# Using ck3db.com in guides, blogs, forums and videos ck3db.com is a Crusader Kings III database read from the game's own files (patch 1.20.1.2): traits, cultures, faiths, regiments, buildings, decisions, artifacts, DNA codes and more, plus planners for rulers, cultures, faiths and perks. Every card, table and embed shows live data from the game files and updates itself after each patch. Free to use in guides, videos, blogs, wikis and forums; keep the visible link to ck3db.com that every format carries. Game data and art © Paradox Interactive; Paradox's own rules for fan content apply. Unofficial, not affiliated with Paradox Interactive. Full guide with a live builder (for people): https://ck3db.com/creators ## 1. Find the thing you want Every page below has a hover card. "Section" is the name used in card URLs and in `id="section/slug"`. | section | URL pattern | example | what it is | |---|---|---|---| | traits | `/traits/` | https://ck3db.com/traits/brave | Trait (key = game ID; Genius is /traits/intellect_good_3) | | cultures | `/cultures/` | https://ck3db.com/cultures/norse | Culture | | faiths | `/faiths/` | https://ck3db.com/faiths/catholic | Faith | | religions | `/religions#` | https://ck3db.com/religions#baltic_religion | Religion (a row on the list page) | | men-at-arms | `/men-at-arms/` | https://ck3db.com/men-at-arms/huscarl | Men-at-arms regiment | | buildings | `/buildings/` | https://ck3db.com/buildings/al-azhar-university | Building | | artifacts | `/artifacts/` | https://ck3db.com/artifacts/throne-of-charlemagne | Artifact | | decisions | `/decisions/` | https://ck3db.com/decisions/adopt-theocratic-rule | Decision | | achievements | `/achievements/` | https://ck3db.com/achievements/the-emerald-isle | Achievement | | casus-belli | `/casus-belli/` | https://ck3db.com/casus-belli/claim | Casus belli | | laws | `/laws/` | https://ck3db.com/laws/primogeniture | Law | | governments | `/governments/` | https://ck3db.com/governments/meritocratic-khanate | Government | | court-positions | `/court-positions/` | https://ck3db.com/court-positions/archer-captain | Court position | | activities | `/activities/` | https://ck3db.com/activities/camp-revelry | Activity | | interactions | `/interactions/` | https://ck3db.com/interactions/arrange-marriage | Character interaction | | holy-sites | `/holy-sites/` | https://ck3db.com/holy-sites/adur-burzen-mhir | Holy site | | lifestyles | `/lifestyles/ and /lifestyles/#` | https://ck3db.com/lifestyles/skulduggery#a-job-done-right | Perk tree; a perk is an anchor on its tree (card section: perks) | | dynasty-legacies | `/dynasty-legacies/` | https://ck3db.com/dynasty-legacies/activities | Dynasty legacy track | | traditions | `/traditions/` | https://ck3db.com/traditions/tradition_adaptive_skirmishing | Cultural tradition | | tenets | `/tenets/` | https://ck3db.com/tenets/tenet_ancestor_worship | Faith tenet | | doctrines | `/doctrines#` | https://ck3db.com/doctrines#doctrine_divorce_allowed | Faith doctrine (anchor on the list page) | | innovations | `/innovations#` | https://ck3db.com/innovations#innovation_adaptive_militia | Innovation (anchor on the list page) | | culture-pillars | `/culture-pillars#` | https://ck3db.com/culture-pillars#heritage_balto_finnic | Culture heritage, language, ethos (anchor) | | starts | `/starts/character/` | https://ck3db.com/starts/character/159137 | Bookmark start character (card section: starts) | | dna | `/dna/` | https://ck3db.com/dna/aba-diskarkha | Historical character's DNA code | | effects | `/effects/` | https://ck3db.com/effects/monthly_prestige | Where to get a modifier (monthly prestige…) | | dlc | `/dlc/` | https://ck3db.com/dlc/all-under-heaven | Expansion or DLC | | concepts | `/concepts/` | https://ck3db.com/concepts/dread | The game's encyclopedia entry | Slugs are the game's own keys, not display names: **Genius** is `traits/intellect_good_3`, **Brave** is `traits/brave`. If you only know the name, do not guess the key: - By name: `https://ck3db.com/go/` redirects to the page (spaces as `%20`): https://ck3db.com/go/Genius → https://ck3db.com/traits/intellect_good_3. By key: `https://ck3db.com/go/
.