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All Under Heaven is the new massively ambitious Crusader Kings 3 DLC. Despite publisher Paradox’s chequered relationship with DLC, we’re keen to see what this welcome addition to the medieval dynasty simulator will bring to the table.
Focused on the new East Asian regions, All Under Heaven comes at the close of Season IV for Crusader Kings 3’s expansion plans, and gives one of the biggest updates to the series yet. Set to release on October 28, the expansion looks poised to massively change the Crusader Kings 3 landscape for the better.
- Crusader Kings 3 is bigger and better than ever as East Asia is added to the map.
- New governments allow you to add even more roleplay to your dynasty and more complexity to your political intrigue.
- The DLC offers a unique look at local conflict, allowing you to get up close with dynastic struggles in China and Japan.
- The Silk Road, perhaps history’s most important trade route, will be realised in this new DLC in a huge win for history fans.
A bigger and more beautiful map to conquer
The last time any Crusader Kings map enjoyed such a significant expansion was in Crusader Kings 2, when the Rajas of India DLC pushed the map further east to include the Indian subcontinent back in 2014.
The world just cut off at a certain point, though, with the Jade Dragon DLC, you could interact with China as an outside force. Up until now, in Crusader Kings 3, you couldn’t even do that, and the eastern part of the world has simply been off the board and unreachable.
Now the map extends to both east and south, adding huge swathes of land alongside their cultures and nations, expanding the map and number of characters by a factor of 30-40%.
As well as the return to China, we’re also seeing the exciting introduction of more island nations, adding more strategy and movement across the ocean. This provides a welcome alternative to the usually more landlocked wars.
As well as just expanding out to a frankly astonishing size, the map is also getting a comprehensive makeover. Paradox has overhauled their terrain generation across seven distinct biomes, all to make the old map just as breathtaking as the new additions.
Become a God-King, or rise as a civil servant
There are already a wide variety of government types that change the fundamentals of how you play, from the migratory nomadic to the byzantine administrative. All Under Heaven adds even more to the mix, making the world feel more alive and complicated.
The new Mandala government takes state and religion and mashes them together more than ever before. You could always reform religion to make yourself head of your faith, but now you can be even more than just the voice. Embrace the title of divinity and use your newfound power to define your rule.
China also comes with the new Celestial government type, not just giving the mandate of heaven to the emperor, but allowing the lower houses to engage in the world of the civil service. Here you can find use for the lesser-used skills of Crusader Kings 3, and take exams to prove your worth. Through the power of bureaucracy, you can rise above your station, just don’t get caught if you use less than scrupulous practices.
Engage in enclosed and messy spheres of influence
Regions near China can use their own version of the Celestial Government, but, due to their proximity to Imperial power, they can also be caught up in the effects of China’s unique Dynastic Cycle. This adds a powerful variable to proceedings.
China is a hotbed of political struggle, and the Emperor is hardly the only one with any influence. Join political parties to launch schemes and make your mark on Chinese Dynastic politics. Support the emperor, expansion, or some other, more esoteric agenda.
Japan has its own unique mechanics that keep direct land ownership at a premium, emphasizing House Blocs as the island divides into alliances that make bids for power messy.
Even within these House Blocs, different objectives can disrupt your alliance’s cohesion. It’s a promising way to represent Japan’s politically complex internecine history. In addition, it is only by Imperial decree that anyone can expand outward, ensuring that political and military agendas must go hand in hand.
The Silk Road connects the world more than ever before
Dynastic Cycles aren’t the only region-shaping scenario being introduced into All Under Heaven. The upcoming expansion also introduces the Silk Road, perhaps the most important trade route in human history.
Various regions along the trading route fluctuate between different phases depending on how both the local area and the regions further along are doing economically. War and chaos are bad for business after all, and can hamper the local trading and development opportunities. Conversely, when one region thrives, the others bask in that wealth.
The Silk Road also simulates the sharing of that most valuable resource, knowledge. Those near trading hubs along the route will have the opportunity to pick up innovations for their culture to adopt, which are normally unavailable. These include better medicine or even access to early gunpowder units.
Much like the Silk Road itself, All Under Heaven is poised to open up an already complex and rich experience, offering new perspectives and ideas with the capacity to revitalise and invigorate. Crusader Kings 3 continues to be ambitious in its pursuit of rewarding, emergent, simulation-driven gameplay; we can’t wait to see where this ambition takes us.
FAQs
No, Crusader Kings 3 has a definitive endpoint to your game, though it is so far along that most will never see it. If you want to continue your game, consider picking up a save converter to keep things going in Europa Universalis 4.
Regional special cavalry, such as the Mongolian Kheshig, constitute the most powerful units in the game. The heaviest and most specialised cavalry are, of course, war elephants.
You can adjust how rare the trait is in Crusader Kings 3’s settings, but the requirements are quite broad, and so conquerors do arise reasonably often.
Knights can become extremely powerful, especially if you stack particular bonuses. They are an important part of any army and can easily sway the outcome of a war.
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