Does marrying an aristocrat reduce quality of heirs?

[Swoosh So]

?

[Ii Naomasa]

I personally haven't heard anything one way or another. Given that later in the game the AI just simply refuses to interact with you on a diplomatic level (I know it's done to increase the challenge, but it just feels wrong), you're often stuck resorting to marrying from the slightly lesser stock.

The only time I went to any extreme effort to groom great kings (my Byzantine campaign), the mid to late game lack of royal marriages didn't seem to weaken the line (if it was, I would have loved to have seen the uber-heirs I would have produced). My heirs were all coming out with generally good stats and there was a two or three generation run of 'warrior' virtues of various levels during a period where no one would marry my kings.

Then again, despite what seems to be runs of hot and cold kings, there is still little decisive proof that traits or stats or hereditary to begin with...

[This message has been edited by Ii Naomasa (edited 10-14-2002).]

[Swoosh So]

What level were you playing? easy? I find the harder the level the worse the heirs


Swoooooooooooooooooooooooooshka

[olaf]

I think right now you get way too many bad vices out of the blue as it is. I really dont think marrying an aristocrat should make them worse, and I hope it doesnt as its a damn pain in the ass to find an AI faction who will marry you.

olaf

[pdoan8]

I don't think so, since marry other faction's princess doesn't affect the heir's stats.

Generally, good King usually to produce good heirs, but there is no guarantee.

Currently, I have King with 9 influence, 3 command, 3 accumen, all good V&V (fine leader, mighty warrior, occasional mercy, magnificient builder, magnificient steward) and he have 5 sons. 3 of the sons are good (good V&V and they all have leadership V&V - all have 3-5 command) but the other two are bad (no command, no accumen - one is coward and one is perversion and loonatic).

One thing that I try to gather more evidence is: if prince(s) grow up in a glorious time of the King during which the King win many battles and have his influence increase, these prince(s) usually grow up into good heirs who would likely have good leadership and warrior V&V and have high command. OTOH, any prince that grow up during a long idle time of the King will likely have bad V&V and low command. Some of the V&V seem to be assigned randomly. I only take some notes in the last two campaigns and certainly don't have enough evidence to back up my words.

[deejayvee]

In my current game I haven't married a princess for many years and in the last few generations of princes there has been at least one inbred amongst them.

It may be just a coincidence though.

[Chubby_Chuck]

I prefer to marry my princess' to myslef or sons, just for shits and giggles.