Traits and Ancillaries Frequently Asked Questions

[Ymarsakar]

The only thing that I don't know what it is doing is the Electability requirement. All the others in the code seems pretty straight forward as to the requirements in getting an ancillary.

[Theodotos I]

Tell me, what's happening with the "Hesitant Attacker" trait? Every one of my great generals has gotten it, and I'm on my fourth campaign in EB. I mean, some of these guys have never lost a battle, they've got eight or nine stars, they have morale-boosting stats through the roof, and then Hesitant Attacker pops up. I don't really mind, because they often have enough excess stars to fill in the gap, but it just is annoying to see a guy as great as Hamilcar Barca pegged with a trait pretty close to cowardice. Thanks for any input.

[kemozz]

There must be some trigger some where or is there some kind of randomness to it? I'm jumping in the middle of the conversation, so please excuse me. My own current gameplay experince is strange. One FM has been the only FM in Corsica Sardinia for 4 yrs now - nothing. One FM was in Macedonia for not even a yr and got Provincial Governor at age 16! One FM has been in Gallia Citerior/Narbonesis for yrs and yrs and nothing. I just moved a highly qualifed FM into Sicilia and will await the result. There is room on the ancillaries on all the FMs.
Anyone have ideas? Is there anything we could track, that may help things out? I don't mind keeping better records on these stationary guys - if it would help out.

unfortunately there are no other triggers, however there are a few things that you need to take into account. first, make sure you have 7 ancillaries or less. second, movement points some characters have movement points penalties, which sometimes makes acquiring the ancillaries impossible since they need 100% movement points (i've deleted this requirement from the triggers) third, make sure that you have a government level II or III in the province to acquire the ancillaries.

getting the ancillaries for africa, Corsica Sardinia, Gallia Citerior, Macedonia,
Sicilia, Gallia Ulterior, the two supanish provinces are usually very easy if you make sure that you avoid the above pitfalls. but the others seem to take a much longer time to acquire for some unknown reason.

[Revenant]

That sounds really odd. A really small minority of your guys should be so scholarly, as only intelligent, lazy and uncharismatic people should have it, and out of those only 19% who are staying at an academy for the first two turns of their in-game lives, unless they turn out to be pedantic instead. I think.

For me, almost all FM who stay at academy will eventualy become scholastic and pedantic. For example, one FM, who I planned to be "Marian" reformator - Sharp/Charismatic/Vigorous Plebeius became Pedantic after two or so turns in academy in Capua. To make things worse, I loaded savegame just before he get it, He was only Erudite and I moved him out of the city. He still get Scholastic at the beginning of next turn and Pedantic shortly after.

He had ancillary Natural Philosopher and he was natural philosopher himself, is this the reason?

[Revenant]

I posted this question in another topic, but this is the right place for it, I think:

Why Romani cannot get any priest ancillaries? All romani priest ancillaries are disabled in datafiles. The data are present, but all have ";" at the start of the line.

It bothered me I never got any of them.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

The Priest ancillaries were entirely reworked before the v1.0 release. It may be that the Romani priests were not yet finished...

[tfarr007]

as much as i resent cheating i need to know how to give one of my characters the popularis trait for marian reforms (out tons of generals who meet the 2 inf and command none have it).
give_trait Nvmerivs Africanvs Popularis
doesnt seem to work. probably a silly question but any hints?

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

as much as i resent cheating i need to know how to give one of my characters the popularis trait for marian reforms (out tons of generals who meet the 2 inf and command none have it).
give_trait Nvmerivs Africanvs Popularis
doesnt seem to work. probably a silly question but any hints?

You need to know the exact internal name of the guy and it isn't always what you see in game. Search the forum for some of the old threads about traits and cheats...

[atheotes]

Tell me, what's happening with the "Hesitant Attacker" trait? Every one of my great generals has gotten it, and I'm on my fourth campaign in EB. I mean, some of these guys have never lost a battle, they've got eight or nine stars, they have morale-boosting stats through the roof, and then Hesitant Attacker pops up. I don't really mind, because they often have enough excess stars to fill in the gap, but it just is annoying to see a guy as great as Hamilcar Barca pegged with a trait pretty close to cowardice. Thanks for any input.

