Crusader Kings 3 - Guide - Vikings Guide

[@Fun4luve]

Harald "Fairhair" was one of my favorite starts in ck2 as soon as i got ck3 he was the first person i played it was definitely extremely fun. (this comment partly exist for the KZbin algorithm your content is great my dude)

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

Thanks!

[@skullreda2762]

same lol

[@Wiggyam]

Yeah, but there are some serious i historical issues with his placement, we know that he definately did not operate in Viken, and the extent to which he actually unified what we now think of as Norway is debatable, as he could claim kingship, but de facto unable to exercise authority of the lands. What seems most likely is that he was a local ruler in Western Norway, arounf Avaldsnes.

[@jakepancake7176]

Hail Finehair

[@pwesiti]

I’ll never understand why ppl don’t auto subscribe after enjoying a video from a good KZbinr.

[@banangem]

As a Swede i have to say A+ on the pronunciations, can really tell you made an effort there!

[@GabbyJFS_02]

I’ve looked up dozens of guides on pretty much every topic for CK3, but only you and 2 other KZbinrs have really proven useful. I also really love that you give a lot of history, I’ve been wanting to try and learn more about the historical context of the various areas, but it just seems overwhelming. Your videos are concise but just detailed enough to where I’m not left in the dark. Keep up the great work! Also, just curious, have you done a video on the Iberian struggle for the dlc? There’s also the Legacy of Persia one out that looks interesting, but I have no idea what it’s about lol

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

Thanks for the kind words. I did an Iberia 1066 video, but that was fine pre-DLC. I’ve got a few more guide videos planned, but just need to find the time to write & record them (they’re quite time consuming).

[@TheEAsports17]

Nice!! Got super into these videos after watching HRE and Italy guides. HRE specifically was fantastic, I love the historical context you provide with these videos. Helps tremendously with the role playing aspect.

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

I’m glad you’re enjoying it

[@jamesrogers8501]

Sigurd Snake-eye is by far my favorite character to play in ck3, thank you for making this video!

[@slugmanantonio]

Heck yeah! Vikings! The biggest thorn on my side whenever I play Alfred!

[@chisokugaming]

Bjorn is grossly strong. He always rolls high diplomacy, and moving down the diplomacy tree makes it so that he can very easily take over most of Scandinavia through diplomacy with only having to take over Gotland and one of his other neighbours by force (and maybe Sigurdr). One of the easiest starts in 867.

[@jgamer2228]

As Björn, I subjugated sigurdr by vassalizing him then blitzing my neighbors that wouldn’t accept vassalage and forming the empire of Scandinavia. Definitely overpowered.

[@MrRaptorish100]

Play as Bjorn have your daughter divorce rurik and make your son your priest and you’ll have an insanely good heir (don’t have kids)

[@jakepancake7176]

Bjorn died within the first Hour of me playing against his Brother Snake eye Rip

[@nOOgieTheMBP]

Snake in the eye and ivar the boneless through their alliances made my life miserable. Maybe I just got unlucky 😕

[@Gods_Gift401]

Just being honest he isn't that overpowering. He dies pretty quickly each playthrough. No longer does he live past 53 and he starts out at what 41 lol

[@Blake5467]

I've been waiting for this! Can't wait to see The Carolingians and the Byzantines next

[@crazyhercules9442]

The history around Charlemagne and the Holy Roman Empire is truly something to behold. I am OBSESSED with history😂I can never get enough, I feel.

[@zigedelic3909]

@@crazyhercules9442 As a big Basillia Rhomaion fan, I have a tongue-in-cheek hate for the HRE, but it really does have an insane history and Charlemagne in particular was an incredible figure

[@beesbeesingtonvi614]

Well, I know who I wanna play in Iceland now! She rules.

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

Yeah her story is very cool

[@ianrodriguez9649]

Id love the option to set the start date a few decades earlier... imagine being able to viking properly where your heart desires. Also imagine playing as charlegmagne and splitting up the empire as you please after death. I feel like theres alot of content missing there, but id pay of it were to be a dlc.

[@PrimeNPC]

Just started a playthrough of Haraldr of the Vestfold, a humble fishing province. Managed to secure two strong alliances a little too easily, my widowed mother married the Jarl of a 1200+ man strong county and after having a daughter she was married to a neighboring even stronger Jarls same age son. Now I just need to build up some reputation and hopefully one of the smaller clans will want to marry their daughters into my family, giving me a path to claiming their lands. I'm only 3 years in and having a blast so far, was inspired after watching Vikings but haven't even thought about raiding England yet, just enjoying the local politics and scheming

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

Fun!

[@Mecrobb]

just found your channel and im so glad i did, love the vids and your thoroughness.

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

Glad you like them!

