I'm a longtime CK2 player and enjoy CK3 greatly, especially when you use the console (cheating/debug). But I just can't recommend it. If you're like me and care more about the 'story' than the 'game' - which paradox claims to be focused on with a modern emphasis on 'roleplay' - you will find yourself slamming your head against your desk almost constantly.

Why can't you join a vassal's war? Why does my +100 opinion Spanish Catholic brother and friend rise up in furious rebellion when I try to revoke the county of a random orthodox bulgarian I've just conquered? Why do AI crusaders run away from the Crusade and leave you to die against an easily beatable enemy? Why did my brother send his Genius Robust Handsome son and heir as a hostage to the court of random basque muslims, making him ineligible to marry or have kids?

This is just a small sample of the slop you will face if you try to play CK3 without cheating, which I have dubbed 'paraslop'. The problem is, the game is easy - incredibly easy if you break it by doing busted stuff like hybridizing the Norse culture with the Tamil, for instance. But if you actually do 'roleplay', like Paradox says they want you to? Either get up the console or prepare for an endless stream of frustratingly horrible design choices and nonsensical magic that arbitrarily decides what you can do and how you can do it.

This game needs a serious re-evaluation of many core mechanics. It's completely unacceptable that you can be a King with your son and heir as a vassal duke and have NO physical option to help if his vassals arbitrarily decide they want to depose and murder him - except to watch it happen, with your 'Offer to Join War' button literally greyed out - especially in a game that has been out for multiple years now with over $100 of DLC.

I'm a longtime CK2 player and enjoy CK3 greatly, especially when you use the console (cheating/debug). But I just can't recommend it. If you're like me and care more about the 'story' than the 'game' - which paradox claims to be focused on with a modern emphasis on 'roleplay' - you will find yourself slamming your head against your desk almost constantly. Why can't you join a vassal's war? Why does my +100 opinion Spanish Catholic brother and friend rise up in furious rebellion when I try to revoke the county of a random orthodox bulgarian I've just conquered? Why do AI crusaders run away from the Crusade and leave you to die against an easily beatable enemy? Why did my brother send his Genius Robust Handsome son and heir as a hostage to the court of random basque muslims, making him ineligible to marry or have kids? This is just a small sample of the slop you will face if you try to play CK3 without cheating, which I have dubbed 'paraslop'. The problem is, the game is easy - incredibly easy if you break it by doing busted stuff like hybridizing the Norse culture with the Tamil, for instance. But if you actually do 'roleplay', like Paradox says they want you to? Either get up the console or prepare for an endless stream of frustratingly horrible design choices and nonsensical magic that arbitrarily decides what you can do and how you can do it. This game needs a serious re-evaluation of many core mechanics. It's completely unacceptable that you can be a King with your son and heir as a vassal duke and have NO physical option to help if his vassals arbitrarily decide they want to depose and murder him - except to watch it happen, with your 'Offer to Join War' button literally greyed out - especially in a game that has been out for multiple years now with over $100 of DLC.