Crusader Kings 2: 75% off on Steam sale

[fran]

CK2 currently on 75% discount on Steam. What is the learning curve on this game?

[Nefaro]

Are you familar with any of Paradox' other EU3-style games?  It's like those, but with a lot less boring time compression waits between events. 

Very fun for playing family/power politics in the medieval age.  Their best of the lot, by far.

I've been waiting for a sale on Gamersgate for the whole of it (incl DLC), as the Gamersgate version has no DRM and doesn't rely on Steam.  It'll be a longer wait, though (and I already have the beta so no hurry).

[JudgeDredd]

I STILL haven't taken a punt on this game - regardless of the price reductions shown in Steam...twice now I've avoided buying.

I don't know why - I think it's because the Paradox games have a SHED load of popups with lots of text to read (and lots of it the same too)...and it starts to really bore me.

I know you can switch them off - but I always felt I was left wondering which ones I should switch off - and things like I might want to switch off Declarations of War - but then again whilst I might want to know if Poland DoW on the UK - I don't really give a crap if "some extremely minor not even worth bothering about" country DoW's on another "some extremely minor not even worth bothering about" country...so I end up leaving most of them on - and in the end my eyes bleed and I move onto something more enjoyable.

I have heard great things about Crusader Kings 2 - in fact nothing but good - but I'm still scared of Popup Hell!

[PanzersEast]

It is not that bad, IMO it is the best of the Paradox games thus far and a for sure purchase.  It has been hard for me to play EU3 and I have shelved Sengoku since CK2 has been released because it is a very polished and engaging game.  The expansions give it a lot more versatility and challenges. 



PE

[Nefaro]

I don't know why - I think it's because the Paradox games have a SHED load of popups with lots of text to read (and lots of it the same too)...and it starts to really bore me.

CK2 has a far larger range of event pop-ups so you don't see the same five freaking events popping up repeatedly.  You actually have to read up and make decisions, mostly in the roleplaying guise of the specific family head you are playing.  So it has a more personal flavor to it, which is a big advantage over prior games' event system.  I would always get so sick of the events in EU3, Vic2, etc wherein it was just a constant choice between being penalized -1 stability or penalized something else.  The situations (and often choices) are far far more varied in CK2, many of them involving decisions regarding a certain other individual character.

But if you don't like making choices via an event system, with regular choices to be made as both leader (king,duke, count, etc) and family head, then I can't guarantee you'll like it.  Still.. it's the best Pdox has made.   

Have any of you, sitting on the fence, spied UCGeeks' long running AAR on the front page?  Best way to get a feel for the flow is reading AARs with some references to screenshots and the gameplay mechanics!

EDIT:  And I was extremely thankful that Paradox fixed their event pop-up interface - now the game is auto-paused when an event that requires a decision pops up and then un-pauses the game once you've chosen.   Had been wanting that for a long time, as it was such a pain in the ass to be jockeying the spacebar on/off every time events popped.

[JudgeDredd]

lol - I thought the forums WAS the front page!

I'll have a read - 'cos this is bound to be in Steams Christmas sale again - with DLC hopefully

[sandman2575]

I have heard great things about Crusader Kings 2 - in fact nothing but good - but I'm still scared of Popup Hell!

I'm kinda surprised at how CK2 seems to avoid criticism.  Don't get me wrong, I do think it's a good game and maybe like Nefaro says, Pardox's best to date.  But I have a lot of trouble enjoying it myself. 

It seems to me that the game often plays out in very similar ways:  1. Be Duke  2. Marry, produce heirs  3. Take steps to wrest counties from vassals in effort to become King  4. Watch as disgruntled brothers who want to be duke rebel against you  5. Defeat them, throw in dungeon, take their titles  6. Die, heir takes over  7. Rinse, repeat

A gross oversimplification, I know, but I can't get over the feeling when I play that I"m just constantly going through this cycle.  It gets tiresome.

All that said.... At 75% off, it's very much worth getting

[tgb]

Yeah, if a Christian duke is all you ever play.