Increase/decrease?

[Binks]

If I open up Faction Announcements, I'll sometimes notice "Trait Decrease: Social Drinker +1 command). Is this going from no drinking traits or recovering from a deeper drinking habit? Is it even possible to improve on those?

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

I think decrease means that the level of the trait branch (which usually either ranges from a minor vice to a major vice or a mediocre talent to a brilliant one) has just gone down to the next lowest level.

Usually, you can get the trait to decrease a level if it is negative, and sometimes can also get it to go down if its positive. I'm not too sure about the entire ins and outs of traits, but I'm certain that there is a "no going back stage" where the trait has become so extreme that it cannot be reversed however.

Hope this is useful

[pevergreen]

I waited until Omanes posted

From what I know, the trait line lost a few points, and has decreased to the next threshold. The drinking traits are technically a "negative" trait line, so if you continue whatever actions you took, you will get back to zero. Although it may seem good at lower levels, the drinking/gambling/whoring lines (all from taverns etc) are bad. Social drinker (IIRC) is the only beneficial one. Might be another odd two or three, but I make a point of not building any of the tavern/pleasure palace buildings because of the negative traits.



EDIT: Going into the files: The next threshold below Social Drinker has effects of:
-2 Influence, -3 Command, -3 Management
The third one has effects of:
-4 Influence, -5 Command, -5 Management

Other trait lines from the brothels etc all have one beneficial (including one I've never gotten, Casual Adulterer) but then take influence away.

The swearing trait line (which I will try to find out how to get) increases morale by up to +6 though.

Edit2: Not having any luck finding what actually causes it, I've lost the file I have found traces of a planned mini-campaign and Barbarian Invasion plans inside the normal RTW install though. Cool!

[Binks]

There's a swearing trait line? :|

So anything that reduces in severity registers as a "Trait Decrease?" If anyone could provide tips of how to make a man drink less, short of having children, I'd be much obliged.

[pevergreen]

Still trying to find that out. Having him spend time in a settlement that doesnt have any buildings from that line or outside one should help.

[Quirinus]

There's a swearing trait line? :|

So anything that reduces in severity registers as a "Trait Decrease?" If anyone could provide tips of how to make a man drink less, short of having children, I'd be much obliged.

I don't know for sure, but it seems that if a family member has the "Social Drinker" trait, sticking him in a city with an academy (or higher) seems to make him more sober after a while. It's good news in my view, one temporary extra command star isn't worth the permanent (and inevitable) penalties in everything later on.

Though having a whole generation of heavy drinkers may cause the next generation to become sober, makes them very good for administrative posts. This happened in one Greek game, almost every family member from the second generation (Cleon, Doros, etc.) were sober and ended up great governors.

[Binks]

I'll check on that, if I happen to have one dingbat who likes a drink, he's getting shipped off to an Academy. It won't definately prove it but it'll prove SOMETHING is being done right! Thanks!

[Caius]

Remember! Dont build Bachus shrines and temples. They give you drunk traits.