Crusader Kings II Video Developer Diary Launched!

[Regina]

Paradox Interactive is happy to announce the launch of a new series of video developer diaries for their role-playing strategy title Crusader Kings II, due for release on PC in Q1 2012!

View the first video developer diary here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqmTYQwx4hg

In this deep character-driven strategy game, Europe is in turmoil. The lands are fragmented into petty fiefs, the emperor struggles with the Pope, and the Holy Father declares that all those who go to liberate the Holy Land will be freed of their sins. Now is the time for greatness. Expand your demesne and fill your coffers, appoint vassals, battle traitors, introduce laws while interacting with hundreds of nobles, and create the most powerful dynasty in medieval Europe.

A beleaguered king will always have friends to support him. But beware, as your rule and realm may find trouble when a loyal vassal becomes a bitter rival. Stand ready, increase your prestige, and the world will whisper your name in awe.

Do you have what it takes to become a Crusader King?

Features:
- Start a game at any point between 1066 and 1337, and forge European history until 1453
- Take on the role of a Christian lord and carry your dynasty through the ages from petty counts to Emperors, via the line of succession
- Gather Prestige for every successive character you play, furthering the glory of your dynasty
- Expand your feudal domain at the expense of your rivals
- Unravel the plots of your courtiers and vassals, each with their own agendas
- Re-enact the Crusades, defend against the Mongol onslaught, and form mighty feudal states
- Relive the Middle Ages with up to 32 other players in a competitive multiplayer mode

Read the written developer diaries here:
http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/content.php?306-crusader-kings-2

Check out the latest Crusader Kings II developments:
Web page: http://www.crusaderkings.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Crusaderkings
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Crusaderkings
Forum: http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/

[video=youtube;tqmTYQwx4hg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqmTYQwx4hg[/video]

 

[unmerged(155641)]

Great!

 

[RhoDaZZ]

Love the soundtrack sneak peak!

 

[Count Lake]

Scary good!

 

[RedRooster81]

This is a really neat idea.

There is a lot going on behind him. I see culture-specific title names, a lot of tooltip details, etc. The map is looking very nice. And great commentary from Lord Doomdark, especially on character traits. I'm a bit sorry to see loyalty, infamy, stability, and so on go, but it makes sense for this game. I like what he said about assassination attempts having consequences for relations and a lot of other things, too.

 

[Barón Rojo]

I prefer the health and fertility as hidden information like in CK (I don't know if it will be in the final version).
And what is that "learning 5/5"?

 

[Jia Xu]

I'm getting so hyped for this game. Thanks for the video diary, PI.

 

[unmerged(75409)]

The interface and map definitely look "classy". Very nice.

I also like the new approach to relations... direct opinions? No more stability, etc? Nice! Will there also no longer be "realm duress" as a trait?

Oh and the character portraits look AWESOME. Especially knowing that (as was said in previous DDs) that characters' portraits age over time

I looked at the lists of vassals and apparently you can also tell burghers, nobles and clerics apart from their looks too? VERY nice. I can already see myself sneering at the pathetic look of helmet-less Burgomaster Heinrich... "What does this wretched worm want from me? He's not even noble!"

Eager to see the womens' portraits!!

 

[RedRalphWiggum]

Looking good... is Doomdark the most relaxed man in Sweden?

 

[Cenobite30]

Do they seem more excited about this game than most of their others? Or am I just projecting?

 

[DukeWilleo1630]

Very cool! All I can say after hearing him say that a mother will always like her son. I'm gonna try to make my kings mother utterly hate him!

 

[ZmajOgnjeniVuk]

Why is Serbia's king culture Russian?

And why is there a Novi Pazar province? Town of Novi Pazar didn't exist until late 15th century when it was founded by the Ottoman Empire. It's medieval predecessor would be the town of Ras, which gave name to the Raška (Rascia) state.

 

[Romtos]

Looks all great. And the system appears very sensible. Can't wait to play this.

Oh, and Doomdark is well positioned. He doesn't block much of the screen.

 

[Nyrael]

Video was awesome x 4 !!!

Why is Serbia's king culture Russian?

Probably a place holder. Wouldn't be surprised if cultures were not yet fully incorporated into the game.

 

[RhoDaZZ]

One thing I'm not so sure about is the localised titles. Where does the need for a language specific title end? It seems like there is currently no consistency in when a title should be in English or not (for example Herzog (not Duke) of.... Prince (not Prinz) of...).

 

[Imperium Dei]

Thanks for the video; things are looking very good.

 

[quetzilla]

I was skeptical about the map back in the earlier Dev Diaries, but it's looking pretty slick in that video. I never played CKI but I am psyched for this game!

 

[Ruwaard]

Looks great, although I have one small remark about the ambitious trait. Being ambitious also means that a character wants to improve his station, so an ambitious count wants to be a duke etc. this ambition only becomes a problem if he wants to become equal to (or even emulate) his liege.
This probably will depend on how this is simulated in the game, but historically a direct liege or the ultimate liege of a realm could promote someone (or at least sanction it), this would actually mean that they (ambitious vassals) would like to be in the good graces of their liege in order to realize this.

 

[Arizal]

Hey, this Ludwig III is heir of Ulm!

Aside of that, what represent the little arrows red, yellow, orange, white and green? I think its relation, but I'm not sure. Also, aging seems good by the look of Ludwig. One thing that I slightly dislike about relation is that there doesn't seem to have any room to incertitude. Or is it, since you only know what your character think of the other, and not the opposite?

And I think this is a good idea to begin in 1066 and that the last date to begin is 1337. That gives time to do something.

 

[Romtos]

Aside of that, what represent the little arrows red, yellow, orange, white and green?

I also wonder what each of the colour of those droplets represent.