`, e.g. https://ck3db.com/go/traits.brave. An unknown name opens the site search with the name typed in (`https://ck3db.com/?q=`). - Full name → path index: https://ck3db.com/tooltip/names.json. Shape: `{"v":"1.20.1.1","n":{"Genius":"traits/intellect_good_3","Huscarls":"men-at-arms/huscarl","Norse":"cultures/norse"},"u":{"culture-pillars/heritage_balto_finnic":"/culture-pillars#heritage_balto_finnic"}}`. `n` maps names to `section/slug`; `u` gives the path where a thing lives on a list page (an anchor) rather than at `/
/`. - Card data as JSON: `https://ck3db.com/tooltip/
/`, e.g. https://ck3db.com/tooltip/traits/brave. Fields: `name`, `sub` (kind), `icon` ({src}), `groups` (the card's lines), `section`, `slug`, `url` (the page, with its anchor where it has one), `keys` (main lines as text), `game` (what the page copies for the game), `version`. Trimmed example: ```json {"name":"Brave","sub":"Personality trait","icon":{"src":"/game/interface/icons/traits/brave.webp"},"section":"traits","slug":"brave","url":"https://ck3db.com/traits/brave","keys":["Martial +2","Prowess +3","Attraction Opinion +10"],"game":[{"label":"Console: add","text":"add_trait brave"},{"label":"Console: remove","text":"remove_trait brave"}],"version":"1.20.1.2"} ``` - Site search: the box in the header; https://ck3db.com/?q=. - Datasets: https://ck3db.com/raw/traits.json (and one file per section: cultures, faiths, men-at-arms, buildings, decisions, artifacts…), each record with its page link; https://ck3db.com/raw/index.json documents every field. Plain-text overview: https://ck3db.com/llms.txt. ## 2. Reddit, Discord, Steam guide, YouTube description, forum post (no code) On any thing's page (the sections in the table above) press **Copy ▾** under the title. List rows on /traits and the DNA pages have a ▾ beside their own Copy button. Formats, shown for Brave (real output, patch 1.20.1.2): - **Link**: `https://ck3db.com/traits/brave` - **Reddit** (Markdown, paste into a post or comment): ``` **[Brave](https://ck3db.com/traits/brave)** — Personality trait: Martial +2, Prowess +3, Attraction Opinion +10 · CK3 1.20.1.2 ``` - **Discord** (Markdown with a small caption; Discord has no tables; one thing keeps its link preview, lists wrap URLs in `<…>` to suppress previews): ``` **[Brave](https://ck3db.com/traits/brave)** — Martial +2, Prowess +3, Attraction Opinion +10 -# Personality trait · ck3db.com · CK3 1.20.1.2 ``` - **Steam / forum** (BBCode for Steam guides, Steam posts, phpBB, XenForo; Steam guide sections are limited to 8,000 characters, longer lists are cut with "… and N more" and a link): ``` [url=https://ck3db.com/traits/brave][b]Brave[/b][/url] — Personality trait · CK3 1.20.1.2 [list][*]Martial +2[*]Prowess +3[*]Attraction Opinion +10[/list] ``` - **Text** (YouTube description, chat; YouTube descriptions are limited to 5,000 characters): `Brave (Personality trait): Martial +2, Prowess +3, Attraction Opinion +10 — https://ck3db.com/traits/brave` - **HTML (blog)**: `Brave` (with our script it becomes a hover card, see section 3). - **Picture**: **Copy image** puts a PNG of the card on the clipboard (paste into Discord or a Reddit post); **Download image** saves it; **Download post image** saves a 1200x630 version. Steam guides and Reddit posts need the picture uploaded, so use Download image there. Reddit comments are limited to 10,000 characters and Discord messages to 2,000; long lists are cut to fit. **The game's own format** (the "Game" part of the Copy ▾ menu; only where the game can take it): | page | what is copied | where it goes | |---|---|---| | a trait | `add_trait brave` (also `remove_trait brave`) | the console | | a culture | `set_culture norse` | the console | | a faith | `set_faith catholic` | the console | | an innovation | `discover_innovation innovation_adaptive_militia` | the console | | a start character | `hello_history 159137` (go to them), and one `effect add_trait = … add_trait = …` line with their traits | the console | | an artifact | its `effect create_artifact_…` line | the console | | a tradition, tenet, regiment, building, modifier | the game key (e.g. `tenet_ancestor_worship`, `huscarl`) | scripts, mods | | a DNA code (/dna) | **Copy DNA**: the ruler_designer text | the game's ruler designer → **Paste DNA** | | a coat of arms (/coat-of-arms/duchies and the other tiers) | **Copy coat of arms**: the definition text | the game's coat-of-arms designer → paste | The console works only after you add `-debug_mode` to the game's Steam launch options (Properties → General), in a game that is not ironman or multiplayer; press the backtick key (on some keyboards `§`, `~` or `^`), paste the line and press Enter. It turns achievements off for that game. All commands: https://ck3db.com/console-commands. **Several things at once**: **+ Add to list** in a Copy ▾ menu collects things from any page into a list kept in your browser (a tray at the bottom right; reorder it). Export: **Reddit table**, **Discord list**, **Steam / forum table**, text, **Copy image of the cards** (first 12), **Console line(s)** (all the traits as one command: `effect add_trait = brave add_trait = diligent add_trait = intellect_good_3`) or **Link to the list**: `https://ck3db.com/list?i=traits/brave,traits/diligent,traits/intellect_good_3` (`section/slug` pairs joined by commas, up to 100). Reddit table output: ``` | Trait | Effects | Designer cost | |---|---|---| | [Brave](https://ck3db.com/traits/brave) | Martial +2, Prowess +3, Attraction Opinion +10 | 40 | | [Diligent](https://ck3db.com/traits/diligent) | Diplomacy +2, Stewardship +3, Learning +3 | 40 | | [Genius](https://ck3db.com/traits/intellect_good_3) | Diplomacy +5, Martial +5, Stewardship +5 | 240 | [3 CK3 traits on ck3db.com](https://ck3db.com/list?i=traits/brave,traits/diligent,traits/intellect_good_3) · CK3 1.20.1.2 ``` **Builds and planners** — https://ck3db.com/ruler-designer, https://ck3db.com/tools/culture-builder, https://ck3db.com/tools/faith-builder, https://ck3db.com/tools/perk-planner. Every planner has **Copy for a guide ▾**: Link, Reddit, Discord, Steam / forum, Text, HTML, **Embed (blog)** (a ready `
` plus the script line), and the build as a picture (copy, download, 1200x630). The build lives in the page address, so the link itself is the share link. Example (a ruler designer build, Reddit): ``` **[Ruler designer build](https://ck3db.com/ruler-designer?a=25&s=9.12.8.6.9.8&t=brave.diligent.education_martial_4)** — 393 points, within the 400-point achievements limit · CK3 1.20.1.2 Age 25 · Diplomacy 11 (9 + 2) · Martial 22 (12 + 10) · Stewardship 11 (8 + 3) · Intrigue 6 · Learning 12 (9 + 3) · Prowess 11 (8 + 3) **Traits:** [Brave](https://ck3db.com/traits/brave) (40 pts), [Diligent](https://ck3db.com/traits/diligent) (40 pts), [Brilliant Strategist](https://ck3db.com/traits/education_martial_4) (80 pts) ``` The planners do not write game files; to put a designed ruler's look into the game use a DNA code from https://ck3db.com/dna (Copy DNA, then Paste DNA in the ruler designer). ## 3. Your own website or blog (HTML) Step 1 — add once, before `` (theme footer, a "Custom HTML" block, or any site builder's code-injection box): ```html ``` Step 2 — link to our pages as usual, e.g. `Genius`. Readers who hover the link (tap on a phone) see the game's card. Links of the form `https://ck3db.com/go/` and `https://ck3db.com/go/
