PDOX Games VIII: Communism Will Win

[Serrus]

Hey, started up another CK2 game, this time as that one Qamartian duke in 936. I read on the wiki that you need 3 Qamartian holy sites to become Caliph, the decision isn't showing up for me though. For reference, the three holy sites I have are, the one in coastal Persia, the one in souhteast Arabia, and Baghdad. That last one I yoinked using two holy wars back to back (truce breaker can go die in a hole). So why isn't the 'become Qamartian Caliph' decision not showing up? Is it because I don't have the right DLC? If so, then tell me what DLC to buy.

You also need one of the Sayyid and Mirza traits, 1000 piety or a religious bloodline.

No, for Qarmatians you need 3 holy sites, Sayyid/Mirza, and piety or a bloodline. You need 500 piety to actually make it, you keep the 500 after title creation, and you access it via the religion menu by clicking on the CoA of the religious head. Furthermore, if you started in 936 you have the bloodline, so you don't need any additional piety, land, or ancestral relations. You only need specifically the piety to make the title.

[Impaled Nazarene]

If one can justify totalitarianism, why bother

Granted, yeah, Eldership and Tanistry are pretty good... If annoying sometimes.

Wish there was more ways to rig it.

It's called the divine right of kings, not the generally agreed upon by the nobility right of kings.

It's amazing how Crusader Kings 2 makes you loathe the nobility even more than if you were a peasant XD

Tbh I never face much of a problem with Gavelkind as most do. I mean sure my earlier games were tough when dealing with Gavelkind. Eldership is a good constitute to stick by until you reach the level to pick Primogeniture though. (And of course, never forget; you always want all your vassals to have Gavelkind).

I make gavelkind work for me to make sure all my sons auto inherit something.

[Purpelia]

Ok everyone. Random question time. What's your favorite CK2 game plan? As in the thing you set out to do in a game.

[The Huskar Social Union]

Ok everyone. Random question time. What's your favorite CK2 game plan? As in the thing you set out to do in a game.

Acquire fine ass Bogomolist bitches.

[Purpelia]

In case you are wondering I am basically looking for inspiration for my next game as I am bored of trying stuff out.

[Lunas Legion]

In case you are wondering I am basically looking for inspiration for my next game as I am bored of trying stuff out.

Find random semi-relevant historical figure, attempted usurpers are always good for this, play as them and try and do better. The interesting characters page on the wiki is good for ideas if I don't have one.

Edit: Roussel de Bailleul (August 26, 1071, Byzantium) is an often short but fun run from experience.

[The Huskar Social Union]

In case you are wondering I am basically looking for inspiration for my next game as I am bored of trying stuff out.

Playing as a smaller muslim power can be fun, i started as the ruler of Tunisia in 867 (iirc) and it was pretty fun and challenging. Ended up focusing on Italy and North Africa and made my own empire. Thankfully Christianity murdered itself in my game so it was really easy to pounce on them.

[Purpelia]

I tried that. And map painting. And reforming every religion that can be reformed (Slavs are a bitch to do) and even restoring a Zoroastrian Persian empire (newer succeed that. I am convinced it's impossible.) and stuff. Like... I am out of ideas. I even had a game as a mad immortal Confucian emperor who only married his own daughters and only made his sons kings.

[Fuyujima]

I tried that. And map painting. And reforming every religion that can be reformed (Slavs are a bitch to do) and even restoring a Zoroastrian Persian empire (newer succeed that. I am convinced it's impossible.) and stuff. Like... I am out of ideas. I even had a game as a mad immortal Confucian emperor who only married his own daughters and only made his sons kings.

Use the Ruler Designer to create a character version of yourself with all your traits and make yourself an immortal.

[Purpelia]

I tried that. And map painting. And reforming every religion that can be reformed (Slavs are a bitch to do) and even restoring a Zoroastrian Persian empire (newer succeed that. I am convinced it's impossible.) and stuff. Like... I am out of ideas. I even had a game as a mad immortal Confucian emperor who only married his own daughters and only made his sons kings.

Use the Ruler Designer to create a character version of yourself with all your traits and make yourself an immortal.

Did that. That was the Confucian emperor guy. Don't ask.

[Renoa]

Ok everyone. Random question time. What's your favorite CK2 game plan? As in the thing you set out to do in a game.

Acquire fine ass Bogomolist bitches.

Coincidentally, this is what I have tattooed directly above my penis.

[Impaled Nazarene]

Acquire fine ass Bogomolist bitches.

Coincidentally, this is what I have tattooed directly above my penis.

I have several questions.

[Grenartia]

Coincidentally, this is what I have tattooed directly above my penis.

I have several questions.

What even is this thread anymore?

[North German Realm]

Ok everyone. Random question time. What's your favorite CK2 game plan? As in the thing you set out to do in a game.

Generally, it's expansion. When I'm playing Christian, I tend to play a minor Carolingian county, establish control over my de jure county and then kingdom, and then declare independence; at which point I'll begin marrying into power and crusading into prestige and piety. If I'm playing pagan, it's normally leading the reformation, establishing gender equality, and then basically raiding my way into abducting at least three daughters from every single Western and Central European, Middle Eastern, and Northern African duchy(or kingdom or empire).

