Various DLCs

[DusanII]

A few weeks ago I have started to play and I really enjoy it!

Problem is that the game is really and wonderfully complex and with 150 played hours I only start to understand it. (Read all on CK2 Wiky and went quite far in history on this Forum in last weeks which helps me a lot)

I can see on this Forum many comments connected with the other DLC (I have only Swords of Islam and Legacy of Rome). I would like to buy it too but I fear that hard-learned and half-understand experience with the game´s rules so far will be ruined by new rules from new DLCs.

Do you find better to play more time with the basic game and learn more or directly to jump to other DLC right now is a good idea as the new rules can improve the whole game for the player?

If jump, what is/are the must DLC(s) to have and which one can wait a bit..? (e.g. till some sales promotion where I bought my actual version with big discount )

many thanks for the recommendation

D.

 

[neutrondecay]

My advice is to get Conclave and Way of Life as soon as possible, as they both make big positive changes to gameplay, and then pick the others up as you like, because most of the others unlock specific things. Monks and Mystics is another one to get early, I guess, because it's another one that gives a new gameplay feature (societies) to everyone.

nd

 

[Lord_Bean]

I'd recommend getting Concalve right away, since it changes a lot in terms of managing your realm/vassals as well as a the education system for children. As for the others I'd say have a look at this thread, it has a decent overview to allow you to make a choice.

 

[prismaticmarcus]

i would just get all of them but NOT SUNSET INVASION! OH GOD NOT SUNSET INVASION!

ahem...if you like the RPG/ character side of it get Way of LIfe. but just pick up a DLC or two every sale. they're all good.

 

[GSS_]

Yes, I recommend you to start playing the game without DLC's and learn with the base-game, once you know the mechanics DLC's improve a lot your experience with CK2.

About which DLC is more essential than other, I think this is just based in personal opinions and your preferences when playing the game -- I mean, if you don't like to play with nomads, "Horse Lords" doesn't have much sense (or can wait); if you love play with pagans, then you should get "Holy Fury". Personally I like new bookmarks ("Charlemagne" and "The Old Gods") and I consider that the first expansions released are more 'essentials' (playing with new characters) than new but fun mechanics.

My best advice is to suggest you to check the wiki page about downloadable content and see which can bring you more fun so you can choose for yourself: https://ck2.paradoxwikis.com/Downloadable_content

 

[Lord_Bean]

Yes, I recommend you to start playing the game without DLC's and learn with the base-game, once you know the mechanics DLC's improve a lot your experience with CK2.

About which DLC is more essential than other, I think this is just based in personal opinions and your preferences when playing the game -- I mean, if you don't like to play with nomads, "Horse Lords" doesn't have much sense (or can wait); if you love play with pagans, then you should get "Holy Fury". Personally I like new bookmarks ("Charlemagne" and "The Old Gods") and I consider that the first expansions released are more 'essentials' (playing with new characters) than new but fun mechanics.

My best advice is to suggest you to check the wiki page about downloadable content and see which can bring you more fun so you can choose for yourself: https://ck2.paradoxwikis.com/Downloadable_content

In general I'd agree, except for Conclave. I don't see the point in learning the pre-Conclave mechanics before starting with Conclave.

 

[Patriarch of Bub]

Way of life really improves gameplay. I agree with the others in recommending conclave.

Charlemagne and old gods allow for earlier starts and playable pagans + Zoroastrian.

You can get the other ones at your pace, they all add good stuff. The last one, Holy fury is beyond incredible in term of content and quality.

i would just get all of them but NOT SUNSET INVASION! OH GOD NOT SUNSET INVASION!

ahem...if you like the RPG/ character side of it get Way of LIfe. but just pick up a DLC or two every sale. they're all good.

I like Sunset Invasion. Maybe get it on sake, it can be a fun to play the game with it on from time to time.

 

[neutrondecay]

The main reason to get Sunset Invasion is so that you have mesoamerican portraits and other graphics assets for mods that use them.

nd

 

[GSS_]

Way of life really improves gameplay.

To me "Way of live" should never have been a paid DLC. Judging by the content that brings, would have been better as a free update.

 

[Serenity84]

if you don't like to play with nomads, "Horse Lords" doesn't have much sense

Horse Lords also adds the silk road for everyone. And without it nomads will be tribal, which really changes gameplay if you border them. But it's questionable if it's worth the price for that alone

 

[KuwabaraTheMan]

Way of Life is by far the most important DLC in my mind. It's going to have an impact on every single game you ever play after getting it.

