Intriguing Starts

[PineconeKing]

ACCIDENTAL SEMI-MISLEADING TITLE!

I was just wondering if anyone could maybe share a good challenge for a game or two, picking a unique dynasty or key historical figure. For example, I found the last remaining character in house Knytling (house of King Knut/Canute) as a courtier in Toulouse at the game start. I opened it up as Denmark, mat-married him, granted him Jutland, reloaded as him, divorced the wife then was ready to go and Dane some ass! Another one I 'found' that everyone else probably knew is Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, also known as Castille's super-high martial stat man, also known as El Cid. Grant him a county or skip to 1094 where he's independent (but old), and go kick Muslim ass!

That's just two I found (read - discovered decades after every other player), but if anyone else can share theirs so that I (and anyone else bored enough to read this) may conquer the world as them, that'd be great. I'll be creating a list if this, though it probably won't, goes on for a few pages and no-one can be bothered traipsing through it.

-Ælfwine Knytling, son of Harald Harefoot, King of England, starts as a courtier.
-Rodrigo Diaz De Vivar, El Cid, starts as a courtier (at default game start).
-Gisulf di Salerno, Duke of Salerno and last of the Lombards.
-Herbert Karling, Count of Vermandois, last remaining nobility of the house of Charlemagne.
-Guy d'Ivrea, Count of Macon, of the house that would go on to control Catholic Spain for a time.
-Eadgar of Wessex, grandson of Eadmund Ironside, King of England, starts as a courtier.
-Werner von Habsburg, Count of Aargau and ancestor of the Habsburg dynasty before they were cool.
-Otto von Wittelsbach, Count of Niederbayern and ancestor of the dynasty that would later go on to control Bavaria.
-Welf Welf, Baron of Antdorf, progenitor of the house of Welf.
-The many bastard children of the King of Denmark - I don't think he ACTUALLY starts with any children who are not bastards AND male...
-The Ottomans, available in the 1300s.

 

[Sleight of Hand]

I'm going to be a bit vain for a moment by stating that it was I who added Harold Harefoot's son (the Knytling you mentioned) and submitted him for inclusion. I thought he was too cool not to be in the game, as he does indeed present the player with an opportunity to keep the dynasty going.

As for interesting starts, the ruler of Salerno in 1066 is someone you should definitely try playing as. It's quite difficult to keep your only province as all of your neighbors want you to disappear, but you are the last of the Lombards and therefore (in my opinion, at least) one of the coolest dynasties in CK II.

 

[Frozen_Predator]

Count Herbert of Vermandois of house Karling the last ruling descendant of Charlemagne. he has a vast amount of options availlable in his realm, through marrying your son wisely you can expand elsewhere (one game I managed to get my son in a vital position to do something awesome, request an invasion of Venice. with enough mercenaries I managed to succeed even.

 

[PineconeKing]

How, oh HOW did I forget about Herbert? I've played a few games as him myself, and I forgot about him.

 

[PineconeKing]

Found a few more, added to the top post.

 

[Yenzen]

A single last member of the house of Welf can be found as the baron of a county in Schwyz (or bern?) with the 1066 start.

In Napoli, the house of Spartenos (not real dynastic name though Sergios is real enough) is ruled by a lone Greek orthodox count. A chance to create an independent Greek Kingdom against all odds.

 

[PineconeKing]

I noticed the Welf baron myself just less than an hour ago actually, through the Invite To Plot screen. Can't remember his name or holding, though. There's also a Babenberger baron somewhere. I need names and locations to be able to add them to the list, however. And on the subject of a Greek surrounded by Normans, a Rallis-Raoul Norman Count exists in south-western Greece.

 

[Yenzen]

Okay, he's Welf Welf of Antdorf.. though I'm not entirely sure he's a real historical person?

 

[PineconeKing]

Considering his name, and the fact that most beginners of houses have the same name twice (like Sultan Sultan), and that he's in a major house, I'd say he's real. It's likely that it doesn't display his parents, or his father may also be Welf.

 

[Yenzen]

I mean http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elder_House_of_Welf pretty clearly states that the non-este branch died out before the start of the game. Going by the dates he would be the newphen of the guy that died in 1055.

Edit: There he is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welf_I,_Duke_of_Bavaria - so real enough.

Holy crap his son married Mathilde of Tuscanny (though later divorced.)

 

[PineconeKing]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Welf, biatch. It'll be like how the one von Wittelsbach count has a father, brother and cousins of the von Babenberg dynasty, or the relations between Babenberger and Capet.

Edit: Instead of double posting, use the 'Edit Post' button at the bottom-right of the post, in the light grey box.

 

[Yenzen]

I know and intended to delete it. I like how the house of Welf is one of the few houses with a beautiful and accurate COA that actually resembles the real thing.

 

[PineconeKing]

Ever noticed how identical the coat of arms are for house Ylving, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Duchy of Estonia and the Duchy of Schleswig? Anyway, we seem to be diverging off-topic slightly. Sticking to both topics, try playing as one of the many bastards of the King of Denmark! Only half-price at Tesco.

 

[n000b]

The Ottomans are rarely mentioned in threads like this, so i'll just go ahead and nominate them. Don't remember the exact year they become available, but its about year 1310-1330 I think.

 

[Veldmaarschalk]

I'm going to be a bit vain for a moment by stating that it was I who added Harold Harefoot's son (the Knytling you mentioned) and submitted him for inclusion. I thought he was too cool not to be in the game, as he does indeed present the player with an opportunity to keep the dynasty going.

It would be even better if you also would say, who told you about that character in the first place.

http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/showthread.php?618635-Which-Saxon-characters-are-missing

See post number 14 in the above thread.

 

[Sleight of Hand]

It would be even better if you also would say, who told you about that character in the first place.

http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/showthread.php?618635-Which-Saxon-characters-are-missing

See post number 14 in the above thread.

Hey, I said I was being vain, right?

But seriously, I can't remember that far back, only that I asked for him to be added.

 

[OrdepNM]

Nice innitiative, I'm bookmarking this thread, lots of good playing suggestions.

Can anyone say exactly where Eadgar Of Wessex is? I cant seem to find him.

 

[Sleight of Hand]

Can anyone say exactly where Eadgar Of Wessex is? I cant seem to find him.

In the first 1066 scenario he's in Harold Godwinson's court, and in the second he's with one of the Hwicce brothers. I forget which, but either in Lancaster or Northumberland.

 

[OrdepNM]

In the first 1066 scenario he's in Harold Godwinson's court, and in the second he's with one of the Hwicce brothers. I forget which, but either in Lancaster or Northumberland.

Oh, there he is, thanks. Im gonna try bringing him to Scotland, give him land and take it from there

 

[svanoers]

Duke Isaac of Khazars is an interesting choice, now with factions you can survive long enough to get independence.