We should probably make a list of those who have steam and want to play and those who don't.

 

I am down to play. Have CK2 steam version.

 

i'm up for it too.

yak, ill take the dlc I dont have then if they are still available. ^^.

You are awesome dude. free stuff ftw.


I own the steam version

 

When I wrote the above post I was wondering if there was a way to play the non legit game multiplayer with the owners of the Steam version.

Yak did one better. Hearts and shit, bro.

Hearts.

 

so how exaxtly does one start a multiplayer game?

 

There's a post on the Paradox forums, but I'll recreate it here.


Ports to open:
1630 to 1641 — UDP, TCP
Latest checksums:
[see individual patch threads, usually on main CK2 page and Tech Support forums)

Paradox IRC gathering point and pickup games organisation:
#pdox at QuakeNet.org — webchat
Metaserver Status:
Up

***



A. Technical Details

To challenge friends playing "Crusader Kings 2" two requirements are necessary: (a) as many licences as there are players, and (b) an Internet or local network connection.

Any multiplayer game will require one "host", who will also be playing. All other players are required to connect to him or her, so to join the game. There are two ways to do so: either a) using Paradox matchmaking server, dubbed the "Metaserver" or b) connecting directly to the host's IP address, which needs to be communicated to players beforehand.

a) The "Metaserver"

Paradox's warm and welcoming matchmaking server is labelled the "metaserver". Players gather there to discuss, organise and ultimately start their multiplayer campaigns. The metaserver's functions are similar to those of chat servers: channels can be created and people's conversations are visible to all participants.

To access the metaserver's comfortable chat and cold drinks, players are required to register "Crusader Kings 2". You are reminded that games can be registered in the appropriate section, by selecting "My Games", on the forum and entering the serial key you were provided at the time of your purchase — this is a direct link.

The option to log in the metaserver will show once the game is started and players have selected "Multiplayer", then "Metaserver" from the game menus.

The metaserver's login and password are identical to the ones used to access the forum, and they are case sensitive. The first time, you may have to go to the My Games link above and click on the "Reset Password" button next to the CK2 game listed there.

Whenever you are certain the metaserver ceases to welcome players and doesn't look to be up and working, you should post in the Forum Help forum or log a ticket at paradox.zendesk.com .
b) Hosting

As briefly mentioned above, one host is required for all to play. To serve as a one, the host would need to allow incoming and outgoing traffic on the following range: 1630 to 1641, both TCP and UDP.

Port Forwarding is configured in a router for a specific IP address or addresses only, not for all computers attached to that router. One consequence of this is that if the router is assigning IP addresses automatically via DHCP (the default usually) the host's IP Address can change after a reboot, and the port forwarding may not have been applied to the host's new IP Address. To avoid this the host can be assigned a set (static) IP address in the router.

Further helpful instructions can be read at http://portforward.com — after having exhausted these resources, including your router's manual, you might also query forum members by starting a thread where you will specify your router's brand and model.

In addition ALL PLAYERS must configure all of the following devices/services to allow for unrestrained connections on the above port ranges - this is called Opening Ports: routers, hardware firewalls, software firewalls (such as "ZoneAlarm", "IPTables", "Windows" own firewall, etc.) and Internet security suites ( "Norton", "Kasperky", "McAfee", etc.). Generally and most likely, you will only need to configure your router. Here is one site that will help each player determine whether they have successfully opened all required ports.

It is possible, though it shouldn't be a starting assumption, that you may be behind what is generally called a "private network" featuring a restrictive NAT, or even a tyrannical ISP which doesn't allow traffic through certain port ranges. College and university networks might not allow traffic on the required ports — as may some fibre optics internet providers relying on "residential gateways".

Other helpful threads and posts on setting up MP play:

http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/showthread.php?586536-Tutorial-on-how-to-create-games!
http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum...roper-host&p=13437573&viewfull=1#post13437573

Good attributes for a hosting computer are:
A close geographical location in relation to all other players, which minimises latency issues: what is scornfully called "lag" and often measured by "pinging". The closer the host to the rest of the players, the less likely latency issues will be — also depending on the Internet service provider.
A stable internet connection. Very high bandwidth is by no means required: ADSL2 or ADSL2+, which are nowadays the most common means to access the Internet, are perfectly suitable. Dial ups on the other hand will not allow one to play without having to put up with upsetting delays.
A capable processor and abundant memory.

c) Checksum

Four letters summarise the game's version, a list matching the latest releases is provided above.

Players need to show the same checksum as their host to join a game. A player's checksum will change once a single player game is started and one resigns: this is to ensure that all multiplayer games are started anew, to minimise "out of synchronisation" issues. The necessary step to join or host a multiplayer game is thus to quit the game, if a single player game has been started. As with most Windows applications it's possible to speedily quit by pressing ALT and F4 at the same time.

Several folders aren't included within the checksum calculation: "download", "interface", "gfx", "mod", "music", "sound", "tutorial", "localisation", "logs" and "mod". All other folders, and their contents determine the game's checksum.

While altering the "mod" directory by adding files won't alter the checksum, loading a "mod" will, on the other hand.

d) Known issues

"Out of synchronisation" events, dubbed "OOS" for short, are mismatches of data sent and received to the host. Whenever any one player receives the dreadful message "Game is out of synch", collective sobbing starts, and a time consuming rehost is intimated to all. Should a player continue to play, despite the initial "OOS" he or she will certainly crash and cause ungodly problems. The first patch for the game 1.03 solves many OOS issues seen in the original release, and should be considered mandatory for MP play.

B. Practical Details

a) Chatting

It is obviously possible to chat with other players while in the game; to do so one needs to raise the chat interface, by pressing the tab key.

