Paradox Interactive has always been at the helm of creating spectacular grand strategy games that end up being a blast to play through. However, if there's one negative that players can point out about this studio's games, it's the fact that these titles are extremely convoluted at first glance and can be quite a pain to get into for new gamers. This complaint was addressed by Paradox in their latest game, Crusader Kings 3.
No other game by the studio has been as beginner-friendly as Crusader Kings 3. New players to this series can easily start with this title to slowly understand the basics of the series before getting into its more complex aspects. As beginners, it's recommended to utilize the following tips to grasp the game's mechanics and take the first step into the amazing gameplay loop of Crusader Kings 3.
Updated April 8, 2022 by Ritwik Mitra: For a series that is supposed to be extremely complex, it's amazing just how accessible Crusader Kings 3 really is. Paradox Interactive did a brilliant job of giving many new fans the opportunity to get into this amazing title... although even the accessible nature of this title won't help beginners a lot when they make classic mistakes that newcomers to this grand strategy series are bound to make. The most egregious mistakes of the bunch are mentioned below.
15 Invest In Your Court
The Royal Court DLC might be a bit of a mixed bag, but there's no denying that this expansion does have its fair share of advantages. Witnessing a physical court is pretty neat, and the events — while repetitious — do add a bit of flavor to the game.
The best way to make use of this DLC's offerings is to invest in the Royal Court's furnishings to enjoy all the bonuses that come with it. It might seem like a waste of money, but players who are patient and improve their Court Splendor will gain amazing benefits over time.
14 Raise A Few Men-At-Arms
Just having a large armed force won't guarantee victory in a battle. Crusader Kings 3's wars can be pretty frustrating at times, especially if players have to deal with continuous losses, a barrage of losses, and poor ally AI.
Thankfully, most of the problems with wars can be reduced by just investing in your men-at-arms. Make sure to not overdo it, since it takes quite a bit of funding to maintain these decked-out armies, especially when forces are active.
13 Figure Out Ways To Reduce Stress
Stress is a great mechanic in Crusader Kings 3 that makes roleplaying more of a blast. Now, characters with personality traits will gain stress if they act out of character, which can cause serious problems further down the line if it isn't managed.
Characters who accumulate stress levels develop vices at the first stage, before having a great chance of dying as they continue to get stressed out. An uptick in stress can come at any time, so you should be wary and keep it as low as possible whenever you get the chance - go on hunts and host feasts often!
12 Playing Through The Tutorial Is A Must
Most games nowadays tend to feature rather annoying tutorials that mention the most obvious information possible. So, most players can't be faulted for jumping into games right away without a second thought.
However, Crusader Kings 3 is an exception to this rule. The game is almost impossible to get into without tutorials, and players will be left dumbfounded at every turn without a proper guide.
11 Check Out The Tooltips As Much As Possible
One major reason why Crusader Kings 3 is such an accessible title is mainly due to the importance of tooltips in this game. Pretty much every complex part of the game is made easier with the inclusion of tooltips that lay out crucial information pertaining to the mechanic, the historical term, or anything else along the same lines.
You should never skip these tooltips, especially if confused. The fact that there are extensive settings to control the duration and locking of these tooltips is a testament to just how pivotal they are to understanding the nuances of Crusader Kings 3.
10 Keep An Eye Out For Important In-Game Notifications
Another thing that Crusader Kings 3 employed to make the game less confusing is the use of in-game reminders along with the in-your-face events. With this mechanic, no important information or urgent tasks should be ignored.
While these in-game notifications can feel rather oppressive to follow at times, new players should definitely keep an eye out on them. Following the points mentioned here, they can be critical to ensure your success.
9 Secure An Heir
Game over in Crusader Kings 3 happens when you die with no heir to follow you. You get a nice big Game Over screen that gives you lovely details about your dynasty, sure, but it's far better to avoid that fate.
Make sure that your player character is married at all times to ensure you have the ability to produce rightful heirs. You can also legitimize bastards or swap to a government type that can nominate heirs from amongst family members - just make sure you have an heir!
8 Don't Declare War At A Moment's Notice
Unlike most strategy games, the objective of Crusader Kings 3 is not to declare war and take over territories by force. If anything, being a war-hungry ruler will lead to your vassals and neighbors harboring ill will towards you for the longest time.
Instead, you should try and marry into power and strike deals — some more fatal than others — in order to gain control over certain territories. After all, Crusader Kings 3 is a game about politics, and warfare is just a small part of it.
7 Always Keep Vassals Happy
Vassals are the bread and butter of Crusader Kings 3. Given the fact that you can't really control each and every territory on your own, it's only a given that the job of governance would need to be delegated to other members of the court.
However, keeping vassals happy is a task in its own right. These people can be quite demanding, especially if they become a Powerful Vassal who demands a seat on the council at all times. Try sending them gifts or swaying them to your cause.
6 Keep Competent People On The Council
The council is another part of Crusader Kings 3 that you need to focus on at all times. Each councilor ends up bringing their own skills to the table, and having to shuffle around lineups to get the best combination around is a surprisingly engaging part of the game.
However, you can't keep the most ideal members on the council at all times due to the system of Powerful Vassals. Therefore, a perfect balance needs to be struck so that the council doesn't end up being totally incompetent.
5 Form Fewer More Powerful Alliances
A big part of Crusader Kings 3 is definitely the alliances that players can make with other rulers, mostly guaranteed through marriages or hooks. Even in this area, you need to strike a balance as well.
Having too few allies will lead to you getting overwhelmed by powerful opponents during a war. However, too many alliances also have their drawbacks, with you being forced into numerous petty conflicts with dire repercussions if you decide to ignore these call-to-arms.
4 Pick The Right Lifestyle Focus
Every character in Crusader Kings 3 should have a lifestyle focus - they will passively earn points in this focus as they live their lives and can eventually take neat perks to provide more concrete bonuses.
When picking a lifestyle, the game will try to sway you to a focus that you'll naturally gain lots of points in thanks to your stats - but don't be afraid to pick a focus that more suits your playstyle. If you want to play as that dreadful seducer, pick Intrigue!
3 Start With Some Of The Easier Dynasties To Enjoy Initial Playthroughs
There's no need to prove anything by trying to play as a lowly duke or county ruler in Crusader Kings 3. This move is mostly recommended for experts who have a solid idea of the game and how it plays out.
Beginners should stick to the tried-and-tested rulers that start off with a wealth of resources. Doing so will help them grasp the basics of the game easily without getting too frustrated in the process.
2 Place A Great Emphasis On Roleplaying As The Current Ruler
Each ruler in Crusader Kings 3 has their own distinct and unique personality. Trying to force these characters to perform actions that go against their nature will lead to an unnecessary buildup of stress, which can have dire consequences later down the line.
In order to prevent rulers from being ravaged by stress, you should put yourself in the shoes of the current ruler and think from their point of view. Performing actions that make them happier is the key to a long and prosperous reign.
1 Learn From Your Failures Instead Of Retracing Your Steps
Losing is integral to the experience of Crusader Kings 3. After all, most real-life dynasties have experienced both glory days and moments of ruin, and Crusader Kings 3 is no exception.
Loading up previous saves whenever you are stuck in a tight spot is definitely not the way to go. Instead, you should learn from your mistakes and prioritize the succession of your lineage no matter what. It's the most crucial aspect of Crusader Kings 3, and everything else is secondary.