CKII is released.

[Ivan]

So I;ve never played this before (booted and was overwhelemed/or drunk). Anyway, there's a sale on steam and the question is what DLC is worth the bucks? Are most just skins/portraits?

 

[Grinolf]

I bought (vanilla) CK2 not so long ago, I haven't yet finished my 1st playthrough (started earliest possible in vanilla) and I'm enjoying it. One of the best Paradox games I've played. Since everything Paradox is on sale, which DLC should I get? I would probably buy only 1 since I still have a lot of playtime to get out of vanilla.

Old Gods probably add the most of content, but all content DLC except Sunset Invasion are worth having. India also on the weak side, since it needed in order to play as an indian character and all other features you should already have for free in patch. Cosmetic DLC could be easily skipped without missing much.

And ugh, ffs what's with all this DLC nonsense from Paradox. Skipped Victoria 2 and HoI3 from them, and when I checked out their games after that, they are all filled with DLC to the max.

Vic 2 has only two real expansions and HoI3 three ones. Others are again just cosmetic. So it reality it isn't as scary as it looks as long as one doesn't have a tendency to buy everything avaiable for the game.

 

[7h30n]

I bought (vanilla) CK2 not so long ago, I haven't yet finished my 1st playthrough (started earliest possible in vanilla) and I'm enjoying it. One of the best Paradox games I've played. Since everything Paradox is on sale, which DLC should I get? I would probably buy only 1 since I still have a lot of playtime to get out of vanilla.

Old Gods probably add the most of content, but all content DLC except Sunset Invasion are worth having. India also on the weak side, since it needed in order to play as an indian character and all other features you should already have for free in patch. Cosmetic DLC could be easily skipped without missing much.

And ugh, ffs what's with all this DLC nonsense from Paradox. Skipped Victoria 2 and HoI3 from them, and when I checked out their games after that, they are all filled with DLC to the max.

Vic 2 has only two real expansions and HoI3 three ones. Others are again just cosmetic. So it reality it isn't as scary as it looks as long as one doesn't have a tendency to buy everything avaiable for the game.

Old Gods is the one with earliest starting date? I might get that, for even longer game

Well honestly, I never bought DLC for games I own. I just hate the idea and what is being sold as DLC, but. There is a but... I think DLC is worth it if it's akin to expansion pack of old and CK2 (content) ones look (almost) like it.

 

[Grinolf]

Well honestly, I never bought DLC for games I own. I just hate the idea and what is being sold as DLC, but. There is a but... I think DLC is worth it if it's akin to expansion pack of old and CK2 (content) ones look (almost) like it.

The ones for Vic 2 and HoI 3 are in fact true expansion packs. Paradox started their current DLC model with CK 2. And the main difference is, that with DLC you buy only new features and get other changes for free in patch, so as result you don't need to have a previous DLC in order to use a new one. And quality wise it doesn't look like situation changed much since most big DLC for CK 2 are pretty solid, while EU 4 ones are often lackluster, as were expansions for EU 3.
Despite all these being said, Paradox really milking their current games by selling every small thing possible. But from the other hand it's not like they force someone to buy all these things or cut a vital content in order to sell it later.

 

[Average Manatee]

The upcoming Charlemagne DLC will push the starting date further back to 769. Dunno how that works if you don't have Old Gods.

 

[Grinolf]

The upcoming Charlemagne DLC will push the starting date further back to 769. Dunno how that works if you don't have Old Gods.

My guess. it would have only one start date without anything in between it and Old Gods start. And without Old Gods one couldn't play as Pagan/Zoroastrian.

 

[Ivan]

Are all of these worthwhile? Sword of Islam • Legacy of Rome • The Republic • The Old Gods • Sons of Abraham • Rajas of India

 

[Grinolf]

Are all of these worthwhile? Sword of Islam • Legacy of Rome • The Republic • The Old Gods • Sons of Abraham • Rajas of India

Last one could be avoided, but other are advised to have.

 

[TripJack]

Are all of these worthwhile? Sword of Islam • Legacy of Rome • The Republic • The Old Gods • Sons of Abraham • Rajas of India

if you want to play as:
a mudslim, sword of islam is worthwhile
byzantines and you need extra byzantine fluff or want retinues, legacy of rome is worthwhile
a merchant republic, the republic is worthwhile
a viking rape machine, the old gods is worthwhile
a jew or want to influence pope elections as christian, sons of abraham is worthwhile
an indian, rajas of india is worthwhile

viking rape machine is probably the most entertaining of all these

 

[Ivan]

cool, thanks.

 

[Tigranes]

Yeah, it all depends on what/how you want to play, the DLCs have been good about expanding gameplay options for a particular style or type. I haven't bothered with Abraham or Rajas, for instance, yet.

Old Gods is probably the one must-get for anybody.

 

[Onyxme]

Remember to register your game at the paradox forum and checkout some of the awesome mods people have made. I would personally recommend the Game of Thrones mod, even if you are not interested in the ASoIaF world the mod is still in itself jaw-dropping in the amount of depth it gives CKII.

 

[mondblut]

viking republic retinue-fueled rape machine is probably the most entertaining rapethirsty of all these

Corrected.

 

[Average Manatee]

Are all of these worthwhile? Sword of Islam • Legacy of Rome • The Republic • The Old Gods • Sons of Abraham • Rajas of India

Sword of Islam is kind of meh since playing Muslim vassals is fairly weak (basically nothing to do as soon as your ruler hits medium authority since the forced inheritance laws make it pretty much impossible to inherit through marriage), and there's few options to start as a muslim that don't have you under a king/emperor-level overlord.

