Game rules

Game rules are configuration choices available when starting a new game. Some options disable achievements.

Some rules will only be visible if the relevant DLC is activated, as stated below.

Holy Fury

These settings require the Holy Fury DLC to be activated.

Fourth Crusade

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	The Fourth Crusade events are enabled.
Off	Enabled	The Fourth Crusade events are disabled.

Children's Crusade

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	The Children's Crusade is enabled.
Off	Enabled	The Children's Crusade is disabled.

Northern Crusade

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	The Northern Crusade is enabled.
Off	Enabled	The Northern Crusade is disabled.

Reconquista

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	The Reconquista is enabled.
Limited	Enabled	The Reconquista is enabled, but Adventures are disabled.
Off	Enabled	The Reconquista is disabled.

Child of Destiny

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	There is a rare chance of characters growing to become great conquerors with higher attributes and special casus belli.
Off	Enabled	No Children of Destiny will ever be born.

Jade Dragon

These settings require the Jade Dragon DLC to be activated.

Chinese Invasions

Setting	Achievements	Description
Default	Enabled	China will launch both Tributary wars and Major Invasions. Chinese Adventurers can spawn.
Only Adventurers	Disabled	China can NOT launch Tributary wars or Major Invasions. Chinese Adventurers can spawn. This setting disables achievements!
No Major Invasions	Enabled	China will launch Tributary wars but will NOT launch Major Invasions. Chinese Adventurers can spawn.
None	Disabled	China will NOT launch Tributary wars or Major Invasions. Chinese Adventurers can NOT spawn. This setting disables achievements!

Chinese Interactions

Setting	Achievements	Description
Within Range	Enabled	Only characters within China's Diplomatic Range can use Grace Actions.
Restricted	Enabled	Only characters within the Eastern Steppes, India or Tibet can use Grace Actions. Tributaries cannot extend China's diplomatic range.
Anyone	Disabled	Any character in the world can use Grace Actions. This setting disables achievements!

Border Dispute Wars

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	Characters can, through spending Piety and Gold, start Border Dispute wars targeting single counties.
Off	Enabled	Characters cannot start Border Disputes.

New Casus Bellis

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	All new Casus Bellis introduced in Jade Dragon can be used
Off	Enabled	The following Casus Bellis can NOT be used: De Jure Duchy Claim, Ducal County Conquest, Force Vassalization, Great Realm Conflict, Liberate Religion and Permanent Tributary.

Monks and Mystics

These settings require the Monks and Mystics DLC to be activated.

Devil Worshippers

Setting	Achievements	Description
Default	Enabled	Devil Worshipers will practice their foul magic across the world.
None	Enabled	There will be no Devil Worshipers.

The Reaper's Due

These settings require The Reaper's Due DLC to be activated.

Major Epidemics

Setting	Achievements	Description
Dynamic	Enabled	The Bubonic Plague will appear at the very earliest 200 years after the game has started, and might reappear 500 years after the game start. After one major outbreak the epidemic will become endemic.
Delayed Dynamic	Enabled	The Bubonic Plague will appear at the very earliest 1100, and 25 years after the game has started. After one major outbreak the epidemic will become endemic.
Historical	Enabled	The Bubonic Plague will appear in the year 1345 and follow its historical route.
Deadly	Enabled	The Bubonic Plague will appear frequently and be extraordinarily deadly. WARNING: This setting is not recommended for a normal game!

Minor Epidemics

Setting	Achievements	Description
Default	Enabled	Minor Epidemics will appear at the default rate. Small and Normal outbreaks will appear frequently. Large outbreaks will be very rare.
More	Enabled	Minor Epidemics will appear at an increased rate, Large outbreaks will be common.
Fewer	Enabled	Minor Epidemics will appear at a reduced rate, and the chance for a Large outbreak is eliminated entirely.

Non-Epidemic Diseases

Setting	Achievements	Description
More	Enabled	There will be more cases of non-epidemic diseases.
Default	Enabled	Characters will develop and contract non-epidemic diseases, such as pneumonia and cancer, at the default rate.
Fewer	Disabled	There will be fewer cases of non-epidemic diseases. This setting disables achievements!
Rare	Disabled	Cases of non-epidemic diseases will be rare. This setting disables achievements!
None	Disabled	There will be practically no cases of non-epidemic diseases. This setting disables achievements!

Conclave

These settings require the Conclave DLC to be activated.