[@unovasfinest2623]

Me playing as a Viking: 1. Raid 2. Adventure 3. Repeat 1 and 2 til we get to the central Mediterranean 4. Raid, Raid, Raid 5. Do whatever you want 👍🏿

[@caelendonnelly2357]

👌🏻👏🏻 Also Rollo is in the court of trandheimr as the marshal if you start as him. Has the dynasty of De Normandie and everything, if you look up the house in the character finder you’ll see him.

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

So I double checked my notes and sources. According to the Icelandic Sagas, the Hroflr that is in the game as Rögnvaldr’s son is the most likely actual historical Rollo. But Paradox have decided to add the flavor of the “other” Rollo into the game as the head of a dynasty that didn’t exist yet. It’s confusing and a bit historically frustrating.

[@rockmcdwayne1710]

Hint about making raiding your primary directive: Do not focus on gold. You dont have all that much use for it in tribal gvmt. What you need to focus for is destruction of enemy armies. As many as you can find. Reason for that is that, your armies run on prestige! Destroying enemy armys grants you a lot of it. It becomes a snowball effect. Raid, find active battles, win those battles, recruit more MAA, upgrade tribal holdings and conquer new land! You can easily conquer a territory of major empire withing 1 lifetime if you make farming prestige your primary directive! Do not worry about gold that much, you will get way more than what you need from raiding.

[@CullenTheDuck]

I’m sure you’ve already realized, but Rollo and house Normandie is already in the game in 867, as a marshal in Norway

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

So I double checked my notes and sources. According to the Icelandic Sagas, the Hroflr that is in the game as Rögnvaldr’s son is the most likely actual historical Rollo. But Paradox have decided to add the flavor of the “other” Rollo into the game as the head of a dynasty that didn’t exist yet. It’s confusing and a bit historically frustrating.

[@Zazinikki]

Very good pronunciation of German and Scandinavian counties

[@_shogun_gaming_]

Would love an updated version of this, or just a short lets play type using vikings, i just recently started this game and being a dane myself...well..you know...vikings ! :) there just so many things to keep track of. Im mostly wondering if theres any change to the game now vs 2 years ago from this vid :) i did see your update 1.3 vid also

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

Not much has changed in terms of playable factions/characters and their history. I will say that the DLC focused on Northern Europe (Northern Lords) is a lot of fun and I highly recommend it.

[@rhzyo]

I've been asking & waiting for this 😊, orsm thank you 😊☺️😊 They have Rollo in the game as the marshal for Chieftain Rögnvaldr in prandheimr. Hrolfr de normandie, I took land then gave it to him then swapped players & played as Rollo went down to France and took Normandy made the Norman culture was pretty fun. Edit; it was Hastein not Bjorn sorry. Fun fact; Bjorn was sieging a city in Italy which he thought was Rome & in order to get into the town he became Christian & pretend to be dead. In Vikings it was Ragnar that did that in Paris but apparently they got the idea from Bjorn. Just love Viking history, King Sigurd the 1st of Norway aka Sigurd the crusader is my favourite Norse historical person

[@Philip54622]

It was actually haestinn who did the christian bit

[@rhzyo]

@@Philip54622 oh wow you're right It was Hastein had heard/read some where that it was Bjorn that did it thinking it was rome but turned out to be luna but I'm mistaken.

[@rhzyo]

@@Philip54622 but Sigurd still probably my favourite Viking

[@Philip54622]

@@rhzyo haestinn and bjorn were good friends and they went on a famous raid spree all over the Mediterranean where they thought they raided rome. They returned and haestinn conquered nantes and montaigue where he with king salomon of brittany attacked francia. Whilst bjorn returned to lead the great heathen army with his brothers

[@Philip54622]

@@rhzyo mines Ivar he just looks like the viking who kills 50 men whilst drinking mead and then swimming in the winter north sea

[@attila2246]

Jumping on the Valheim train 🤣 ngl though, I'm loving it.

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

😂 I actually thought about doing a Valheim video, but didn’t think it would work well

[@ciaranmck4469]

Yess been waiting for this one

[@skjoldar9622]

Finally. I love the vikings in ck3. I haven't watch the complete Video so maybe you will mention it later. But do you have some tips for Iceland? Btw I love the historical aspects of your videos

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

Iceland gets covered towards the end of the video

[@marthvader14]

Your German pronounciation is so good

[@ashtonbarwick6696]

I played as Ivar the Boneless and conquered Scotland, Ireland, England, and France. Converted to Catholicism, embraced Norman culture and feudalized. Got the cool Edward III coat of arms too. Too many factions though😂

[@SorenYeger]

Super video very helpful ty ♡

[@Ludovicus1769]

Holmger Hammer is such a cool name.

[@3vikings]

now this is epic

[@dianabialaskahansen2972]

Just watched this guide. Surprised Hæsteinn is not on this list. From his position he has a lot of reach, he's got a powerful army and is a powerful commander.