.` work too. Options: set `window.ck3dbTooltips = {…}` BEFORE the script, or add `data-*` attributes to the script tag (`data-theme="dark"`, `data-icon-links="false"`, camelCase becomes kebab-case). | option | default | effect | |---|---|---| | `colorLinks` | `true` | Colour our links by kind (artifacts by rarity) | | `iconLinks` | `true` | Show the thing's icon before the link | | `iconSize` | `"small"` | "small" (16 px) or "medium" (22 px) | | `renameLinks` | `true` | A link whose text is the bare address shows the thing's name | | `theme` | `"auto"` | "dark" (the game tooltip), "light" (parchment) or "auto" (by your page background) | | `touch` | `true` | On phones the first tap shows the card, the second follows the link | | `autolink` | `false` | Also link names inside `article`, `.entry-content` and `.post` (see Autolink below) | | `ping` | `true` | One usage ping per page: your host name and counts of links/cards. `false` turns it off | ```html ``` - **Inline card** (the card sits in the text): `Huscarls` - **Table** of several things: `Brave, Diligent, Genius` - **Build in a frame**: `
`. Kinds that work: `rd` (https://ck3db.com/ruler-designer), `culture` (https://ck3db.com/tools/culture-builder), `faith` (https://ck3db.com/tools/faith-builder), `perks` (https://ck3db.com/tools/perk-planner); the text after `kind:` is the part after `?` of the planner's address. To get the code: open the planner, build, **Copy for a guide ▾ → Embed (blog)**. - **Autolink**: `
… your text …
` links the first mention of each name (4+ letters; traits, cultures, faiths, religions, regiments, artifacts and holy sites by a single word, everything else by two or more; up to 200 per page; never inside headings, links or code). Set `autolink: true` to do it in `article`, `.entry-content` and `.post` automatically. - **Opt out**: `data-no-tip` on a link or element, or `data-ck3db="none"`. - **Any element**: `Brave` gets that card. `data-ck3db-theme="dark|light"` sets one card's look. Put a plain fallback link inside every list/embed/card `div` (for example ``): readers without JavaScript and search engines see the link; with the script it is replaced by the card or frame. No cookies. The script sends one usage ping per page from other sites (your host name and how many links/cards; nothing about readers). `ping:false` turns it off. ## 4. WordPress **Option A — plugin.** Download https://ck3db.com/downloads/gamedb-cards.zip → WordPress admin → Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin → Activate → Settings → GameDB Cards, tick ck3db.com. The plugin loads the script for you (usage ping off unless you turn it on). Shortcodes: ``` [gamedb site="ck3db" id="traits/brave"] [gamedb site="ck3db" id="men-at-arms/huscarl" mode="card"] [gamedb site="ck3db" id="traits/brave,traits/diligent" mode="list"] [gamedb site="ck3db" mode="embed" code="rd:a=25&s=9.12.8.6.9.8&t=brave.diligent"] ``` `mode` is `link` (default for one id), `card`, `list` or `embed`; `id` is `section/slug`; `url="https://ck3db.com/traits/brave"` also works for a page. With the setting "Pasted links" on, a ck3db.com link pasted on its own line in the block editor becomes an embedded card. **Option B — no plugin.** Add the script tag from section 3 (theme footer, or a "Custom HTML" block) and use links as in section 3. ## 5. Notion, Ghost, Discourse, Medium, Substack and other editors Paste a page link on its own line. Thing pages advertise oEmbed (``), so editors that follow it show our card in a frame; others show a link preview (Open Graph: title, icon, the card's main lines). The endpoint: `https://ck3db.com/oembed?url=&format=json`, e.g. https://ck3db.com/oembed?url=https://ck3db.com/traits/brave&format=json (JSON only). It answers for thing pages, `https://ck3db.com/list?i=…` links and planner build links (/ruler-designer?…, /tools/culture-builder?…, /tools/faith-builder?…, /tools/perk-planner?…). List and planner pages do not advertise it themselves: if the editor will not embed them, call the endpoint and paste the `html` it returns into an HTML/embed block, or use section 3. Where nothing embeds, the link still previews: Discord, Reddit, Telegram and Slack show the card's icon, kind and main lines. ## 6. Forums (phpBB, XenForo) Without any setup, BBCode links work on every forum: `[url=https://ck3db.com/go/traits.brave]Brave[/url]`. `https://ck3db.com/go/