Childhood Focus Alerts

Setting	Achievements	Description
Close Relatives	Enabled	Players are alerted about Childhood and Education Focuses for close relatives of their own dynasty.
All	Enabled	Players are alerted about Childhood and Education Focuses for all children at court.
Minimal	Enabled	Players are only alerted about their own character's and their primary heir's Childhood and Education Focuses.

Horse Lords

These settings require the Horse Lords DLC to be activated.

Nomad Stability

Setting	Achievements	Description
Unstable	Enabled	Upon succession of the Khagan, vassals of Nomadic hordes have a chance to declare independence. The succeeding ruler will have just cause to reclaim the land.
Stable	Enabled	Nomad vassals will NOT have the opportunity to go independent on the succession of the Khagan.

Way of Life

These settings require the Way of Life DLC to be activated.

AI Seduction

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	AI rulers with the Seduction Focus will attempt to seduce other characters.
Off	Enabled	AI rulers will never pick the Seduction Focus.

AI Intrigue

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	AI rulers with the Intrigue Focus will scheme and attempt to kidnap or murder other characters.
Off	Enabled	AI rulers will never pick the Intrigue Focus.

Dueling

Setting	Achievements	Description
Default	Enabled	Default restrictions for dueling applies.
Unrestricted	Disabled	Almost anyone can be dueled. Restrictions concerning gender, healthy and religion no longer applies. This setting disables achievements!

Charlemagne

These settings require the Charlemagne DLC to be activated.

Custom Realms

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	The creation of custom non-historical Kingdoms and Empires is allowed.
Off	Enabled	The creation of custom non-historical Kingdoms and Empires is disallowed.

Story Events

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	The various story events surrounding Charlemagne and his brother Karloman will be enabled.
Off	Enabled	The various story events surrounding Charlemagne and his brother Karloman will be disabled.

Sons of Abraham

These settings require Sons of Abraham DLC to be activated.

Shepherds' Crusade

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	Shepherds' Crusade is enabled
Off	Enabled	Shepherds' Crusade is disabled

The Old Gods

These settings require The Old Gods DLC to be activated.

Provincial Revolt Strength

Setting	Achievements	Description
Default	Enabled	The strength of provincial revolts is at the default level.
Powerful	Enabled	Provincial revolts are powerful. Their armies are twice as numerous as at the default level.
Very Powerful	Enabled	Provincial revolts are very powerful. Their armies are four times as numerous as at the default level.
Extremely Powerful	Enabled	Provincial revolts are extremely powerful. Their armies are six times as numerous as at the default level.

Sunset Invasion

These settings require the Sunset Invasion DLC to be activated.

Aztec Invasion

Setting	Achievements	Description
13th Century	Enabled	The Aztec Invasion will occur at the very earliest in the 13th century.
Random	Enabled	The Aztec Invasion will occur at a random date, though at the earliest 50 years after that game is started.
Delayed Random	Enabled	The Aztec Invasion will occur at a random date, though at the earliest at the year 1000, and 50 years after the game has started.
Off	Enabled	The Aztec Invasion will not occur.

Vanilla Rules

These settings do not require any DLC to be modified.

Mongol Invasion

Setting	Achievements	Description
Historical	Enabled	The Mongol Horde will invade between the years of 1210 and 1218.
Random	Enabled	The Mongol Horde will invade at a random date, though at the earliest 50 years after the game is started.
Delayed Random	Enabled	The Mongol Horde will invade at a random date, though after the year 1000, and 50 years after the game has started.
Off	Disabled	The Mongol Horde will not invade, but it can still be formed through the decision. This setting disables achievements!

Generate Families

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	Most landed historical characters with no recorded family will have a spouse and up to four children generated for them upon starting a new game. This reduces the risk of an early game over.
Off	Enabled	Landed historical characters with no recorded family will NOT have a family generated for them upon starting a new game. This increases the risk of an early game over.
On (AI Only)	Enabled	Most landed historical AI characters with no recorded family will have a spouse and up to four children generated for them upon starting a new game. This increases the risk of an early game over.

