With a huge selection of counts, dukes and kings to choose from, it can be overwhelming at first to find an interesting character to begin your dynasty in Crusader Kings 2. In this video we will cover in detail 10 of the most interesting characters to play in the medieval ages. I hope this video brings you inspiration - Deus Vult!
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The music used in this video are "Crusader Kings - Maine Theme", "Journey to Absolution", "March to Holy Land", "Kingdom of Jerusalem" and "Path to Glory" from the CK2 OST.
All music is owned and copyrighted under their respective owners. Crusader Kings 2 is a grand strategy games published by Paradox Interactive. All rights reserved.
tags:
#crusaderkings2, #ck2, #top10ck2
(REUPLOAD TO GET OUT OF 360P) Special thanks to KZheadr "Caiã Wlodarski" for recommending this video! What videos would you like to see in the future? More Eu4? More ck2? More Imperator? Something else? Let me know in the comments section! See you on the next video, coming next week!
More Imperator please! Keep up the great work.
Worst starting characters in CK2, perhaps~?
More ck2 pls. I'm new to it and want to learn more about it
More ck2 please
More EUIV And CKII And EU Rome Because It's Better Than Imperator! Totally Not Related To The Fact Those Are The Only Three Paradox Grand Strategy Games I've Played That I'm Not Terrible At!
Note on the persia point: if you're a zunist (only available 769) your special reform doctrine comes with both divine marriage AND polygamy, and there's an achievement for having a sister-wife, mother-wife, and daughter-wife all at the same time
Would I Need To Pay For Two DLCs To Get That Achievement Or Just One?
@@rateeightx one
@@rateeightx Normally it requires Charlemagne for the start date and either Old Gods or Holy Fury to play as Zunist
Fun fact. Zunist isnt only in charlemagne start. In old gods start there is one zunist courtier in the whole world. You can invite him, give him county, wait few months for him to spawn his own countiers, take a zunist girl as concubine, convert via decision and educate your heirs as zunist.
@@panwp123 Didn't know that, thank you I'll probably try And also, for those who don't have Charlemagne, you can also become Zunist through the character designer if you want
The best part of Matilda's campaign is that anytime the HRE tries to siege you they get attacked by Tuscan Raiders.
They are most OP unit or something?
@@PAINNN666 No, Imperial Stormtroopers are more precise.
womp womp
@@PAINNN666 There isn't a unit called Tuscan Raiders. He is referring to a siege event where it will say the x was attacked by y raiders, but replace x and y with that country adjectives, in this case Tuscan, for Tuscany.
Junglo Unglo which is in turn a Star Wars reference, Tusken Raiders
Please make more CK2 content! I'd love to see you rank in-game religions
I will! Thanks for the feedback. And i Like the idea!!
@@welcometothemilkhotel4802 Zunism is easily the most OP with it's retinues, shame you can only do it with 1 start date.
@Welcome To the Milk Hotel I don't think Christians are anywhere near the top of the list of most powerful religions. I would say peformed Pagans are objectively the strongest religion in the game, largely depending on how you build the religion and somewhat depending which Pagan religion you are reforming. Hellenism is easily the best to reform because of the absolutely broken Civilized doctrine because your vassals do not receive opinion penalties for raised levies (very strong) and you get Syncretism (not very strong but it's free) and Meritocracy which allows you to designate your heir (absolutely broken). This allows you to go to war indefinitely and allows a lot of realm stability due to you being able to select your best child to rule after you. I'd argue that the best reformed Pagan build would be Proselytizing for your Nature, Civilized + Polygamy for Doctrines and Temporal for Leadership (Temporal is generally best since you control when you launch your GHWs but Hierocratic should be considered since you can excommunicate and imprison any unruly vassals on a whim.) This should give you a very stable realm in which you can constantly be at war with your neighbors and also have the potential to have a continuous line of powerful rulers. With Proselytizing (Warmongering is usually best but you already have the immunity to raised vassal levy opinion malus) your subjects will convert the land you conquer quickly.
@@Kodlaken Honestly I Think On A List Of Best Religions It Shouldn't Count Holy Fury Reformed Religions, Due To The Sheer Amount Of Customability It Gives You.... I Think... Never Actually Used It Because I'm Not Rich Enough To Pay 40 Fricking Dollars.
@@rateeightx There's always the *cough* dlc unlocker *cough*
I love that Renaud de Chatillon is also present in Medieval 2 Total War as a general for Antioch in the Crusades campaign, where he has a cool 10 dread. Incidentally this makes him your best general since 10 dread accounts to every single enemy wetting themselves on hearing that he is within 50 miles of them
Hell yeah. Doesn’t he also have like 2 loyalty? 😬
He is even in the Age of Empires II Saladin Campaign, where he and his underlings attack the traderoutes creating the most famous "help, the crusaders are attacking our traderouts"
Please show us the matriarchy game. I beg you
vitus holm: Please sir, this would be hilarious.
vitus holm i kinda wannna see him castrate the king of byzantium lol
No, not the matriarchy. The Feminarchy!
