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It's time for another cycle of developer diaries on Crusader Kings II and I thought I'd begin by talking about the new start date and giving you a broad overview of the upcoming expansion; The Old Gods. Yes, we're pushing back the earliest possible start date to 867 AD. This is a special bookmark that comes with the expansion (and you will not be able to start at dates between 867 and 1066 without modding.)

Europe is a very different place in 867... Many of the familiar countries have not yet come into being. There is no Hungary, no Poland, no Russian principalities and the British Isles and Scandinavia are full of petty kingdoms. The Carolingians still rule the Franks, but the great Empire of Charlemagne has been divided between four of his descendants. In the Byzantine Empire, a new dynasty has just risen - the House of Makedon - destined to restore some of its former glory. The Muslims are in the middle of a drawn-out crisis as the once enormous Abbasid Caliphate has fractured, with a succession of Caliphs being murdered by their own Turkish generals.

CKII_ToG_DD_01_Europe_867.png

Most importantly, however, the North and East are completely dominated by bustling tribes of unrepentant heathens who remain less than impressed with the White Christ. Why debase yourself before a dead man on a cross when you can loot the riches of his fat clergy instead? Just as the fury of the Northmen descends on the undefended shores of Europe, other, equally pagan threats are on the rise in the steppes of Tartaria. Like the Avars before them, the feared Magyar horse lords are pushing into Europe from beyond the Carpathians. Why is all this more important than the affairs of Christians and Muslims? Because with The Old Gods, all these heathens are finally playable! (But you probably knew that already. :D )

CKII_ToG_DD_01_Magyar_Invasion.png

Playing a pagan chieftain is at least as different as playing a Muslim. Not only that, there are significant differences between the various heathen religions. Some are aggressive in nature, like the Norse and Tengri beliefs, and some are more defensive, like the Finno-Ugric faith. For example, the warlike Norse will suffer a prestige loss for being at peace for too long, and will need to wage war or set sail to pillage and loot. The Finns don't have this problem, but on the other hand, their vassals will dislike having their troops raised (like Christians). Some faiths get defensive bonuses and larger garrisons in their homelands, some don't, etc. However, they can all potentially be reformed to withstand the allure of the new religions.

CKII_ToG_DD_01_The_Great_Heathen_Army.png

In the coming weeks, I will explain the different religions in detail. I will, of course, also talk about other new features, like traversible rivers, new cultures, Zoroastrians, Adventurers, and much more. Stay tuned, and here are some more screenshots to tease and titillate!

CKII_ToG_DD_01_Loot_and_Pillage.pngCKII_ToG_DD_01_Varangians.pngCKII_ToG_DD_01_The_Last_Zoroastrians.png



[video=youtube;V-edUnWQgyM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-edUnWQgyM[/video]

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And you have added information on warscores, so I don't have to figure out who is winning, excellent.

And Drakkar !

What is the blue star icon below the wife space on the character info screen ? Marriage ?

Esben
 
And you have added information on warscores, so I don't have to figure out who is winning, excellent.

And Drakkar !

What is the blue star icon below the wife space on the character info screen ? Marriage ?

Esben

Star icon is a person of interest mark. It adds the person to your watch list. It was in game earlier, just not in obvious place.


It will be released in early May, then? Nice.
 
Shouldn't Burgundy be named Lotharingia instead ? At least that was the name at that time and it does fit the geographical area better then "burgundy"...
 
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Good catch, but where have the marriage icon gone then ?

There is no marriage icon for other rulers in that place, only for your unlanded courtiers.

But I guess they moved that complex "right-click on portrait and then right-click on icons again" menu to that place (there is actually arrange marriage and betrothal buttons there too), like they made improvements for map modes.
 
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Can't wait to start pillaging around!

A question about the strandhoggs: how will fleets be managed? Vikings hit very deep inside enemy territory and sometimes they just pulled their ships over short land distances to reach another river or bypass a natural obstacle or a fortified bridge. ATM you can't do it in CK2. Will fleets be summoned at the chieftain's position instead of friendly ports to simulate this, or maybe you will be able to attach them to an army and bring them with you, maybe rising attrition and slowing movement?
 
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Nice DD, though I have the same question as Ethanol.

Another question is, can Pagans start landless (at least that might be the idea one could get from the trailer)?
 
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Holy crap ! Navigable rivers. This is actually too awesome.
 
Allow me to join in the schoolgirl choir for Navigable Rivers.
 
Those rivers! By Odin I must have it! This DD was nothing but a tantalizing tease!
 
A couple of questions (because someone NEEDS to be a pain :D ) about Italy.
- Why is Italy still a Kingdom tier, when in 867 East and West Francia were kingdoms and Italy was the empire?
- No navigable Po? It is an excellent water way up to Cremona and decent (but not perfect) until Pavia.
 
Rivers are completely unexpected but awesome idea. I can't wait to use the Vistula as a path to put in order all other Slavs and create pagan Poland! :D
 
Rivers should be excellent. More competition for the merchant republics, but also more space for them to expand... and with rivers, maybe a few more Imperial cities can oppose the Gotlandic blobbing in the Baltic (in the 1066 start).

All seems quite interesting.