Expansion - Crusader Kings II: The Reaper's Due DLC

Reviewing (mostly) every game (or DLC) in my library, part 159: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (9/10) [i]Crusader Kings II: The Reaper’s Due[/i] is a plague-ridden, death-haunted expansion that adds illness, medicine, and mortality as serious gameplay mechanics. It reimagines your medieval sandbox as a world where disease, bad luck, and poor hygiene can bring empires to their knees—and it’s glorious. With epidemics that ravage entire continents and court physicians that can either save your life or drill holes in your skull, [i]The Reaper’s Due[/i] injects chaos and realism into every reign. 🦠[b] Pros:[/b] [list] [*] Epidemics feel real and terrifying. The Black Death and other major plagues are no longer just random events. They spread over time, often in waves, wiping out provinces, depopulating counties, and killing rulers, heirs, and rivals indiscriminately. You’ll find yourself *roleplaying quarantine* and praying to Saint Cuthbert that your dynasty makes it through. [*] Court Physician system adds dark flavor. Every ruler can appoint a personal doctor—often a learned mystic, disgraced alchemist, or opportunistic hack. Their skill determines whether you survive an illness, get a cursed leeching treatment, or accidentally lose a few body parts. Great physicians are lifesavers. Bad ones are a death sentence. It’s hilarious and horrifying in equal measure. [*] *Hospital building and public health matter. You can build hospitals in provinces to reduce plague damage and improve survival. Upgrading hospitals becomes a real investment, especially for long-lived dynasties. It also opens up new events about medical knowledge, research, and treatments. It's satisfying to build your capital into a plague-resistant haven while the rest of Europe dies around you. [*] Prosperity system makes peace valuable. Instead of mindless expansion, you’re encouraged to develop your realm. Counties can gain prosperity if they’re well-managed and left undisturbed. Prosperity gives bonuses to taxes and levies, but is fragile—wars, raiders, or plagues can destroy it. It’s a fantastic incentive for “tall” play. [*] Adds grim, memorable flavor events.[i] The Reaper’s Due[/i] is full of creepy, ominous, and occasionally hilarious events. Mass graves, apocalyptic visions, possessed children, flagellants, and eerie omens abound. The tone is gothic, weird, and atmospheric in all the right ways. [*] Death is everywhere now. From childbirth complications to mysterious ailments to demonic possessions, your characters live in a world of peril. This gives your dynasty a constant sense of fragility—and makes survival all the more satisfying. [/list] 🧼 [b]Cons:[/b] [list] [*] Randomness can feel cruel. Sometimes you’ll play a careful, healthy ruler and die of the flu at 22. Meanwhile, your rival with gout and syphilis lives to 90. It’s part of the charm, but occasionally frustrating. [*] The AI doesn’t always handle plague well. Many AI rulers fail to quarantine or protect their realm during epidemics, which can lead to strange outcomes or overly easy victories while they’re weakened. [*] Physicians are inconsistent. While flavorful, your Court Physician may cure your cancer or kill you treating a headache. There’s very little you can do to influence outcomes besides gambling on traits. It fits the tone, but can feel RNG-heavy. [/list]