Personally, I prefer chivalrous generals to dreaded generals. I usually will guide a "character" through actions I think he might do himself. Example: Fritz Fritziwitz has trait fair fighter or fair in rule = I will have him be chivalrous. Though I have had a character by the name of Dietrich von Sachsen who despite being noble in rule ended up getting the winning first trait (damn it) and later on cruel and cunning. So I seen it as he is noble in rule yet on the battlefield he is cruel and cunning.

I do agree much so with Quickening, the winning first trait is a pain in the arse. It is especially tough to avoid in the early game when you are engaging the enemy with a roughly 1:1 ratio of troops. IMO I believe the triggers for winning first should be fixed. A few ideas on how it could better be triggered: 2,5-3:1 ratio in your favor, overuse of missile weapons with little or no melee engagement of the enemy, ( which if I am not mistaken does gain you winning first? ) or using underhanded units such as battlefield assassins.

Tschüß!
Erich