14 DAY TRIAL // Crusader Kings II is a game that might initially be intimidating, but which can capture a dedicated gamer’s attention once it opens up and reveals all its wonderful mechanics and events.
When the core game was launched, I played as Ireland, one of the nations that are separated from the rest of the world and where gamers can learn the ropes before trying out one of the more interesting kingdoms and duchies in the middle of Europe.
Since then, I have tried out factions as varied as Bohemia, Granada, Castille, Venice, Austria, some Norse tribes, the Byzantines, the Kahazars and the Pecenegs, mostly in the 867 and the 1066 scenarios.
I have also spent time with the excellent, though still in development, Game of Thrones mode, trying to make the North rise again in the War of the Five kings scenario.
I can’t say exactly how much Crusader Kings II I have played, because my first version of the game came via GOG.com and I have only recently switched to Steam, but I estimate that I am well over the 100 hours mark.
And Sons of Abraham, with its plethora of new events and the cool religion mechanics, has drawn me back in completely, working to see exactly how I can use the new mechanics in order to expand my realm and secure more power.
The only complaint I have about the expansion is how hard it is to survive as the Khazar Khanate, the only Jewish kingdom that existed in the time frame.
I understand that they existed in a very dangerous neighborhood and that Paradox Interactive is committed to historical realism to some level, but it basically means that one of the major features of the expansion is off limits.
Despite this, I am sure to spend more time playing Crusader Kings II during the winter.