Fb-fb:
A novice probably won't start with a pagan tribe, especially so close to King Karl.
You clearly chose a difficult start.
True enough. I made my bed.
It depends on the owner's culture. You can change dynamic province names in the game rules. I don't think you can change this after you start a game, but I'm not sure (in ironman, I'm sure it's not possible, but without the ironman save...).
It looks like it has to do with change in ownership of Saxony itself, even though they are Slavic and not Germanic. It was just sudden and odd and not at all explained by event.
As noted, the culture of the top-level liege determines the name. If there's a culture-specific name defined in the game files for that particular combination of culture and holding, it uses that; otherwise, it reverts to the default ("English") name.
And that makes more sense. It has clearly been a feature for a while because I remember going through it with my Wessex game when Wessex kept going back and forth between Wessex and Winchester.
On top of the obvious considerations, pagans and tribal rulers get a prestige bonus for having "nubile concubines" -- a not-insignificant consideration, given that tribals can spend excess prestige on things like special holding improvements and extra "host" levies.
Now THAT is good to know. I've not yet tapped into these things (and it is early still) but better to be mindful. I'm not yet there and have only seen the worser aspects of it.
As for the general remarks: I think the fundamental issue is that you jumped into the scenario without really understanding what you were in for.
I'll not deny it. That is exactly what I did.
First, the game as a whole is essentially balanced around the baseline of a Catholic Christian feudal lord, with 1066 being the "default" starting scenario. (There's a reason that, outside of AARland, most players recommend that new players start in the 1066 start, usually in either England, Ireland, or Spain.) Pagan religions (especially Germanic pagans) and tribal governments are by design meant to be inherently chaotic compared to the relative stability of Christian feudals. To really enjoy the experience -- especially when you're still getting a feel for how their mechanics work together and differ from the default -- you have to go all-in on the "short life of glory" mindset.
On top of that, the 769 start isn't really meant to be "newbie-friendly" -- it's meant to cater to the power fantasy of playing as Charlemagne, or else the desire for experienced players to test their skills by opposing him. The Germanics haven't yet unlocked their full potential, which comes when the Viking Age starts (usually ~790 or so; there's a big, can't-miss global announcement that hits when that happens). On top of that, you're also playing as a vassal of an AI ruler, and thus (as you've probably already learned well) are running the risk of being on the hook for boneheaded moves that are beyond your control no matter how well you play personally.
For what it's worth in mitigation: I think you're actually doing about as reasonably well as could be expected in your current situation, given your present knowledge, and despite the run of bad luck you've encountered. I haven't noticed anything too terribly flawed in your strategic and tactical thinking, and I think you might have had a reasonable shot at fending off all comers if you had been playing as Theoderic himself instead of one of his vassals.
EDIT: Another thing to add to the above, now that I think of it, is that Reaper's Due makes wounds and diseases a lot nastier than the "generic" equivalents you get without it installed. That right there is another ratchet up the difficulty meter.
I think that is all true and what I have experienced, by and large. I bit off a lot more than I could chew here and between DLCs and some nasty events/slash bad luck plus my steep learning curve, it has become a frustrating experience. That said, what better way to swim than being thrown into the deep in? I hate to admit it, but that's exactly how I learned to swim as a child. I was deathly afraid of the water and my grandparents had a pool. I stick to the shallows and the steps until my uncle threw me in one day. It was traumatic...briefly. And then, somehow, I became quite good at it. Swim team and all.
For the Raise Tribal army if you are playing with the Holy Fury DLC (and perhaps even without it now, unsure on how it has been updated there) the instant spawning army mechanic has been replaced with tribal retinues that can be bought and paid for with prestige rather than gold. Might be why you can't find it, but I am not 100% certain.
I am indeed playing with Holy Fury. More below on that and maybe this is a huge change?
On Hosts
Uh oh, that must be what's mucked the explanations around, then!
As mentioned, I don't have HF as the accompanying patch killed my Blut & Schlacht game stone dead.
For older versions, the info screen is the one that will come up if you click the tiny little ‘i’ to the top left of the leader portrait, very top left of the screen. It lists all your game settings and the characteristics of your tribe. Here is an illustration (I loaded up as Lothar of Oldenburg in a 769 start, but I can't vouch for any changes made with the latest DLC.
It looks like this when in comes up. You can also look at what game rules you set (or forgot to change and only realised later you should have
):
Back in the main game screen, to check which hosts you are able to raise, you go to Intrigue. It will come up in the decisions available, even if you can't raise one at the moment (due to the various conditions that apply). So, the Saxons can raise an 'offensive' host of 2,500, but not a defensive religious host with piety.
