There are 4 main resources in Crusader Kings 3, and each is immensely important for different functions of the game. Gold, Prestige, Piety, and Renown are all kinds of currency that players can gain and spend with a vast plethora of actions.
Each also has plenty of mechanics tied to them which determine the outcomes of both major and minor events and actions. For the most stable rule, one should attempt to acquire as much of all 4 resources as possible. To best do so, players should become familiar with how each resource works and what aspects of CK3 can grant the most income.
Gold
Everyone ruler wants to be rolling in Gold, as more of it means more money that one can invest into their holdings, army, and use on bribes.
Debt
However, be careful not to overspend, as debt will bring about severe penalties which will only get worse over time, in addition to preventing one from taking certain actions. To get a sense of just how bad things can get for a nation in debt, here are the first few years of modifiers that follow a country's bankruptcy.
- 0 Years in debt: Levy Size -10%, Levy Reinforcement Rate -10%, Development Growth -10%, Vassal Opinion -5, County Opinion -5, Advantage -5, Join Faction Acceptance +10%
- 1 Year in debt: Levy Size -20%, Levy Reinforcement Rate -20%, Development Growth -20%, Vassal Opinion -10, County Opinion -10, Advantage -10, Join Faction Acceptance +20%
- 2 Years in debt: Levy Size -30%, Levy Reinforcement Rate -30%, Development Growth -30%, Vassal Opinion -15, County Opinion -15, Advantage -15, Join Faction Acceptance +30%
Following this trend, things just keep getting worse and worse at a gradual but consistent pace, meaning it will be harder to salvage a debt-heavy playthrough.
Income
For the most part, one's most reliable income of Gold will be from a ruler's domain tax, which comes from a ruler's personal holdings, and their vassal tax, which is given to a ruler by their vassals and depends on said vassals' obligations. Here are the various ways these can generate Gold.
Domain Tax
- Character's Stewardship skill (+2% per level)
- Buildings (amount depends on the specific building)
- Collect Taxes council task (+0.5% per Stewardship level)
- County development (+0.5% per level)
Vassal Tax
- Castles are locked into regular obligations and they give 10% of their domain tax to the owner's liege lord
- Cities held by republics provide 20% tax
- Vassal Feudal counts, dukes, and kings provide tax based on their individual vassal contracts (Vassal Clan counts, dukes, and kings give tax gold based on their personal opinion)
- Churches are taxed according to the Clerical Tradition doctrine of the specific faith (and give tax under different circumstances than castles, though this can be changed with certain actions)
Prestige
Prestige is a representation of a player's political influence and is most often gained through acquiring more titles and having a high Diplomacy skill. While this resource is immensely important for diplomatic actions of all kinds, there is a sub-resource that is directly connected to it called Fame (cannot be spent), which will unlock and increase various positive attributes and mechanics. The best way to increase Prestige (which will simultaneously raise Fame by the same amount) is to wage and win wars, though there are also other methods, such as picking related options in some events.
Fame
There are 6 ranks of Fame which range from a character being a nobody to being so legendary that the entire world knows of them. Here is each Fame rank and what they mean.
- Disgraced (0 Fame): Feudal secular opinion -10%, Tribal secular opinion -10%, Knights -1, Tribal Vassal Tax 0%, Tribal Vassal Levies 0%, Max conquest rank is none, Adopt Feudal or Clan Ways is not available, Custom Kingdoms is not available, and Custom Empires is not available
- Established (1,000 Fame): Feudal secular opinion 0%, Tribal secular opinion 0%, Knights 0, Tribal Vassal Tax 8%, Tribal Vassal Levies 15%, Max conquest rank is County, Adopt Feudal or Clan Ways is not available, Custom Kingdoms is not available, and Custom Empires is not available
- Distinguished (2,000 Fame): Feudal secular opinion 5%, Tribal secular opinion 3%, Knights +1, Tribal Vassal Tax 16%, Tribal Vassal Levies 30%, Max conquest rank is County, Adopt Feudal or Clan Ways is available, Custom Kingdoms is not available, and Custom Empires is not available
- Illustrious (4,000 Fame): Feudal secular opinion 10%, Tribal secular opinion 5%, Knights +2, Tribal Vassal Tax 24%, Tribal Vassal Levies 45%, Max conquest rank is Duchy, Adopt Feudal or Clan Ways is available, Custom Kingdoms is available, and Custom Empires is not available
- Exalted Among Men (8,000 Fame): Feudal secular opinion 20%, Tribal secular opinion 10%, Knights +3, Tribal Vassal Tax 32%, Tribal Vassal Levies 60%, Max conquest rank is Kingdom, Adopt Feudal or Clan Ways is available, Custom Kingdoms is available, and Custom Empires is available
- The Living Legend (16,000 Fame): Feudal secular opinion 30%, Tribal secular opinion 20%, Knights +4, Tribal Vassal Tax 40%, Tribal Vassal Levies 75%, Max conquest rank is Kingdom, Adopt Feudal or Clan Ways is available, Custom Kingdoms is available, and Custom Empires is available
Piety
This metaphysical religious currency is obtained mostly from one's relations with religious figures as well as a character's Learning skill. Players seeking a more faith-heavy playstyle will need lots of Piety for interacting with churches, and other religious structures, as well as for declaring holy wars.
