how to make the 'bardic circle' act like an academy?

[Dromikaites]

Looking at BI's export_descr_character_traits I can guess how it is done: a simple copy and paste of an existing trigger and a few alterations. What I don't know is what the bardic building is called in these files. I am also unsure as to whether I could just copy and paste one of these triggers, rename it barbarian_education, change the building and then actually have it work.

Yes, one way to do it is to copy the Education trait trigger and modify it. Here's an example of what you could do:

Trigger education2
WhenToTest CharacterTurnEnd

Condition IsGeneral
and EndedInSettlement
and RemainingMPPercentage = 100
and SettlementBuildingExists = bardic_circle
and CultureType barbarian

Affects Warlord 1 Chance 20
Affects TacticalSkill 1 Chance 20
Affects Noctophilia 1 Chance 10

Also, I'd like to know how to make night battles more likely. I've not had a single one. Perhaps making it possible for a general to do them at 2 stars instead of 3? I do like the way command stars are hard to get now, so I don't want that to change.

The above example also gives a chance of 10% to developing the ability to fight night battles after spending time in a bardic circle.

EDIT: You know, I should definitely also ask what half the trigger lines mean! I suppose there is a faq listing these that someone can point me to? :looks hopeful: For example, what actual in-game traits are affected by "PhilosophySkill" or "StrategySkill" or any of those other nice, generic tags. I can guess some, but unanticipated side effects are Not Pleasant and I really do not have very much time to test or trial and error my way through this. I don't want the barbarians to turn out as Romans in all but name and picture.

In order to understand what a trait does you need to look at its effects (in blue):

Trait PhilosophySkill
Characters family
NoGoingBackLevel 1
AntiTraits Ignorance, Rational, Guardian, Idealist

Level Philosophically_Inclined
Description Philosophically_Inclined_desc
EffectsDescription Philosophically_Inclined_effects_desc
Threshold 1

Effect Management 1
Effect BribeResistance 10

Level Philosopher
Description Philosopher_desc
EffectsDescription Philosopher_effects_desc
Threshold 3

Effect Management 2
Effect BribeResistance 15

Level Abstruse_Philosopher
Description Abstruse_Philosopher_desc
EffectsDescription Abstruse_Philosopher_effects_desc
Epithet Abstruse_Philosopher_epithet_desc
Threshold 4

Effect Management 3
Effect BribeResistance 20