Isabella Carter
Crusader Kings II is a historical grand strategy and RPG game series for PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. It involves courtly intrigue, dynastic struggles, and holy warfare in medieval Europe, Africa, the Middle East, India, the steppes and Tibet. The game is centred around diplomacy, which is essential to achieving your goals. Players must be faster than their enemies and keep their intentions hidden. Diplomacy can be used to achieve a wide range of goals, from help in war to marriages and declarations of war. It is a challenging game that requires careful planning and strategy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Game type | Historical grand strategy / RPG |
| Platforms | PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation 5 & Xbox Series X/S |
| Game developer | Paradox Development Studio |
| Game elements | Courtly intrigue, dynastic struggles, and holy warfare |
| Game setting | Medieval Europe, Africa, the Middle East, India, the steppes and Tibet |
| Game objective | Achieve fame and fortune for your noble family |
| Diplomacy tools | Mediation and talks, marriage, war declaration, excommunication |
| Diplomacy mechanics | Right-click on a character to perform diplomacy |
| War mechanics | Sieges, battles, white peace |
| Expansion methods | "Pressing claims" through weak, strong, or de jure claims |
| Character dynamics | Characters have their own politics and intentions |
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What You'll Learn
Using marriages to gain lands
In Crusader Kings II, marriage is a key diplomatic tool to gain land. One way to do this is to find an unmarried female ruler and marry her. Your children will then inherit both her and your lands. If you are willing to wait, your spouse will get an inheritable claim even if she is not the ruler, and you can press this claim when playing as your heir.
Alternatively, you can marry your heir to an unmarried female ruler, and your offspring will inherit both realms. If the ruler has few sons and at least one daughter, you can marry your heir to the eldest daughter, and then assassinate her brothers, and perhaps her father, so that your offspring will inherit both realms.
Another strategy is to marry your heir to a female character with a claim that can be inherited by a successor. The son you have with her will have the claim that you can press.
It is important to note that characters of different religions will not accept marriage requests, and some religions cannot intermarry or inherit. Seniority and Tanistry also limit diplomatic land grabs, so you may need to marry an heir to inherit their titles.
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Arranging non-violent solutions
In Crusader Kings II, diplomacy is essential to success. While most computer games rely on violence as the basic persuasion tool, in CK2, mediation and talks can help you achieve almost anything, from help in war to marriages or declarations of war.
Another way to arrange non-violent solutions is through marriage and inheritance. One player suggests starting in Ireland and playing as one of the Dukes, trying to gain all of Ireland through marriages. This strategy takes time but can be effective. It is also possible to support other dynasty members' wars with funds and intrigue.
Additionally, it is important to keep an eye on the status of wars that you are not directly involved in. Most medieval wars were won not by battles but by protracted siege warfare. Sieges are simple: to start one, you need your army in a province with an enemy holding, and they will automatically besiege them. However, there are a few important rules to follow. For example, if you want to end a war early, you can open diplomacy and offer a White Peace, which ends the war with no major consequences for either side. Usually, the other party will only accept if you are winning the war.
Finally, it is crucial to plan according to your strength. If you are not an important count, you cannot fight openly with a great emperor. Diplomacy can help the poorest courtier achieve glory and the most powerful ruler fall.
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Knowing when to end a war
First, it is essential to understand the cycle of war. Managing the different phases of war and the transitions between them will enable you to preserve your forces and maintain a decisive advantage over the erratic AI. This is especially important when facing multiple enemies at once, as dividing your armies between multiple fronts is often a terrible idea.
Second, pay attention to warscore percentages. If you attack rebels, ensure that neither they nor their liege have more than 25% warscore, as this could lead them to surrender or offer white peace before your war ends. To avoid this, occupy their territory as soon as possible, as a war between rebels and their liege may only end when the rebels no longer own any properties occupied by powers other than their liege.
Third, be mindful of unexpected alliances. Check the Pacts of your enemies and their same-religion neighbours, especially if you are engaged in a holy war. The AI is adept at forming unforeseen alliances when threatened, so it's crucial to monitor potential reinforcements for your opponents.
Fourth, assess your victories and defeats. While some battles must be fought, a single defeat can undo many victories. Balance your army's flanks to avoid a collapse, as this can put your entire army in a dire situation.
Finally, remember that diplomacy is a powerful tool. If you find yourself facing a stronger opponent or multiple enemies, opening diplomacy and offering a White Peace can end the war without major consequences for either side. However, the enemy usually needs to be receptive to such an offer, which may require you to be winning the war. Alternatively, you can choose to surrender and focus on settling more important scores.
