Crusader Kings II

**Zim** · 07-11-2012, 04:49

Quick question. Do characters ever give up an ambition? My character's wife wants to be spymaster, but is terrible at intrigue.

**Hooahguy** · 07-11-2012, 05:38

I dont think so. At least I havent seen it happen. Maybe it wears off with age.

**Zim** · 07-11-2012, 05:47

Here's hoping.

Update: I gained a claim on a small Welsh Duchy, pressed it, and won! But, it turns out it was just to put my daughter in law in charge there, and she now has a higher rank than me. Too bad it wasn't my heir's spouse.

Still, a nice lesson in the game's warfare and diplomacy. Also rid me of some of my spare family members as they joined the new court.

Also, it's tough to find good marriage partners. Minus 40 prestige to marry my son to a courtier and no other women around.

**Monk** · 07-11-2012, 06:18

Originally Posted by Zim

Quick question. Do characters ever give up an ambition? My character's wife wants to be spymaster, but is terrible at intrigue.

All characters can cancel their ambitions to gain new ones as time goes on, but the AI is pretty stubborn. Unless your wife decides she wants to kill someone and starts to plot against them it's likely she will keep her current ambition. There's no penalty for denying a character their ambition unless they confront you about it via events, which doesn't happen often with spouses.

Also, it's tough to find good marriage partners. Minus 40 prestige to marry my son to a courtier and no other women around.

Learn to love betrothals. They were implemented to give players a bit of a jump on the AI. The AI will find good matches for all its important characters within a few weeks of them hitting 16, but are coded to specifically not use betrothals. Keep an eye on the up and coming children of the world and snag them for a betrothal before they hit 16.

Still, sometimes you have to marry a nobody to get a decent spouse with stats.

The prestige hit is only bad while you stay on the count tier. If you can move up to duke it will barely affect you.

**Zim** · 07-11-2012, 06:55

Ok. I'lll keep an eye on her and any events. It may be a moot point soon as the Earl (of Desmond) isn't getting any younger. I'll be switching to his son soon.

Won my first piece of land from Munster. Go allies plus mercs! Funny, Munster's ruler is still a Duke and I'm still an Earl despite having twice the land.

Apparently I can usurp the title for the Republic of Munster, I just need some more money first...

Edit: And...I'm a Duke!

**rickinator9** · 07-11-2012, 17:31

Just so you know, there's a new CKII wiki here

**Zim** · 07-12-2012, 01:32

Alright, I bumbled my way along about 100 years over the last day. Lots of ups and downs, the latter of which were mostly my own doing. Revolts, bankruptcy, worries about a shortage of heirs and, most recently a war between my character and and his only heir, a nephew with delusions of Grandeur and a petty dukedom.

Now the Kingdom of Ireland and succession are both secure and I'm not sure what to do. I expanded a very little bit into Wales but I'm not sure if I want to continue. May just focus on trying to get my family members' abysmal stats up.

**rickinator9** · 07-12-2012, 11:50

Originally Posted by Zim

Alright, I bumbled my way along about 100 years over the last day. Lots of ups and downs, the latter of which were mostly my own doing. Revolts, bankruptcy, worries about a shortage of heirs and, most recently a war between my character and and his only heir, a nephew with delusions of Grandeur and a petty dukedom.

Now the Kingdom of Ireland and succession are both secure and I'm not sure what to do. I expanded a very little bit into Wales but I'm not sure if I want to continue. May just focus on trying to get my family members' abysmal stats up.

Unify the Celts!

**Zim** · 07-12-2012, 12:37

Well, I do have a number of claims on Scottish Duchies. I'll need to save some money for a merc army or two to put the odds in my favor.

Conveniently Brittany is still independent of France so there's another eventual target.

Alternatively, England is divided and I believe I have a claim on Northumberland. Might be interesting to go that way.

At any rate, short term I'll clean house and keep at Wales as fast as I can get claims. That should give me the boost I need for future conquests while still allowing a breather to improve at managing my vassals and family.

Mini Update: Played a short (1 hour or so) run earlier this evening and pressed the claim of one of my vassals to the Isle of Man. On the home front the Duchess of Ulster and Duke of Connacht married and between them hold a good chunk of my territory between them. I'll have to keep an eye on them, although I do have very high relations with the Duke.