 

[GSS_]

In the end we all have different opinions about which DLC is more important... that’s why I recommend to check the wiki article or Paradox/Steam page to read the features of each DLC and see which one you think could be more interesting. Probably my preferences are not the preferences of others.

 

[DPS]

Aside from the issue of which DLCs to get, I don't think there's much point in waiting to buy the ones you want after you've played the base game enough to know whether or not you like it. 150-200 hours of gameplay should be more than enough to make that decision, I'd say. Unless finances are a major consideration, in which case wait for sales.

 

[DusanII]

thanks to all of you!

d.

 

[Evangeline]

Way of Life only costs about as much as a cup of coffee if you buy it at a game key store or on sale and it just adds tons of fun!! Very much worth getting if you enjoy the RP, the characters, etc.

Reaper's Due, which adds diseases and doctors, for me is also a lot of fun.

Holy Fury is also very worth it - pagan warrior lodges, better duels, bloodlines, sainthood, events, more portraits, random worlds: just tons of content.

For me, one of the most crucial DLCs is the ultimate portrait pack which adds all different cultural portraits apart from the Holy Fury ones. I hate it when everyone looks bad and the same. The game is so much better for me with all the various portraits.

DLCs I could live without: Sunset Invasion, Horse Lords (unless you want to play a horde), Jade Empire. Not saying they're bad at all, but you don't need them if you're trying to save money.

Sons of Abraham is great and adds lots of religious flavor to the game, going on pilgrimage, events, etc. Monks & Mystics also adds tons of events and secret societies are fun.

My personal priority would be:

- Way of Life (around 3.50 €)
- Ultimate Portrait Pack (not on sale right now, I got it for 8 bucks, but it's currently 19)
- Conclave (around 6.70)

- Sons of Abraham (not on sale, so 9.99)
- Reaper's Due (5.20)
- Holy Fury (11.80)
- Monks & Mystics (6.70)

...and then the others. Of course this is just my own personal view, but I'd say that all the DLC I bought made the game much better, more fun and I didn't regret buying any of them (I don't have Sunset though). I wouldn't recommend learning the game without them first - what's the use of learning bad habits that you'll have to unlearn again later?

That said, most of them simply ADD cool events and features without changing basic mechanics. The only exception is Conclave, which changes a lot about how you play the game.

 

[Zoomun]

Way of Life, Conclave and the Reaper's Due are the top three. After that the order is mostly based on what you want to do the most.

 

[k4sp3r00]

Personally I would buy the dlc in the order they were released and going back to play the old patches so that the patch you're playing is always designed with the dlc you own in mind. You get to relive the game's history that way and figure things out in the order they were added to the game.

Definitely wait for a sale whatever you choose to do though.

 

[Karlington]

My advice is to get Conclave and Way of Life as soon as possible, as they both make big positive changes to gameplay, and then pick the others up as you like, because most of the others unlock specific things. Monks and Mystics is another one to get early, I guess, because it's another one that gives a new gameplay feature (societies) to everyone.

nd

100% agreement with neutrondecay.

I'd just like to add not to get Horse Lords, unless you really, really, really want to play as a nomad. It adds raiding adventurers which will turn the game into a constant whack-a-mole session for any realm of decent size, and disabling or reducing them in the game rules disables achievements.

 

[AlexArgos]

Conclave is the only DLC that is basically an overhaul of previous mechanics (realm management, laws, kid education). Thus it's the only one that will force you to re-learn things. So get it as early as possible.

The rest just add new mechanics (or unlock new start dates, regions & cultures/religions) basically giving you new ways to achieve things or new goals entirely. So no re-learning, just more learning.

 

[Naughtius Maximus]

Conclave first. Be sure you are satisfied with your current game before activating Conclave. It will adjust all your laws midgame, so it is best played with a fresh start.

As impactful as Way of Life is, it does not compare to Conclave's mechanics changes. Way of Life should be very high up there on your to get list, just not as high as Conclave. Way of Life gives you something to do in between wars, which is fun. Conclave however positively changes the way you play the game.

Also Sunset Invasion is often portrayed as a big boogeyman people regret buying. Relax, they're quite possibly the weakest horde in the game at time of appearance. They likely haven't played the game enough, as anyone who has played near the actual Nomadic hordes would know of true terror. Light infantry armies in lategame are easily handled by heavily equipped feudal armies, sometimes at 2 to 1 odds. Whereas the nomadic hordes are a terror in all dates they arrive at.

If you want a miniboss to toss in a little flavor/disruption to Western Europe, get this. It's not a high priority DLC by any means, but it certainly isn't difficult to handle once people get enough experience in the game.