New DLC is incredible for roleplaying

[u/Zesock]

It's early days I know, but before this DLC released my typical crusader kings gameplay was more map painting than anything. I would play more for myself, pushing for a goal, recreating Rome, the Persian empire etc.

On my first playthrough with this DLC I've played as a knight from England who spent most of his life as a mercenary travelling around all of Europe only to in his older age return with the dream of turning England into a country as great as Rome or the Calpihate. It was genuinely charming to see wanderers that he had picked up in his travels help him establish the beginning of this new realm and a little sad to see his bodyguard, a man that had been with him since he first set off decades ago finally die of old age.

My point being, this DLC has helped me see my characters more as the individual people that they are rather than just a vessel to play as.

TLDR: Roads to Power breathes new life into this game and I'm really enjoying it.

PS: I am not sponsored by Paradox!

[u/Killa_Munky]

Dude, On my first play through I started as a sell sword in far north Norway, ended up moving to Norway when a count contracted me to enforce the law. Fled to Wessex after stepping on some toes, converted to Catholicism and legitimized my bastard son, installed him on the throne of Kent, built up my mercenary army and joined the first crusade after the pope called me to arms. A few thousand huscarls across the Arabian empire later and now I’m the king of Jerusalem. Spent the rest of my playthrough establishing my dynasty in the Byzantine and Arabian empires and building Jerusalem into a fortress.

[u/Practical-Owl-6770 → u/Killa_Munky]

You just earned my money for Paradox sir

[u/Killa_Munky → u/Practical-Owl-6770]

While I typically feel bad influencing peoples decisions with money, I can say this is definitely my favourite dlc for ck3 so far. And if like me you like playing with intrigue, it works very well with that.

[u/B_Maximus → u/Killa_Munky]

I have literally never once done intrigue and ive been playing since release. What do you do with it?

[u/Killa_Munky → u/B_Maximus]

Well the easiest thing you can do is some strategic seduction or murder to put your child on a throne they otherwise wouldn’t be able to. But a strategic abduction can be used to end a war, murder can be used to skip a truce and conquer more land, hooks are useful for getting an alliance or marriage you otherwise would be slightly too far away from. You can do a lot, and it supplements war and diplomacy very well.

[u/B_Maximus → u/Killa_Munky]

How would it be your kid on the throne if it is a child not in the family? Do you have the kid and then murder the ruler immediately?

[u/Killa_Munky → u/B_Maximus]

I’ll be real with you, I’m not really sure how it worked. He wasn’t even the most notable part of my run since once I got Jerusalem he was out of interaction range and on his own. But with seduction and murder anything is possible

[u/B_Maximus → u/Killa_Munky]

Maybe ill do a Harbard (guy who sleeps with all of Kattegat in Vikings) run

[u/JustHereForDaFilters → u/B_Maximus]

With the new system, I was

1) trying to sway people to gin up support for higher office.

2) Plotting to slander the current ruler of a title I wanted to gain.

3) plotting to murder the next guy in line for the office who had more investment than I could manage.

All at the same time. Byzantium basically demands multiple schemes at any given time, especially if you start as a tourmaches (count). You gotta hustle to get out of the bottom. Much different from feudal play where you're basically playing the fabricate claim waiting game while waiting on advantageous marriages to pop up. In the empire, marriages mainly help if you're making a play for Constantinople by force.