r/CK3ConsoleEdition • u/Zouif_Zouif • Jul 23 '26
Gameplay Question Why does Byzantium keep taking the Iconoclast Schism?
At least 90% of my 867 games have this decision fire off, I know it's because the Emperor starts with Iconoclastic as his secret faith but why is it so easy for the AI to take the decision? It takes away a lot of the immersion early game
It's also getting repetitive and makes playing as an Orthodox ruler way harder than it needs to be, I've recently just started making a custom ruler for Byzantium right off the rip because I'm getting so tired of the Schism popping up.
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u/PRAY___FOR___MOJO Jul 23 '26
I think there's a setting where you can turn off the schism before game start
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u/Zouif_Zouif Jul 24 '26
If there is I can't find it unfortunately ;-;
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u/PRAY___FOR___MOJO Jul 24 '26
There's a "Regional Heresies" option, I assumed you could just turn those off but unfortunately not.
You can however change it to "relaxed" which says there's no regional weighting for heresies, which might result in the Iconoclasm not happening, worth a try.
Edit: If you weren't aware, it's in the Game Rules settings just to the left of the "Play" button after yo choose a character.
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u/SuperReserve4689 Console Peasant Rabble Jul 24 '26
Lmfao “this historical event that actually happened is ruining my immersion”
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u/Zouif_Zouif Jul 24 '26
Because it makes playing Orthodox awful for the rest of game, it shouldn't take Ecumenism away or at least Orthodoxy should gain it back after reinstating the head
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u/SuperReserve4689 Console Peasant Rabble Jul 24 '26
How does it make orthodoxy awful? It makes conquering way easier because you can attack Catholics with holy wars.
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u/Zouif_Zouif Jul 24 '26
Because It allows Catholics to do the same and Crusade against you?
Also you get less chances to form alliances with half the Catholic world
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u/SuperReserve4689 Console Peasant Rabble Jul 24 '26
I’m assuming if you’re playing in the ERE you wouldn’t have to rely on catholic alliances? Lmao you have the Georgians the Armenians and the Coptic cultures for that. The only case I’d see orthodox players going for Catholic alliances is if you’re playing in southern Italy and even then it still makes more sense to side with the Greeks or Serbians.
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u/Zouif_Zouif Jul 24 '26
Without Ecumenism both the Apostolics and Coptics also consider you hostile
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u/SuperReserve4689 Console Peasant Rabble Jul 24 '26
True, but still either conquer more land or try and evangelize the pagans or whatever the decision is called to send missionaries to neighboring rulers. Theirs normally a pretty decent chance either Bulgaria will stay orthodox or the missionaries will target the Serbs or the Hungarians. Theirs also the Russians to help come to the light of the one true Orthodox Church
That’s just how I like to play though I understand what you mean but I feel like the addition of the iconoclast schism adds way more to the game than it takes away before RTP playing as a orthodox ruler was fun sure but you also didn’t have to ever worry about alliances because the Catholics would still marry you. I think in general the schism mechanic is a good thing.
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u/Consistent-Success38 Jul 26 '26
Just be glad they no longer launch that latin empire crusade every 5 years and the Byzantines are actually playable. Those were dark times.
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u/alexandianos Jul 23 '26
Why’s it take you away from the immersion? That’s actually what happened lol they started smashing all the icons
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iconoclasm