FM Birth Rate

**Drewski** · 02-11-2010, 11:23

OK, firstly here's the (fairly typical) situation.

I'm Casse, you start out with 3 FM, one for which it is impossible to have children, the 2nd unlikely, and the faction leader already has 4 children. I fairly quickly conquered Eng, Scot, and Wales, and then paused a while to wait for new Govs. When the two sons came of age, I made sure they had all the requisite wise women and witches, trained them in Angelsey, and went off and conquered Ireland. Even though the faction heir (roleplaying a first son Monarchy) had the fruitful trait, a wise woman, a herbalist, a witch, a healthy wise wife, no children were forth coming. So the faction leader took an expeditionary party to the continent, and conquered Belgium, but was almost immediately attacked by the Sweboz.

Rplaying his warmongering traits, He started to notch up conquests of Germania. And instantly, the children started to flood in. Mowg the faction heir, had 5 children in 7 years (that's going some). Eventually, the stubborn Sweboz were eradicated, and we sat back on our laurels, with around 18 provinces.

And then it's started again. Because just at that moment, I had enough governers for the provinces I held, the children dried up. Again, Mowg's heir Einon even though having the family wise women, herbalist and witch passed down, and again getting the fruitful trait, refused to have children. But then quite recently, the Aedui finally decided to attack Belgium, and after taking most of Northen France from them, suddenly Einon has 2 sons in succesive years at 49 yrs of age, and with a wife 4 years his younger (which I'm very pleased about, but that isn't the point)

Here IS the point.

This -"birth rate of FM's being intrisically linked to number of provinces/existing FM's"- is just so annoying. You constantly go through boom and bust, because you tend to have cycles where you suddenly have a lot of very old Govs, with no one ready to replace them. It's also very annoying from a rplaying point of view, and probably most of all, it's just plain silly. Did anyone in history ever think "Oh let's not have any children, we have enough uncles and cousins governing provinces already"? Of course not.

So basically, is this something that's hardcoded to RTW, or is it moddable in some way? What I mean, is that if I have a healthy fruitful 20 yr old, married to a healthy 19 yr old, then I want the same chance of them having children, whether I have 2 provinces or 50...

**SwissBarbar** · 02-11-2010, 11:56

Yeah, my thoughts exactly. Not sure, but I fear it is hardcoded

**ARCHIPPOS** · 02-11-2010, 12:06

Totally agree with Drewski. All you can do is implement Type 4 Goverments and use your FM as "conquerers" ... but frankly a mercenary general or allied governor costs 1000 mnai per turn and that can prove a strain for your economy (especially during the first game phases) ... perhaps it would be possible to tinker with the game files and make using them more "economic" ??? that's one idea ...

**Cute Wolf** · 02-11-2010, 12:21

Well, I did follow the suggestion of someone (forget who, maybe Ludens), to add EBFertile 3 trigger so every coming of age FM will be spawned with EBFertile 3.... well, still get some problems though, namely 2 : 1 FM/settlements ratio, but that was actually fine.... as 2 or 3 unworthy FM's could be assigned to watch a minor city without garrison (when playing Hellenes), or Thrown to lead frontal assault as Sweboz and Saka....

**Drewski** · 02-11-2010, 13:16

Originally Posted by Cute Wolf

Well, I did follow the suggestion of someone (forget who, maybe Ludens), to add EBFertile 3 trigger so every coming of age FM will be spawned with EBFertile 3.... well, still get some problems though, namely 2 : 1 FM/settlements ratio, but that was actually fine.... as 2 or 3 unworthy FM's could be assigned to watch a minor city without garrison (when playing Hellenes), or Thrown to lead frontal assault as Sweboz and Saka....

Any chance you can post a link that shows exactly how to do that ? (If one exists).....it would save me hrs figuring out how to do it myself...Thanks :)

Still, it's not quite what I originally hoped for, but if it has somewhat the desired effect, it'd be better..

**Ludens** · 02-11-2010, 20:54

Originally Posted by Cute Wolf

Well, I did follow the suggestion of someone (forget who, maybe Ludens), to add EBFertile 3 trigger so every coming of age FM will be spawned with EBFertile 3....

Not me. I don't know much about the trait files, and anyway I get the impression that the fertility traits only work when the FM limit hasn't been reached.

I am not aware of the FM:city ratio being specified anywhere in the moddable files. It must be hard-coded.

**Drewski** · 02-11-2010, 22:08

Originally Posted by Ludens

Not me. I don't know much about the trait files, and anyway I get the impression that the fertility traits only work when the FM limit hasn't been reached.

I am not aware of the FM:city ratio being specified anywhere in the moddable files. It must be hard-coded.

Thanks for clearing that up....tis a great pity.

**miotas** · 02-12-2010, 04:10

I'd suggest taking settlements slowly, rather than all in one big go, or send one or two of you middle-aged FM's to their deaths, rather than waiting for them to get old.

**Ibrahim** · 02-12-2010, 06:40

I usually, playing as AS, make up the difference with recruitable generals; if the Casse also have that possibility, perhaps you can use them to make up the difference?

**bobbin** · 02-12-2010, 17:40

Originally Posted by Drewski

Rplaying his warmongering traits, He started to notch up conquests of Germania. And instantly, the children started to flood in. Mowg the faction heir, had 5 children in 7 years (that's going some). Eventually, the stubborn Sweboz were eradicated, and we sat back on our laurels, with around 18 provinces.

How did you get 5 children?, I'd like to see a screenshot as AFAIK that is impossible (4 is the maximum).

The ratio of FM's to cities is hardcoded so there is nothing you can do about it.

**Drewski** · 02-12-2010, 19:39

Originally Posted by bobbin

How did you get 5 children?, I'd like to see a screenshot as AFAIK that is impossible (4 is the maximum).

The ratio of FM's to cities is hardcoded so there is nothing you can do about it.

I'd swear he had 5...he definetly had 3 sons and I thought 2 daughters...maybe one of the daughters was his brother's daughter....will try to remember to check, next time I fire the game up