Do Lazy Generals Get Exercise? And Other Questions

[TinCow]

In MTW, if you let a general sit around and didn't campaign with him he would usually accumulate a large number of negative vices. In RTW, we NEED to have our generals sitting in our cities... but I've still got some MTW paranoia about leaving them alone. In particular, in my current campaign, my heir has been sitting pretty in my capital since the start of the game. He has good management skills and no command, so it makes sense. However, I am worried that he will turn into a useless meatbag and will breed further useless meatbags. Do I need to be concerned?

Also, I have read somewhere that switching heirs gives you a hit to your influence. Does anyone know how much influence this costs?

Finally... at about what age to generals start dying naturally?

[Tamur]

... I am worried that he will turn into a useless meatbag and will breed further useless meatbags. Do I need to be concerned?

So far I've only noticed one of my city-stationed generals getting a "Lazy" vice after sitting in town... he had one battle early on, then governed. Great governor, but then Lazy came along. I sent him immediately to the front against Greece. He's still got the "Lazy" vice, but ended up gaining counter-balancing virtues ("Strict" or some such, for example).

... at about what age to generals start dying naturally?

Don't know about the influence hit amount --- I've only switched faction heirs once, and didn't notice any huge jumps one way or the other with the SPQR. But generals will start dying of natural causes anytime after they reach 53+. It really does vary per General. I had my faction leader die at 72 and the same year his son died at the age of 54.

[TinCow]

Here's another question (I would just load up the game and figure it out myself, but I'm at work):

Can you designate a grandson as an heir or do you have to go to next generation down? I have a grandson who is a military genius with great virtues at the lively age of 19... he could make a fabulous, long-lived faction leader since grandpappy is nearing 70.

[Thoros of Myr]

You can change your faction hier on the family tree menu.

[Encaitar]

And yes, you can select absolutely anybody on it as your faction heir.

[Morindin]

I campaigned with my faction leader. By the time he died (82!) I thought "oh no, he's my best general, now what?".

Fearing MTW syndrome I went and checked out my heir, he and a few other generals stationed in the big cities had grown command stars of 6,7, and 8, over the years.

[desdichado]

And yes, you can select absolutely anybody on it as your faction heir.

Do any of the other guys passed over get pissed off. Would hate to start a civil war over such a minor issue as who gets to be boss.

[khelvan]

In MTW, if you let a general sit around and didn't campaign with him he would usually accumulate a large number of negative vices. In RTW, we NEED to have our generals sitting in our cities... but I've still got some MTW paranoia about leaving them alone. In particular, in my current campaign, my heir has been sitting pretty in my capital since the start of the game. He has good management skills and no command, so it makes sense. However, I am worried that he will turn into a useless meatbag and will breed further useless meatbags. Do I need to be concerned?

It depends. First, I have noticed that if you have the Academy line of structures you tend to develop far fewer negative vices, and the retinue your family member accumulates is very effective. The better the structure, the better the retinue, it seems. Also, I don't know for sure, but I suspect if you do certain things in your cities it can have a direct effect - never build farms, you get "poor farmer." Always tax at very high, you become "the cruel."

Also, I have read somewhere that switching heirs gives you a hit to your influence. Does anyone know how much influence this costs?

It is -1 influence according to the negative trait you get. I suspected that there are things that happen behind the scenes as well, and from what Fishpants says below, that looks more and more likely.

[zentuit]

Regarding faction leader dying - I was looking through my cities and noticed that (1) my faction leader was getting old. As an aside, its very cool, CA, that the faction members pictures age - that's a great touch; its not cool that there are generic female pictures - that should be changed. Anyway, my leader was getting old and he has a bunch of influence (he's the top dog in the senate). So I notice that the garrison is really small and alot of the public order is coming from his influence. YIKES! If he dies, my capital has a very real shot of going into revolt until I build up the garrison. Until he dies I'm just sucking the taxes out of these people while they love their governor.

And let me add I hated having to move my leaders around in MTW. I don't mind occassionally having to ship a governor off to the frontier because he's become complacent.