Exclave Independence

Setting	Achievements	Description
Off	Enabled	Independent Rulers can have exclaves (disconnected land) anywhere in the world.
Limited	Enabled	Exclaves of Independent Rulers at peace will be removed on succession unless they are connected to the Capital area by at least one County, via a naval path or part of the character's De Jure territory.
Limited (Naval)	Enabled	Exclaves of Independent Rulers at peace will be removed on succession unless they are connected to the Capital area by at least one County, via a limited naval path or part of the character's De Jure territory.
Significant	Enabled	Exclaves of Independent Rulers at peace will be removed on succession unless they are connected via a naval path or part of the character's De Jure territory.
Harsh	Enabled	Exclaves of Independent Rulers at peace will be removed on succession unless they are connected via a limited naval path or part of the character's De Jure territory.
Total	Disabled	Exclaves of Independent Rulers at peace will be removed on succession unless they are connected via a limited naval path. This setting disables achievements!

Secret Religious Cults

Setting	Achievements	Description
Default	Enabled	Secret Religious Cults can be founded.
None	Enabled	Secret Religious Cults can not be founded.

The Iron Century: Story Events

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	The various story events surrounding The Iron Century bookmark will be enabled.
Off	Enabled	The various story events surrounding The Iron Century bookmark will be disabled.

Turkic Conquerors

Setting	Achievements	Description
Historical	Enabled	The great Central Asian Turkic conquerors Sabuktigin, Seljuk, and Timur will tend to rise in their historical timeframes.
Random	Enabled	Sabuktigin, Seljuk, and Timur can appear in a wider time span.
Off	Disabled	The great Turkic conquerors will never rise. This setting disables achievements!

Shattered Retreat

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	Armies will try to retreat into friendly or otherwise safe territory. Retreating armies cannot be engaged by enemy forces. Movement Speed and Morale Regain Rate is increased for retreating armies.
Off	Enabled	Retreating armies will move into a neighboring county. This tends to make the game easier.

Army Movement Lock

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	When an army has moved over halfway into a County, the order will be locked and can no longer be canceled. While movement is locked you can still cancel further orders or queue up additional orders.
Off	Enabled	Army movement will never be locked.

Siege Assaults

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	Armies can attempt to take besieged Holdings by storm if the Fort Level is lower than 6.
Unlimited	Enabled	Armies can always attempt to take besieged Holdings by storm.
Off	Enabled	Armies cannot take besieged Holdings by storm.

Siege Events

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	Various events may occur for both sides during sieges.
Defenders	Enabled	Siege events may affect only the defenders.
Off	Enabled	No regular siege events may occur for either side.

Defensive pacts

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	Characters are allowed to join Defensive Pacts against realms who are Threatening. If a member is attacked by the target, all other members will defend them.
Off	Enabled	Characters are not allowed to join Defensive Pacts against realms who are Threatening. This tends to make the game easier.

Gender Equality

Setting	Achievements	Description
Default	Enabled	The various Gender Laws are enabled as per default. Specific cultures and religions may allow/disallow Gender Laws. The Conclave 'Status of Women' set of laws is available.
Historical	Enabled	The various Gender Laws are enabled as per default. Specific cultures and religions may allow/disallow Gender Laws. The Conclave 'Status of Women' set of laws is not available.
All	Enabled	The game will play as if the 'Status of Women' law would be maxed out for everyone. The Conclave 'Status of Women' set of laws is unavailable for everyone.

Supernatural Events

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	Events that can be interpreted as supernatural may appear during the game.
Off	Enabled	No events that can be interpreted as supernatural may appear during the game.
Unrestricted	Enabled	AI rulers will be eligible to receive supernatural events such as the Demon Child, Wolf's Blood and Immortality event chains.

Absurd Events

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	Absurd events may appear during the game.
Off	Enabled	No absurd events may appear during the game.
Unrestricted	Enabled	AI rulers will be eligible to receive absurd events.

Dynamic De Jure Drift

Setting	Achievements	Description
Default	Enabled	The dynamic De Jure drift of titles is allowed and unrestricted.
Restricted	Enabled	The dynamic De Jure drift of titles is allowed, but restricted. Drift can only happen if titles border each other.
Off	Enabled	Dynamic De Jure drift is disabled.

De Jure Assimilation Duration

Setting	Achievements	Description
Default	Enabled	Sub-realms take 100 years to integrate into a De Jure Realm.
Long	Enabled	Sub-realms take 300 years to integrate into a De Jure Realm.
Very Short	Disabled	Sub-realms take 10 years to integrate into a De Jure Realm. This setting disables achievements!
Short	Enabled	Sub-realms take 50 years to integrate into a De Jure Realm.

De Jure Requirement

Setting	Achievements	Description
Default	Enabled	Titles with De Jure land will be kept regardless of circumstances.
Required	Enabled	Titles with De Jure land will eventually be destroyed if a character holds no De Jure land of the title within the realm.