@@heimeriklein7901 rome cent hawe king tho caz its wrethen in they constatution so it wude be emperor of easte sory for bed spaling
"pass around court like a refurbished fleshlight" oh sweet jesus i'm dying.
Habsburg one had me in tears. Bow before the power of Habsburg loins. In one of my games I had an eye on Habsburg lands. They had an almost 60 year old duke and line was at its end. But old fart manage to get one legit and 2 bastards in 2 years. I was outraged.
Please do upload that campaign, it sounds hilarous and interesting
Thanks thats the plan!
@@AlzaboHD I have always searched for a campaign like this. Do it!
"You should make haste....ings" I am convinced, I will subscribe.
i find haraldr fairhair, in viken, at the viking age start date quite interesting, with the subjugation casus belli and the become king ambition it's quite easy to become king of norway sweden and denmark and then reform the germanic faith within a few years. he is also guaranteed to have the quick, brave and ambitious traits and starts with around 30 martial
Yes father 🙌🙌🙌 more ck2 pleaase 💦 (Edit: this counts as a plead for that Matriarchy campaign 😂)
*W E N E E D A F U C K I N G C R U S A D E*
@@dapio009 deus vult
Yes, I would absolutely love to see that campaign!
Islam is overpowered as fuck.
In my current campaign, Charlemagne inherited Middle Francia, lost West Francia to a faction that put Theoderic the Merovingian back in power, then lost Middle Francia to a revolt that gave the kingdom to Theoderic. There’s also currently a war to put Charlemagne in power in Lombardy which will probably succeed, so Charlemagne will rule over Lombardy without any French territory.
Just for reference, the Norse letter that looks like a D is actually pronounced like a TH, like in The or They. So his name would be Ragnarr Lothbrok
It's now possible to play the Habsburgs in the starts before 1066, Start as a member of the Etichocen dynasty, control Basel and pay 500 gold. this gets you an amazing castle (it comes with all the level 2 improvements already made, easily making it your best barony. and it changes your dynasty to the Von Habsburgs. doing this is easy in the Charlemagne starting date, since you start with control of Basel, but it's much harder in the Old Gods start and the Iron Century start.
Wow, haha.... I literally just tried playing Dobrava yesterday, before seeing this video, and didn't realise she had that amazing courtier. Man, I fucked up real bad! She basically spent her whole life looking for someone to marry matrilineally and came to no avail, so eventually married to some random Avar petty king; then she got completely ransacked by the invading Tengrists and became disfigured. She sacrificed an eye for a healthy son, but went through a traumatic pregnancy anyway. Then her husband and three sons died of dysentery. Then a literal portal to hell opened up on her land and she made another sacrifice to the gods (this time one of her arms) in hopes for prosperity in her land and an end to her curse. Then she tried to seduce some of the invaders hoping to get a bastard from one of them who they would not legitimize so that she could *finally* get an heir. And when she finally got in bed with the man who first invaded her country all those years ago, he murders her only a few days later. A very sad end to that short play-through honestly...
Oh dam
Played eu4 & ck2 all these years and only recently found your channel. Been marathoning since last night and never your videos never disappointing
Thanks for watching! I hope the videos prove useful
YOOOOO I can't believe you picked Dobrava as #1. I did an iron man grand campaign (CK2>EU4) run as her a few months back on a whim. Almost immediately I noticed that beast courtier. Great pick for sure. I also made Slavic Enatic since it seems appropriate.
I really like that you pointed out the achievements you could go for with these characters !
Hilarious! Treat your granny like a fleshlight.....took my breath away.
And all of your videos have been amazing your my main source of info for most Paradox games, thank you
I played the Habsburgs, and became the ruler of the Arch-Duke of Austria, then Emperor of Austria-Hungary, and a lesser branch of my family held the Holy Roman Empire, it was great
Your voice is really soothing, nice video!
Bruh number one character : ProJared
Time to participate in the "holly" crusade.
@@bigestman3625 seduction lvl 900000
I'm not sure what would make ProJared an "interesting" character.
Projared traits: Amateurish Plotter, Ugly, Game Master,Master Seducer,Lustful,Proud,Envious,Deceitful,Adulterer
@@mulan-jinglesemusicas1513 Adulterer isn't a trait, silly.
