I am very new to CK2 even though I bought it awhile ago on a Steam sale. Anyway, with the maturity of this game and its' fanbase I wanted to see if anyone knew of good beginner tutorials/vids that explain the concept and mechanics of the game and sort of step you through a start of a game.
Anyway, thanks for any help or guidance.
The first time you load up the game it will offer you to play the learning scenario that puts you in the shoes of Alfonso Jimena of Leon. Just read all the hints and follow instructions and you'll learn all the basics of the game, such as fabricating claims, fighting wars, and murdering people so you can inherit their titles. And from there on it's best to just experiment.
As a beginner don't expect to play a perfect game. Even if you follow 100 different tutorials and guides, you'll still make mistake. And honestly, making mistakes is probably the best and most fun way to learn the game.
After you're done with the learning portion of the learning scenario you can choose to either continue playing or start a new game. Either works. If you do go for a new game I'd recommend a Catholic duke in 1066 pretty much anywhere on the map. But if you want specific names I'd say Otto of Bavaria and Matilda of Tuscany (both vassals of the Holy Roman Empire) make good choices. You're protected from outside threats by the might of the HRE and can focus on dealing with the other dukes and try to get yourself elected as emperor. That will give you a game with a clear objective and a nice mix of intrigue, dynastic politics, and war.
If you want a game that's more focused on warfare I'd recommend to simply continue playing the learning scenario. You'll be surrounded by plenty of infidels to wage holy war against and can set yourself the goal of doing an early reconquista and creating the empire of Hispania.