Messages which are destined to a select few will be indicated by an asterisk.

Players' messages will eventually fade away: it is possible to read a history of them, by accessing the game log and scrolling up. There might be in the future the possibility to exclusively filter chat messages within the log — as is possible with other categories like "combat", "diplomacy", etc.

A complete history of events and conversations is available in the game's "log" folder. Assuming the game isn't restarted, you will be able to read again whatever was communicated to you. Searching the text file for nicknames will quickly highlight the sender.


b) Save games

While the lobby transfer function is fully capable of distributing save games to players, it is customary to link end session save games to campaign threads. It is possible to do so by attaching compressed save games to any post. Users are then invited to remove obsolete attachments so not to exceed their available quota.

File hosting services need to be avoided — the wait times and security concerns are unpractical.


c) Pick up games

Given the complex nature of Paradox games, most multiplayer campaigns require lasting efforts to organise sessions — threads are thus born with that end in mind, along with the purpose to collect diplomatic and mundane conversations.

More casual and improvised arrangements are though possible — these games are called "pick ups". People meet in the metaserver and merrily promise to give each other a healthy beating. To facilitate this violent and spontaneous behaviour, an IRC channel was set up: the address is provided on top of this page and all are welcome to join, by using their forum nicknames.


d) Pausing

A free flowing game is usually more enjoyable to all participants. The common practice is to let games proceed at speed three, the host will automatically decrease speed when players can't cope with the speed and thus avoid synchronisation errors. You can expect pausing to be minimal and often frowned upon, when frequent.


e) List of ongoing multiplayer campaigns

As is customary, each multiplayer campaign is described and organised within a forum thread.

f) New players or substitutes requests

There used to be several threads tackling the same issue: requesting substitutes and new players in ongoing multiplayer campaigns.

 

Done. And that's it. I'm out of extra Steam codes.

 

Sign me up for some multiplayer. Steam version.

 

So I have a question. What's the best way to inherit counties ect. without going to war over them?
Every time I try to engage someone to an heir it always gets switched out and I lose that person to a mat/ standard marriage when I wanted the opposite. I've been inviting claimants to court and then killing their spouse and marrying them to family members but that still requires going to war or paying upwards of 500 to have everyone in front of them in the succession assassinated. Or plotting against them but no one seems especially keen on joining my plots unless they're part of my dynasty in the first place.
Is there a way around this or do I just have to deal with it?

 

Easiest way is to be a higher rank than the Count (king or above, generally) and just marry your heir to their heir/countess. If you're not a King though, your best bet is a combination of marrying the third/fourth in line to your heir and plotting off everyone in line before you. It's not supposed to be an easy task, manipulating your way to the throne.

 

I hate Mongol invasions... just so unfair. They can somehow support over 100k troop stacks on my land.. while my men die as soon as I reach 20k. Shipped half a million troops to the region and nearly all of them died before they even saw the enemy... argh.

And yeah.. getting counties etc without battle is hard, especially if you also are of low rank.

 

Managed to form the kingdom of Sicily and suddenly bitches are everywhere (which matches what you were saying Aekiel, cheers for that). took me 40 years but I'm finally able to start expanding my family of hunchbacks into Italy proper after marrying the duchess of Tuscany the moment she turned 16.

Is there anyway to fix the bug (I think it's a bug) where the NPC's switch out what you agreed in the betrothal to whatever benefits them?

 

Nope.. don´t think that is a bug.

 

The way I see it, it's not so much a bug as much as them being dicks, the way I get arround that is to to send the marriage proposal first, instead of just accepting theirs.

 

What Mishie said. Sometimes, if your prestige or overall power has dropped, they won't accept it. Otherwise you just have to send your own marriage proposal without accepting or rejecting theirs first.

 

Amusingly, the game sometimes tries to punish poor reading comprehension by proposing in their proposal that their female heir marry your heir matrilineally.

So, yeah, send your own.

You're pretty much always doing the jailbait wait when you have pending betrothals but don't feel bad since your character's probably on his 4th or 5th wife at this point and likely hits all the other "dirty old man" checkmarks.

 

Eh. If I can, I try to assassinate my first wife, and them marry female countesses or duchesses and yank them into whatever kingdom and dynasty I've got going.

Sure, it makes my realm look horrible, with chunks everywhere, but well, huge tracts of land!

 

Generally, after a certain amount of realm growth, it's best to try to marry your direct line of heirs to geniuses or characters with other good inheritable traits. If I'm trying to expand, I'll marry a claimant to one of my family members, and push their child's claim, but the benefits of being a genius, quick or strong are much better for your ruling line than any short term claims.

 

I find that a really dangerous tatic.. my goal is an empire with free investiture where I can control the Kingdoms far away through kings which I can easily imprison. If you have so many scattered Holdings that becomes difficult, it also means that the control of the culture and religion of your realm is difficult to control.

On the other hand if you are part of an empire it is a smart strategy.

On the other hand is it possible that they changed the religion system in the game? Have a lot more heretic kings etc.. In my game the whole of Norway, Denmark and Sweden is Cathar and I have real difficulties with getting rid of that and other religions in Britain.

 

I usually marry my heirs/current character to random courtiers with good stats and characteristics. Prestige accumulates so fast anyway.

Well, yeah, I mean if I am playing easy-mode aka Ireland, than I basically ignore everything east of Rome.

One of my .07 games, started out as Dublin, and Ireland'ed, then married the Queen of the Isles, and picked off two revolting duchies of Scotland. By marriage, by 5th generation non-heirs had picked up most of Wales, and a smattering of counties throughout the British Isles. Of course, Super!Norway had England, and most of Sweden.