Traits!

[Zarky]

I think in M2TW already should have been that when you hate faction enough (i think there are 3 levels from dislike to loathe) you get -1 command but morale bonus, and funny battle speeches of course.
I hope there will be some sort of like/dislike gunpowder, but not that every general has them. Also drinking, gambling and other bad traits need to be made less annoying, or at least make them harder to gain.

[Sir Beane]

Personally I would like fewer traits per person, because the huuuge lists in Medieval 2 were rediculous.

I would also love it if traits had more of an effect on the general and his armies. It would really help build up atmosphere and aid roleplaying if generals could develop personal rivalries or friendships.

It would also be great if generals could develop traits related to preferences for fighting in certain terrain. For example:

Loves swamp:

This man thinks there is nothing better than to see an enemy soldier slowly sinking into the mud... +2 command when fighting in swampy terrain

These sort of traits would mean generals could specialise at fighting in a paticular region of the world, as they often did in history. They might also be used to represent a sort of 'home ground' advantage.

[I] Born in England:

This man grew up amongst the hills and fields of England, and he knows all the best ways to use the land to his advantage. +1 command when fighting in England/I]

I would also be really pleased if CA managed to stop generals and characters developing contradictory traits this time.

[Sheogorath]

Hmmm, maybe not a 'dislikes gunpowder' trait. That wouldn't really make much sense given the era. Perhaps a 'Suvurov' trait? Or a 'Prefers Bayonets', that would lower your troops accuracy, but give them a bonus in hand-to-hand combat.

[Monk]

Ever since my kings first danced in moonbeams I've been a big fan of the trait system (and the vices and virtues before them), but I really hope as a poster before me has said perhaps we could see less contradictory traits appearing for characters.

The trait system is already pretty good it just needs a little tweaking in this regard and it would be ideal imo.

[ULC]

Actually, correct me if I am wrong, but does the M2TW trait system adapt? As in a chivalrous character has a higher chance of gaining chivalry b ased traits and an almost nill chance of getting dread traits? If not, maybe they could integrate a system where we have "trait trees", in the same way we have "tech trees". This might reduce the clutter a bit, and make it easier to understand the character.

[Martok]

If not, maybe they could integrate a system where we have "trait trees", in the same way we have "tech trees". This might reduce the clutter a bit, and make it easier to understand the character.

I too hope that there's something like this in Empire. The traits system in RTW/M2TW was an improvement over MTW, but it still could've been somewhat more logical than what it was. Hopefully Empire will see an improvement in this area.

Also, I'd really like to see random traits be reduced in frequency. It's admittedly always bugged me somewhat when my generals & governors in MTW receive the "Strange" or "Odd Number of Toes" vices for absolutely no reason -- and far more often than they should.

[ULC]

I too hope that there's something like this in Empire. The traits system in RTW/M2TW was an improvement over MTW, but it still could've been somewhat more logical than what it was. Hopefully Empire will see an improvement in this area.

Also, I'd really like to see random traits be reduced in frequency. It's admittedly always bugged me somewhat when my generals & governors in MTW receive the "Strange" or "Odd Number of Toes" vices for absolutely no reason -- and far more often than they should.

Maybe they lost a toe?