well i'm writing a guide about how to, er maximise their proliferation and effect. i see them as an extension of the empire's health and strengths, rather than the characters' themselves. they're less personal (therefore less powerful) than traits due to their ability to be traded, but are more mutable. the only real problem occurs in undesirable ancillaries. how do you get rid of a undesirable? you pawn him off to a general that won't be affected, of course! give all your Slubberdegullions and Tax farmers to field generals, because they'll have less effect on their command ability than, say, the Pontifex Maximus you're trying to keep in office.