Culture Conversion

Setting	Achievements	Description
Default	Enabled	Culture will convert at the default rate.
Restricted	Enabled	Culture will not spread into counties which do not border a county of the same culture, unless it is a port.
Faster Melting Pots	Enabled	Melting Pot cultures will appear at an increased rate, i.e. English, Swedish, and Russian.
Slower Conversion	Enabled	Base Culture Conversion chance is reduced by a factor of three.
Combination	Enabled	Melting Pot cultures will appear at an increased rate, spread is also restricted AND base Culture Conversion chance is reduced.

Religious Conversion Speed

Setting	Achievements	Description
Default	Enabled	The speed at which countries are converted by means of using the 'Proselytize' job action is unchanged.
Slower	Enabled	The speed at which countries are converted by means of using the 'Proselytize' job action is reduced by a factor of three.

Raiding

Setting	Achievements	Description
Historical	Enabled	A character can raid if the Government, Culture and/or Religion of the character allows it.
Unrestricted	Disabled	All characters can raid, regardless of Government, Culture and/or Religion. This setting disables achievements!
Off	Disabled	No character is allowed to raid, with the sole exception of Raiding Adventurers. WARNING: This also prevents Viking raids! This setting disables achievements!

Adventurers

Setting	Achievements	Description
Normal	Enabled	Claimant and Raiding Adventurers will appear as per default.
Rare	Disabled	Claimant and Raiding Adventurers will appear less frequently. This setting disables achievements!
None	Disabled	No Claimant and Raiding Adventurers will appear, with the exception of landless Nomads and specific event-spawned Adventurers. This setting disables achievements!

Interfaith Marriages

Setting	Achievements	Description
Restricted	Enabled	Rulers of unrelated religions will never agree to marriage offers.
Open	Disabled	Even rulers of hostile and unrelated religions will consider marriage offers. This setting disables achievements!

Matrilineal Marriages

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	Matrilineal Marriages are allowed if the religion and government type so permit.
Off	Enabled	Matrilineal Marriages are never allowed. WARNING: As a female ruler it might be very hard to avoid Game Over and produce an heir of your own dynasty!

Vassal Republics

Setting	Achievements	Description
Restricted	Enabled	You are limited to a small proportion of Republics among your vassals.
Unrestricted	Disabled	You can have any number of vassal Republics. This setting disables achievements!

Vassal Theocracies

Setting	Achievements	Description
Restricted	Enabled	You are limited to a small proportion of Theocracies among your vassals.
Unrestricted	Disabled	You can have any number of vassal Theocracies . This setting disables achievements!

Invitation to Court

Setting	Achievements	Description
Default	Enabled	Characters in other courts will only accept invitations to work for you under very special conditions.
Open	Disabled	Characters in other courts will accept invitations to come work for you if they like you enough, and don't like their current liege. This setting disables achievements!

Diplomatic Range

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	Diplomatic Range will be enforced, limiting the distance in which characters might interact.
Restricted	Enabled	Diplomatic Range will be further restricted, halving the distance in which characters can interact.
Off	Disabled	Diplomatic Range will not be enforced, allowing characters to interact fully regardless of their distance to each other. This setting disables achievements!

Provincial Revolts

Setting	Achievements	Description
Normal	Enabled	Random Provincial Revolts will occur at a normal rate.
Rare	Enabled	Random Provincial Revolts will be less frequent.
None	Disabled	Random Provincial Revolts will be disabled. This setting disables achievements!

Defensive Attrition

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	Invaders suffer harsh attrition in the lands of many Pagan religions if their Military Organization tech level is too low.
Tribal Only	Disabled	Invaders suffer harsh attrition in the lands of many Pagan religions, but only if they are also Tribal. This setting disables achievements!
Off	Disabled	There is no special defensive attrition in Pagan lands. This setting disables achievements!

Pagan Reformation

Setting	Achievements	Description
Allowed	Enabled	Pagan religions can be reformed when controlling enough Holy Sites.
Disallowed	Enabled	Pagan religions cannot be reformed.
Players Only	Disabled	Only players are allowed to reform Pagan religions. This setting disables achievements!

Regencies

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	Underage, incapable or otherwise unavailable characters will be assigned a Regent.
Off	Disabled	Underage, incapable or otherwise unavailable characters will not be assigned a Regent. This setting disables achievements!

