So, you're diving into the world of Crusader Kings 3 and thinking about shaking things up a bit? Maybe the current religions just aren't doing it for you, or perhaps you've got a vision for a new and improved spiritual path? Well, you're in luck! Crusader Kings 3 lets you create your very own religion, and I'm here to walk you through the process, step by step. Get ready to become the ultimate religious reformer!

Why Create a New Religion?

Before we jump into the how, let's talk about the why. Creating your own religion in Crusader Kings 3 isn't just a cosmetic change. It's a power move that can drastically alter your game and provide some serious advantages. You might be asking yourself, “Why should I bother creating a new religion in Crusader Kings 3?”

• Control: You get to decide the tenets, doctrines, and holy sites of your faith. This means you can tailor it to perfectly suit your playstyle and the needs of your dynasty.
• Power: As the head of a new religion, you wield significant influence. You can call Great Holy Wars, demand religious conversions, and even excommunicate rulers who displease you. It’s good to be the pope… err, your religion's equivalent.
• Flavor: Let's be honest, sometimes the existing religions are just boring. Creating your own allows you to add a unique flavor to your game world and roleplay as a truly distinctive ruler. Imagine a faith centered around sun worship or one that encourages cannibalism – the possibilities are endless (and sometimes disturbing!).
• Adaptability: Maybe your current religion has doctrines that clash with your goals. For example, if you're playing a warmongering Viking, a pacifist religion isn't going to cut it. Creating a new religion lets you adapt your faith to your ambitions. By creating a religion in Crusader Kings 3 that focuses on warfare, or wealth, or diplomacy, you make the game more enjoyable to you.

Creating a religion can be a cornerstone of a grand strategy to consolidate power, expand your realm, and ensure your dynasty's survival for centuries to come. Just remember, with great power comes great responsibility… and a lot of micromanagement.

The Requirements: What You Need to Get Started

Okay, so you're sold on the idea of creating your own religion. But before you start drafting up divine decrees, you need to meet a few requirements. Don't worry; they're not too onerous, but you'll need to plan ahead. Here are the key things you'll need to check off your list:

• High Piety: This is the big one. You'll need a boatload of piety to create a new religion. The exact amount can vary depending on your circumstances, but generally, you're looking at needing at least 7,500 piety. This means you'll need to spend time performing pious actions, such as going on pilgrimages, participating in theological debates, and generally being a good, devout ruler. The 'Become the Head of Faith' decision will tell you how much piety is needed. Having high learning also helps, as it unlocks more events that can grant piety.
• Control of Holy Sites: To establish a stable and recognized religion, you'll ideally want to control at least three of the five holy sites associated with the pagan faith you're reforming. These sites provide significant bonuses and help to legitimize your new religion in the eyes of the world. Check the religion map mode to identify the holy sites and start planning your conquests or diplomatic maneuvers.
• Unreformed Pagan Faith: You can only reform pagan faiths. If you're already playing as a Christian, Muslim, or other organized religion, you're out of luck (unless you find a way to convert to a pagan faith first!). So, if you're starting as a pagan ruler, you're already halfway there.
• Level of Fame: To be able to create a new religion in Crusader Kings 3, you need to be at least at 'Established' fame level. Fame is increased as your ruler increases their prestige. To check your level of fame, check the character screen for your ruler and hover over the prestige section.

Once you've met these requirements, you'll be able to take the decision to create your new religion. But remember, preparation is key. Start building up your piety, securing those holy sites, and planning your religious reforms well in advance. The fate of your dynasty may depend on it!

Step-by-Step Guide: Crafting Your New Faith

Alright, you've gathered your piety, secured your holy sites, and are ready to embark on the divine mission of creating your own religion. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:

1. Open the Religion Window: Start by opening the religion window. You can usually find this by clicking on your character portrait and then selecting the religion icon. This will give you an overview of your current faith and the options available to you.
2. Select 'Create New Faith': If you meet the requirements, you should see a button labeled 'Create New Faith'. Click on this to begin the process. This will open a new window where you can customize your religion's doctrines, tenets, and other features.
3. Choose a Name and Symbol: First things first, you'll need to give your new religion a name and choose a symbol to represent it. The name should be something evocative and memorable, reflecting the core values of your faith. The symbol will be displayed on the map and in various in-game interfaces, so choose something that looks cool and distinctive. This is your religion in Crusader Kings 3, so you can name it what you want.
4. Select Doctrines: Doctrines are the core beliefs and practices of your religion. There are three main types of doctrines:
   • Religious Attitude: Determines how your religion views other faiths. You can choose options like 'Syncretism' (which makes it easier to coexist with other faiths) or 'Hostile' (which encourages holy wars and conquests).
   • Marriage and Sexuality: Dictates the rules surrounding marriage, divorce, and sexuality within your religion. You can choose options like 'Monogamy', 'Polygamy', or even 'Consanguinity' (allowing marriage between close relatives).
   • Clerical Gender: Determines whether your clergy can be male, female, or both. Choosing 'Equal' can provide significant advantages, as it allows you to utilize the skills of both male and female characters in religious roles.
5. Choose Tenets: Tenets are the defining features of your religion. They provide various bonuses, modify your religion's attitude towards certain actions, and can even unlock new gameplay mechanics. Some popular tenets include:
   • Warmongering: Encourages warfare and conquest, providing bonuses to your troops and making it easier to declare war.
   • Pacifism: Discourages warfare and promotes diplomacy, providing bonuses to your diplomacy skill and reducing the risk of rebellions.
   • Communal Identity: Strengthens the bonds between members of your religion, providing bonuses to opinion and reducing the risk of religious divisions.
   • Esotericism: Esotericism focuses on knowledge. This is great if your ruler has high learning.
6. Select Holy Sites: Holy sites are locations of great religious significance. Controlling these sites provides various bonuses, such as increased piety generation and stronger religious authority. Choose sites that are strategically important and that you can realistically defend. You need at least 3 holy sites to create a new faith.
7. Confirm Your Choices: Once you've made all your selections, review them carefully to make sure everything is to your liking. Keep an eye on the piety cost, as some doctrines and tenets can be more expensive than others.
8. Take the Decision: If you're happy with your choices and have enough piety, click the 'Create New Faith' button to finalize the process. Congratulations, you're now the founder of your own religion! But remember, the work doesn't stop here. You'll need to spread your faith, convert your vassals, and defend your beliefs against those who would challenge them.

Tips and Tricks for a Successful Religion

Creating a religion is just the first step. To ensure its survival and success, you'll need to actively manage and promote your faith. Here are some tips and tricks to help you along the way:

• Convert Your Vassals: The first thing you'll want to do is convert your vassals to your new religion. This will help to prevent rebellions and ensure that your realm is united under a single faith. You can use your chaplain to convert provinces, but be careful, as this can take time and may anger vassals who are deeply attached to their old beliefs.
• Educate Children: Make sure to educate the children of your vassals in your new faith. This will help to ensure that the next generation is loyal to your religion and less likely to rebel. You can do this by assigning guardians who share your faith or by sending children to be educated at your court.
• Holy Wars: If your religion has a warmongering tenet, don't be afraid to use holy wars to expand your territory and spread your faith. Just be prepared for the consequences, as holy wars can be costly and may attract the attention of powerful neighbors.
• Found Religious Orders: Religious orders can provide significant benefits, such as powerful knights, increased piety generation, and even financial support. Found your own religious orders to strengthen your faith and gain access to these valuable resources.
• Manage Religious Relations: Pay attention to your relations with other religions. If your religion is hostile towards others, you may want to focus on expansion and conquest. If your religion is more tolerant, you may want to focus on diplomacy and peaceful coexistence. You need to make sure your religion survives in Crusader Kings 3.
• Adapt and Evolve: Be prepared to adapt and evolve your religion as circumstances change. You may need to adjust your doctrines and tenets to better suit your goals or to respond to new challenges. Remember, flexibility is key to survival.

The Best Doctrines and Tenets: Optimizing Your Faith

Choosing the right doctrines and tenets can make all the difference in the success of your religion. Here are some of the best options to consider, depending on your playstyle:

• For Warmongers:
  • Warmongering Tenet: This is a no-brainer. It provides significant bonuses to your troops and makes it easier to declare war.
  • Unrelenting Faith Doctrine: Makes it harder to convert provinces to other religions, allowing you to keep your faith pure.
  • ** практике (By the Sword) Tenet:** Allows you to designate heirs by winning wars. If you have an heir you don't want, you can win a battle to choose another heir.
• For Diplomats:
  • Pacifism Tenet: Discourages warfare and promotes diplomacy, providing bonuses to your diplomacy skill and reducing the risk of rebellions.
  • Syncretism Doctrine: Makes it easier to coexist with other faiths, allowing you to form alliances and trade agreements with rulers of different religions.
  • Communal Identity Tenet: Strengthens the bonds between members of your religion, providing bonuses to opinion and reducing the risk of religious divisions.
• For Intrigue Players:
  • Sanctioned Murder Doctrine: Allows you to murder characters without incurring a penalty, making it easier to eliminate rivals and destabilize enemy realms.
  • Adorcism Tenet: This tenet helps with dread, giving you extra schemes.

By carefully selecting your doctrines and tenets, you can create a religion that perfectly suits your playstyle and helps you achieve your goals. So experiment, have fun, and see what works best for you. And that’s it for religion creation and creating a new faith in Crusader Kings 3. Good luck!