I struggle to accept my own mortality in CK3 compared with other strategy games, but that's not the Medieval mindset, is it? I can kill, as well as be killed. It keeps me informed of every child without a spouse or a guardian even if there’s no one suitable to fill the role, every war I could declare even if none are practical, and every title I personally stand to inherit even if from my own vassals. The game’s ‘situations’ tab was partly responsible for my anxiety over these decisions, until I realised it’s not a notification to be acted upon and dismissed as in other strategy games, but rather a constant presence to be reviewed in case one of its situations aligns with an opportunity. I will miss opportunities to gain advantage, and some of the actions I take may not be the best. During my time in CK3, I will grudgingly come to accept that I can’t comprehend let alone influence every single little thing that’s going on in the bubbling cauldron of Medieval Europe. This is possible in, say, Civilization or Total War, where there are fewer variables and fewer potential decisions. Thanks to the tutorial, I know the basics of how to play, but I’m burdened with a habitual strategy gamer’s need to understand every variable and make decisions that are close to optimal. Hence that hour’s worth of acclimatisation.
