Crusader Kings III received great attention in our country as well as all over the world. While we walked through the Royal Court, we had a pleasant interview with alexander oltner, the game’s design director.
We hope you enjoy reading it.
● Crusader Kings 3 was one of the most anticipated games for fans of the genre. How’d it go from the game’s release date? How were the fans and the new players who had just met the game?
We were very pleased with the way the game was welcomed by both the fans of the series and the new players. We never get tired of reading the incredible stories of characters and family that players upload to social media. One of our design goals for CK3 was to make it easier for new players to get into this world while giving the followers of the series the deep, big strategy gameplay they were waiting for. It was a daunting task and the last thing we wanted to do was alienate any player, old or new. I think our team has done a great job of paying attention to this line and creating a game that anyone interested in medieval history can enjoy.
● How has the pandemic affected you and the Crusader Kings III team? Did you have to change the whole structure for that? Or was it easy to manage?
The game had been in development for several years and we made its announcement in October 2019, just a few months before the pandemic. As a result, the biggest impact was that in the few months from its announcement to the release of the game, we all had to work from home to finish the game and launch it. There was a lot to be done in the months before and after the launch, and it was not easy just to organize online, which of course meant many challenges for the team. But we had a good infrastructure to work with, so everything went well.
● After you published northern land content, you released the new expansion; Royal Court. What was the main inspiration behind this plugin?
We wanted to do something we’d never done before in a Crusader Kings game, and the inspiration we were looking for came straight from the Middle Ages. A monarch’s entourage meant the center of all their powers, where they dealt with political issues, intrigues and dramas. Crusader Kings games have long referred to this entourage and what’s going on in it, but it’s never been more than words and references. With this expansion, we want to make the palace a real place where the entourage lives and your artworks are exhibited.
jpg 1024w” sizes=”(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px”>
● How will the throne system work? How will he reward the people who play the game?
The idea is to make yourself feel like a king who deals with the problems and demands of your kingdom. Our dream has always been that you have your own throne room with the subjects that will come your way, the ones who kneel in your favor.
Since throne room and entourage interactions can only be used by Kings and Emperors, we can say that they are a kind of reward for players. Lower-level nobles will not have them, so once you have power, you will have new options suitable for someone with more responsibility. Having a large entourage will reward you in many ways, from unlocking new actions to events and artifacts.
● The new structure of the cultural hybrid system allows the player to bring the two cultures together. Are there any limitations to this? Or can we use it in infinite forms? When we talk about hybrid culture, does it accurately reflect history, or is this something we can evaluate on the side of realizing the limits of the game?
The system has natural boundaries. To create hybrid cultures, you need to meet certain conditions, and doing so will cost you a lot of prestige. That way, hybrids won’t show up everywhere.
But historically, that’s happened! Spanish, English, Sicilian… they are all hybrids of other regional cultures. We will even encourage the development of some of these historical cultures within the game.
If you think there are more hybrids in the game than you want, you can adjust the frequency of culture changes in the rule settings when you start the game.
● What are the differences in the monarch’s inventory compared to Crusader Kings 2?
There are many differences, but the two most important are that the works of art have an endurance score, so that the characters and dynasties can claim these works. Endurance causes the works to break when they are not well cared for by an antique dealer and beaten again when in poor condition. Claims on artifacts allow them to go to war, plan or duel to get the characters back.
● Is there anything you’d like to say to Turkish players? (We still can’t wait to see language support!)
We love your passion for Crusader Kings 3! We believe you will continue to enjoy the game and we hope you look forward to additional content such as the Royal Court coming soon.
..
