All my family members have a horde of retinues, even from governing they get them. I tend to transfer them away once they hit 55 or so, expecting them to kick the bucket. Those are easy to collect.

I mean the traits, the non-transferrable ones. I can't seem to build up decent ones, unless I use the governor in combat, which isn't likely in the campaign I am in currently.

In MTW I could foster rebellions (and would, sometimes, so that my generals could gain experience). However here the damn peasants riot rather than rebelling (and allowing me to cut them down on the battlefield).