[Bralia]

A new text has been written by the great Roman historian, Titus Livius.

[Bralia]

WHAT THE FUCK!? LATE GAME IMPROVEMENTS? In a Paradox game!? Are the people working on the next EUIV update finally doing something interesting?

[Ifreann]

WHAT THE FUCK!? LATE GAME IMPROVEMENTS? In a Paradox game!? Are the people working on the next EUIV update finally doing something interesting?

Dem guillotines

[Lunas Legion]

WHAT THE FUCK!? LATE GAME IMPROVEMENTS? In a Paradox game!? Are the people working on the next EUIV update finally doing something interesting?

Dem guillotines

I demand a slider for direct control of the guillotines. Or something.

[Danubian Peoples]

Hey, so, I splurged and bought all 66 CK2 DLCs. They were on sale so I bought them for half off. That's beside the point though, some features I find easy to work with, Way of Life Foci are really easy to get your head around, warrior lodges give you PCS in the triple digits, Conclave is, conclave I guess, that's stuff is easy. What I don't like is where some of these new features I have access to exist? Wanna play Zoroastrian? Well good luck dealing with the Abbablob. Are you interested in playing pagan? Well the nearest source of moneys is that one feudal county all the way in Germany. I mean, just now I was playing a Kiev game (769, Duchy of Kiev is apparently a good start or something), and I had a pretty decent Ruthenia, my succession was sorted out and I was merely stockpiling piety for religion reform. When suddenly, I'm ambushed by a 10k doomstack of Khazars, I of course lose, my kingdom gets taken away, and my realm is now in pieces-and vassals of my nomad overlords. Seriously how do you deal with nomads? I've tried playing as Kiev a lot (not just Kiev), restarted due to seperate issues unrelated to nomads, but in every game they continously pillage my provinces and destroy my already meager earnings. Which is why my main source of income had been Warrior lodge loot province missions for basically all of those tries. So, I have some questions:

How to deal with nomads?

Warrior lodges for nonpagan religions when?

Strats for reforming pagan faiths?

Reccomended starts to explore new game mechanics?

[The Olog-Hai]

Hey, so, I splurged and bought all 66 CK2 DLCs. They were on sale so I bought them for half off. That's beside the point though, some features I find easy to work with, Way of Life Foci are really easy to get your head around, warrior lodges give you PCS in the triple digits, Conclave is, conclave I guess, that's stuff is easy. What I don't like is where some of these new features I have access to exist? Wanna play Zoroastrian? Well good luck dealing with the Abbablob. Are you interested in playing pagan? Well the nearest source of moneys is that one feudal county all the way in Germany. I mean, just now I was playing a Kiev game (769, Duchy of Kiev is apparently a good start or something), and I had a pretty decent Ruthenia, my succession was sorted out and I was merely stockpiling piety for religion reform. When suddenly, I'm ambushed by a 10k doomstack of Khazars, I of course lose, my kingdom gets taken away, and my realm is now in pieces-and vassals of my nomad overlords. Seriously how do you deal with nomads? I've tried playing as Kiev a lot (not just Kiev), restarted due to seperate issues unrelated to nomads, but in every game they continously pillage my provinces and destroy my already meager earnings. Which is why my main source of income had been Warrior lodge loot province missions for basically all of those tries. So, I have some questions:

How to deal with nomads?

Warrior lodges for nonpagan religions when?

Strats for reforming pagan faiths?

Reccomended starts to explore new game mechanics?

Nonpagans, if tribal or nomadic, and bordering a warrior lodge, can have access. However, the reason they don't get lodges is because they tend to have a lot of societies (Hermetics, Assassins, St. Benedict/St. Basil/Dominicans) that pagans don't really have. Common pagan faith reforming strats are easiest for two faiths - Germanic or Hellenic. Germanic pagans, start as Sigurdr Ring in 769 or Bjorn Ironside in 867. Just a few wars away from enough holy sites, then raid. Hellenic is easy only if you're already doing a Roman Empire run. Zunists are a long slog, sometimes, and you need to work fast, because otherwise the Abbablob will eat you. Thankfully, you've got massive attrition. Zoroastrians, typically you make use of the duchies that start with event troops, or swear fealty. Unfamiliar with the other pagan/minority strats (though for Jewish start as the Khazars in 867 and eat your way south). From my experience, playing in Kiev is a pain in the ass because of nomads since you're right next door. The only way to deal with nomads, really, is good troops, and that's hard for tribals/pagans (though make good use of those piety/prestige retinues). There's a lot you can play to experience new game mechanics.

[Impaled Nazarene]

Dem guillotines

I demand a slider for direct control of the guillotines. Or something.

DIRECT RULE FROM THE GUILLOTINE!

[Valrifell]

WHAT THE FUCK!? LATE GAME IMPROVEMENTS? In a Paradox game!? Are the people working on the next EUIV update finally doing something interesting?

Dem guillotines

I'm a simple man, I see guillotines, I am happy.

[Bralia]

Titus Livius' writings interpreted by a modern scholar.

[Bralia]

Quite possibly the biggest Dev Diary ever created.

[Lunas Legion]

Quite possibly the biggest Dev Diary ever created.

Bralia you forgot the best part. Direct Control of the Guillotine.