I believe you get the trait when the you chose not to assaul the settlement you were sieging inspite of having the means to do so.... like when you decide to wait out the siege

[Poggleit]

I believe you get the trait when the you chose not to assaul the settlement you were sieging inspite of having the means to do so.... like when you decide to wait out the siege

Also, I think, you have a chance to get the trait if you make an attack on an enemy stack on the campaign map but when you come to the screen giving you the autocalculate/command personally/don't attack options you decide to call the attack off.

[konny]

Also, I think, you have a chance to get the trait if you make an attack on an enemy stack on the campaign map but when you come to the screen giving you the autocalculate/command personally/don't attack options you decide to call the attack off.

I think, that is the only way to get it. I usually "sit out" all my sieges and never had a general getting this trait from that. So, when you have a couple of generals getting this trait you must have changed your mind quite often.

[d'Arthez]

Perhaps a bit off-topic, but should not a thread be made for EB 1.1 specifically? Else people who read this thread may get confused especially for those things that have been changed in 1.1.

[Poggleit]

I think, that is the only way to get it. I usually "sit out" all my sieges and never had a general getting this trait from that. So, when you have a couple of generals getting this trait you must have changed your mind quite often.

That's been my experience too. I also usually sit out sieges and have never had the hesitant attacker trait from doing so.

I have, however, had the "Poor Engineer", I think it's called, trait - the one that says the general's name has become a joke among military engineers and provides a -1 command penalty when attacking a city- after sitting out a few sieges in a row. This might have been just coincidence though.

[Olaf The Great]

Does the trait "On his deathbed" actually kill the general?
I got an extremely high roleplaying value character "a spartan who "Excelled in Agoge" "Former member of Kryptei" "Good tactician" "Good leader" "Foul mouthed" "Stern" "Sharp/charismatic/Vigorous" Unselfish/Pessimisitc/loyal(funny because somehow he has the "Optimistic" trait).

So basically he's the perfect spartan, and while fishing for mercenaries in the Mercenary Cape, he gets the trait "On his deathbed".

If he dies I'm going to be pissed, I hope he gets "better"

I know of the "add trait" cheat, but is there a "remove trait" cheat?



Oh and heres another trait question, one of my generals has the trait "Choleric" -3 influence and apparently he's weak of spleen and annoying to other people.


So...he has cholera and he's an ass?
TRAIT..CONFUZZLES MEH.

[Atilius]

Does the trait "On his deathbed" actually kill the general?

No.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

There is no way to kill a character or make him more likely to die using traits.
That character is either really sick or really old. If he is just sick, send him to a town and let him rest a few turns and he should return to normal.

[bovi]

Oh and heres another trait question, one of my generals has the trait "Choleric" -3 influence and apparently he's weak of spleen and annoying to other people.


So...he has cholera and he's an ass?
TRAIT..CONFUZZLES MEH.

Hippocrates's four humours

[Korlon]

Tell me, what's happening with the "Hesitant Attacker" trait? Every one of my great generals has gotten it, and I'm on my fourth campaign in EB. I mean, some of these guys have never lost a battle, they've got eight or nine stars, they have morale-boosting stats through the roof, and then Hesitant Attacker pops up. I don't really mind, because they often have enough excess stars to fill in the gap, but it just is annoying to see a guy as great as Hamilcar Barca pegged with a trait pretty close to cowardice. Thanks for any input.

You get a ten percent chance of getting a point if you have at least 11% of your movement points left when you step next to an enemy army, and then you don't attack them by pressing end turn.

If you attack and go to the battle message with the odds and everything, but you withdraw, you get a guaranteed point in the trait.

If the battle message pops up and the odds are greater than 1:1 but lower than 2:1, you get two guaranteed points regardless of whether or not you're an attacker if you withdraw.

If the odds on the battle are greater than 2:1, you get four guaranteed points if you withdraw.

Also, a person from the Gens Octavia also has a 75% chance of getting a point when they're offered up for marriage, has come of age, or offered for adoption.

