Paradox Development Studio's latest expansion for Crusader Kings 3, By God Alone, injects a significant amount of religious upheaval and unconventional gameplay opportunities, particularly for those who choose to guide the Papacy. The expansion allows players to significantly alter and diverge existing religious tenets, leading to scenarios where the head of the Catholic faith might find themselves embracing polyamory and experiencing a dramatic personal life.
One player's experience highlighted the potential for emergent gameplay and bugs within the new system. Taking on the role of Pope Nicolaus in 867 AD, the objective was to navigate the looming Great Schism. Early efforts focused on consolidating power through appointments and construction, but a lack of direct martial or diplomatic avenues typical for feudal rulers prompted a more radical approach.
The Roman Rite was significantly altered, introducing polyamory, allowing female clergy, permitting adultery, and endorsing polygamous marriages. These changes, intended to strengthen the Pope's influence and secure alliances, unexpectedly caused other rites within Chalcedonian Christianity to declare themselves heretics, effectively fracturing the faith sooner than anticipated. The player then found themselves able to pursue multiple romantic and marital relationships, a stark contrast to the expected celibacy of the Pope.
This unconventional path led to a personal life filled with numerous offspring, both legitimate and illegitimate. However, these actions also triggered game bugs, including the abrupt breaking of betrothals and the Pope being forbidden to marry despite having multiple wives. These issues culminated in the Great Schism occurring, splitting Christianity into Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, and leaving the Pope unable to arrange further marriages. Paradox has confirmed that some of these bugs have been addressed in the release version of the expansion.
Beyond the papal exploits, By God Alone also offers scenarios focused on establishing new religious rites, such as a player attempting to create a Slavic Rite. These scenarios emphasize the evolution of personal faith and its impact on broader religious landscapes, akin to traditional feudal ruler gameplay but with a distinct spiritual focus. While the expansion provides a wealth of new religious interactions and potential for emergent narratives, its Euro-centric focus in the main schism storyline may appeal most to players interested in shaping the religious map of medieval Europe.