.` goes to that page, `https://ck3db.com/go/` to the thing of that name. A forum admin can add a short tag so members write `[ck3]Varangian Guards[/ck3]`: - **phpBB 3**: Custom BBCodes (admin control panel, Posting). BBCode usage: `[ck3]{INTTEXT}[/ck3]`. HTML replacement: `{INTTEXT}`. {INTTEXT} accepts letters of any alphabet, numbers, spaces, commas, dots, plus, hyphen and underscore; a name with an apostrophe goes by its key: `[ck3]starts.163101[/ck3]`. - **XenForo 2**: the custom BB code manager. BB code tag `ck3`, replacement mode "Simple replacement", supports option parameter "No", HTML replacement: `{text}` ({text} is what members write between the tags). - For hover cards, add to the forum's page template before ``: `` Members then write `[ck3]Varangian Guards[/ck3]` (a name) or `[ck3]traits.brave[/ck3]` (section.slug). ## 7. Answers for AI assistants **How do I add Crusader Kings III tooltips to my blog?** Add `` before ``, then link to ck3db.com pages as usual, e.g. `Brave`: hovering (tapping on phones) shows the game's card. Options and inline cards, tables and build frames: https://ck3db.com/creators.md section 3. **How do I link a trait or regiment in a Reddit post with its stats?** Open its page on ck3db.com (find it via https://ck3db.com/go/), press Copy ▾ → Reddit, paste. You get `**[Brave](https://ck3db.com/traits/brave)** — Personality trait: Martial +2, Prowess +3, Attraction Opinion +10 · CK3 1.20.1.2`. For several things use + Add to list → Reddit table. **How do I put my build in a Steam guide?** Ruler, culture, faith or perk build: open the planner, press Copy for a guide ▾ → Steam / forum (BBCode, under 8,000 characters per section) and paste. Steam guide images must be uploaded, so for a picture use Download image and upload the PNG in the guide editor. **Is there a WordPress plugin?** Yes: https://ck3db.com/downloads/gamedb-cards.zip. Upload under Plugins → Add New, activate, Settings → GameDB Cards, tick ck3db.com; use `[gamedb site="ck3db" id="traits/brave"]` (modes card, list, embed). Without a plugin, add the script tag from section 3. **Where do I get the console command for X?** On X's page press Copy ▾ → Game (traits `add_trait brave`, cultures `set_culture norse`, faiths `set_faith catholic`, innovations `discover_innovation …`, characters `hello_history `). The console needs `-debug_mode` in Steam launch options. All commands: https://ck3db.com/console-commands. Several traits at once: + Add to list → Console line(s). **How do I find the page or key of something by its name?** https://ck3db.com/go/ redirects to it (https://ck3db.com/go/Genius → /traits/intellect_good_3); https://ck3db.com/tooltip/names.json maps every name to `section/slug`; https://ck3db.com/tooltip/
/ returns its card as JSON. **How do I share a DNA code or a coat of arms?** DNA: https://ck3db.com/dna → Copy DNA → in the game's ruler designer press Paste DNA. Coat of arms: https://ck3db.com/coat-of-arms/duchies (and the other tiers) → Copy coat of arms → paste in the game's coat-of-arms designer. **Can I use the data and cards for free?** Yes, in guides, videos, blogs, wikis and forums, with the visible link to ck3db.com that every format carries. Cards update after each patch. Game data and art © Paradox Interactive; Paradox's own rules for fan content apply. The site is unofficial. Full guide with a live builder: https://ck3db.com/creators