Id like to see more Ck2 videos, both guides and regular lists
Finally a CK 2 video, keep them coming I've been starving for months...
thank you for this greatness, i was looking a getting a new CK 2 campaign underway
Loved this video. Watched it 5 times. Make more!!!
You forgot about King Otto of Germany! That was one the most fun Campaigns I ever had!
the thing about otto is that its like a sandbox you already have enough resources to supress revolt and karlings its not a challenge and when you form holy roman you actually get weaker since now you have to deal with vassals voting for themselves or their heirs
Nice to see some CK II content, and yes please do upload that campaign x))
I love your content man keep it up! Also, not sure if it might be an update but I started a playthrough on Ironman with all dlc as Ragnars father, got him to join the wolf warriors at age 12 and at 14 he automatically became Lodbrok with the bloodline and everything.
Love this video, funny, interesting and informative. More CK2 videos like this please.
Sorry for the re upload! KZhead decided it wanted to keep the video at 360p... for 45 minutes. Decided to just re process it and took the old one down. Glorious 1080p awaits!
Yes finally! I’ve been waiting for this
hell yes upload that queen ruthenian campaign! that's something i gotta see.
Just to reiterate: the Theoderic thing is a lot harder to do indirectly as a schemer and warrior for the Merovingians. I like to use Count Voodoo of Lyon for this, since he and his descendants can easily conquer Burgundy as a vassal kingdom once the Merovingian king form the empire, making you a little more insulated from random royal madness. You can still press Theo's claims even though he is a monk. Once you get him propped up on a throne he will start breeding, usually with some alcoholic woman with leprosy. One of the many joys of indirect power grabs. I swear it's as if the AI looks for the most useless traits it can find sometimes...
As a 3k hours in Ck2 player, I LOVE your content!
An Alzabo CK2 video? Christmas has come early
My Favorite part of a AlzaboHD video is how he always hearts my comments
Hey Cool video! Just want to add that in 867 you can play with Eudes of Sancerre from the Capet dynasty in west Francia. Worth a shot.
Could I please have some more Alzabo, plz? I enjoy everything you upload (I don't say that lightly).
crusader king foot lettuce is the last thing you expect when first visiting this channel but as it turns out it might be what you get every video. love ya, Alza =)
What is crusader king foot lettuce? sounds like a communicable disease lol.
"I wouldn't be surprised if someone somewhere has carved out a Germanic India as lord Haesteinn." Well, I converted him to Nestorianism first, and it took a couple of generations...
Make another video, this one was really good! More ideas for interesing characters: Arwa Sulayhid, Boleslaw the Bold, Jimofuta of Zabulistan, Urraca of Zamora, Aliénor of Bordeaux, Erik the Heathen
Heh, I played 7 (first Habsburg), 6 (duchess Matilda), 1 (duchess of Kiev). What a coincidence.
You sound like Sseth Tzeenatch's long lost brother. Great vid btw, tempted to try out the Super Slavo Queen now
Nah that's mandalore
Yes! Subbed. By all means use this for your analythics to thriiiiive.
Yes CKII, your my favorite PDS KZheadr!
The first one is also my favorite. Done great with her dynasty
I'd love to see more ck2 content. I'll watch whatever you put out though. :)
Loving CK2 recently! I will absolutely release more content for it. Thanks for watching
I started my own run as Matilda yesterday, need to return to it, but I formed Italy by 1088, and got Primogeniture in 1098. The Duke of Savoy, an Italian, became the Emperor of the HRE at one point and even gave me three de jure Italy counties. Basically, whether it be psychic powers or the duchy of Tuscany, always count on people named Matilda to hold great power.
Nice vid bro
This made me belly laugh. Good show, sir!
That was a highly interesting video that I might never use because I’m not very good at CK2. Still number one looks super cool.
that was genuinely funny. thank you
As the habsburgs, you're still conquering by 'sword' if you know what I mean.
Your puns make me want to die. I love your channel.
This is perfect, literally googled this 3 days ago
This video was damn useful!
Brilliant, well done. Laughed a lot. LOVE THIS GAME.
Kathy next make most interesting mods to CK2 or most interesting formable nations in Imperator Rome?
Would love to see that all woman campaign. Please do more CK2 content, loved it :D
I will! Thanks for watching
Hi, is the women campaign still in the works?
Before ck3 comes out ;-)?
I think it would be amazing if you posted that matriarchy campaign, it sounded very interesting.
I did a vikings in India campaign as Haesteinn. Took some doing but easily one of my favorite runs.
Your EU4 vids made me switch from CK2... now I have to go back to try these :D
The last one is great! I will definitely try that.
