Crusader Kings III All Characters and DNA Info Guide

Introduction

Welcome to the definitive guide on customizing characters in Crusader Kings III. Whether you’re a seasoned ruler or new to the medieval world, this guide will help you create unique characters that bring your dynasties to life.

Quick Answer

To customize characters in Crusader Kings III, enable debug mode, locate your save file, extract the character’s DNA, edit it in the in-game Portrait Editor, and apply the changes back to your save file.

Why Customize Your Characters?

Customizing characters in Crusader Kings III isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about crafting a unique narrative and immersing yourself in the medieval world. By tweaking your ruler’s appearance, you can create a dynasty that stands out in the annals of history.

Getting Started: Enabling Debug Mode

Before diving into character customization, you need to enable debug mode. Here’s how:

Right-click on Crusader Kings III in your Steam library
Select Properties
Click on Set Launch Options
Type -debug_mode and click OK

Locating and Editing Your Save File

To edit character DNA, you’ll need to access your save file:

Navigate to your Documents folder
Open the Paradox Interactive folder
Go to Crusader Kings III > save games
Find your desired save file (it will have a .ck3 extension)
Make a backup of this file
Unzip the .ck3 file using 7zip or a similar tool

Extracting and Editing Character DNA

Now comes the fun part – editing your character’s DNA:

Open the gamestate file from the unzipped save in a text editor
Use CTRL+F to search for your character’s name or ID
Look for the dna= section and copy the DNA string
Launch the game and open the console (usually with the ~ key)
Select Portrait Editor from the debug menu
Paste your character’s DNA and start customizing!

Applying Your Changes

After creating your perfect character, it’s time to apply the changes:

Copy the new DNA string from the Portrait Editor
Exit the game and reopen the gamestate file
Replace the old DNA string with your new one
Save the file and rezip it as a .ck3 file
Replace the original save file with your edited one
Load up your game and admire your handiwork!

Tips for Character Creation

Experiment with sliders: Small changes can make big differences in appearance
Consider genetics: Remember that traits can be inherited, so plan your dynasty’s looks
Use the 3D view: Make sure your character looks good from all angles
Save your favorites: Keep a text file with DNA strings of characters you like

Sample Character DNA Codes

Here are some sample DNA codes to get you started. Feel free to use these as a base for your own creations:

Tommy Shelby 25 Years:

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

Geralt of Rivia 35 Years:

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

Lagertha 25 Years:

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

Keanu Reeves 40 Years:

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

Female 25 Years:

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

Male 25 Years:

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

Leonardo DiCaprio 40 Years:

bHurx90vb1LrTOOBAYoBhgBXAHwBewGOAHcAfQCbAH4AgQB4AXwBiQGrAY8BpQGZAZIBkgGWAaEAaQBmAIEATABEAHcAYgBMAVUBgQCSAF8BsAGwAG8AdQF+AYEBfAGLAZ8BnAGLAYcAkAB5AIMAdAGPAYkBigGkAIMAfQB7AH4ARwAuAX4BfwGwAYoBHwEoAVMAIgATAREAlQAFAKQAYQAOABcACQEjASsBAAFNAAEAnQBJACsAywArAAsAGQBcAREABAEhARgBHQAHAAcAGQBHARQAmABNADkAVwA/ACsAhwBDAG4ADQB7ARIAHwGdAFIAMABLABcBNQFbABMBHAEBAQwBOwAoAR0AEgBRACgAZQAeAwcANQFJASIAJQAaATkBSwAPACYATwA+AS0BBQBLAQkDPgAMAQABAgBzABUAXwADAawCEAA4AAUAKwF6AEEA/AB4AKgClgKWAq0CrQBAAEACAAIAAn8AiAFzAXcBhgGGADMGAACGCIUCgQKBB6gD0gGWAZIAmACYAH0AfQB/AH8ATwBPAAAAAAF2AXY=

Tom Cruise 25 Years:

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

Micheal Corleone 25 Years:

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

Troubleshooting Common Issues

While customizing characters can be fun, you might encounter some issues. Here are some common problems and their solutions:

Game crashes when loading save: Make sure you’ve correctly replaced the DNA string and haven’t accidentally deleted any characters
Character looks different in-game: Some traits and conditions can affect appearance. Make sure you’re not editing a pregnant or ill character
Can’t find character in save file: Try searching for the character’s ID instead of name

Conclusion

Character customization in Crusader Kings III opens up a world of possibilities for storytelling and roleplay. With this guide, you’re now equipped to create unique rulers and shape the course of medieval history. Remember to experiment, have fun, and share your creations with the community!

Happy ruling, and may your dynasty prosper through the ages!

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Crusader Kings III All Characters and DNA Info Guide