Piety is build-up over time from the above-mentioned sources as well as many other attributes, including traits, focuses, and specific kinds of buildings. Furthermore, there are many factors that influence a ruler's monthly Piety gain (or loss).
Devotion
Similar to how Fame is a sub-resource linked to Prestige, Devotion is the equivalent for Piety and increases parallel to one's Piety gain. Higher ranks of Devotion (of which there are 6) grant greater opportunities, so players should always aim for the higher tiers.
- Sinner (0 Piety): Clergy Opinion -10, Theocracy Vassal Tax 0%, Theocracy Vassal Levies 0%, Max Holy War objective rank is nothing, Create Holy Orders is not available, Consecrate bloodline is not available
- Dutiful (1,000 Piety): Clergy Opinion 0, Theocracy Vassal Tax 15%, Theocracy Vassal Levies 10%, Max Holy War objective rank is County, Create Holy Orders is not available, Consecrate bloodline is not available
- Faithful (1,500 Piety): Clergy Opinion +5, Theocracy Vassal Tax 25%, Theocracy Vassal Levies 20%, Max Holy War objective rank is Duchy, Create Holy Orders is not available, Consecrate bloodline is not available
- Devoted Servant (2,500): Clergy Opinion +10, Theocracy Vassal Tax 35%, Theocracy Vassal Levies 30%, Max Holy War objective rank is Duchy, Create Holy Orders is available, Consecrate bloodline is not available
- Paragon of Virtue (4,500): Clergy Opinion +20, Theocracy Vassal Tax 45%, Theocracy Vassal Levies 40%, Max Holy War objective rank is Kingdom, Create Holy Orders is available, Consecrate bloodline is not available
- Religious Icon (8,500): Clergy Opinion +30, Theocracy Vassal Tax 55%, Theocracy Vassal Levies 50%, Max Holy War objective rank is Kingdom, Create Holy Orders is available, Consecrate bloodline is available
Renown
Renown is a measure of how successful and prolific one's dynasty is and relates heavily to a character's legacy and family connections. This resource is the least spent out of all, however, the sub-resource known as Splendor ties into Renown to make it vital for not just a single character, but an entire playthrough, as heirs inherit their parent's Renown and it accumulates through any given run in CK3. These connected resources are most important for marrying into other dynasties and it also affects Prestige by varying degrees.
Splendor
This sub-resource is tied to Renown much like how Fame is tied to Prestige and is gained as one's Renown increases. The higher a ruler's rank of Splendor, the more benefits can be gained from each event that connects to this resource. Gaining Splendor is a great way to boost one's Prestige (and Fame), as well as increase NPC Opinions, by large amounts for every marriage and birth.
- Base Origins (0 Renown): Birth Prestige 0, Marriage Prestige -100, Max Long Reign Opinion +5, Max level for guest Congenital traits 1
- Obscure (300 Renown): Birth Prestige +100, Marriage Prestige 0, Max Long Reign Opinion +10, Max level for guest Congenital traits 1
- Insignificant (1,000 Renown): Birth Prestige +200, Marriage Prestige +100, Max Long Reign Opinion +15, Max level for guest Congenital traits 1
- Noteworthy (2,000 Renown): Birth Prestige +300, Marriage Prestige +200, Max Long Reign Opinion +20, Max level for guest Congenital traits 2
- Reputable (4,000 Renown): Birth Prestige +400, Marriage Prestige +300, Max Long Reign Opinion +25, Max level for guest Congenital traits 2
- Well-Known (7,000 Renown): Birth Prestige +500, Marriage Prestige +400, Max Long Reign Opinion +30, Max level for guest Congenital traits 2
- Significant (11,000 Renown): Birth Prestige +600, Marriage Prestige +500, Max Long Reign Opinion +35, Max level for guest Congenital traits 2
- Famous (16,000 Renown): Birth Prestige +700, Marriage Prestige +600, Max Long Reign Opinion +40, Max level for guest Congenital traits 3
- Glorious (22,000 Renown): Birth Prestige +800, Marriage Prestige +700, Max Long Reign Opinion +45, Max level for guest Congenital traits 3
- Fabled (29,000 Renown): Birth Prestige +900, Marriage Prestige +800, Max Long Reign Opinion +50, Max level for guest Congenital traits 3
- Legendary (37,000 Renown): Birth Prestige +1,000, Marriage Prestige +900, Max Long Reign Opinion +55, Max level for guest Congenital traits 3