# Crusader Kings II Co-op Game Thread! **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 2, 2013, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crusader-kings-ii-co-op-game-thread/659915 "2013-06-02T02:48:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crusader-kings-ii-co-op-game-thread/659915/21 "2013-06-02T22:12:32Z")
How about this: Does anyone _object_ to running with Sword of Islam, Legacy of Rome, and The Republic enabled? (Basically all of the DLC except for Old Gods and Sunset Invasion.) I have no preference on starting locations. I’ve only done Ireland so far so whatever people want to do is cool with me. ---
**Author:** ![XanderCrews](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ee59a6/32.png) [@XanderCrews](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XanderCrews)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2013, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crusader-kings-ii-co-op-game-thread/659915/22 "2013-06-03T02:44:40Z")
I’m interested in watching this first go round, and I’d be interested in playing if we do this twice. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2013, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crusader-kings-ii-co-op-game-thread/659915/23 "2013-06-03T03:37:43Z")
I have no particular objection. Though is there any reason to have those DLCs active if we’re not planning on playing a Muslim ruler of trade prince? ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2013, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crusader-kings-ii-co-op-game-thread/659915/24 "2013-06-03T04:15:22Z")
I believe retinues are only available if you have the Legacy of Rome DLC. You also don’t get the new Byzantium decisions and events. Similarly, the new rebel mechanics are only available with The Old Gods. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2013, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crusader-kings-ii-co-op-game-thread/659915/25 "2013-06-03T18:14:10Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > I believe retinues are only available if you have the Legacy of Rome DLC. You also don’t get the new Byzantium decisions and events. Similarly, the new rebel mechanics are only available with The Old Gods. I’ve figured out how to get retinues, I think, but how can I utilize them properly? ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2013, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crusader-kings-ii-co-op-game-thread/659915/26 "2013-06-03T20:50:26Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > I’ve figured out how to get retinues, I think, but how can I utilize them properly? Someone with more game experience me can correct me if I’m wrong, but in my experience, retinues are great because they don’t count against your levy. So if you can raise, say, 3000 soldiers with your various levies, then if you also have a retinue of 500, your total is now increased to 3500. Also, being able to strategically place the retinue in a good location, rather than raising it in a county halfway across the map and then waiting 15 days for it to arrive at its destination can be useful. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2013, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crusader-kings-ii-co-op-game-thread/659915/27 "2013-06-03T21:25:03Z")
Retinues also only cost you money while they’re reinforcing and I **think** you can declare war even when you have them raised. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2013, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crusader-kings-ii-co-op-game-thread/659915/28 "2013-06-03T22:40:25Z")
Please add me to the list of players. I’ve played CK2 a lot, but no promises at being any good at it, since I play more for the soap-opera than the country-building. I have no preferences of where, although I’d prefer a when as early as possible, to give us the most possible playtime. I have all the DLCs, so it doesn’t matter what’s on or off. But I don’t think it matters if we’re playing a Christian fiefdom. The DLCs simply give the option to play other types of realms; all the rules and mechanics are already incorporated into the baseline game, as far as I know. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crusader-kings-ii-co-op-game-thread/659915/29 "2013-06-04T00:13:37Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > How about this: Does anyone _object_ to running with Sword of Islam, Legacy of Rome, and The Republic enabled? (Basically all of the DLC except for Old Gods and Sunset Invasion.) > . This might limit the pool of potential players. Until the new thread was created some days ago, I had no DLC at all. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crusader-kings-ii-co-op-game-thread/659915/30 "2013-06-04T00:20:53Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > How about this: Does anyone _object_ to running with Sword of Islam, Legacy of Rome, and The Republic enabled? (Basically all of the DLC except for Old Gods and Sunset Invasion.) > . This might limit the pool of potential players. Until the new thread was created some days ago, I had no DLC at all. Apart from that, I’m waiting for you to decide where to begin and which what DLC. Although when I think of it, if I start the game in vanilla mod, couldn’t the next player turn on whatever DLC is eventually decided upon after receiving the save? I propose to let the OP, **appleciders** decide about the place and DLCs on the basis on people’s answers in this thread. I personnaly favors the king of Aragon and no DLC. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crusader-kings-ii-co-op-game-thread/659915/31 "2013-06-04T00:31:51Z")
Good point, re limiting the pool of players. I am fine with running with DLC turned off. King of Aragon sounds okay to me as well. Second choice: Duke of Bohemia. (I like starting out with smaller characters.) ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crusader-kings-ii-co-op-game-thread/659915/32 "2013-06-04T01:28:58Z")
