark, but they'll take attrition enroute - embarking them on a fleet avoids this completely.

Yep, 7 months from Sicily or Tuscany using boat. I disband my boat in HRE port in Northern Germany, and lost no boat since I'm vassal of HRE.

I never know if I need to 'recrown' every time ruler change, so this time only asked powerful Bishop in realm (AKA Cardinal). If France who more powerful than me only crown by a Bishop, I don't see why I need to be crown by Pope. Maybe when I'm an Emperor.

I got an absurd event where I just married and I don't like my wife and baam, I'm Chaste. Will Family Focus save my ass? Since if I'm without heir, I'm Game Over. Right now my heir is my Grandfather, Prince of Denmark. I don't even know why that guy can even become my heir, not my aunt (my father sibling)? I have Agnatic-Cognatic Gavelkind succession. My number 2 & 3 aunt have a kid (boy). Could change it to Ultimogeniture save my ass? Since only that available as vassal of HRE.

 

[Andrew0Red]

and baam, I'm Chaste

From wiki: "Lose Chaste and gain Lustful from Seduction Focus". Seduction Focus can also produce bastards, which is another way to procreate. And since you can choose to legitimise later even if you don't recognise immediately, it gives more control over succession.

Also from wiki, Chaste is only -15% fertility, so Family Focus will overcome it. So will Groom an Heir ambition. Or better yet, both, seeing as your dynasty is dying out. Maybe Groom an Heir and Seduction Focus?

I never know if I need to 'recrown' every time ruler change

Every new monarch needs to be crowned. I mean, it's not sufficient that your parents got married, if you and your sweatheart don't, your children will be considered illegitimate. As for Pope or not, Pope is always better, it's just a question of how inconvenient it is to get the bugger to do it. Sometimes the ease of using your pet bishop is worth the lower benefits.

 

[noobermenschen]

Be your own walkthough: Unless you're playing Ironman

Yup I got one shot at this.

This would have been nice to try out several ways so scum saving would have been handy. Years ago I spent an entire day off fighting and refighting against a Jihad, outnumbered 2-1 as Abyssinia. White peaced that war after I got real good at fighting in Egypt. [edit] Actually no, the Caliph was overthrown in a decadence revot after I stomped his armies for years and it just ended. Pity, I wanted that reparations money.

[edit] Aaand a revolt popped up right before the war started and I completely screwed the pooch responding to it. Damn. Might have worked.

 

[noobermenschen]

So I'm considering another 769 start, but I noticed the last game Christianity was having a very tough time: Both Orthodox and Miaphysite had become heresies, Pagan Saxony dominated Europe and the Umayyids were threatening Paris. The Catholic church as I mentioned was at 0% MA, with 50% hits each from lost holy wars and sacked churches.

My Kingdom (Brythonaid, formed in the year 822) was the one of the most powerful Catholic realms, following Lombardy as a close second before I got punked. France and Germany existed but they were on the ropes. Scotland had split in two from a Fratricelli revolt, and England was split between several Catholic and Cathar Petty Kings. Byzzies were still standing for the time being. Is this common 60-70 years from the 769 bookmark?

I am wondering if, instead of forming a kingdom, I would have been better off keeping my happy ass in Gwyned and "ruling" Wales as suzerain for at least one long reign. I was teching up like crazy and the tribute money would have helped build up my three castles, and I could have called my tributaries into any war as allies instead of vassals.

 

[Andrew0Red]

I don't think allies are better than vassals in a war; they are very difficult to control. Never going where you want... Showing up at the wrong battle and wrecking your tactics... Marching to that tiny stack of yours that you forgot and happens to be accross the empire from the fighting... Standing along with your finest retinues in a province that exactly supports your retinues...

But more of their soldiers do show up, I'll give you that.


769 is the lowest tech start, with the least build up. Tribals don't depend much on tech, so that favors them over their christian feudal neighbours. Catholicism is quite divided in 769. Islams largest realms haven't splintered yet. Yep, this a challenging start for catholics.

On the other hand, for those of us who don't mind a tribal start, the possibilities are so much greater... A little Military Organisation Tech and some Lvl 1 Hillforts go a long way towards Hunting Parties...

 

[Aardvark Bellay]

Is this common 60-70 years from the 769 bookmark?

In my experience for 769:
Low catholic MA is very common, as are herectic characters, split realms as well while less so, pagan saxony dominating Europe rare
in comparison. The Ummayads have been about 50/50 in conquering western Europe.
Depends on one hand how much Charlemagne is distracted and weakend by the war with Saxony and revolts and on the other how
much the Ummayads are preoccupied with Mauretania. Faction and claim war revolts can help to reduce their threat potential.

I am wondering if,..

I don't see how that would help when the Ummayads come knocking.
Remember the old meme i relatively recently posted and which you liked, where a noob is happy to have finally founded the Kingdom of Ireland
only to recognise the Ummayads appearing nearby ? Defending in mountains etc can help, but at some point the sheer number of troops will overcome any negative modifier. That said, it depends how you "got punked". Remaining in Alba can help to consolidate and defend ( beat them on the shores ! ), while them wasting their troops against others and you trying to assasinate their rulers and cause chaos that way.