Learning curve Crusader Kings II

[Battlekruse]

I was wondering what the learning curve is of CK2 and much time it take to learn how to play the game on decent level. I have tried it a little but I really did know what I was doing or what effect it had.

I dont know if you maybe invest like 10-12 hours in order to learn the average game mechanics. To be honest I think the ingame tutorial dont really learn much to be fair. I really want a more deep inside version of it. Its there some sort of basic way to learn the game in a more easy way. ?.

[Visi]

Yeah the in-game tutorial was pretty bad the last time I checked it out. In fact, I don't even think it could be completed because it hadn't been updated in so long, but maybe that's changed at some point. It does take quite a bit of time to get a hang of things. You could check these videos out and see if they help you. They total about 2 hours, and Quill is a pretty all right dude to watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMtkcXS3QJM&list=PLs3acGYgI1-tx3vchgHfZJecpWmVBXoIL

[SkiRich]

Recent newbie here. Only 200 hours.
Learning curve is quite steep but worth the effort, but only if you put in the effort to learn all the mechanics.
I was overwhelmed completely with the game on first starting it.
I am completely hooked now, playing several hours a day. It took me a week of playing several hours a day to get to a good level of knowledge to create a long playthrough. YMMV.

First off watch a bunch of learning how to play videos on youtube. Your choice.
Then try the tutorial, once.
Then go here and bookmark this ... https://www.youtube.com/user/arumba07/search?query=crusader
Lots of good info about the intricacies of the game, like education and breeding.

Then try your hand at a few places, expect to play about 50-100 years or two heirs and restart.
I went through 6 restarts as I learned new things and asked questions here.
Each time I discovered a game changing mechanic I wish I knew earlier I restarted.

Lastly, if you need help, search the forums here first or google and if nothing fits your need post a question.

[Visi]

The problem with just searching Arumba's channel is that there's a high likelihood that lots of information is going to be out of date. He's been making CK2 content for over 6 years now.

[Feynrik]

My suggestion for a new player is to set the hard level on lowest, all possible settings like torture inmates without releasing on, no restriction on woman empower, no limit to China but without invasion. I played a lot of trash games without ironman to be able reload after a suspicious result on my action. Even though I think of what will happen sometimes it did not happen though it first seemed logic. Then I just focus to tmddptamd that mechanic. For me it was hard to grasp the duchy level compared to count and king levels.
To learn for benefit go for religion buddhism or byzantine orthodox as I found them way more easier to understand than the splitup as pagan viking or the intricacy of Pope with Catholics.
Read a lot from wiki.
Ask questions specific subjects here on the forum.

[Viss Valdyr]

CK2 is more... easy to get in, hard to master.

Just follow the premise: have an heir. And go from there.

[TehJumpingJawa]

The joy of CK2 is in the learning.

[Seva Adom]

Start at the lowest rank playable in a Kingdom which is a count. Don't be independent or try start as a king as it is just too much to handle and understand. Play a few hours as a count in France or England or any other established kingdom.

When you know how to play a count, then try Duke, then indpendent ruler then King & then Emperor.

[SkiRich]

Good advice above to start lowly.
Do a 768AD start as a count in England if you want to learn feudal. Restart a few times as you learn.
Do a 768AD start in Ireland if you want to learn from tribal position and expand to feudal.

Ireland has the easiest start since it doesnt get invaded by surrounding rulers till later on.
England is easy as well until ruler begin to consolidate land and plot conquest of the English Isles.
If you start as a vassal instead as an independent count then you have a different aspect of ladder climbing to overcome.

I like starting as early as possible in a shattered world.

[Marcus Suridius]

A few hundred hours for me but don't let it put you off because its great fun learning all the little quirks. When starting just play normal games so if something messes up you can reload a save and thus learn from that.

Ive over 1.5k hours, about 600 of them are on Ironmode. If you ever need help post away on here because lots of people will try help you.

[Battlekruse]

I guess it will be the usual trial and error gaming is the way to do it.

Anyway, I will take a look on some of these links and try to find maybe som streamers on maybe twitch and see if I can learn a thing or two from there.

[Сааребас]

Tbh the mechanics are not really hard to grasp.
It is just that there is a lot of information to process and some of it hidden in unexpected places.
Click on stuff, read the tooltips and do not expect everything is going to wish.
I watched tutorials but still had difficulties when I started.
Basically, just play, read the forums and search specific questions when you have them or ask them (CK2 community is really helpfull and friendly).

2 most important tips mentioned by other users;
1-be a count or duke under any liege (pref a lardge realm)
2-get a wife and get her pregnant (pref a son)