Few Grand Strategy games are as in-depth and well-made as Crusader Kings 3. The Middle Ages dynasty simulator developed by Paradox has some of the best intrigue and diplomacy mechanics you'll get your hands on. The game mainly revolves around your dynasty and the generations that make your family grow through the ranks of medieval society. Still, when you're at the top, you'll need innovative thinking to keep your power and increase the side of your realm.
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That's where the Innovation Tree comes in. The game offers four separate Innovation categories, Cultural, Regional, Military, and Civic, while also being divided into four different Eras: Tribal, Early Medieval, High Medieval, and Late Medieval. Everyone has a diverse playstyle in Crusader Kings 3, so keep this list in mind when you start a new session.
4 Cultural Innovations
Cultural Innovations can be a godsend if you're using a culture with any of the innovations to unlock. This tree comes in the last spot because it covers fewer cultures and is less readily available to all the factions you would want to play — historically, though, this does make sense. You would expect the French to be able to come up with something other than the Chu-Ko-Nu, and that's a nice aspect of the implementation of Cultural Innovations.
Mostly, these Innovations revolve around military upgrades. Chinese Cultures can unlock the Chu-Ko-Nu Archers Men-At-Arms. In the game's later stages, when you've unlocked the Chanson de Geste cultural tradition, you'll have the opportunity to recruit the Gendarmes Men-At-Arms, giving you a superior cavalry to most of your surrounding enemies.
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There are only two non-military Cultural Innovations. The first one is the Table of Princes, part of the Czech or Slovien Culture, where you can enact House Seniority Law at any level of Crown Authority, a real boost to keeping your affairs in order. The other one is Varangian Adventures, which you can use as a new Causus Belli during your Tribal Era. FYI, You'll need to purchase the Northern Lords flavor pack to unlock this Cultural Innovation.
3 Regional Innovations
While the previous Innovation tree is locked in place for specific cultures, the Regional Innovation tree is unlocked if you control particular map areas. This category gives you a little incentive to expand territories and lets you decide where to start your next campaign. Some Regional Innovations you get are incredibly useful for the Era you'll be in.
Looking at some of the Tribal Regional Innovations, you can see how much they can help you run your territory efficiently. For example, the West African Canoes upgrade saves you 25 percent on Embarkation costs and gives you a ten percent raid speed upgrade. Alternatively, the Deccan India Wootz Steel improves your Prowess by one and increases your Heavy Cavalry and Heavy Infantry Damage by two. But it would be best if you didn't keep your eyes off the Netherlands for the late part of the game. With Wierdijks, you have some great Civic upgrades that increase your monthly development by ten percent, increase your Levy Size by one percent, and cut down your Construction time by ten percent.
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Even though the technological advances you unlock are significant, the regional constrictions put it second to last. If you don't intend to expand your territories during your gameplay and are happy to rule areas where you can't unlock them, this is an Innovation Tree you won't come across. The best selling point of Crusader Kings 3 is the ability to play however you want and rewrite history the way you prefer.
2 Military Innovations
When playing a grand strategy game like Crusader Kings 3, you will need some of those lands to govern over, and what other way to get your hands on some new territory if you don't have a solid military complex to back your land claims? Military Innovations are the first ones that are transversal to all the factions and cultures, so pick them wisely when you invest time researching them.
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Thanks to this Innovation Tree, you can start unlocking more robust units to incorporate into your army, giving you the advantage on the surrounding faction's land you've wanted for yourself and your heirs. But the Military Innovations also ensure your domain has a better defense for your castles and cities. So first and foremost, make sure you choose the Barracks or Mottes as your first Fascination. This way, you'll unlock them earlier. The Barracks help you unlock all the Tribal Era Military Buildings, and the Mottes enable the construction of all fortifications.
If you can unlock the Late Medieval Era Military Innovations before your closest rivals, know you will get the chance to steam roll them. With the Bombards update, where you'll start bringing cannons to your sieges, and the Sappers upgrade that cuts Siege Phase Time by ten percent, you'll take over the known world in the blink of an eye.
1 Civic Innovations
Now, conquest is excellent, but when building a dynasty that withstands the test of time, you will need to improve your Civic Innovations. Some might think you won't get far in the game without a solid military for internal strife. But with the proper Civic Innovations in place, you won't need to worry about rebels. Thanks to the Innovations you'll find here, most of your Direct and Fellow Vassals will increase their opinion of you.
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Also, how could you think about running a proper state without a functioning economy and adequate growth in place? With each economic Innovation, like the Banking Innovation, you'll have a plus ten percent Monthly Development Growth. If you're worried about Domain Limits, worry not. In the Civic Innovation Tree, you'll find all the upgrades that increase the limit causing you problems.
But, as all of you know, the most frustrating part of running a country is its succession laws. We've all had at least one ruler with a high fertility rate and many children, and maybe that ruler is the one who presses the most Claims on lands and conquers them. When the ruler's time comes, and it's time to divide up all that land between all the kids, that's when you wish you had Primogeniture, and where else to find it if not in the Civic Innovations tree? And that is why this Innovation Tree is the most important to focus on in Crusader Kings 3.
Next: Crusader Kings 3: How To Keep Your Custom Character's Dynasty Alive