I think there are table somewhere on the wikis that may allow you to look up the characteristics of neighbouring religious/cultural tribes. But I've only ever partly played one game of CK2 - the Rurikid one my learning AAR is based on, albeit in some depth and with lots of advice from people who know more than me. So in part to check for my own interest as well, I did a load as one of the Finnish rulers I know could summon religious defensive hosts as well.
This is what that their options look like and the conditions. So these guys can be double trouble:
Hope that clears up the 'hosts' thing for you - a little bit.
Looks like they may have changed it with Holy Fury!
You'll have to ask someone who is familiar with that to describe the mechanic in more detail, if needed.
First of all - thank you for spending that time to help explain! If nothing else above, this did help me find the "info screen" which is so small as to be unnoticeable unless looking for it.
Not once have I seen that little tiny i in all of my playing time. Unfortunately, even with that assistance, we are still curious because I remain without finding "the host" as I will show below.
Tips wise for gaming I would say try and build an Earth Hillfort in every tribe you personally own as each of them will give you +100 retinue size, join a warrior lodge and do the tasks they give you other than joining in other people's war for renown. Be aware accepting duels -can- kill you so might turn it down unless you are okay with your current ruler dying at the time. Try and raid any capital holdings that border you, the actual money from the looting will usually not be good but hostages can give you the money you need.
As a tribal getting Prestige is often the name of the game, as you gain more I would upgrade weaponsmiths as you are able, these buildings too cost Prestige. If you slap all that together you should eventually be able to get a growing retinue which is always standing and which you pay mainly prestige/piety to maintain. Also in some warrior lodges you will be able to get event spawned troops for renown at higher levels. Eventually this can allow you to have a sizeable force that is always standing, in my own Empire of Mali game I have ended up with a 15k retinue while my levies are abyssmal. In my experience these are one of the big benefits of being it, beyond being able to call your own vassals to war when you have them and they like you.
Of course you can ignore this if it is something you are already doing.
Earth Hillfort is a good idea. I have not yet tried that. UNtil recently, I could not join a lodge but just looked into the game without playing and can see that this is now available. Another good suggestion. This was indeed all good and thank you! This type of thing is exactly what I need.
@Bullfilter The info screen is still at this place on the latest patch (and will probably stay there).
Yes it is.
I hope my friend you are not getting too burned by these experiences.
Lothar, in echo of your gaming experience, is certainly getting a lot thrown at him.
Not too burned, but certainly frustrated as mentioned. As mentioned above, it is a lot to take in and I chose a particularly difficult scenario to do that with. Yet I will fly the dragon I was given and fall into a blaze of fire if that is the end. It's all practice, yeah?
So...I did find the info screen as I stated and it does say that I can raise this host and yet, it still does not appear under plots/intrigue. To wit...
Those are all of my choices. The screen is taken with less than 500 prestige but even then, it should have been greyed out. If it is supposed to appear where I find the retinues, I do not see it there either. There I only see something that I can buy and then allow them to grow. Here is what I have on offer there:
As seen, yes I can use either prestige or gold to build a retinue but still no host of 2500 ~. So where is this miraculous host?
If it is made different, where are they? If it is a different dynamic, then why do my enemies still seem to have their hosts?
I am rather keyed on it because a) obviously I would like to know and 2) I pretty much need it where I am within the game right now (not too far in the distant future.) I've not played since I posted the last update or the one before as I need the advice (and have not had the time) but I'd truly love to know these things before I jump into the water again. I do apologize for my surly nature this past weekend as just writing the last scene up got my dander flowing once more (not hard to do
) but I maintain that these games should be fun. Not easy...but fun.
I've been gang-raped by China as Vietnam in EU2. I've had my ass handed to me too many times by France as England in the EU start and the reverse just as much playing as France (in all 4 versions, I might add.) I've been bested by both the Union and the Mexicans in the 1st Vickie as the CSA (although I was terribly drunk in the latter game - see my Inkwell.
) It took me at least 5 times playing as Eadgar of Wessex to figure out a path and even after I started, I had no idea if I would be able to finish that in CK2 vanilla. I am used to hardship playing these games. This? I know it is not unplayable because I see folks doing it and doing it well all the time. The difference is before, I had answers available on screen as you hovered over it. That's how I learned (that and reading AARs!) and used that to conquer much as Russia in EU2 (one of my most enjoyable games still), figured out the "kill" mechanism in CK1 that gave rise to Heinrich in
Eagle in Winter, and yes...finally got a good hold over CK2 when it was much too late.
This version is so much different than that, I am reminded of how the patches changed EU2 back in the day. A completely different game.
Yet I am here to learn and I like may of the changes. Frustrated, yes. Daunted? No. That is why I started this AAR because I wanted to learn alongside the writing. Keeps me fresh and I am determined to figure it out (hopefully with your help.) Thanks for your patience...and your assistance...and together, we may crack this nut!
