Startup settings

The family creation menu

The first step when creating a new game is creating the player family.

The second step when creating a new game is first choosing a starting location and then choosing which provinces and independent and which are vassals. Every province can be selected and expanded to include more vassals.

The final step is choosing the starting scenario, modifiers, difficulty, and whether the Unholy Horde will be present or not.

Starting family

The family will start with 3-5 lords. At character creation the starting age of an adult lord depends on what skill levels they're given. The family will begin with a sum of skill levels considered optimal by the game but the skill levels can be redistributed. The maximum starting age is 40, at which point additional skill levels cannot be added. Children cannot be given skills. The following family relations are possible when starting a new game:

• Two brothers and a wife
• Husband, wife, child
• Two sisters and a son
• Two brothers
• Three sisters
• Father and three daughters

Start scenario

The start scenario determines the initial priorities you will have.

• Prisoner: There is a bandit camp with 6 bandits in the city's province that has kidnapped one of the lords.
• Nectar's Children: All starting characters have nectar addiction. Start with the Alchemy Lab and Nectar books.
• The Sword's Path: King and his brothers are bastards, start without Flour and only 50 Wood but also with additional weapons and protection equipment and 2 additional warriors.
• Deserters: There is a bandit camp with 20 bandits in the city's province.
• Juice of Life: All starting lords have Hemophilia.
• By Touch: All starting lords have Vision Loss.
• The Hammer's Way: Start with only 300 Gold and the Coal Furnace, Workshop, Weapon Forge, Axes and Swords books.
• Prison Owners: Start with prisoners instead of peasants and every lord has the Prison Ward knowledge.
• No scenario: No starting scenario.

Modifiers

Modifiers can give bonuses or penalties to everyone in the game.

• Fast Metabolism: Characters age and gain experience twice faster.
• Wave of Fanaticism: All migrating peasants are Fanatic.
• After War: Forest bandits have increased Combat skill and better equipment.
• Trade Decline: The Holy Caravan has only a 25% chance to arrive each day but will appear at least once every 5 days.
• Strength in Numbers: All peasants and prisoners have a Combat skill of 5-10.
• No Disasters: Disasters cannot happen.
• Longevity: People become Elderly after 60 years.
• Excess Iron: Each Mine has 500 Iron.
• Old Grudges: Different culture penalties are increased.

Difficulty

• Peaceful mode: Start with 3500 Gold and 15 Paper. Neighbors won't bother you unless you initiate aggressive actions. Difficulty of the game will gradually increase during the first few days and new mechanics and challenges will be introduced gradually.
• Normal: Start with 2500 Gold and 5 Paper. Difficulty of the game will gradually increase during the first few days and new mechanics and challenges will be introduced gradually.
• Hardcore: Start with 1500 Gold and 5 Paper. Challenges can happen at any point.