One of the most impressive mods for Crusader Kings 2 was Elder Kings, a conversion mod set in the Elder Scrolls universe. The beloved mod is now receiving a sequel for Crusader Kings 3, and while it has yet to be released, what has been shown so far will undoubtedly excite fans.
The first Elder Kings mod released in 2013, bringing the grand strategy gameplay of Crusader Kings 2 to the world of Nirn. But the mod is more than Crusader Kings set in Tamriel. In addition to allowing fans to play as one of the many Elder Scrolls races and factions, it also introduced new systems that made Elder Kings feel unique from its base game while still preserving what made Crusader Kings 2 one of the best strategy games of its time.
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The mod’s creators are now working on an Elder Kings 2 mod for Crusader Kings 3, and it looks like an impressive followup. YouTuber One Proud Bavarian showed off the mod’s progress in a recent video, giving fans a glimpse of the mod’s new mechanics. The most noticeable difference is the overhauled map of Tamriel. The new map is much more detailed than its predecessor and appears to follow Elder Scrolls canon better than the first Elder Kings map.
The mod’s creators are also overhauling Elder Kings’ religion mechanics. Players will be able to become a patron of one of the Elder Scrolls’ many Aedra and Daedra, each with their own perks to suit a variety of playstyles. Unlike in the first Elder Kings, players can also choose to create their own pantheon, which will allow them to mix and match Aedra and Daedra to serve their own agenda.
The developers have also introduced a new culture system called Nativity Regions. This feature makes it easier for players to spread their culture in their native region, while making it more difficult to spread culture to areas outside of their culture group. This means that a person playing as a Breton ruler will have an easier time spreading culture in their native province of High Rock, but may be better off allowing Red Guard rulers to remain in power once they move into Hammerfell.
There are also new, lore-friendly lost cultures that players may discover and potentially bring back to life. Reviving a lost culture will help savvy players create claims on new territories. To revive a lost Elder Scrolls culture, players will have to find ancient texts and artifacts belonging to one of the lost tribes.
Elder Kings 2 seems to be a vast improvement on the already-impressive first Elder Kings mod. However, the mod is still in development and its creators have not announced when it will release.
Crusader Kings 3 is available on PC.