Whomever starts the game off picks the ruler. **appleciders** , pick whomever you want, at the earliest date, for vanilla Crusader Kings, pls. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crusader-kings-ii-co-op-game-thread/659915/33 "2013-06-04T02:20:51Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Good point, re limiting the pool of players. I am fine with running with DLC turned off. King of Aragon sounds okay to me as well. Second choice: Duke of Bohemia. (I like starting out with smaller characters.) I didn’t check, but it was said that Aragon was a single province kingdom, so presumably less powerful than Bohemia, but with the advantages of being a kingdom from the get-go. > [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > Whomever starts the game off picks the ruler. **appleciders** , pick whomever you want, at the earliest date, for vanilla Crusader Kings, pls. He already picked me as the first player. So, I’m going to start one as king of Aragon, and if it turns out people don’t like it, it’s not a problem. I can keep playing this one by myself, and start another tomorrow or the day after. Also, I guess we could start two or more games. After all, if I’m the first player, it will be a while until I can play again (and for a second game, I would propose to pick a muslim ruler with the Sword of Islam DLC) ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crusader-kings-ii-co-op-game-thread/659915/34 "2013-06-04T02:40:10Z")
Woo! Let the killing-- er, crusading – oh, what the hell, the killing, begin! ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crusader-kings-ii-co-op-game-thread/659915/35 "2013-06-04T03:55:55Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > I didn’t check, but it was said that Aragon was a single province kingdom, so presumably less powerful than Bohemia, but with the advantages of being a kingdom from the get-go. > > He already picked me as the first player. So, I’m going to start one as king of Aragon, and if it turns out people don’t like it, it’s not a problem. I can keep playing this one by myself, and start another tomorrow or the day after. > > Also, I guess we could start two or more games. After all, if I’m the first player, it will be a while until I can play again (and for a second game, I would propose to pick a muslim ruler with the Sword of Islam DLC) Perfect. Time to stabbinate some fools. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crusader-kings-ii-co-op-game-thread/659915/36 "2013-06-04T04:55:14Z")
Aragon is going to be fun. Beware the Moors and watch out for your cousins! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crusader-kings-ii-co-op-game-thread/659915/37 "2013-06-04T10:15:55Z")
Sound the trumpets! Raise the levies! Cry, “havoc!” ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crusader-kings-ii-co-op-game-thread/659915/38 "2013-06-04T15:47:07Z")
I played 15 years of it. I’m pausing at the moment since I’m not sure what to do next. I’ll post a partial AAR tomorrow, I think. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crusader-kings-ii-co-op-game-thread/659915/39 "2013-06-04T22:15:53Z")
Great! I’m going to be mostly out if contract for the next week, Aragon is fine with me, and good luck! ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crusader-kings-ii-co-op-game-thread/659915/40 "2013-06-05T21:30:12Z")
\*\*AD 1067 \*\*: My wife-to-be still needs her education to be completed. My Steward being still a bachelor, I had him married to a Castillan lady whose competences were renowned, and entrusted my bride to her, so that she would teach her how to manage money and land. While I was at it, I married other celibate courtiers to women with potential, and the mayor of Huesca to one of my courtiers. It was more difficult to find appropriate spouses to my two sisters, who shall inherit my titles if I were to die. I had to find men whose station in life suits a king’s sister and who would also be competent and useful men. The elder one married a nobleman from the Balkans, who became my spymaster. The younger (and my primary heir) a prince of Denmark, which brought a lot of prestige to my house. I made him my new steward. To my surprise, this prince would later become heir to the throne of Denmark, and his marriage having been matrilineal, the house Jimena might one day rule this remote country. \*\*AD 1067 \*\*: On January 1st, Isabel d’Urgell came of age and I married her. I hope she will give me a son. Several children would be born this year, but none from my loins. My sister Urraca, though, had a son, so securing our lineage. \*\*AD 1068 \*\*: The king of Arragon launched a holy war against the neighboring, and rather powerful, emirate of Zaragoza. I decided to stay out of this adventurous war. I’m bidding my time, and accumulating money. For this purpose, I raised the tax level on cities. On the other hand I agreed to join a war waged by an Italian relative against the infidels in Sicily. Not that I expect to actually help him fight this war, but I’m sure he’ll appreciate this symbolic gesture. An envoy of Pope Alexander II explained to me that his Holiness wanted to choose the bishop of Arragon. I politely told him that until further notice, I’m the master in my kingdom. \*\*AD 1069 \*\*: I married my half-brother to a lady really remarkable for her talents. He didn’t appreciate at all that she was a lowborn woman. He said it would be a black mark on his honour. But who cares about his honour? He’s a bastard, anyway. I accumulated enough money to hire and pay for some time a band of Scot mercenaries. The Sheik of Lerida is in an open revolt against the emir of Zaragoza. The Kings of Leon, Castille and Galicia are embroiled in a war. The time is right to claim the domain of my brother-in-law, the count of Urgell. On July, I gather my armies. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crusader-kings-ii-co-op-game-thread/659915.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crusader-kings-ii-co-op-game-thread/659915.md?page=3)