[Olaf The Great]

I got the germanic trait "Shamed" seemingly out of nowhere. I mean a conquering hero warmonger expert tactician with 10 stars when attacking and 5 without who conquered all of Germany, Poland, the alps and hte Baltics shouldn't be "shamed"

[bovi]

Trigger Sweboz_Harjanaz_Becomes_Ashamed_Crushing_Defeat
  WhenToTest PostBattle
    
    Condition IsGeneral
          and not WonBattle
          and BattleSuccess = crushing
          and RecentBattleDifficulty < 4
          and Trait Harjanaz > 0

  Affects ExHarjanaz  2  Chance  100

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Sweboz_Harjanaz_Becomes_Ashamed_Coward
  WhenToTest PostBattle
    
    Condition IsGeneral
          and not WonBattle
          and PercentageBodyguardKilled < 10
          and PercentageOfArmyKilled > 50
          and Trait Harjanaz > 0

  Affects ExHarjanaz  2  Chance  100

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Sweboz_Harjanaz_Becomes_Ashamed_TroopsUnsure
  WhenToTest CharacterTurnEnd
    
    Condition Trait Harjanaz > 0
          and Trait TroopsUnsure > 2

  Affects ExHarjanaz  2  Chance  80

[Olaf The Great]

Trigger Sweboz_Harjanaz_Becomes_Ashamed_Crushing_Defeat
  WhenToTest PostBattle
    
    Condition IsGeneral
          and not WonBattle
          and BattleSuccess = crushing
          and RecentBattleDifficulty < 4
          and Trait Harjanaz > 0

  Affects ExHarjanaz  2  Chance  100

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Sweboz_Harjanaz_Becomes_Ashamed_Coward
  WhenToTest PostBattle
    
    Condition IsGeneral
          and not WonBattle
          and PercentageBodyguardKilled < 10
          and PercentageOfArmyKilled > 50
          and Trait Harjanaz > 0

  Affects ExHarjanaz  2  Chance  100

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Sweboz_Harjanaz_Becomes_Ashamed_TroopsUnsure
  WhenToTest CharacterTurnEnd
    
    Condition Trait Harjanaz > 0
          and Trait TroopsUnsure > 2

  Affects ExHarjanaz  2  Chance  80

Well I don't remember him getting a crushing defeat and he's not a coward.
Maybe Unsure troops but I wouldn't know why that would happen.

[bovi]

There are very many ways that an army can become unsure of/unhappy with its leader, such as force marching, low supply, defeat and more.

[Lysimachos]

Is there any way to get rid of a trait? In the campaign of my story one of my family members got a trait which really doesn't fit the image that i had of his character... I'd really like to cheat it away (or i'll have to pretend it is not there - or even accept it? ) ...

[konny]

When it has an anti-trait, use cheat to give him one point in the anti-trait.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Or use:

give_trait [trait] -1

[Lysimachos]

Thank you, that works

Just imagine: the great Antiochos Soter, king of kings, a country bumpkin

[Tellos Athenaios]

I got the germanic trait "Shamed" seemingly out of nowhere. I mean a conquering hero warmonger expert tactician with 10 stars when attacking and 5 without who conquered all of Germany, Poland, the alps and hte Baltics shouldn't be "shamed"

Pretend he's sets himself high standards; or suddenly ran into emotional problems regarding his prior conuct (I've killed a lot of people, how can I look into the face of...?) or is having a bit of a burn out.

[Victor1234]

If I may suggest, updating the front page to include the Roman Provincial Governor and Selucid Satrap system requirements, as well as maybe a brief description of how the Spartan Agoge works? I also saw some mention in the forums of some Ptolemaic nomarchs. I only have the specifics of the Selucid Satrap system, so here it is:

Satrapal System:

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Satrapeia Baktrias
This man has been made satrap of Baktria, which also encompasses nearby Sogdiana and the surrounding Greek poleis. It is a truly prestigious position due to Baktria's famed wealth and also one of great importance as the satrapy is the first line of defense against the barbarian horse hordes of the northern steppes.

