Been struggling to get into the game; should I try the Shogunate mod?

[Dark Sun Gwyndolin]

I'm a big fan of grand strategy games, including Paradox games, but I've struggled to get engaged with Crusader Kings 3. I often find myself not really knowing what to do, and my run quickly ending due to the actions of a far larger power. I don't particularly want to play AS the large power, because I like a small, cozy empire that I micromanage. It doesn't help that I'm not THAT enthused about Medieval Europe as a time period. I've tried playing various factions in the British Isles (my dad is Scottish, possibly descended from one of the vassals of the legendary King McAlpin) in hopes of improving my mood (I loved Total War: Britannia), but it hasn't helped.

Then I realized; there's another island nation I love even more than Britain: Japan, especially in Total War: Shogun 2 and Victoria 3. And the Shogunate mod would let me play there. It's an era where (at least in the Sengoku Jidai) everyone is about the same size, with the same goal: become Shogun (or Emperor, in some startdates). This would allow me to remain small without being underpowered. I love Feudal Japan far more than Medieval Europe, but I haven't tried the mod yet due to fearing I would not know what to do.

What do you think? Should I install and play the Shogunate mod if I think I'd find it more engaging than the main setting, even though I have little real experience with Crusader Kings 3? Would I be able to learn the game there?

[jpcerutti]

Short answer? I think you should do whatever you want.

It IS a single player game. If you want to run a mod, or edit it, or keep it strictly Vanilla, or achievement hunt, or only play as Amazon Cannibal Witches. Do it. :)

[[OCe]Kagari]

if you jump to Shogunate rightaway you wont learn how to manage succession and gaining casus belli in the vanilla early game, as succession is already primogeniture and the CB is mainly the unify Japan CB where you can take all of your enemies' land in one go, something that only for certain circumstances can be done in vanilla,

Shogunate is best for multiplayer tho, it's pretty lightweight and it's fun to have actual players challenge you for the shogunate. But for learning i don't recommend it.

[Dark Sun Gwyndolin]

Alright, I'll give it a try. If I struggle, I'll go back to the base game and force myself through a few rulers, then come back to Shogunate.

[mutantmuppet]

Ireland is a good starting point and allows you to usually grown slowly and discover the game mechanics such as making alliances with those bigger powers, or ones bigger then them and the such like. Twitch and youtube are also excellent tools for tips and tricks and my understanding and enjoyment of the game has increased the more I learn from watching others and learn about things I missed or did not even know about

[Abacus]

If the larger power, or a nearby is of the same religion, etc. You can swear fealty.

If you get strong enough, you can break away (or during a civil war, succession war.)