While Crusader Kings 3 launched with a Council System, complete with roles like your chancellor, steward, and spymaster, there was no actual court to rule over. The new Royal Court DLC changes that by adding a total of 24 new court positions encompassing all of the potential roles you could want to fill. From obvious things like a Court Jester and Master of the Hunt to the more frivolous roles like the Keeper of Swans, this guide explains the new system and what each and every one of these positions does.
What Are Court Positions?
As we mentioned, court positions are roles within your court that provide various buffs and bonuses. They can also unlock features you otherwise wouldn’t have access to. One thing to always keep in mind is how dangerous a role is. Make sure to appoint people you trust lest your royal food taster poison the meal themselves.
One of the balancing acts with this new system is each character’s aptitude — essentially, how good they’d be at the job. There are different cutoff points determining whether they’re excellent, good, bad, etc. Points can be earned through a character’s skill, role, or traits. Someone in the clergy will have a natural bonus towards being a High Almoner. A Court Jester with the Gregarious and Stubborn traits is a natural fit. There’s always a large negative modifier towards people who are busy ruling over their own territory. After all, it’s hard to both be the Master of the Horse in your court and also rule over a smaller court elsewhere.
All 24 Crusader Kings 3 Court Positions
Court Physician
Should anyone fall ill or become wounded in your court, your Court Physician is the one who will tend to their wounds.
- Monthly Court Grandeur Change: +10-25% (depending on their Aptitude)
- Court Grandeur Bonus: +0-2
- Performs Medical Treatments
- A powerful Agent in Hostile Schemes against you
The Physician also gains +1 Learning and half a point of Prestige every month.
Cultural Emissary
If you’re looking to bring two different cultures together, you’re going to want to hire a Cultural Emissary.
- Prestige: +0.10-1.00 Prestige per month.
- Different Culture Opinion: +2-20
The emissary will also gain Prestige from performing this duty.
Keeper of the Swans
A frivolous role, the Keeper of the Swans tends to your royal swans. That’s it.
- Diplomacy per Level of Fame: +1
- Court Grandeur Bonus: +0-2
The keeper will also gain Prestige from performing this duty.
Chief Qadi
If your nation follows Islamic Law, the Chief Qadi is responsible for applying said law and settling disputes.
- How to Unlock: Follow the Islamic Culture.
- Learning per Level of Devotion: +1
- Monthly Piety: +2-10%
The Chief Qadi also gains +1 Diplomacy and half a point of Prestige every month.
Garuda
A knight who is sworn to do whatever their liege demands.
- Monthly Court Grandeur Change: +5-15%
- Dread Gain: +0-10%
- Dread Decay: +0-10%
- Reduces your risk of dying or getting captured in battles you’re both fighting in
The Garuda loses a small amount of Prestige each month but gains a large amount of Prowess in exchange.
Court Gardener
You could certainly argue there’s no need for a Court Gardener, but who is going to make the grounds look good?
- Courtier and Guest Opinion: +10
- Development Growth in Realm Capital: +0.10-0.70% per month
The gardener will also gain Prestige from performing this duty.
Lady-in-waiting
The most trustworthy (I hope) assistant to the Queen or Empress, helping her with everything.
- Stress Loss: +10-20%
- Hostile Scheme Resistance: +1-10
- Powerful Agent in Hostile Schemes against you
The Lady-in-waiting will also gain Prestige from performing this duty.
Antiquarian
If you want your artifacts to stay around, hiring an Antiquarian is a must.
- Artifact Decay Reduction: -7-35%
- Enables you to reforge or repair artifacts
- Unlocks the Commission Artifact decision
- Protects artifacts during sieges and raids
The Antiquarian will also gain Prestige from performing this duty.
Court Tutor
Every child in the court will learn from the Court Tutor. This does not replace the old Guardians system.
- Learn Language Scheme Power: +4-20
- Improves education outcomes
- Unlocks the Have Child Study Language interaction
The tutor will also gain Prestige from performing this duty.
Food Taster
Ah, yes. The royal food taster. We can’t risk being poisoned now, can we?