+2 Influence +1 Morale +1 Management

Can only be one of this ancillary in game.
Has to stay in Baktra 1 turns.
If FM has minimum 5 Influence there is a Uncommon chance to gain ancillary.
If FM stays 20 turns outside Baktra, Marakanda or Alexandreia-Eschate he gains 'Not in his Satrapy' trait.
Common Chance to gain for a FM with Loyal personality.
Very good chance to gain for a FM with 'Royal Friend' trait.

--------------------------------------------------

Satrapeia Parthyaias
This man has been granted control of the satrapy of Parthyaia, a minor yet important satrapy in the northeastern borderlands. The Satrap's chief concerns is to cultivate the fertile river valleys, maintain the roads and most importantly to defend the kingdom from the barbarian Dahai horsemen to the north.

+2 Influence +1 Morale +1 Management

Can only be one of this ancillary in game.
Has to stay in Hekatompylos 1 turns.
If FM has minimum 5 Influence there is a Uncommon chance to gain ancillary.
If FM stays 20 turns outside Hekatompylos he gains 'Not in his Satrapy' trait.
Common Chance to gain for a FM with Loyal personality.
Very good chance to gain for a FM with 'Royal Friend' trait.

--------------------------------------------------

Satrapeia Persidos
This man has been granted the satrapy of Persis, the ancient homeland of the Persians. Unless the borders change, his only concern is simply to raise taxes from the native Persian settlements and the recent Hellenic poleis.

+2 Influence +1 Morale +1 Management

Can only be one of this ancillary in game.
Has to stay in Persepolis 1 turns.
If FM has minimum 5 Influence there is a Uncommon chance to gain ancillary.
If FM stays 20 turns outside Persepolis he gains 'Not in his Satrapy' trait.
Common Chance to gain for a FM with Loyal personality.
Very good chance to gain for a FM with 'Royal Friend' trait.

--------------------------------------------------

Satrapeia Babylonias
This man is the satrap of Babylonia, one of the most important satrapies within the Seleukid kingdom. His task is to make sure the Fertile Crescent is stable both in economically as well as politically, as any disturbance in Mesopotamia can seriously bring harm to the Arche Seleukeia.

+2 Influence +1 Morale +1 Management

Can only be one of this ancillary in game.
Has to stay in Seleukeia 1 turns.
If FM has minimum 5 Influence there is a Uncommon chance to gain ancillary.
If FM stays 20 turns outside Seleukeia he gains 'Not in his Satrapy' trait.
Common Chance to gain for a FM with Loyal personality.
Very good chance to gain for a FM with 'Royal Friend' trait.

--------------------------------------------------

Satrapeia Sousianes
This man has been given the title of satrap of Susiana, ruling from Susa, one of the oldest and most important cities in of all Asia. Commanding the routes to and from Iran, Baktria, and India, the satrap's main concern is to keep the region protected and the routes open for trade, armies, and news to pass through unhindered.

+2 Influence +1 Morale +1 Management

Can only be one of this ancillary in game.
Has to stay in Susa 1 turns.
If FM has minimum 5 Influence there is a Uncommon chance to gain ancillary.
If FM stays 20 turns outside Susa he gains 'Not in his Satrapy' trait.
Common Chance to gain for a FM with Loyal personality.
Very good chance to gain for a FM with 'Royal Friend' trait.

--------------------------------------------------

Satrapeia Medias
This man has been granted the title of Satrap of the Upper Satrapies which also includes the satrapy of Media, a highly important region within the Seleukid kingdom as it is from here the majority of cavalry is recruited. The satrap has to make sure the mountain tribes to the northwest are kept at bay and at the same time to protect and look after the interests of the local landed Iranian nobility and Hellenic settlements.

+3 Influence +1 Morale +1 Management

Can only be one of this ancillary in game.
Has to stay in Ekbatana 1 turns.
If FM has minimum 5 Influence there is a Uncommon chance to gain ancillary.
If FM stays 20 turns outside Ekbatana he gains 'Not in his Satrapy' trait.
Common Chance to gain for a FM with Loyal personality.
Very good chance to gain for a FM with 'Royal Friend' trait.

--------------------------------------------------

Satrapeia Armenias
This man is the satrap of Armenia and a close associate of the King. The unruly Armenians have been brought to their knees and any satrap appointed to this region has to make sure the Armenians know their place as subjects, but at the same time be generous to those Armenians who see the benefits of loyalty.

