Dynasties and succession

**Andronikos** · 08-07-2009, 21:25

I would like to know a few things.

Firstly, when you play a dynasty based faction, how you choose your faction heirs? Do you leave it as it is (the AI chooses brothers), or do you choose your own according to some houserules?

I prefer to keep a line, the heir is the eldest son. If the king has only daughters, he is chosen among kings brothers and sons-in-law as the most able. If the heir is going to be really crappy FM with bad traits, the heir becomes the most able from his brothers, uncles and brothers-in-law (brothers have higher priority). I tend to preserve the family name (like Syriakos or Baktrios).
By the most able I mean: highest influence, good traits or some deeds he has done before, like conquering an important region, victory in an important battle, governing capital or other important city.

Secondly I would like to ask how it was in reality, if being firstborn was important and how future kings were chosen (yeah, I know that in many cases knives played an important role when somebody thought that he would be a better king

)

**Apraxiteles** · 08-07-2009, 21:45

"Whoever has the sharpest sword." —Pyrrhos of Epeiros, when asked by one of his sons which of his children would inherit his kingdom.

**Fluvius Camillus** · 08-07-2009, 21:50

Originally Posted by Andronikos

I would like to know a few things.

Firstly, when you play a dynasty based faction, how you choose your faction heirs? Do you leave it as it is (the AI chooses brothers), or do you choose your own according to some houserules?

I prefer to keep a line, the heir is the eldest son. If the king has only daughters, he is chosen among kings brothers and sons-in-law as the most able. If the heir is going to be really crappy FM with bad traits, the heir becomes the most able from his brothers, uncles and brothers-in-law (brothers have higher priority). I tend to preserve the family name (like Syriakos or Baktrios).
By the most able I mean: highest influence, good traits or some deeds he has done before, like conquering an important region, victory in an important battle, governing capital or other important city.

Secondly I would like to ask how it was in reality, if being firstborn was important and how future kings were chosen (yeah, I know that in many cases knives played an important role when somebody thought that he would be a better king

)

I also keep them alive. Their back name, their ethnicity and if possible, a father (first) son line.

I achieved this with Epeiros, Klearchos Aiakides was the Mollossian Basileus when I was finished, he was S/C/V and U/O/L, He excelled in the Spartan Agoge and conquered a lot of regions. He had three sons ready to go on if I wished to play further, Menandros Aiakides was ready to follow in his footsteps. Klearchos was the son of Pyrrichos Aiakides, who was son of Ptolemais Aiakides who was son of Pyrrhos Aiakides. Here I always got the firstborn as the most able, if the firstborn was a moron however, I would look to brothers and then the closest Molossian Aiakides to follow.

I really like the dynasties, I always try to keep them alive... In my Arverni campaign I sadly had, that my Arverni family members only got daughters....

~Fluvius

**Roka** · 08-07-2009, 23:17

i always like the royal line to be intact

from father to son, if this is not possible however i look at nephews, brothers of the king

**Centurio Nixalsverdrus** · 08-07-2009, 23:56

Until now (158BC) I managed to maintain a direct line of primogeniture from Antigonos II. to my present Basileus Limendas. He has no offspring yet, but a very able brother who has already a son who is about 14, so I'm not so worrying about the future.

The bigger your family becomes, the harder does it get to maintain your royal line.

**satalexton** · 08-08-2009, 00:02

my Hai Faction Leader is a Makedones >_>

**fleaza** · 08-08-2009, 01:54

i usually kill off everyone but those who have a certain name or gene. in my roman campaign i killed off everyone except the scipiones. in 224 bc i only have 5 family members because i dont adopt anyone unless they have scipii in their name. i rejoice everytime a son is born because it means that in 16 years i will have 6 family members instead of 5. i have 46 territories btw.