In conclusion, knowing when to end a war in Crusader Kings II requires a combination of strategic thinking, attention to warscore and alliances, and the prudent use of diplomacy. By understanding these factors, you can make informed decisions about when to persist in a conflict and when to seek a peaceful resolution.
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Understanding different religions
Religion is a key concept in Crusader Kings II, and the different religions and their interactions will affect how you play the game. Each character has a religion, and the religion of your character determines what mechanics are available to you.
There are six main religious groups in Crusader Kings II: Christian, Muslim, Pagan, Zoroastrian, Indian, and Jewish. Each of these (except Zoroastrian and Jewish) is further divided into multiple branches, which may have their own sub-branches known as heresies. For example, Anabaptism is a branch of Protestant Christianity that follows the Reformed tradition, specifically including the Amish, Hutterites, and Mennonites.
Each religion has a moral authority, which is determined by the actions of its followers and impacts the chances of heresies. A religion's moral authority is also influenced by the attributes of its religious head, the number of holy sites held, and success in religious wars. Religious heads are recognised by the adherents of that particular faith as the leader of the religion. Pagan religions start without a religious head, but gain one once the religion has been reformed.
Religion also provides various Casus Belli, most notably holy war and Crusades, though these vary from religion to religion. For example, Sword of Islam introduced two new Casus Belli specifically for Muslims. Additionally, characters of different religions will get a large opinion penalty towards one another, which can be reduced by the Tolerance technology.
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Using intrigue to your advantage
In Crusader Kings II, diplomacy is essential to success. The game involves courtly intrigue, dynastic struggles, and holy warfare in medieval Europe, Africa, the Middle East, India, the steppes, and Tibet. While military conquest is an option, players can also use intrigue to their advantage to achieve glory. Here are some ways to use intrigue to your advantage:
Spying and Information Gathering
The intrigue focus in the game allows you to spy on characters in the same realm. You can gather information about their plans, weaknesses, and secrets. This knowledge can be used to your advantage when negotiating, forming alliances, or plotting against them. For example, knowing that a character is a demon worshipper or a hidden cuckoo bastard can help you revoke their title.
Manipulation and Slander
You can use your intrigue skills to manipulate and slander other characters. Be cautious, as if you are caught, it can modify their opinion of you negatively for a long period. The chance of being caught is influenced by your relative intrigue skill and the target's scheming level. Slander can be an effective way to damage someone's reputation and gain an advantage over them.
Abduction and Imprisonment
With a high enough intrigue skill, you can attempt to abduct or imprison other characters. This can be done by bribing guards or through other means. Be aware that the chance of success depends on the target's characteristics, such as their scheming level and any modifiers from the Seduction focus. If you are plotting to kill someone, abduction can be a useful step to get them into your custody.
Succession and Marriage
Intrigue can also be used to manipulate succession lines. You can orchestrate yourself or your heirs into different succession lines and then plot to murder those standing in your way. Additionally, you can focus on seduction to improve fertility and spread your bloodline. Legitimizing bastards with good stats and arranging strategic marriages for your heirs can help secure alliances and improve your dynasty's position.
Strategic Alliances and Vassalage
Diplomacy in Crusader Kings II is about more than just warfare. You can form alliances, offer vassalage, and arrange marriages to expand your influence and secure your position. However, be mindful that characters of different cultures and religions are unlikely to accept offers of vassalage or marriage requests.
Remember, in the world of Crusader Kings II, it is crucial to plan according to your strengths. Clever direction of dialogues and taking advantage of intrigue options can help you achieve glory, even if you are not a powerful ruler.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no one "best way" to play CK2 as a diplomatic game. However, some general tips include getting to know the characters and their relations, planning adequately according to your strength, and directing dialogues cleverly.
To perform diplomatic actions with other characters, right-click on the character you want to interact with. This will open a sub-window where you can initiate diplomacy.
While it is challenging, some players have reported success in conquering the world through diplomacy and without declaring wars. One strategy is to start as a Duke in Ireland and attempt to gain control over the entire island through marriages.
To end a war early, you can open diplomacy with your opponent and offer a White Peace, which will end the war with no major consequences for either side. However, the other party is more likely to accept a White Peace if you are winning the war.
To start a siege, simply move your army to the province with an enemy holding, and they will automatically begin besieging the holding.