[@youngmich3003]

Really cool video

[@angryhermit4291]

Hrolfr de Normandy is an unlanded character under the chief of trondheim in the wrath of the northmen chapter.

[@thekamikaze2305]

Bjorn Ironside is my favorite character👑❤️

[@SpaceHeathen]

Surprised you didn't cover Jarl Dag of Upplond, there is a "Dag" in Total War Attila as well, so I am assuming there is some sort of saga reference behind him. Jarl Haesteinn, vagarian adventure to Sardinia (I am butchering the spellings) to conquering the Mediterranean islands and raiding the area is extremely lucrative playthrough. Rome, Venice, Tunis, etc have a ton of money.

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

I honestly forgot about him. Sorry.

[@stanislavmegued554]

Auðr has fixed traits. She's always quick, arrogant, tier 3 scholar. Also, her strategy has more to do with island hopping first, before the unification of Iceland. She has to beat Alba to Orkney. Alba usually takes the island in the first 3 years, so the clock is ticking. Eastern Iceland won't go anywhere and none is going to attack there

[@galapagosgurdy6109]

Gardar - "his neighbor was so cool"

[@thecakeisalie6392]

May you do an Austria guide and the formation of the Archduchy? :D

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

Could be a possibility

[@mikeclarke3990]

Konugardr is my favourite

[@samuelrichter3417]

Well this was some fortuitous timing.

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

Yup. I wish I could say it was planned.

[@mortache]

Hrolfr de Normandie is actually in the game, with the correct coat of arms. You can search "De normandie" and you'll find him.

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

So I double checked my notes and sources. According to the Icelandic Sagas, the Hroflr that is in the game as Rögnvaldr’s son is the most likely actual historical Rollo. But Paradox have decided to add the flavor of the “other” Rollo into the game as the head of a dynasty that didn’t exist yet. It’s confusing and a bit historically frustrating.

[@mortache]

I've had fun as that guy. Starting from one county, invading Normandy and East Anglia, making Alfred the great inherit Mercia and unite England by assassinating a few Mercian rulers, and then finally doing kingdom invasion of England.

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

Sound like some good CK3 fun!

[@gaberobison680]

I love Bjorn but the bug where Ivar’s army is hostile to you makes it impossible to fight in England :(

[@zigedelic3909]

You're wrong about Hroflr, the Rollo Hrolfr is in the court of Rognvaldr. Go to his knights and you'll see him, he has the dynasty of Normandie, even though he hasn't been granted Normandy yet.

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

Ah ok. It's hard to pick through a lot of these names, especially since there's a ton of crossover. At least the name is correct.

[@zigedelic3909]

@@RealmBuilderGuy Absolutely. To be honest, the *actual* Hroflr might actually be the one you pointed out because as you say at the start of the video, most of what we know about the Scandinavian world in this period is written by people well after the fact and Paradox have just kind of leaned in to the legends instead of strict historicity

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

So I double checked my notes and sources. According to the Icelandic Sagas, the Hroflr that is in the game as Rögnvaldr’s son is the most likely actual historical Rollo. But Paradox have decided to add the flavor of the “other” Rollo into the game as the head of a dynasty that didn’t exist yet. It’s confusing and a bit historically frustrating.

[@zigedelic3909]

@@RealmBuilderGuy yeah that does sound likely. Makes me wonder why they put the De Normandie one in at all, since they could have linked it to this one through William the Conqueror's dynasty or the duchy of normandy's title history

[@gweiloxiu9862]

Ragnarssona þáttr (The Ragnar & Sons saga) kind of goes off script in regards to the typical Norse saga, which more usually involves unscrupulous family members who need to be overcome in order to regain one's birthright. CK3 as a story generator could easily be a saga generator (lots of Norse sagas are sagas of multiple generations of a family) if it was a bit tighter in regards to the Norse Lore.

[@victorhino26]

Anyone elses reading the title of the video in the tune of CK2 ost,Viking God. Y'know dundundundundurun Viking Guuuuiiide. Anyhoo,always gonna make 1st priority to snatch Rollo the progenitor of de Normandy house and Ubbe everytime I start as viking,Ubbe especially,always make him a king/jarl somewhere. AI usually give him short straw giving puny lands in northern england

[@perjohanaxell9862]

You should follow this upp with the eastern vikings as vell.

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

Good point

[@RexOlafusVidulusMagnus]

Oh-hoh-hoh yeseee! Now If you'd just do that Central European guide (Poland, Hungary, Pomerania, Prussia, Lithuania), that'd be fantastic! Please do xD.

