Quote Originally Posted by Kraggenmor
Thanks for the info Foz. Not arguing that those things won't get the trait but, I think there must be more factors to getting it than that.

I avoid ratcheting taxes above normal like the plague. I do seem to get some disillusionment in my settlements from squalor, or from pulling out a bunch of troops all at once but, not for long periods. Certainly not from 'High' taxes.


I wonder if, when morale in a settlement slips to a given level the trait can be given for completeing a building while people are disillusioned regardless of tax rate.

'Bad Taxman' seems to just show up if I leave them in a settlement for a lengthy period.
I think you must've misunderstood my logical statements. The trigger is when your tax rate is less than high, and your people are happier than disillusioned... then you get the chance for bad taxman points. This is b/c from a historical standpoint, you were a bad tax collector if you weren't extorting money from the people to the full extent possible. So if you are avoiding ratcheting taxes above normal and generally keeping your population happy, that is exactly the reason you DO see bad taxman traits appearing. High taxes or above are required to stave off the trait, OR keeping your subjects unhappy enough to stay disillusioned at best.

I would tend to agree with Neoncat that High tax rate is typically the best option, however the possibility that low rate gives of gaining chivalry is very interesting. I've used it pretty successfully to farm chivalry, which has the huge benefit of adding .5% city growth for each chivalry point your guy has. The bad taxman points you often get along with it are not too difficult to cancel with a good high tax rate and the correct happiness level of your citizenry... leaving high chivalry governors that cause waves of procreation anywhere they go