Legacy of Rome is pretty weak, except it adds Retinue. Retinue are either essential to the game (if you ask paradox or casuals) or completely ruin the balance and make the game easymode (if you ask anyone sane).

Republic and old gods are pretty good. Republics almost completely rely on Retinue though, so LoR is kind of a forced purchase. And Norse religion in Old Gods gives bonuses to Retinue (you can see why mondblut wets himself over the thought of Norse Republics).

Sons of Abraham is kind of weak unless you really want to play Zoroastrian or Jewish, which are designed to be very hard starts. Otherwise it just adds some events and a few not too notable mechanics for Christians.

Rajas of India is alright if the whole concept of India being in a game called Crusader Kings doesn't bother you.

 

[RK47]

not too notable mechanics for Christians.

Free Jew Gold.
Pay-pal voting
Pay-pal Crusade Request
Anti Pope Wars etc

I bought the Indian DLC just cause it's cheap.
I doubt I'd play it very much.

 

[Grinolf]

Sons of Abraham unless you really want to play Zoroastrian

Zoroastrians were added in Old Gods, not SoA. It sort of counterintuitive, because Zoroastrism is very close to Abrahamic religions and have very little to do with pagans, but that how situation is, since Old Gods added a time period when Zoroastrism was still relevant, but Paradox a that point was still avoiding jews subject.

 

[Average Manatee]

not too notable mechanics for Christians.

Free Jew Gold.
Pay-pal voting
Pay-pal Crusade Request
Anti Pope Wars etc

Give free cheesy money
Rigged Italian voting
Slightly better CB than Holy War.
Pretty sure this is in vanilla.

Nothing I would really consider notable in the same way that Pagans, Republics, Zoros, and Indians get new mechanics to play with.

Sons of Abraham unless you really want to play Zoroastrian

Zoroastrians were added in Old Gods, not SoA. It sort of counterintuitive, because Zoroastrism is very close to Abrahamic religions and have very little to do with pagans, but that how situation is, since Old Gods added a time period when Zoroastrism was still relevant, but Paradox a that point was still avoiding jews subject.

Whoops, my bad. SoA just added some content for Zoros I think (heresies and holy orders).

 

[eric__s]

It's so funny to me, all these people complaining that they're widening and not deepening the game when Charlemagne was just the branding they're using as an excuse to add all this depth. Tribalism, viceroys, regency, new vassal mechanics, winter mechanics, reworked decadence, I can't even remember what the fuck else. No other DLC has been so focused on deepening the way the game plays. I don't even think there's been another one this big. They're slapping a Charlemagne face on it to sell it, nobody's going to buy the REVAMPED VASSAL MECHANIC DLC, but it's clearly the mechanics DLC people have been whining about for 2 years.

 

[RK47]

It's so funny to me, all these people complaining that they're widening and not deepening the game when Charlemagne was just the branding they're using as an excuse to add all this depth. Tribalism, viceroys, regency, new vassal mechanics, winter mechanics, reworked decadence, I can't even remember what the fuck else. No other DLC has been so focused on deepening the way the game plays. I don't even think there's been another one this big. They're slapping a Charlemagne face on it to sell it, nobody's going to buy the REVAMPED VASSAL MECHANIC DLC, but it's clearly the mechanics DLC people have been whining about for 2 years.

What's funnier is the detours they took.
Rajah of India for one is a massive detour they took to get this far.
And I still think Elective succession is still overpowered.

 

[Average Manatee]

Rajahs of India was definitely in the "widening" category. I agree though, Charlemagne (or the patch that comes with it) is definitely adding some cool things.

And if we're gonna talk about rebalancing OP mechanics then I wonder how Retinue are going to look in 769. Obviously they are going to need to re-scale the tech progression again so hopefully the retinue growth over time isn't exponential this time around.

It is kind of hilarious that they are reworking Decadence for... what is it... the 3rd time now?

 

[Turrul]

Rajahs of India was definitely in the "widening" category. I agree though, Charlemagne (or the patch that comes with it) is definitely adding some cool things.

And if we're gonna talk about rebalancing OP mechanics then I wonder how Retinue are going to look in 769. Obviously they are going to need to re-scale the tech progression again so hopefully the retinue growth over time isn't exponential this time around.

It is kind of hilarious that they are reworking Decadence for... what is it... the 3rd time now?

Yeah, we'll have the 3rd decadence in next patch.

I wonder if they'll get it right this time, Muslims are almost unplayable atm.

 

[eric__s]

Awwww shit boys, it's time to play dress up - https://www.paradoxplaza.com/crusader-kings-ii-early-western-clothing-pack

 

[Whisky]

I'm gonna be the prettiest King at the ball!

 

[Vaarna_Aarne]

Okay, I think it'll take a second or two to figure out how to make sure the better clothes STAY in use longer or forever. I'd definately rather have my Anglo-Saxons/English, Poles, Hungarians, Germans, etc using that stuff forever based on the preview pics. The French, Italians and Iberians can look like faggets by themselves.

I'm gonna be the prettiest King at the ball!

Not if I can help it!

 

[Konjad]

any idea how much will the add on cost?

 

[Tytus]

any idea how much will the add on cost?

About an hour of torrent downloading?