14 DAY TRIAL // When I play Crusader Kings II without using mods, I tend to start most games using Bohemia in the 1066 scenario, trying to gain as much influence as possible in the middle of Europe and finally secure the title of Holy Roman Emperor.
I played the first 20 years with Vratislav maybe 20 or 30 times during my gaming life and I wanted to get through them again in order to see how the new Sons of Abraham expansion changes the experience and influences my actions.
At first, religion seems to be easily ignored as I wait and invest in order to get the money and the piety I need to secure the title of Duke of Moravia and then that of King of Bohemia.
I could have used the Jewish lender event to get resources faster but it comes with a penalty I was unwilling to risk.
I then had to deal with my brother, who grew jealous and tried to unseat me, and no holy man stepped in to save him when I executed the poor bastard.
Then I went on a pilgrimage to see how it played out and on the road to Santiago, my king discovered that under his brutish façade, there lurked a much more intelligent man.
I also tried to get one of my bishops into the College of Cardinals in order to try to make him Pope, but the associated costs are pretty high and I was still busy plotting to secure more titles.
I tried to get Meissen to bow to me and I managed to launch and complete a plot for the title, but then I discovered how important religion can be to a ruler.
My enemy managed to request a Crusade against me from his cardinal turned Pope and I was suddenly faced with the prospects of battling the entire might of Christianity for one measly title.
Needless to say, I loaded a previous save and decided to pay more attention to the Pope.