The By God Alone expansion for Crusader Kings III will be released on September 8
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In the September expansion, part of the Fifth Chapter of content for the strategy game Crusader Kings III, new opportunities for interacting with religion and church politics will be introduced. Players will be able to orchestrate their campaigns to strengthen the church and spread Christianity, where archbishops and even the Pope will become central figures under the player's control.

In the Middle Ages, even the most powerful rulers feared the higher court. But divine forces are far away, and their will is interpreted and executed by mortals. And who knows how much of their interpretation is faith and how much is personal interpretation of religious dogmas. After all, divine power can also serve earthly goals, and the church can open a new path to glory and greatness. The By God Alone expansion for Crusader Kings III will allow players to experience the drama and power of medieval faith.

The expansion will also introduce many new ways for characters to interact with their religion: new religious rites and dogmas. Players can either adhere to the letter of the law or challenge religious authorities and bend faith to their will. But caution is advised: worldly concerns and earthly power are far from everything that matters.

Key features of Crusader Kings III: By God Alone:

  • Playing as a Theocracy: You can now rule lands belonging to archbishops—or even the Pope himself. The papacy gains entirely new sources of wealth and power.
  • Situation for Christianity: A new permanent situation for Christian states opens actions and decisions affecting the development of the Christian faith. Players can participate in Ecumenical Councils, defining the dogmas and beliefs of their confession.
  • Heresies: Religious rites that differ from existing standards of faith undermine the church's power and wealth and may be deemed heretical. You will have to submit to the will of the church authorities… or rise against them.
  • The Great Schism: When playing from the year 867, the Christian church will eventually reach a fateful crossroads for the religion. This event can result in the Great Schism between the Catholicism of the West and the Orthodoxy of the East.
  • Monastic Holy Orders: Monasteries address not only theological issues but also scientific inquiries. Rulers whose lands house the chapters of monastic holy orders gain significant benefits. One should not forget about spiritual sustenance, for the prayers of grateful monks save the souls of secular lords from eternal damnation.
  • Changes to Religious Dogmas: The dogma system in Crusader Kings III is significantly overhauled. The focus is now on characters' attitudes towards their faith, as well as norms of behavior considered appropriate within it. You can follow heretical teachings that expand the boundaries of what is acceptable—or try to make your personal preferences the norm by manipulating church politics.
  • Spiritual Realization System: A combination of virtues, actions, and religious dogmas shapes the picture of each character's spiritual life. Sinful or virtuous acts not only cause stress—they impact the character's relationship with God and their expectations of the afterlife.
  • Archdioceses: A new church title that grants religious authority over an entire geographic region, regardless of the holdings of secular rulers.
  • College of Cardinals: The Pope can appoint Cardinals throughout the Christian world. However, the struggle between secular and spiritual authorities never ceases—and earthly rulers can influence the appointment of Cardinals to steer the church in their own interests.
  • Dynamic Sacred Sites: Confessions do not stand still; they can lose their former sacred sites and acquire new ones.
  • Councils: Councils can become centers of worship for specific saints and other spiritual figures, gradually transforming into sacred sites.
  • Puppets: To interact effectively with the church's bureaucratic apparatus, secular rulers can turn clergy into conduits of their will within the church.
  • And much more!

The By God Alone expansion for Crusader Kings III will be released on September 8. More information can be found on the website and the page on Steam.