Generals vs family members

I've returned to M2TW after a long break, and am trying to figure out what was happening in the saved games I still have on my hard drive.

Unfortunately, although I played several campaigns, only the Russia saves appear to work.

Anyway, having read some threads about grooming faction heirs, I've realised that I've never bothered to properly look after the nation's elite. In the save I have (late 1200s), the family tree is more like a family haystack, and the crown had traveled all over the place.

Also, I've ended up with an army commanded by at least 15 generals (including the vaguely related tzar and heir). The strange thing is, this whole gang is just family members! Must be great for the family - nepotism et al - but are there just plain generals, not related to the king? I remember in MTW there used to be generals who were promoted from combat units and had nothing in common with the royal family.

Is M2TW different, is it me allowing too many relatives/adoptions, or is it just a Russian thing?

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Originally Posted by ezoons

I've returned to M2TW after a long break, and am trying to figure out what was happening in the saved games I still have on my hard drive.

Unfortunately, although I played several campaigns, only the Russia saves appear to work.

Anyway, having read some threads about grooming faction heirs, I've realised that I've never bothered to properly look after the nation's elite. In the save I have (late 1200s), the family tree is more like a family haystack, and the crown had traveled all over the place.

Also, I've ended up with an army commanded by at least 15 generals (including the vaguely related tzar and heir). The strange thing is, this whole gang is just family members! Must be great for the family - nepotism et al - but are there just plain generals, not related to the king? I remember in MTW there used to be generals who were promoted from combat units and had nothing in common with the royal family.

Is M2TW different, is it me allowing too many relatives/adoptions, or is it just a Russian thing?

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When you first start off, you'll often have a general or two (or more i suppose) that aren't family. If they die, then it ends up being a relatives lead faction :sweatdrop:

I think if you can get them reproducing, you can keep a splinter "general only" group, which often make really good Dread Generals :beam:

Generals can only "reproduce" if they marry, and this happens only if they are on your family tree making all their offspring family members too.

That said, you can only get more generals by bribing enemy generals and family members (these turn into generals) or modding your game to allow recruitment of generals.

Ok, but if I decide to mod the game, do I have to start a new campaign to enable my changes?

Nope, just need to change EDB. You can get it from my KOTRfix. You don't need any of the other files unless you want them.

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Originally Posted by WhiskeyGhost

I think if you can get them reproducing, you can keep a splinter "general only" group, which often make really good Dread Generals

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As FactionHeir has said the only way for them to marry is if they are member of your family. Even if a foreign princess fails an attempt to woo him and becomes his wife it doesn't count, though you will get a message saying you'll soon be welcoming her into your family. If you later adopt this same general into your family, he will be wifeless.

huh, didn't know that they had to stay blood related. Then again, real family lines were kind of like that to begin with back then, especially since you could trust your family a little more then any random person under the guise of blood bonds

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Originally Posted by FactionHeir

Nope, just need to change EDB. You can get it from my KOTRfix. You don't need any of the other files unless you want them.

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I made some changes myself, and my mod partly worked. I have a problem though (link to mod section): https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=99945

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Originally Posted by WhiskeyGhost

huh, didn't know that they had to stay blood related. Then again, real family lines were kind of like that to begin with back then, especially since you could trust your family a little more then any random person under the guise of blood bonds

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I wouldn't mind having my generals blood related, if there was any logic in how the game chooses the heir when the king has no sons.

For example, the campaign I've resurrected: there are these 10+ generals, most of them are over 45. The king (61) has a 40-YO heir (44-YO wife, "witch", "ugly" and childless), and this line is about to end.
I've no idea where the crown is going to hop next. Could be a 58-YO 10-star general, or it might as well be his retarded, paranoid, "poor just about everything" distant relative.

If I knew where the game would throw the crown next, I'd send that general to fight. Otherwise, there is no point having 15 generals (I don't use them to govern settlements). Right now, 5 are commanding separate armies (heir included), and the king roams the front line with a bunch of relatives helping out if it's needed (a simultaneous charge of 8 experienced EE Bodyguard units is quite something).

I sure miss the MTW system where the governor didn't need to be present to influence his province.

All my armies are commanded by Family members, generals are more likely to marry a princess or revolt,i either get them to marry my princesses or use them as defenders of unessential cities i dont care about.