Paradox Interactive has been at the forefront of developing some trulystellar 4X strategy games. FromStellaristo theEuropa Universalisseries, the studio has consistently delivered excellence in terms of creating amazing experiences that fans can easily sink hundreds of hours into. However, there’s one major gripe about these games: they are so complex that most beginners would be turned off due to the barrier of entry.
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This is whereCrusader Kings 3comes into the picture. This game isone of the most beginner-friendly strategy gamesParadox Interactive has released, complete with a tutorial that teaches the basics properly along with a helpful set of reminders that pop up every step of the way. However, some of the mechanics still have a learning curve, with war being one such aspect. Keeping this in mind, here are ten tips when it comes to declaring and engaging in wars that players should be aware of.
10Split Forces To Manage Multiple Opposing Armies
One of the biggest mistakes players can make while waging war inCrusader Kings 3is to combine all their forces into one large army. This is not recommended in the slightest, especially if players have huge armies that number in the tens of thousands.
Instead, players shouldsplit their armies so that they can tackle multiple enemy forceswithout being forced to wait out the events of a solitary war. Watching one’s fort get raided while the army is busy handling a bunch of peasants is not an appealing sight in the slightest.
9Take Attrition Into Account Before Moving Forces
Attrition is an important mechanicto keep in mind while moving armies. Soldier count dwindles over time when armies move from one location to the other, and it differs based on several factors.
This is another aspect where splitting armies also helps, since certain terrain can only supply a set number of forces. So, players are better off moving multiple armies through different routes and choosing smoother terrain to reduce this loss in the number of available troops.
8Hire Powerful Knights & Appoint Competent Commanders
Knights are integral to ensure the success of armies in a war. Ideally, players should appoint knights with a high Marshal statto increase their chances of winning a battle.
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Along with this, players should alsoappoint commanders who actually know what they’re doing. A poor commander will end up being a liability, which can potentially allow weaker forces to overpower the player’s superior ones as well.
7Be Sneaky When It Comes To Helping Allied Forces
Maintaining allies isa crucial part ofCrusader Kings 3. That being said, it can get rather annoying to fight by an ally’s side whenever they get into war with another faction.
This is where players should exploit the mechanics of the game for their benefit. Instead of rejecting a call to arms, players shouldaccept it and wait until the last possible second to raise troops for war.The number of troops to be raised should be lessened as well, so that the financial impact of this war isn’t too immense.
6Call Upon Allies When War Is Being Waged Against You
Keep in mind that the AI is nowhere near as smart as the player, and won’t game the system like a human mind can. So,feel free to call upon allies whenever the player is in the middle of a war.
While it costs Prestige to call upon allies when the player is the aggressor, the same isn’t the case when the tables are turned. So, players should feel free to call every ally at their disposal when someone else has declared war on them, to utilize the most manpower possible in a battle.
5Get Men-At-Arms Regiments As Soon As Possible
The levies that can be raised for war are decent enough, but these troops will fold like a deck of cards against more trained soldiers. This makes it important tolevel the playing field with a few choice troops of one’s own.
Players should definitely secure a bunch of Men-at-Arms as soon as possible. These powerful soldiers can potentially turn the tide of battle when armies are of an equal size, allowing the player to emerge victorious even from desperate situations.
4Use A Highly-Skilled Marshal To Reduce Army Upkeep
The Council should ideally have the most skilled people possible, and the Marshal is no exception to this golden rule. Ahighly skilled Marshal is of prime importanceto ensure that the cost of maintaining armies is lessened substantially.
This is especially true in the middle of war. In these situations, army upkeep can become so expensive that players might find their coffers to be drained substantially after the war is brought to a close. A good Marshall will help mitigate this issue and keep the player from entering dire financial straits.
3Take Account Of An Enemy’s Allied Forces Before Waging War
At a glance, some potential candidates for war might not seem all that powerful — and they might appear easy to trample. However, that’s before taking into account the strength of their allies.
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Sometimes, punitive kingdoms will featurepowerful allies with immense military strength. Players should keep an eye out for these allies whenever they’re trying toselect the lands that they can usurp. Don’t underestimate how powerful allies can be.
2Keep An Eye On The Battlefield’s Terrain
There are times when players might have superior forces, but suffer defeats regardless. This can be rather puzzling for players who don’t understand the reasons for these losses. Lots of factors affect warfare inCrusader Kings 3, just as they do in the real world.
Defeats in these situations are mainly to do with the terrain where battles occur. More often than not,the AI will try and pick out terrain thatsuits their style of warfare,which players should take into account before engaging in battle.
1Don’t Go To War Simply Because It’s Possible
Perhaps the most valuable tip when waging war…is to not wage war. This might sound a bit confusing, but players should keep in mind thatCrusader Kings 3is not a warfare simulator. It’s only one aspect of a much larger simulation.
The game prides realism over everything else, and wars seldom happened in real life.Trying to find trivial reasons to wage war will just end up being detrimental in the long run.Focus on the other aspects of the game as well — violence isn’t the solution to everything.
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