Crusader Kings 3: From Broken Oaths to 'Incest as a Virtue' – Patch 1.17.1 Dares You to Ask 'What Now?!'
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Crusader Kings 3's new 1.17.1 patch delivers a swift round of fixes for the Coronations DLC's misbehaving oaths, alongside delightful additions like new chancellor events and, quite remarkably, making the 'incestuous trait' a virtue under the 'Divine Marriage' tenet. Developers PDS Black seem determined to right the ship after initial player dissatisfaction, injecting both stability and characteristic CK3 absurdity back into the game.
Right, so you know that feeling when you've painstakingly prepared a grand, world-shaking ritual, only for it to fizzle out with a pathetic puff of smoke, or worse, summon something entirely unexpected? Yeah, that’s pretty much how the Crusader Kings 3 community felt about the Coronations DLC, especially those rather… temperamental oaths. Turns out, Paradox Development Studio (PDS Black) heard the collective groan louder than a newly crowned monarch's inaugural speech, and they’ve just dropped Update 1.17.1, a second hefty patch aimed at tidying up the realm. This latest dispatch from the medieval madness machine comes hot on the heels of their apology for the add-on “not being up to the standard you deserve,” as reported by Mark Warren over at Rock Paper Shotgun (published September 17, 2025). We're talking less than a week for this follow-up, which, fair dinkum, is a pretty swift response in the grand scheme of things.
Now, if you’ve been living under a rock (or perhaps meticulously managing your own digital duchy), you might recall the initial kerfuffle. When Coronations first landed, it was a bit of a mixed bag, wasn't it? The concept of taking solemn oaths upon ascending the throne is, mechanically and narratively, a pretty central aspect of any self-respecting monarch's life. But, as with many a Paradox DLC launch, players found themselves wrestling with a few too many technical gremlins and, let’s be honest, raising an eyebrow at paying for features that felt a tad on the compact side, even if crucial to the fantasy. It's a tale as old as time, or at least as old as grand strategy games and their expansion packs: the hype train barrels through, then the community gets to play bug-catcher.
But PDS Black seems to be genuinely trying to right the ship here, and quickly. Diving into the rather extensive patch notes for 1.17.1, it's clear they’ve been busy. Not just fixing what was broken, but chucking in a couple of shiny new bits and bobs too. For starters, there’s a new event for coronation hosts, allowing you to use your skilled chancellor (presumably not the one who keeps misplacing your crown jewels) to actually *break up a neighbouring confederation* or even *earn a new vassal or tributary*. That’s some proper wizardry, mate! Imagine, you’ve just been crowned, the champagne (or whatever medieval equivalent) is flowing, and your chancellor strolls in like, “Right, my liege, fancy expanding the empire? Just signed away half of Denmark while everyone was distracted by your fancy hat.” That's the kind of proactive diplomacy that makes the game sing, not just another quest for a missing chalice.
And then there's the other new addition: more reasons for lovers to be in relationships. Now, my mind immediately jumps to the kind of scandalous court intrigue CK3 is famous for. "Oh, darling, your crown is so gloriously bejewelled, I simply *must* pledge my undying affection!" or perhaps, "My liege, your prowess in jousting is only matched by your impeccable lineage... *ahem*... and your vast treasury!" It adds more flavour to the web of personal connections, which is always a welcome sight in a game that thrives on interwoven narratives.
But let’s be real, the bits that truly made my digital eyebrows shoot up were in the balancing section. First, zealous characters are now easier to convert to witchcraft, provided their faith isn’t entirely against it. Because, obviously, a fervent belief in *something* makes one more open to *other* somethings, even if those somethings involve cackling in a forest and hexing your rivals. It’s a delightful touch of CK3 absurdity.
Then, there’s the pièce de résistance, the headline grabber, the digital equivalent of accidentally conjuring a sentient, talking badger: “the ‘Divine Marriage’ tenet now has the incestuous trait as a virtue.” Bloody hell. You can always count on Crusader Kings to deliver patch notes that are less about fixing a few numbers and more about redefining moral boundaries. “Oh, you’re having divine marriages within your family? Good for you, that’s a *virtue* now!” It’s the kind of wonderfully twisted logic that makes me both gently sceptical and absolutely giddy with glee. Is this PDS Black leaning into the game's reputation for bizarre family trees, or just a logical (in CK3 terms) extension of a tenet that glorifies dynastic purity? Probably a bit of both, and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. It certainly offers some… interesting new role-playing opportunities for those looking to keep their bloodlines *extra* pure.
Beyond the headline-grabbing quirks, a heap of bug fixes address the actual pain points with the oaths themselves. Things like the ‘Consolidate the empire/kingdom’ oath finally checking the *right* title, not just your current primary one – which, let’s be honest, could lead to some truly baffling scenarios where you swore an oath for one kingdom and got dinged for another. The ‘Purge Pretenders’ oath had its requirements fixed, which means less accidental mercy for those pesky claimants eyeing your throne. Even Popes and other Heads of Faith are now forbidden from bringing demands during the ‘Petitioners’ event chain – because who needs more distractions when you’re trying to fulfill a sacred vow? And the glorious ‘Consolidate the None’ event message has been banished, preventing those moments where your character's memory just went blank.
These fixes, while granular, are crucial. They're about ensuring the game mechanics actually work as intended, stopping those immersion-breaking moments where an oath vanishes into thin air or demands something impossible. The ‘Install Claimants’ oath now properly requires three or more claimants installed via wars (none of that accidental 'oops, you technically installed one pretender, good enough!' nonsense). Plus, improvements to how Building Oaths and ‘Shape the Realm’ Oath display their requirements mean less head-scratching for players.
Ultimately, this Update 1.17.1 feels like PDS Black has genuinely rolled up their sleeves and gotten stuck in. After the initial stumble, this quick succession of patches suggests they’re listening and actively working to bring the Coronations DLC up to scratch. It's cautiously optimistic stuff – the kind of commitment we love to see from studios. While the initial launch might have felt like a minor spell casting gone awry, they're certainly trying to make sure the next incantation hits the mark, even if that mark involves making certain forms of family bonding a 'virtue'. What would a curious gamer actually want to know? Well, I reckon it's that your carefully constructed lineage is now safer from accidental oath-breaking, and your opportunities for truly bonkers medieval roleplay have just expanded. You can find the full notes at Rock Paper Shotgun, if you're keen to dive into every glorious detail, sire.
Tags: Crusader Kings 3, Paradox Interactive, Game Update, DLC, Strategy Games
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun