Basic Character Specialization

[Meneth]

This tutorial will let you create a basic, expandable character specialization system.

Files Affected

Export_descr_character_traits.txt Export_VnVs.txt

Part 1 - Making the traits

Start by creating a governor and a general trait. The effects and amount of levels can be whatever you feel like. Having a NoGoingBackLevel also works, but then a character can't re-specialize. Example: Trait Governor Characters family AntiTraits General Level Governor Description Governor_desc EffectsDescription Governor_effects_desc GainMessage Governor_desc Threshold 2 Effect Law 1 Effect TaxCollection 5 Effect MovementPoints -2 Effect TroopMorale -1 Level GoodGovernor Description GoodGovernor_desc EffectsDescription GoodGovernor_effects_desc GainMessage GoodGovernor_desc Threshold 4 Effect Law 1 Effect TaxCollection 10 Effect Unrest -1 Effect Command -1 Effect MovementPoints -4 Effect TroopMorale -1 ;------------------------------------------ Trait General Characters family AntiTraits Governor Level General Description General_desc EffectsDescription General_effects_desc GainMessage General_desc Threshold 2 Effect Law -1 Effect TaxCollection -5 Effect MovementPoints 1 Effect TroopMorale 1 Level GoodGeneral Description GoodGeneral_desc EffectsDescription GoodGeneral_effects_desc GainMessage GoodGeneral_desc Threshold 4 Effect Law -1 Effect TaxCollection -10 Effect Unrest 1 Effect Command 1 Effect MovementPoints 2 Effect TroopMorale 1 This will make a character more suited to either governing or military command.

Part 2 - Making the triggers

Then, two triggers are needed. The chances can be whatever you feel like. Example: Trigger Governor WhenToTest CharacterTurnEnd Condition EndedInSettlement and Trait Governor < 2 and RemainingMPPercentage = 100 Affects Governor 1 Chance 75 ;-------------------------------------------- Trigger General WhenToTest CharacterTurnEnd Condition not EndedInSettlement and Trait General < 2 Affects General 1 Chance 75 This will make a character gain Governor specialization if he's in a settlement, or general specialization if he's out in the field. This will gradually make him better at one of the two tasks.

Part 3 - making some descriptions

You shouldn't need any help with this part.

(Optional)Part 4 - expansion

This system can easily be expanded upon by adding more levels to each of the traits, or adding more traits. The triggers can then be re-worked so that characters get to a certain level if a specific building is present for example, or if taxes are high, or they recruit a lot of units, just to mention a few possibilities. One could make huge trait trees if one felt like it, with in-depth specialization and various effects.

[Col.KanKrusha]

I hope it is acceptable for me to expand on a previous tutorial. Thanks to the Meneth for introducing me to the concept of character specialization.

What I would like to introduce is character specialization that requires a character to be in a settlement for a number of turns. This is done by assigning a trait that increases as the character remains stationary

This code assumes you are using a 4 turn per year mod. Traits are assigned at the end of the turn.

Spoiler for First we create the counting traits: 

Open your export_descr_character_traits.txt with Notepad++ or Notepad

There is a Trait for being stationary in the settlement and a trait that reduces the stationary trait.
Note that I have not used MovingCharacter as an antitrait although it is possible to do this. The reason I have done this is so that the character will only lose one level instead of two levels of trait if they both move and end a turn outside a settlement (as opposed to either or)

Trait StationaryInSettlement
    Characters family
    ;AntiTraits MovingCharacter
    
        Level TurnsInSettlementOne
        Description TurnsInSettlementOne_desc
        EffectsDescription TurnsInSettlementOne_effects_desc
        Threshold  1

        Level TurnsInSettlementTwo
        Description TurnsInSettlementOne_desc
        EffectsDescription TurnsInSettlementOne_effects_desc
        Threshold  2
        
        Level TurnsInSettlement3
        Description TurnsInSettlementOne_desc
        EffectsDescription TurnsInSettlementOne_effects_desc
        Threshold  3
        
        Level TurnsInSettlement4            ; highest level is number of turns per year 
        Description TurnsInSettlementOne_desc
        EffectsDescription TurnsInSettlementOne_effects_desc
        Threshold  4

;---------------------------------------------------------------
Trait MovingCharacter
    Characters family
    ;AntiTraits StationaryInSettlement
    Hidden
    
        Level Character_Moved
        Description Character_Moved_desc
        EffectsDescription Character_Moved_effects_desc
        Threshold  1

At this point you need to remember to also create descriptions for these traits in the export_vnvs.txt file

Next we create triggers. These triggers will label the character if they are stationary in a settlement. The character will lose levels of the StationaryInSettlement if they use movement points or if they end a turn outside a settlement.
I have created the trigger to reduce the trait slowly rather than immediately return it to zero because I felt it was unfair if a character to lose all their benefits if they had to come out of a settlement for a single turn to deal with rebels

Spoiler for Create triggers: 

These triggers need to go above the other triggers they affect. In writing this tutorial I have just realised i have done this wrong in my own modding!!!

Trigger No_Move_From_Settlement
    WhenToTest CharacterTurnEnd
    
    Condition EndedInSettlement
          and RemainingMPPercentage > 95         ; note this needs to be changed from 100% to 95% for  anyone following above tutorial, 100% won't work consistently
          and Trait StationaryInSettlement < 4    ; use number of turns per year here

    Affects StationaryInSettlement 1 Chance 100
;--------------------------------------------------------------    
Trigger No_Move_From_Settlement2
    WhenToTest CharacterTurnEnd
    
    Condition EndedInSettlement
          and RemainingMPPercentage > 95
          and Trait MovingCharacter > 0

    Affects MovingCharacter -1 Chance 100
;---------------------------------------------------------------
Trigger Moved_From_Settlement
    WhenToTest CharacterTurnEnd
    
    Condition RemainingMPPercentage <= 95
    and Trait MovingCharacter < 1

    Affects MovingCharacter    1 Chance 100

;---------------------------------------------------------------
Trigger Moved_From_Settlement2
    WhenToTest CharacterTurnEnd
    
    Condition not EndedInSettlement
    and Trait MovingCharacter < 1

    Affects MovingCharacter    1 Chance 100
;--------------------------------------------------------------
Trigger characterismoving
    WhenToTest CharacterTurnEnd
    
    Condition Trait MovingCharacter > 0
    and Trait StationaryInSettlement > 0
    
    Affects StationaryInSettlement -1 Chance 100
;--------------------------------------------------------------
Trigger removemovemarker                        ; kk removing this trait after all its work is done
    WhenToTest CharacterTurnEnd
    
    Condition Trait MovingCharacter > 0
        
    Affects MovingCharacter -1 Chance 100

For the mod I have been working on the movement points of the characters change from turn to turn based on the seasons and other factors. If this is the case for your mod then you need to use a movement point percentage of 40% not 95% or the counting won't work properly

Spoiler for Lastly, adjust the triggers for your admin skills: 

Using the example trait above

Trigger Governor
WhenToTest CharacterTurnEnd

Condition EndedInSettlement
    and Trait Governor < 2
    and Trait StationaryInSettlement >= 3    ; this is one less level than a full year because traits added at end turn
    and Trait General < 2                    ; add this so your characters choose between being high level general or governor
Affects Governor 1 Chance 75

;--------------------------------------------
Trigger General
WhenToTest CharacterTurnEnd

Condition PostBattle                ; I have changed this to post battle as this is the same as in the game
    and Trait General < 2
    and Trait Governor < 2        ; add this so your characters choose between being high level general or governor

Affects General 1 Chance 75

Spoiler for Note regards in game traits: 

The traits that I have modded this for in the actual game are GoodCommander for generals (also logistic and strategic skill if your mod has it). For admin skills I have modded GoodAdministrator, GoodFarmer, GoodMiner and GoodTaxman

In the game the Chance of acquiring traits are fairly low so I have generally multiplied them by 3 (for 3 turns) and by 2 if they are relatively high (> 15%)

Don't adjust bad traits, this allows your characters' skills to decay so they can "retrain" in the future

Spoiler for More Advanced Usage: 

It is possible to have the Traits cycle every year and award skills on an anniversary. I think this is a bad idea because of the issue of your governor occasionally having to leave the settlement to deal with other issues such as rebels. Simply adjust your triggers for awarding Governor or GoodAdministrator so that condition is
StationaryInSettlement = 4

To do this simply create a trigger that resets the Trait to level 1 each year

First change the counter trigger to be one more than your number of turns per year and then add a reset trigger straight below that

Trigger No_Move_From_Settlement
    WhenToTest CharacterTurnEnd
    
    Condition EndedInSettlement
          and RemainingMPPercentage > 95        
          and Trait StationaryInSettlement < 5    ; change this to one more than turns per year

    Affects StationaryInSettlement 1 Chance 100

Trigger resetstationary
    WhenToTest CharacterTurnEnd
    
    Condition EndedInSettlement
    and Trait StationaryInSettlement = 5   ; use number of turns per year here

    Affects StationaryInSettlement -4 Chance 100

It is also possible to make the choice to reduce the StationaryInSettlement trait to zero on any movement. Simply put in multiple triggers to reduce value. Again I have not done this as I think it is unfair for the character to lose all that progress in one go.

[Draythur]

thanks guys! exactly what i had been looking for the past couple of hours! just a clear up question, does the campaign difficulty level affect chances of your characters gaining traits in any way?