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Once you have chosen Multiplayer from the Main Menu, you will come to the Multiplayer Start Interface. Crusader Kings II supports games with up to 32 players, though that upper limit should be reserved for LAN games. Internet and Metaserver games are best limited to about 12 players. One player will host the game and the others will be the clients. The host should be the player with the fastest and most reliable Internet connection. The host should also be a reliable player. Due to the massive amount of data transferred between the clients and the host, one really shouldn’t try multiplayer through a dial-up modem.
efore launching the game, verify that your system is set up to actually receive and transmit data. Typically, you will not need to make any changes, but some firewall settings and systems can block the game transmissions. Crusader Kings II uses ports 1630-1635 and the UDP transfer protocol for Internet games, and port 1637 and the UDP transfer protocol for Metaserver games, so make sure these lanes are open on your router and firewall. Hosts also need to make sure port forwarding is enabled. Because there are so many different types of routers, firewalls, and other hardware and software possibilities, it is impossible to give comprehensive instructions in this little manual for your specific setup. It also makes it impossible to automate this process. Refer to your own firewall and router settings to make these changes. The host should also determine their current IP address and share that information with the other players. 7.0 multiplayer O B 39
nce you get to the Multiplayer Start Interface, you are ready to play. Before you get started, you need to put a name into the entry field. This is the name everyone will see and by which they will know you. • host – If you want to host a game, click here to establish either a LAN game or an Internet game. Once you click on this button, you will choose the type of game you want and choose a name for the game session. Click Host from inside that interface, and you will be taken to the Lobby where you will wait for the others to join in. • join lan game – When you launch the interface, it begins scanning for LAN games automatically. They should appear in the window at the top. Just click on the game you want and click Join LAN Game. You will be taken to the Lobby where you will wait for the others to join in. • join internet game – If you will be joining a game hosted over the Internet, click Join Internet Game and enter the host’s IP address. Once you’ve done this, your computer will attempt to establish a connection with the host computer. Once this is done, you will be taken to the Lobby, where you will wait for the others to join in. If, instead, it cannot connect, wait a moment and try again or contact the host to verify that you have the correct IP address. • metaserver – If you don’t have a bunch of friends eager to hop online and play Crusader Kings II with you, fret not: Paradox offers the Metaserver, a free match-making service for finding multiplayer opponents. You will meet them in the chat Lobby and arrange the games. From there, the Metaserver also helps create the Internet game for you. Otherwise, the game runs just like an O 40 Internet game. To use the Metaserver, you must have your copy of Crusader Kings II registered on the forums at forum.paradoxplaza.com. Since this also gives you access to the Multiplayer forum, the Tech Support forum, and the Mods forum, it is a good idea to register anyway.
Lobby resembles the Single-Player Start Interface. The host has the right to choose the start date, whether bookmarked or manually selected, or to load a saved multiplayer game. Once every player has selected a dynasty, the game is ready to begin. If you are playing a saved game, let the host load up the save first, and the data will be sent automatically to the clients. While in the Lobby, you can chat with other players through the text box at the bottom of the map.
find human opponents a powerful and unique challenge. Remember, though, that since this game is played by people of diverse ages and social, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds, always be polite and respectful towards your fellow players, especially when using the Metaserver, where you may not know your opponents at all.
