The world of Crusader Kings 3 is already incredibly harsh. Zealots start holy wars on a whim, the five-year-old that’s ascended to the throne has outlawed drinking, and of course, there are all the other pleasantries of the middle ages. However, one was forgotten when Crusader Kings originally released — winter. Thankfully, players soon won’t have to imagine the peasantry struggling to keep warm in their huts. The next major update for Crusader Kings will bring winter into the mix, along with a heap of new gameplay mechanics.
According to a development update, winter will add a ton of new challenges to running your kingdom in Crusader Kings 3. The first thing players should notice once winter rolls around are some stark visual changes. The map will gradually cover with snow, although in varying amounts. Different areas will get different kinds of winter, either mild, normal, or harsh. You can tell if an area is going through a mild winter if you see small patches of grass. These and normal winters will be extremely common throughout most of Europe. However, those settling in Mongolia or Himalaya should prepare for harsher winters.
What will winter bring in Crusader Kings 3?
Beyond visual changes, winter will introduce some significant gameplay changes when it rolls around. If a winter is severe enough, Baronies will begin losing their supply. If your winter is harsh, that will equate to a large amount of supplies lost each month. Harsh winters will also cause armies to suffer more fatalities after battles.
Men-at-arms will be affected by the change in seasons as well. Some units will perform worse during the winter, with cavalry taking the largest hit. However, there are other units, such as the Tibetan Mountaineers, that will benefit from the cold. For Mountaineers, that benefit is in the form of a damage boost, though the buff could be different for other units.