- Court Grandeur Bonus: +1-3
- Enemy Hostile Scheme Success Change: -0-10%
- Has a chance of stopping poison murder schemes
- You will lose weight more quickly
- Powerful agent in hostile schemes against you
The taster will also gain Prestige from performing this duty.
Master of the Horse
Listen, someone has to tend the steeds and stables.
- Knight Effectiveness: +1-8Z%
- Monthly Court Grandeur Change: +5-10%
- Court Grandeur Bonus: +0-2
The court member will also gain Prestige from performing this duty.
Master of the Hunt
Make sure to hire a good Master of the Hunt, please. We don’t want another Robert Baratheon situation.
- Monthly Court Grandeur Change: +10-20%
- Court Grandeur Bonus: +0-2
- Aids when using the Hunt activity
The huntmaster also gains +1 Prowess and half a point of Prestige every month.
Royal Architect
Those construction projects sure would go faster with the assistance of a Royal Architect.
- Building Construction Time: -5-30%
The architect will also gain Prestige from performing this duty.
High Almoner
Have offerings for the commoners? You’ll need a High Almoner to distribute your alms.
- Court Grandeur Bonus: +1
- Monthly Piety: +5-20%
- Monthly Grandeur Change: +0-20%
They also gain +1 Learning and half a point of Prestige every month.
Seneschal
Need someone to oversee all of your servants and keep them organized? That’s the Seneschal.
- Control Growth: +0.1-0.5% per month
The Seneschal will also gain Prestige from performing this duty.
Cup-Bearer
Assign someone to make sure everyone’s drinks stay full around the clock.
- Monthly Court Grandeur Change: +5-15%
- Court Grandeur Bonus: +0-2
- Has a chance of stopping poison murder schemes
- Is a powerful agent in hostile schemes against you
Gains Prestige from performing this duty.
Chief Eunuch
The head of your eunuchs. Just like in Game of Thrones, they tend to hear a lot about the goings-on.
- Hostile Scheme Power: +2-32%
- Hostile Scheme Resistance: +2-32%
- Monthly Court Grandeur Change: +5-15%
- Court Grandeur Bonus: +0-2
- Is a powerful agent in hostile schemes against you
Gains Prestige from performing this duty.
Court Jester
Your entertainment for evening dinners.
- Monthly Court Grandeur Change: +10-20%
- Court Grandeur Bonus: +0-2
- Can generate a Stress-relieving event
The Jester loses Prestige every month from this oftentimes humiliating duty. They also become less effective at hostile schemes.
Court Poet
A different kind of entertainment.
- Requirement: Must have Poet trait.
- Court Grandeur Bonus: +1-3
- Monthly Court Grandeur Change: +0-20%
- May randomly become Inspired
Gains Prestige from performing this duty.
Court Musician
We can’t have true entertainment without music, can we?
- Court Grandeur Bonus: +1-3
- Monthly Court Grandeur Change: +0-20%
- Increases others’ Opinion of you when hosting a feast
Gains Prestige from performing this duty.
Bodyguard
Hire yourself a personal bodyguard to keep you safe at all times.
- Has a chance of preventing assassination murder schemes
- Reduces your risk of dying or being captured in battles both of you are fighting in
- A powerful agent in hostile schemes against you
Gains Prestige from performing this duty.
Personal Champion
Want someone else to fight your duels for you?
- Dread Decay: -5-25%
- Prestige: +0-0.40 per month.
- Can take your place in duels
Gains Prestige from performing this duty.
Executioner
Listen, someone has to do it. In Crusader Kings 3, the Executioner must be a criminal who performs this duty in exchange for freedom.
- Dread Gain: +5-25%
- Dread Decay: -5-25%
- Can publicly execute prisoners for increased Control and Popular Opinion
- This character’s crimes are forgiven upon appointment
The Executioner loses prestige every month.
Court Artificer
Need someone to craft your artifacts? This is the role for them.
- Requirement: Must have either completed an Inspiration or currently have one
- Court Grandeur Bonus: +0-2
- Has a chance to become Inspired again
- Will leave the court if fired
Gains a large number of Prestige each month.