I tried the Merhovingi campaign after watching this. A little luck landed me the kingdom of West France and a marriage to the Queen of Byzantium. Fortune favours the true bloodline once more... but for how long!
nice really like to see more ck2 content
I played as Dobrava multiple times now. I first found her while looking for 6-holding provinces, and after finding Kiev, I started looking through the possible starts. Ever since then, starting with her has always been pretty fun. Never really achieved feminarchy, though.
That Feeling When The Character You Recommended Isn't Put In The Video, And The Majority Of The Characters Mentioned Either Aren't Playable Or Wouldn't Be As Interesting Due To Lack Of DLCs :
do you have the dynastic shields packs? i noticed that they are completely different to myn
>they wasted time and effort on making custom bloodline on a character that you literally have to almost cheat to play ( Merovingan ) Wtf Paracucks ?
Most interesting campaign I've had was as the last Germanic character, some random count in Northern Sweden in like 1311. I swore fealty to Sweden, founded a secret religious cult, and eventually got the Swedish King to join. Somehow led a successful Germanic revival in the late 14th century.
Yes upload that game! That idea is hilarious
I would add the Cid too,in 1094 in valencia,a small count that can join all spain,and more whith the reconquista
Great video.
Can confirm that you can reach India as Haestien or his son. That was a very fun campaign.
*TEACH ME HOW*
*I BEG THEE*
Feynrik ?? what mid island? Crete? Cyprus? Even then, how do you cross over to the indian ocean? is it really the hard obvious way of conquering the entire way there?
I love the count of Nantes 867 but I found that starting as the Viken is better. You start with a bloodline, you can north korea the double duchy you got and take your time to actualy prepare your invasion. Haestening is old. You can die early wich will remove you the choice of conversion and you'll have a big regency or your heir might not count as valide since they start as norse pagans. With the vikens, I made a christian kingdom of jerusalem with the outremer culture (norse-> norman-> outremer) and I took my time to take parts sicily and some other islands like malroca and krete to make merchant republics as vasals to sustain my christian kingdom in a sea of muslim. The Vikens should be above haestining.
So glad you put in Haesteinn but you missed Zunbil =( wheres the love for my sun boys??
Speaking of inheriting power. I remember coming across a really weird way people used to do it, forgot the name of it though. The idea was that, while ruler was always male, the right to rule was inherited only through female blood relatives. And since the incest is was a no-no in that particular culture ruler's heir was at best his nephew. Is there a thing like that in CK2 or CK3?
This list is pretty incredible and shows that you've really played this game a bunch. Got any recommendations for most interesting merchant republics or mayors to play as?
Could you make another? Loved it.
Honorable mention for the Norman Sicilians in the 1100s (not a bookmark). It's easy to take over all of North Africa with them and make an interesting Mediterranean empire.
I remember reading about Reynald in one old crusade books. Man should be the poster child of the crusades
Watching the rise of Kiev would be absolutely awesome. You should totally make that video.
I played as Matilda di Canossa. I joined Lucifer's Own, fought and won a Tuscan War of Independence from the Holy Roman Empire, conquered Egypt during the Crusades, and most unlikely of all, I died of old age! The game ended there tho, I didn't have any heirs because I sacrificed all my babies to Satan
The most interesting character is anything made in the ruler designer 'Old Fucknuts WibbleWobble! That attractive, hunchback cannibal that's strong and shrewd and a drunkard.'
Matilda is extremely entertaining. Easily half of my game hours start as her.
2 years later and I still wanna see that Ruthenia campaign
I love your videos. Your mic was a little poor in this one with some weird audio cuts aswel
i decided to try dobrava as she sounded fun to play and man i got unlucky, i got cancer, then i lost my hand and the cancer, then i got pneumonia, and raiders popped up right on my capital and captured me, i died in the dungeons right after my hand healed
I didn’t even know you played this game
I'm currently playing as the descendants of Werner of Basel and it was an hell of a ride
I would love to see the feminarchy campaign! Also, I think Duke Afonso, in a 1139-ish start, is an interesting character to play. He is the subject of the Iberian-powerfull Castille and he is facing-off united muslims on his south. Historically, he became independent, forming the Kingdom of Portugal and conquering muslims lands, when the a dynasty fell from grace and the taifas were formed. Heck, even playing him as king during the Almohad period - which begins at 1180, roughly - is pretty interesting: the castillians have vassals and courtiers who own counties on Portugal and the Almohads are very eager on reconquering.
I need to see that playthrough please upload
I've played Dubrova dozens of times and never noticed the genius guy.
Too bad it had to be reuploaded, I didn't get to see your reply. At least the text is readable now. ;) Would love to see you cover more Paradox games!
awesome!
Yes! Please more CK2-Content
Every time I try to play as Ragnarr's father, Ragnarr dies young without providing me with any sons, and his bloodline dies out. Yes, please let us see your Dobrava campaign.