Summary
There are five Lifestyles to choose from inCrusader Kings 3, and Diplomacy is easily the best option for any player looking to consolidate their rule and be well respected, especially if their character received a Diplomacy education. The Diplomacy Lifestyle has three focuses which can be changed every five years, granting unique bonuses.
When players accrue enough Diplomacy Lifestyle points, they can then select Perks from any one of the three Diplomacy Perk trees, unlocking permanent buffs for the character. Focusing on one tree can be great as it grants a Diplomacy Trait at the end, but players should also be aware of the best Diplomacy Perks inCrusader Kings 3, as unlocking them in an optimal order or dipping into other trees for a few strong perks can be hugely beneficial.
7Defensive Negotiations
Fellow Vassal/Independent Ruler Opinion: +15; Can propose one Alliance without a Marriage
Defensive Negotiations is an all-around great Diplomacy Perk inCK3, with three separate bonuses. The +15 opinion from fellow vassals can be great for players looking to avoid conflicts with their peers, but it can also be useful for staging a coup or revolting andincreasing one’s own rank.
The +15 opinion from independent rulers is always going to be useful, either for avoiding war or getting others to agree to certain things. The ability to propose an alliance without the need for a marriage is arguably the best aspect of Defensive Negotiations, though, particularly for players who don’t have any spare family members to marry off.
6Benevolent Intent
Sway Scheme Power: +30%
Swaying characters is one of the most common actions inCrusader Kings 3, and so the +30% buff to its power is going to come in very useful over a ruler’s lifetime. This Perk increases the chance of successfully swaying someone, allowing players to bump up characters' opinions of them before moving on to sway more individuals.
Important characters to sway are realm priests so that they provide more taxes,powerful vassals on the verge of revolt, and generally any character that needs to be convinced of something.
5Groomed To Rule
Children receive 1 to 3 extra Skill points
Crusader Kings 3is agame all about creating the best dynasties, so players should be focused on their heirs just as much as their current ruler. With the Groomed to Rule Perk, which can be picked up first in the Family Hierarch tree, children will receive 1 to 3 extra skill points based on their Childhood Traits.
The potential to get +3 for any stat on a player’s heir should not be overlooked, especially for a Perk that doesn’t require a commitment to the tree it’s on. As primary heirs don’t always survive, the fact that this Perk is applied to all children is great. They can also be useful as council members, knights, or as members of the court with a specific role.
4True Ruler
Offer Vassalization Acceptance: +20
One ofthe best ways to gain land without war inCK3is to peacefully vassalize lower rank independent rulers, and the True Ruler Perk helps out extraordinarily with this. The +20 acceptance value is rather large and can easily tip the scales in the player’s favor.
As more rulers are vassalized, the player’s realm will grow larger and larger, causing more lower rank rulers to seek safety in the fold rather than fearing an attack. True Ruler can help start a domino effect of vassalization.
3Friendly Counsel
Each of your Friend Relations gives you 2 random Skill points (To the Maximum of 5)
As in life, having friends is much better than having foes inCrusader Kings 3, and the Friendly Counsel Perk from the Family Hierarch tree makes friendship even more powerful. With Friendly Counsel, each friend grants the player’s character 2 random skill points up to a maximum of 5.
Thus, by having just a few friends, players have the potential to gain big buffs to the stats they need the most, and this is on top of all the other benefits of friends. One of the few negatives of having friends inCK3is that when they die,the player’s character gains stress.
2Inspiring Rule
Monthly Prestige per Powerful Vassal on the Council: +5%
Seeing as players will often want toassign powerful vassals to their councilanyway, unlocking the Inspiring Rule Perk is a no-brainer as they can get a tonne of monthly Prestige for free. Prestige has many uses inCK3, allowing players to increase their level of fame and acting as a resource for a multitude of decisions and activities.
With four powerful vassals assigned to the positions of Chancellor, Steward, Marshal, and Spymaster, players will get an extra +20% monthly Prestige.
1Befriend
You can use the Befriend Scheme; Unlocks the Challenge to Board Game Interaction, allowing you to play friendly games with other Characters
Befriending characters has several benefits, making the Befriend Perk one of the best Diplomacy Perks inCrusader Kings 3. This is particularly true given that Befriend can be unlocked first, with follow-up Perks that lend even more strength to the power of friendship.
Friends will always have a good opinion of each other and won’t take any hostile actions against each other. Befriending fellow vassals or one’s own vassals can be great for staying safe and avoidingwar inCrusader Kings 3.
Crusader Kings 3is available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Crusader Kings 3
WHERE TO PLAY
Your legacy awaits. Choose your noble house and lead your dynasty to greatness in a Middle Ages epic that spans generations. War is but one of many tools to establish your reign, as real strategy requires expert diplomatic skill, mastery of your realm, and truecunning.Crusader Kings IIIcontinues the popular series made by Paradox Development Studio, featuring the widely acclaimed marriage of immersive grand strategy and deep, dramatic medieval roleplaying.Take command of your house and expand your dynasty through a meticulously researched Middle Ages. Begin in 867 or 1066 and claim lands, titles, and vassals to secure a realm worthy of your royal blood. Your death is only a footnote as your lineage continues with new playable heirs, either planned… or not.Discover a sprawling simulated world teeming with peasants and knights, courtiers, spies, knaves and jesters, and secret love affairs. An extensive cast of historical characters can be romanced, betrayed, executed, or subtly influenced.Explore a vast medieval map stretching from the snowswept Nordic lands to the Horn of Africa, and the British Isles in the west to the exotic riches of Burma in the east. Claim, conquer, and rule thousands of unique counties, duchies, kingdoms, and empires.
