In Crusader Kings III, building strong relationships with powerful houses is a key to long-term success, and one of the most entertaining and rewarding ways to do this is by carousing with members of the Companions Bloodline. This legendary bloodline is known for its martial prowess and camaraderie, making them ideal allies for any ruler seeking glory through warfare and honor. But to truly earn their trust and benefit from their influence, you need to understand how to carouse effectively within the game’s mechanics. This guide will walk you through how to carouse with the Companions Bloodline step by step, providing detailed instructions, strategic insights, and tips for optimal results.
Understanding the Companions Bloodline
The Companions Bloodline is a special dynastic legacy that emphasizes loyalty, martial strength, and shared adventures. Characters descended from or connected to this bloodline are often brave warriors, honorable leaders, and socially active individuals who enjoy feasting, storytelling, and building bonds through shared experience.
Key Traits of the Bloodline
- Martial Tradition: Members often have high martial skill and seek out battles or military alliances.
- Social Focus: They value companionship, celebration, and loyalty through bonds formed at court or on campaign.
- Lifestyle Preferences: Characters tend toward the Chivalry focus under the Martial lifestyle or the Gallant trait path.
Understanding this background will help you tailor your approach to carousing with them effectively and meaningfully.
Preparing to Carouse
Before initiating a carousal with members of the Companions Bloodline, there are several things you must do to set yourself up for success. Carousing isn’t just clicking a button it’s a calculated move that requires good timing, the right environment, and compatible traits.
Boosting Your Social Appeal
- Choose theDiplomacylifestyle, especially theFamily or Majesty Focus, to increase your success in social interactions.
- Improve yourDiplomacy skillthrough education and events to make you a more attractive carousing partner.
- Raise your character’sopinionwith target companions by sending gifts, swaying them, or granting titles and honors.
You’ll want to increase your character’s likability so that your carousal invitations are more likely to be accepted. Characters with high intrigue or cruelty may not mesh well with honorable bloodlines, so choose your role carefully.
Finding Members of the Companions Bloodline
To carouse with this bloodline, you need to identify who the current living members are. Use the in-game character search tool or look through dynastic trees to find those with the bloodline trait. They may be rulers, knights, or nobles within other courts.
Where to Look
- Use theDynasty Treeview to trace descendants of the original founder.
- Search with filters likehas trait: bloodlineandmartial skill above 10.
- Visit courts known for martial traditions, such asVarangianorGreekcultures, where companion-like figures often appear.
Once identified, you’ll want to bring them closer to your court or sphere of influence, either through marriage, vassalization, or diplomacy.
Hosting a Carousal Event
The main method of carousing in Crusader Kings III is through hosting feasts or inviting specific characters to join you in revelry. This is typically done through theDecisionmenu underHost Feast. Characters who share traits with you or who already like you are more likely to accept your invitations.
Steps to Host a Successful Carousal
- Accumulate at least100 gold(or more if you want to host a lavish feast).
- Ensure you are not at war or suffering from a critical illness.
- Go to theDecisionstab and selectHost Feast.
- Choose theinvite guestsoption and manually add members of the Companions Bloodline if the game allows it.
- Use hooks or sway schemes if needed to convince skeptical guests to attend.
During the feast, pay attention to event choices. Picking options that enhance camaraderie, generosity, and honesty will resonate well with Companions characters. Avoid cowardly or dishonorable responses as these may backfire with this particular bloodline.
Using the Carousing Perk Tree
If you’re using theDiplomacy Lifestyle, consider investing in theAugust tree, which includes perks that enhance your ability to host feasts and improve opinion through carousing events. This will increase your long-term success with the Companions Bloodline and others.
Recommended Perks
- Efficient Carousing: Reduces the cost and cooldown of feast events.
- Fellow Vassals: Improves opinion from carousing events with vassals and courtiers.
- Praetorian Guard: Increases loyalty and companionship traits, ideal for bonding with Companions.
These perks help you maximize the benefits from every social gathering and ensure that those you invite walk away with a higher opinion of you.
Strengthening Bonds After the Feast
Carousing doesn’t end when the feast is over. To fully gain the favor of the Companions Bloodline, continue to interact positively with them over time. Consider offering them positions such as knight, champion, or even spymaster (if they have the skills).
Ongoing Relationship Building
- Sendpersonal giftsor valuable artifacts to maintain high opinion levels.
- Use theSwayscheme if relationships start to drop.
- Invite them to your court through marriage or council offers.
- Send your children to be educated by them to deepen ties across generations.
The more you integrate members of this bloodline into your inner circle, the stronger and more dependable your alliances will be. Their natural loyalty and strength make them excellent assets both in politics and in battle.
Dealing with Rivalries and Conflicts
Sometimes, members of the Companions Bloodline may have pre-existing rivalries or grudges against your house, especially if you’ve clashed with their ancestors in past generations. In such cases, carousing becomes more difficult, but not impossible.
Resolving Hostilities
- Use theReconcileinteraction when possible to end rivalries.
- Host multiple feasts or go onpilgrimagesto gain traits that improve diplomacy.
- Seek mutual allies or use marriage to smooth over generational grudges.
With persistence and the right choices, even a strained relationship can evolve into a powerful bond, especially if both sides share respect for martial values and honor.
Carousing with members of the Companions Bloodline in Crusader Kings III offers more than just flavor it’s a strategic move that strengthens your realm’s stability, enhances military partnerships, and unlocks memorable roleplaying opportunities. By understanding their values, preparing yourself socially and financially, and taking calculated steps to build trust, you can turn these brave warriors into your most loyal allies. Whether you’re looking for battlefield support, a loyal knightly council, or simply want to live the high life surrounded by honorable companions, this bloodline rewards rulers who embrace the spirit of unity, strength, and shared revelry.