+2 Influence +1 Morale +1 Management

Can only be one of this ancillary in game.
Has to stay in Armavir 1 turns.
If FM has minimum 5 Influence there is a Uncommon chance to gain ancillary.
If FM stays 20 turns outside Armavir he gains 'Not in his Satrapy' trait.
Common Chance to gain for a FM with Loyal personality.
Very good chance to gain for a FM with 'Royal Friend' trait.

--------------------------------------------------

Epistrategos tes Mikras Asias
This man is the governor of Mikra Asia, the lands west of the Tauros Mountains. His job is to protect these lands from the many neighbors encircling the borders and also to maintain the katoikiai, military settlements of the Seleukids, for the royal armies.

+3 Influence +1 Morale +1 Management

Can only be one of this ancillary in game.
Has to stay in either Ipsos & Sardis for 1 turns.
If FM has minimum 5 Influence there is a Uncommon chance to gain ancillary.
Common Chance to gain for a FM with Loyal personality.
Very good chance to gain for a FM with 'Royal Friend' trait.

--------------------------------------------------

Strategos tou Indou
This man is a strategos or viceroy, of India, tasked with defending the eastern border of the Seleukid kingdom from the Indian rajas to the east and also to make sure that the wealth of India pours west into Iran and further on to the cities of Mesopotamia and Syria.

+3 Influence +1 Morale +1 Management

Can only be one of this ancillary in game.
Has to stay in Taksashila or Opiana for 1 turns.
If FM has minimum 5 Influence there is a Uncommon chance to gain ancillary.
Common Chance to gain for a FM with Loyal personality.
Very good chance to gain for a FM with 'Royal Friend' trait.

--------------------------------------------------

Archon tes Aigyptou
This man has been given the title of Archon of Egypt. His task is to protect the rich lands along the Neilos River and make sure the local Hellenes & Aigyptioi alike know Seleukid rule is preferable than that of incestuous freaks.

+3 Influence +1 Morale +1 Management

Can only be one of this ancillary in game.
Has to stay in Alexandreia or Mephis for 1 turns.
If FM has minimum 5 Influence there is a Uncommon chance to gain ancillary.
Common Chance to gain for a FM with Loyal personality.
Very good chance to gain for a FM with 'Royal Friend' trait.

--------------------------------------------------

Archon tes Makedonias
This man has been granted a truly prestigious title, that of Archon of Makedonia. It's his duty to administer the true homelands of the Seleukid Kings and their many followers and to make sure no one threatens the western holdings of the Basileos kai Basileon.

+3 Influence +1 Morale +1 Management

Can only be one of this ancillary in game.
Has to stay in Pella for 1 turns.
If FM has minimum 5 Influence there is a Uncommon chance to gain ancillary.
Common Chance to gain for a FM with Loyal personality.
Very good chance to gain for a FM with 'Royal Friend' trait.

[Connacht]

Heya, I really like the great enhancement you gave with the new traits system for characters, but I also want to give some advices if you let me bother you. :D
I found sometimes Roman characters with both "plebeius" and "noble" traits in the list, which doesn't make sense... imho it should be reworked in the belonging to wealthy, rich plebs (equites) instead of poor, common plebs.
Besides, the patricians were an elite class whose families descended from the original founders of Rome. So, there should be a trigger that hinders the "plebeius" trait to be given by the game to a member of a gens like, in example, the Cornelia. ;)

[Atilius]

I found sometimes Roman characters with both "plebeius" and "noble" traits in the list, which doesn't make sense...

The traits are "Plebeius" and "Nobile". A Roman was considered a Nobile if one of his direct ancestors had served as consul. The first consulship served by a plebeian was that of Lucius Sextius in 367 BC, so there were many, many plebeian nobiles by 272 BC.

there should be a trigger that hinders the "plebeius" trait to be given by the game to a member of a gens like, in example, the Cornelia.

A character born into gens Cornelia can only become become a plebeian by adoption. However, some gens had both plebeian and patrician branches, e.g. gens Claudia.