#Ck2 horse lords strategy series#

Also, the rulerвЂ™s power must be balanced against the interests of the various Clans within the realm (Clans are not normal vassals, but rather distinct families and factions within the nomad group). These function in a radically different way from sedentary societies - you manage populations instead of holdings, and armies are raised based on population size. Nomadic government available for steppe cultures.

New Central Asian cultures: Tarim Basin and large parts of Mongolia added to map.The time has come to take the reins of history and become the Great Khan! Introducing new systems and game mechanics such as a new government form as well as the possibility of having tributary states, this expansion will also provide you with the opportunity to saddle up and build your empire from horseback.Д®xpanding and controlling trade on the ancient Silk Road in order to finance your conquests is an option - but beware - others will also try to gain control of these lucrative routes, and enemy raiders may try to destroy your trade posts if you donвЂ™t guard them well.Д¬an you build a Pax Mongolica and dominate Eurasia, connecting East and West under your rule and creating a new era of prosperity? Or will you be the terrible sword that swats down what others have built, crushing all in your path? And the price seems pretty reasonable for what you're getting, too, at less than half what some of the bigger Paradox DLCs cost.Crusader Kings II: Horse Lords is the ninth expansion for the best-selling strategy RPG Crusader Kings II, and offers expanded gameplay based around the dynamic and vibrant nomadic cultures of the Eurasian steppes. There will be bigger expansions that add stuff for everyone, but you won't need to worry about playing an incomplete version of the game just because you're missing a flavor pack for a culture or region you're not interested in. But that's the great thing about flavor packs, and I really like that Paradox is doing DLC this way now. If that's not really your thing, there isn't much reason to pick it up. I haven't even scratched the surface of the dozens of new events yet in the 20-ish hours I've played so far. If you like playing Norse rulers, there's a lot here to love. You'll eventually settle and start playing a more familiar sort of game, though you'll still have any Norse-specific dynasty legacies you've unlocked, as well as a nice little modifier that lets you continue to raise runestones even if you chose to convert to the local culture. Unfortunately, it doesn't do much for you in the long run, other than giving you the freedom to go plop down some bearded berserkers anywhere you want on the map. And it's not just a rehash of features we'd already seen in Crusader Kings 2's fantastic Old Gods and Holy Fury expansions-unlike a lot of the rest of this stuff. It's a really interesting playstyle that feels a lot different from how a game of CK3 normally goes. Even the horse lords of the steppe in CK2 couldn't just up and leave their old lives behind, aside from a special, one-time event that was specifically tied to the Magyars.

#Ck2 horse lords strategy series#

This is the first time in the Crusader Kings series we've had true nomad mechanics. And the ever-present suggestion widget still follows the stained glass motif of the default UI, which feels particularly inappropriate when I'm sailing my longships around the cold North Sea in search of plunder.

The character screen, for instance, looks identical to how it would playing as any other culture. Even the menu buttons on the right hand side now look rougher and more tribal. The UI has gotten some nice little touch-ups, as well, with the top and bottom bars sporting thematically-appropriate, wood-carved dragon motifs. And they've added some gorgeous new backgrounds, including a cozy longhouse, to serve as the set for feasting, fighting, and fratricide. The shield for the Kingdom of Sweden, for example, bears a gold Thor's Hammer if you form it as a pagan, instead of the more familiar coat of arms the Christian Swedish monarchs wore historically. The coats of arms, too, reflect whether or not you've stayed true to your pagan traditions. Norse characters can pick from an armload of new hairstyles and beards, and wear historically appropriate clothing that even changes if you adopt a different culture or convert to a new religion. The most immediately noticeable additions are all visual.