Avoiding vices

**Nikpalj** · 02-03-2007, 22:09

I've played mtw a lot a year ago, got burnt out on it, now I'm back... found that I still remember most of the keyboard shortcuts ok and how to use spears/swords/cav effectively (hardwired in my brain!), but I've forgot many of the little tricks that were important on the strategic map play...

What I wanted was a quick reminder: how often do I have to shuffle the garrisoned troops and/or the generals I've given provincial titles to, in order for them to not acquire vices? Once every ten years if my memory serves me?

And is it enough to simply pick them up (out of the fort) and then simply put them back inside, or do I actually have to move them into another province? I think that I remember sending them around into one of the bordering provinces, then back on the next turn.

I've just started playing that samurai mod for mtw (great mod!), and I'd like to avoid any of my guys getting vices... could somebody refresh my memory on this a bit, thanks in advance guys!

**Deus ret.** · 02-04-2007, 02:01

I didn't know that obtaining vices was tied to the movement of the respective units in MTW too. for sure it's the case with RTW, but this is an interesting insight

since MTW tends to have so many different faces (just check the barques vs. caravels thread: https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=78202) I can only speak for what I found to be unseful. for example, a good way to avoid vices on governors is to keep taxes on "high" (i.e. lower than very high) most of the times. also, the kind and frequency of vices seems to be affected by your general standing. if you are the mightiest faction or otherwise exceedingly rich your governors will soon start getting those "exclusive trader"-like vices. they're not nice, especially as they decrease further (in my games most of them disappear on reload, though....).

in general the best way I found to avoid vices is to let those guys fight often, preferably as the general. this is not always viable with governors but keeps them peppered. and finally .....build new units to maintain a constant flow of new, potentially capable governors since in my expreience the old ones *will* start detoriating one day. not necessarily and not all of them, but it's never wrong to shuffle the gentry around which gets lazy from sitting on its a**

**ChaosLord** · 02-04-2007, 06:35

The moving generals around thing was always too much trouble for me to bother with. The biggest culprit in gaining vices in MTW is your suprlus cash though I think. Having over like 20k(or maybe its 30-40 or higher) in the bank earned your guys alot of corruption vices. Aside from that having high influence/marrying other factions princesses can help with your heirs starting without bad vices. Also if you're having alot of bad vices pop out of nowhere the culprit might also be enemy spies uncovering "hidden" vices on your generals.

**Martok** · 02-04-2007, 09:49

Originally Posted by Nikpalj

What I wanted was a quick reminder: how often do I have to shuffle the garrisoned troops and/or the generals I've given provincial titles to, in order for them to not acquire vices? Once every ten years if my memory serves me?

That's about right, although I can't say with certainty that that's the exact interval. I sometimes move my governors around as little as every 5 years, although I concede it's probably unnecessary to do so quite *that* often.

Originally Posted by Nikpalj

And is it enough to simply pick them up (out of the fort) and then simply put them back inside, or do I actually have to move them into another province? I think that I remember sending them around into one of the bordering provinces, then back on the next turn.

You need to actually move them to another province for at least one turn. It's getting the governors away from home and into the fresh air that helps keep the sloth, greed, and gluttony at bay.

Originally Posted by Dues ret.

I didn't know that obtaining vices was tied to the movement of the respective units in MTW too. for sure it's the case with RTW, but this is an interesting insight

Yeah, moving your governors around in MTW does help prevent them from getting the various unfavorable traits in the later game. (A word to the wise, by the way: This method is *not* foolproof, although it helps. Your governors are still likely to pick up vices, just not as often.)

**Geezer57** · 02-04-2007, 17:36

Originally Posted by Martok

You need to actually move them to another province for at least one turn. It's getting the governors away from home and into the fresh air that helps keep the sloth, greed, and gluttony at bay.

It also helps to avoid Very High taxes, if you wish to prevent the worst of the trade/farm income damaging vices.