The Black Plague

[nvlutz]

So I always felt that Disease that was widespread in Europe is underplayed in Crusader Kings 2. Like the only disease I ever see is Syphilis and occassional camp fever. But I almost never see any characters with the "Black Death".

Am I then led to believe that it was this not felt by the upper class? or was this just a balancing issue since it could kill off too many courtiers and vassals?

[ShadoWwolF]

historically it did affect the lower class more than the upper class for a few reasons. the upper class generally had large estates and could simply quarantine themselves off from the rest of the population. they would only come in contact with close family and a handful of servants. while lower class still came in contact with other lower class and infected persons. but as far as the game goes its just the mechanics at work. i hardly ever see the plague in game either but i know it does spread through the counties at some point and infected characters generally die off but its still chance and luck as to who gets infected and who doesnt

[wspray87]

I forget when it turns up, maybe someone else can help, but you should definetly notice a decade or maybe two where county after county has this smog hovering over it. Its not called the Black Plague I think, its called the Great Pox, or something. Not very helpful on this one.

Its there alright Ive seen it! And yes it mostly just kills off the background population while you and your courtiers should be fine. The economy just takes a set back,

[la_nague]

would be pretty frustrating if half your vassals, family etc just dies randomly.

[theren]

the black plague starts very late in the game, around the same time as it started IRL. It wont always hit you, but when someone of your court gets sick good luck. ive had it once and i was very lucky that my ruler didnt die. some of the sons a nd the wife died pretty fast.

[Blood Ravens]

You could get hit by a Bubonic Plague, which is the other name of the Black Death, and it is fatal if you got sick by Bubonic Plague.

[Johann Gambolputty of Ulm]

Well, I don't only claim that its in-game representation is pretty weak, what is more I feel that Black Death has been nerfed! Maybe its just my reception, but then, when I've played some late-games at the early stages of CK2, BD could hit really bad, like killing whole family branches. When I've encountered it recently, it just swept across my country, taking with her only a bunch of courtiers and minor vassals...

In history, it had a gigantic impact on both Christian and Islamic worlds. In Middle East, it contributed to the general downfall of the great muslim civilization (that has already began due to Mongol invasions). In Europe, it killed somewhere like 1/3 of population (with some countries struck harder, like the merchant republics, France). As anyone can imagine, such rapid depopulation cannot go unnoticed in economy, social balance etc. It hit hard trade for a few years, agricultural output as well (though it was balanced by the death toll).

Above else, it changed the feudal structure, as there were lesser peasants, meaning they got some stronger position. This resulted in some serious rebelions, reductions of the peasant's chore, migrations to cities, etc., lying down foundations for onset of the renaissance in Europe.

The game shows nothing of that.

Not to mention the fact, that the Bubonic Plague persisted after this first, big pandemic. It ravaged some parts of the continent on various occasions still in in-game XIV and XV centuries, and later (like the Great London Plague in the middle of the XVII century).

As for the upper classes, such highly contagious illness surely did affect them. F.e. it claimed the lifes of Alfonso XI of Castille or Joan the Lame, queen-consort of France.

In-game? Its only another plague, maybe with higher kill-count, but still...with no flavour added. To be honest, it should inflict serious drops in taxes, reduce supply limit - I mean, harsher then those caused by other epidemics. Furthermore, it should also kill parts of the holdings troops and levies, and, after passing, give some boost to the rebellion risk (or, perhaps, fire some chain event, like "peasants demand more freedom" with some small historic note, an option to aknowledge them with penalty for feudal and clergy vassals, or to dismiss them, giving +50% to revolt risk in some provinces or starting a huge peasant revolt outright).

[Corrupted Sanity (Vex)]

Originally posted by la_nague:

would be pretty frustrating if half your vassals, family etc just dies randomly.

That actually happened to me... I guess it really depends on the game. Very early in my game I got hit really bad with a series of diseases (1090s-1110s or so I think?). As soon as one wave of disease cleared up another started infecting all my counties. I'm pretty sure that all my vassals died along with about half my court and a good chunk of my family.

In the end I didn't actually lose anyone too important and some guys that were causing problems dropped dead without me having to... intervene, hehehe.

[Chen the Chad]

It would be a nice addition. But considering it killed two-thirds of England's population, be prepared to go through four rulers in fifteen seconds.

[markdb92]

the diesese are a good thing not bad thing they kill all the people there making culture change easier since less people to how you say resist change. only down side is bad suppy cause no one around to feed army

[h.arle]

It is in the game, and it's called Bubonic Plague. It's the worst disease in the game - it's worse for your health than being incapable (I believe it takes you down seven points of health). The other diseases do play a role, as well, though that's more noticeable when moving your armies: attrition is vastly increased if they're inside a county that has an epidemy.

Btw, the great pox isn't the plague, it's syphilis

[iki_balam]

i have yet to see it... any known triggers or am i just not doing something right?

[markdb92]

It happens after a certian date ie when the hordes come as they bring it

[theren]

Originally posted by markdb92:

It happens after a certian date ie when the hordes come as they bring it

not quite true. its independant from the hordes, but it only starts after 1300 i think.

[Dane]

Guys the Black Death can arrive any time after 1300s it CANNOT come before 1300s in game (I forgot the name of the plague in game)