14 DAY TRIAL // A true king knows that it’s not a good idea to back down from a challenge. If a vassal faction tries to impose its will, it can lead to a loss of legitimacy, so it’s better to draw swords and settle it on the battlefield. If a family member makes a request, refuse all but the heir or the head of the dynasty.
But when the challenge is a fast-moving disease, there’s no easy way to battle it head-on. Lotharingia’s king and his dukes have invested in farming and castle development, aiming for prosperity and strong defenses. Our physicians are mediocre. Our Royal burial sites might offer some protection but not enough.
The Velskian fever has already infected more than a dozen counties and does not seem to be burning itself out. And measles has already taken one heir away from my king. So, it might be time to go all in on measures to control disease and go into seclusion when a plague draws near.
Legends of the Dead is a new downloadable content pack for Crusader Kings III, developed by Paradox Development Studio and published by Paradox Interactive. This is referred to as a core pack, designed to add new mechanics without focusing on a particular geographic region.
The grand strategy title allows players to pick any ruler in its Medieval world and guide his destiny and those of his heirs. It offers a wide variety of possibilities and playing in Western Europe is very different from ruling in Africa or the Middle East. Legends of the Dead adds a lot of purely narrative content, like events and decisions, but they are all connected to the new core mechanics rather than a dynasty or location.
The DLC enhances gameplay by introducing ruler legitimacy, plagues, and legends. Legitimacy exists to show how close each character is to the ideal of a ruler. Many pragmatic choices, like disinheriting a child, will lead to drops that in turn can make vassals unhappy. Players in search of good Medieval PR can now turn to the legends system.
Rulers can now pay gold and prestige to create a myth, choosing from three categories, each with its own set of benefits (a continuing monetary contribution is needed to keep them spreading). It’s important to recruit other nobles to increase their popularity and new event chins are associated with them.
Legends require seeds, which some characters already have. Others will have to perform a significant deed to acquire one. It costs quite a bit to throw a Legendary Feast and getting other characters to promote one requires plenty of diplomatic action. Those who want to focus on legends can also use a Heroic dynasty legacy.
Legends of the Dead also brings a bespoke system for plagues. They move fast and can affect any character, but their effects can be limited by building burial sites, getting a good physician, and making good choices in the many events associated with them. The Black Plague is also featured, and its effects are significant, although a little tame when compared to real-world history.
Crusader Kings III: Legends of the Dead will give unique looks to characters affected by disease, a nice touch. There’s also a new and useful map mode that gamers will need to use to track plagues and think how likely it is their own lands will get hit. The soundtrack has also been enhanced with new tracks.
Conclusion
Legitimacy is a more nebulous concept and I’m unsure of its long-term impact. The DLC is a Yay for players who want more mechanics as well as events and interactions. Legends of the Dead makes Crusader Kings III more immersive and gives gamers a range of extra options to enhance their lands and their dynasty.
Review key provided by the publisher.
