14 DAY TRIAL // Crusader Kings II is already a very complex title, even when compared with other releases from Paradox Interactive, but the development team working on it wants to introduce a number of new mechanics in the coming Horse Lords expansion, all of them designed to improve the overall experience.
The biggest of those included in the new diary is a change to vassalage which adds tributaries and allows players to create new relations with the other states that they are trying to dominate or to escape from the tutelage of.
Paradox Development Studios states, "the names of Tributary states are no longer shown though they retain their own colors in the Realms map mode. Tributaries pay a monthly tax to their suzerain and cannot refuse the suzerain's call to wars. However, the suzerain is also expected to protect their tributaries. Apart from this, tributaries are still autonomous."
Crusader Kings II states that fall into this new category will be able to declare wars for themselves, which might generate some issues for their suzerain, and when the ruler dies, they manage to regain their independence.
The Horse Lords adds new types of succession for steppe factions
The development team also says that nomads will get access to a new way to get an heir based on prestige, with the son or brother that has the most getting the leadership of the nation.
Minors are only able to rule a clan but not the entire tribe.
To give Crusader Kings II players some form of control over the result the game adds a new dynamic system for mercenaries.
Gamers will be able to send sons and brothers into the world to show their military prowess, which means they will take some manpower and will become a mercenary band that can be hired by the other rulers in the region.
The best of them will grow their regiment and will become more prestigious, but they might also get event chains that put them in danger or bring them into conflict with other significant Crusader Kings II characters.
Nomads will also get a range of new interactions between the smaller clans that make up a tribe.
Horse Lords for Crusader Kings II does not yet have an official launch date.