Assassination

Setting	Achievements	Description
Plots Only	Enabled	You can only assassinate people through Plots.
Direct Action	Disabled	In addition to murder plots, there is also a diplomatic action to have people assassinated. This setting disables achievements!

Release Prisoners After Punishment

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	Prisoners are released after having received their punishment.
Off	Disabled	Blinding, castration, torture, mutilation, humiliation, and poetry readings no longer release prisoners. This setting disables achievements!

Titles Named After Dynasties

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	Many cultures name their titles after the ruling dynasty (e.g. Abbasids, Bavandids, etc.)
Off	Enabled	The base name is always used for titles, regardless of the ruler's culture.

Cultural Title Names

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	The names of titles may change depending on the ruling culture (e.g. 'Sviþjod' instead of Sweden.)
Off	Enabled	The English name is used for all titles regardless of ruling culture.

Multiplayer Assassinations

Setting	Achievements	Description
Default	Enabled	There are no additional restrictions on whom you can plot to kill in multiplayer.
No Player Relatives	Enabled	Plotting to kill other players or their close relatives is disabled.
No Players	Enabled	Plotting to kill other players is disabled.

Multiplayer Invasions

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	Players can use all Invasion Casus Bellis freely.
Off	Enabled	All Invasion Casus Bellis except Prepared Invasions and those granted by a Religious Head are disabled for players.

Multiplayer 3rd Party Claims

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	Players can freely Press the Claims of other characters.
Off	Enabled	Players cannot Press the Claims of other characters.
Limited	Enabled	Players can only Press Duchy or lower Claims of other characters.

Demesne Size

Setting	Achievements	Description
Default	Enabled	The Demesne Size and amount of land a ruler can control is at the default level.
Unlimited	Disabled	There is no limit to the amount of land a ruler can control. This setting disables achievements!
Quartered	Enabled	The Demesne Size is reduced to a fourth of the default level.
Half	Enabled	The Demesne Size is reduced to half the default level.

Vassal Limit

Setting	Achievements	Description
Default	Enabled	The Vassal Limit and number of vassals a ruler can control without penalties is at the default level.
Unlimited	Disabled	There is no limit to the amount of vassals a ruler can control. This setting disables achievements!
Quartered	Enabled	The Vassal Limit is reduced to a fourth of the default level.
Half	Enabled	The Vassal Limit is reduced to half the default level.

Grant Independence

Setting	Achievements	Description
Restricted	Enabled	The Grant Independence action is restricted.
Unrestricted	Disabled	The Grant Independence action is unrestricted and can be used to grant independence to anyone. This setting disables achievements!

Crusader States

Setting	Achievements	Description
Default	Enabled	Both players and AI will be able to form dynamic Crusader States.
Limited	Enabled	Only players will be able to form dynamic Crusader States.
Off	Enabled	Neither players nor AI will form Crusader States.

Pregnancy Flavor

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	Pregnant characters can receive flavor events normally and are temporarily forced into a regency during the final months of gestation.
Limited	Enabled	Pregnant characters receive less flavor events and are not forced into a regency during the final months of gestation.
Off	Enabled	Pregnant characters receive no flavor events during their pregnancy and are not forced into a regency during the final months of gestation.

Martial Headgear

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	Rulers leading armies will always wear martial headgear.
Off	Enabled	Only Marshals and landless commanders will wear martial headgear.

Non-Aggression Pact Faction Block

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	Rulers in a non-aggression pact with their liege are barred from being members in realm factions.
Off	Enabled	Non-aggression pacts don't disqualify membership in realm factions.

Blood Splatter

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	Characters can get blood on them from time to time.
Off	Enabled	Character portraits never use the blood splatter effect.

Hellenic Revival

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	Under rare circumstances, rulers have a chance to turn Hellenic and restore the old religion.
Off	Enabled	Events and decisions dealing with the restoration of the Hellenic religion are disabled

Great Works

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	Rulers are allowed to construct Great Works.
Off	Enabled	Rulers are NOT allowed to construct Great Works.

Historical Great Works

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	Historical Great Works will exist.
Restricted	Enabled	Historical Great Works will exist, but rulers are not allowed to change them in any way.
Off	Enabled	No historical Great Works will exist.

Court Size Limit

Setting	Achievements	Description
On	Enabled	The number of courtiers allowed in each court is limited.
Off	Enabled	The number of courtiers allowed in each court is unlimited, and events tied to the mechanic are disabled.

See also

• Game rules modding