Generals: increasing their stars

So I have been pretty successful in my games, despite the fact that I NEVER have good Generals. I pretty much play the Poles exclusively, and in the past I played VI on Normal.

What I have observed is that my generals get an additional star only once for every ten (10) battles I win. Every once in a while I will let the computer take control of the Battle because the promotions seem to come more frequently.

So far, as I mentioned, this hasn't been much of an issue, but I just started my latest game with the XL mod. Much more challenging!

Anyhow I have finally gotten totally frustrated with the way my Generals are treated by the AI. If I kick the crap out of an invading Bohemian Army, I get NOTHING!

The next spring, if they invade again and I lose, my general gets the "Good Runner" attribute and may lose a star.

So my question is, what do you have to do in your battles to have your General gain ranks? I typically win 3 out of 4 Battles, which generally leaves me with a two star General who is a good runner?? WTF???

The whole "good runner" tag really pisses me off. I see no way to exit a battle without getting that tag. Sometimes I go in outnumbered, do some quick strikes to rout enemy units, then try an orderly withdrawal (the intent is to force some attrition on large enemy armies).

Good Runner.

The worst was against the Mongols when they came at me in Kiev. They had to cross a river and I made them pay. I crushed two stacks of their troops and killed the Great Khan, but they had tons of reinforcements and finally I was driven from the field.

Good Runner.

:furious3:

Any ideas are appreciated, cause I need to start grooming some good Generals if I am going to survive. My Princes are generally coming out with Command stars in the 1-3 range, so a couple of good battles with a talented prince should (I would hope) give me nice 5 star general.

To avoid the good runner vice don't let your general rout. You can exit a battle by withdrawing your troops, but if they rout........to bad, you will pick up the vice.

As far as stars......use titles. Some titles, will add command stars to your generals. For example, the governor title for Constantinople give +2 to command. Plus you can gain special titles from some buildings, these titles can be given to generals on top of normal titles.

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Originally Posted by m52nickerson

To avoid the good runner vice don't let your general rout. You can exit a battle by withdrawing your troops, but if they rout........to bad, you will pick up the vice.

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This makes sense. So that means if I tell my General to withdraw from the battle, he should exit (without routing, assuming he is not engaged in combat) and not get tagged as a runner, right?

Hmm, well if you have 0 stars and win a battle you get 1 star. Win 2 more and get a second star. Win three more (or win 2, lose 1, win 2) and get a third star. etc.

That's what I have observed in my experience.

Incompatible language

Hes trying to help u...
If ure gonna come here to ask for someones help, dnt be aIncompatible language and chuck it back in their face...

Some other pointers for more stars: try to chose tough fights - if you hold off a three-to-one attack by an enemy there's a strong chance of getting a "skilled defender" and "skilled last stand" virtues, both of which earn you an extra star each (on defence); attacking a superior force can get you "skilled attacker", as can a series of successful attacks. Try grooming one general specifically for attacking, and he'll get attacking virtues.

I think command stars come in a geometric progression: after 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 wins etc, so to get to the higher levels takes a LOT of battles, so it really does help to earn some virtues.

And yeah, "good runner" vices really suck -- once you've got that you may as well retire the general, even if he has a lot of stars. I'd prefer a low valour/high morale army over a high valour/low morale one any day.

Incompatible language

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Originally Posted by Galagros

Hmm, well if you have 0 stars and win a battle you get 1 star. Win 2 more and get a second star. Win three more (or win 2, lose 1, win 2) and get a third star. etc.

That's what I have observed in my experience.

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Actually, I re-read this post, and I misunderstood it initially. I thought you were being sarcastic about winning A battle and getting a star. You were instead talking about progressively having to win more battles for each successive star.

I am REALLY sorry about my previous comments.

Mea Culpa! :embarassed:

I was about to say...

Erm .... yeah, I don't bother wasting the time it would take me to type out insults. You are forgiven!