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

On the list

[@randomicelander5307]

You ended with iceland and you did not talk about 1066 haukdala. Few reasons why i thought you would mention them. 1.last of the independant ruling familys in iceland (later under norway then denmark)2. last norse culture (rest have diverged into norwegrian,danish,swedish) so you have controle ove inovations. 3 still a tribal so you can raid and role play as the last true vikings. But hay mabey im still just hyped that thay made it the historical 4 county duchy in the update . really hoping thay ad hot pool as special building fore health boost or something as we did have some of the oldest indore hottubs😅

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

That’s a good point. I probably should’ve talked about them.

[@pablovelasquez6917]

Hello there

[@carltonleboss]

General Kenobi!

[@georgehennen507]

Got u with that like and sub

[@tronk5598]

Will you do a european tribal guide like hungary and khazaria in 876 or pechenegs and cumans in 1066?

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

Yes I will

[@tronk5598]

@@RealmBuilderGuy nice, i eagerly await it, nomads are fun

[@MonsieurCorbusier]

your pronounciation of danish places is cute

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

I try 😊

[@edwardcollins8102]

Might want to update this guide (or atleast add to) for Northern Lords. For example, if you start out as one of the Iceland chiefs, would it be worth it to say screw Iceland, I'm going for Normandy or somewhere in England?

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

I don’t see myself redoing it (yet)

[@AnimePigeon]

Any chance you can do a video of Unlanded/Landed Characters (historical figures &/or great trait spawns/stat distributions) that you can’t play as but you can recruit? For Example - When I play 1066 Normandy, I try my hardest to marry my daughters to get El CID (Rodrigo) in my Court and make him a Marshall with his impressive 26 Martial.

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

That’s a great idea! It’s added to the (long) list.

[@crazyhercules9442]

I love the Norse :) It bothers me a bit too much that Normans don’t have Huscarls when you start. Normans we’re Norse once, they would’ve kept their heritage and huscarls. But whatever ckiii.

[@marcinpaz4579]

Hi great guides could You tell me what would be better place to invade Spain or Sicily? I am playing count Montaigu 867

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

I’d say Sicily

[@Dcart5]

As King of Sweden how would you deal with Development aka Tech being really poor? I know at some point you can change to Sweden Culture but I don't think that does anything?

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

The key would be to become feudal

[@Dcart5]

@@RealmBuilderGuy I'm confused what does going Feudal do for Development? How does it help?

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

@@Dcart5 it unlocks new technology advances and way more buildings, which are all key to building income.

[@Dcart5]

@@RealmBuilderGuy Ok and I did see tribal debuff to developement thanks

[@Jonnybravo589]

Have they fixed the transition to feudal system. I have a mega empire and transitioned to feudal and went from like 30k troops to like 8k and got crusaded into oblivion

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

I’m not sure to be honest

[@ic.xc.]

Isn’t this before the northern lords dlc

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

Yes it is. Had I known that was coming, I would’ve waited.

[@Tommy20136]

Lmao, well timed video XD

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

I wish I could claim that I planned it that way, but I’m not enough of an insider for that 😂

[@jakepancake7176]

So Um I chose a Low level Jarl Harald Finehair who’s lowkey sick However Snake eyes went to war and Bjorn made a truce but started a war again and now Bjorn’s dead lmao no wonder Vikings went Extinct. Scandinavian empire is going be dismantled before a single Saxon Ship even touches my shore.

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

😂 very true

[@edcristianhanopol6141]

Being norse is great way to spread your dynasty all over the world if you have strong norse spouses. They can launch their own adventures and have your children inherit lands all over the map. Great for renown farming.

[@Russian-Troll]

I keep running out of prestige

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

It’s one that does need to be balanced. Going to war too often and calling in allies too often costs a lot of prestige.

[@FredrikSkievan]

You said Telemark, How did you know to say that? Have you studied the language?

[@ciaranmck4469]

Realistically tho I doubt any of the lads are sons of ragnar

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

It’s all very “up in the air”

[@AnimePigeon]

Odd Question - If you don’t interfere with Harald Fairhair, will he eventually breed down to Harald Hardrade? The question is basically - Can Characters in 867/1066 give birth to real preset characters for there children?

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

Interesting question. I don’t honestly know. It’s along the lines of whether or not Genghis Khan shows up in the later game.

[@AnimePigeon]

@@RealmBuilderGuy pretty sure he does - but would be sweet if Paradox confirmed if the AI has historical bias or is purely rng what happens. If Rollo goes to Normandy without anyone playing as him or trying to coerce him to. I swear this game has like 3 Rollo’s - But only one of them has House Normandie - If that Rollo was playable with Ironmode (and the game does give birth to historical characters) I would love to be able to marry the right people from the 1066 Dynasty Tree to try and get William the Bas*** born and playable before 1066 :) If the AI worked with historical bias and tried to give birth to these characters it would be amazing :)