How to increase "Acumen"?

**Otterbear** · October 19, 2018, 06:30 PM

I hope I'm using the right word, but there is a trait that generals get that is supposed to relate to their ability to govern.
Is there a way of improving this trait?
Most of my generals have 2 points or less, making expansion difficult, and any kind of growth neigh to impossible.

I believe the Academy gives a "very small" chance that they can get an improvement, up to 2 I believe...this doesn't seem too be enough to help most of the time, and is not reliable enough to use.(In this current version), unless, I'm completely missing something.

I haven't played many factions, just Wudomi(sic), and they get at least 2 good administrative generals but the others are useless as administrators, and one in particular is useless all-together. lol.
I'm trying to role-play the game a bit, but with loyalty going up and down, virtually every other turn, its hard. I have no idea how to increase loyalty or acumen reliably.
I know giving a general the "Governorship ancillary" increases loyalty by one, but I'm assuming that taking it away has the opposite effect?

Any help is appreciated.

If these questions have all but been eliminated by the up-coming update, I guess I could wait.

**Seether** · October 20, 2018, 05:52 AM

The effects of Acumen have been tweaked to not be as punishing at the lower levels. In addition to that, the academy type buildings will affect one level higher of Acumen when allowing generals to "upgrade" their Acumen trait. Also, I have made adjustments to Acumen in regard to the chances of mid to high levels of Acumen (and Benevolence) being obtained by non-historical characters that come of age or are offered for adoption or marriage. Outside of the Academy buildings, Acumen can't be increased.

In regard to loyalty, I don't believe that it is to regularly decrease. On occasion, in specific situations, it can decrease a point, but normally it should only increase on occasion. Taking the governor ancillary only decreases loyalty by whatever loyalty the ancillary grants, but has not further effects on loyalty. Length of service will increase loyalty as will a variety of ancillaries.

**Otterbear** · October 20, 2018, 05:05 PM

Thanks again, Seether.

It looks as though the "Acumen" trait is "Above and Beyond" the typical administrative capabilities of generals/governors, as I've managed to us a very low level acumen general quite successfully as governor in one of my cities. Am I correct in that assumption?
Looking forward to the next update. *My wife says to tell you that it is effecting my sleeping ability, so you need to get on it.

Any idea how to use a general like Zang Song, or any general with horrible stats, 80% of new generals in my case? His stats and bio are horrible.

I've tried killing him off, but he breaks and runs before the enemy can kill him. His loyalty does improve over time, but sheesh, I wouldn't want him to have many troops, as he seems poised to rebel at any moment. *I know the bio doesn't make him bad, but his stats sure do.

**Seether** · October 20, 2018, 06:16 PM

Not necessarily. Benevolence also plays a role for a governor, so a low Acumen character with decent benevolence (and vice-versa) can still pass for governing a settlement.

As far as “crap” characters (which hopefully will be less plentiful in the next update), governing small settlements and fortified passes, as well as moving troops (sometimes armies led by captains go rebel) are their best uses. Although seeing combat (and doing well) can bring about increases to leadership for low leadership characters.

**Otterbear** · October 20, 2018, 07:46 PM

Thanks for the clarification.
"sometimes armies led by captains go rebel"...I wish sometimes was a word I could use. I don't dare move a unit out of a fort or settlement, as 99.9% of the time they never make the destination without turning rebel. I had written earlier about then lack of a road between the Wudomi capital and the city/settlement to the southeast. I cannot move units there without the use of a fort(kept open by low level generals or units), AND a general..as they cannot make the distance from the nearest fort, to that southeastern city in one move. As I say 99.9% of the time if they are left unattended standing just outside the city on any move, they go rebel. My "favorite" general Song cannot be used to move troops as I could be facing a rebel general with a quarter-stack of cataphracs, or some other such...so I dare not use him for escort duty.

In any case I can live with it. I have to log in like 5 times to post, which is why I didn't get to mention it earlier...Lost my post while re-logging in.

**DemetriosCZE** · October 21, 2018, 01:12 AM

Armies turn rebel because Zhang Lu has low authority. When you play someone with full authority like Cao Cao it never happens. So you should conquer lot of territory or conquer Chang an which should give significant boost.

**Otterbear** · October 21, 2018, 07:23 PM

Thanks DemetriosCZE.

I guess I'll have to get him involved in some battles I guess. He is one of the few generals with very high Acumen so I use him mainly to build up my infrastructure prior to going to war with anyone...if I can help it.

**Otterbear** · October 24, 2018, 05:55 AM

Thanks for the new patch and update, Seether!
*I wasn't sure where to post this, so I figured this is as good a place as any.

**gasas** · October 25, 2018, 01:23 PM

Hey Otterbear, you started new campaign after patch? Share some of your playthrough.

**Otterbear** · October 27, 2018, 01:45 PM

OK. Well, I'm playing as Quinzou(sic) at the moment. I'm about 90 turns in. I slow play and, especially with this clan. I haven't removed the FOW so, I cannot see many troops at the moment. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm around turn 90 and I've just been attacked by Cao Cao.Things may not go well for me, as they own many towns. (I tried to by a town off of them, and the list of available towns to buy was very long.) Also, I've focused on building my monetary structure on this campaign, and I'll have to stay on my toes to keep Cao Cao at bay.It may be a short campaign. I'll update this as I go.

I've made some adjustment to the settlement xml, in an attempt to slow the advancement of squalor. It worked, but this has had the unfortunate side effect of making city growth WAY to fast, and unit availability for the AI is tied to city size(I believe) so I have created an AI troop-spamming nightmare on this campaign. I will have to resort to the default values, and try again.

EDIT: I've started a new 2.3.005 campaign as Wudoumi[sic], and I'm on turn 230 and the unit spam seems to have been fixed. Other factions seem to have a decent amount of units, but not covering every square inch of the map , which is what I was seeing before.

**cheesegrader** · November 14, 2018, 01:47 AM

In regard to loyalty, I don't believe that it is to regularly decrease. On occasion, in specific situations, it can decrease a point, but normally it should only increase on occasion. Taking the governor ancillary only decreases loyalty by whatever loyalty the ancillary grants, but has not further effects on loyalty. Length of service will increase loyalty as will a variety of ancillaries.[/QUOTE]

are you sure about this?
cause mine actually decrease overtime. over 500 turns in and mine just decrease till its about 1-2 loyalty left.

**MilesNDavis** · November 14, 2018, 03:47 AM

I face something similarly, at random times the loyalty to most of my generals will drop about 3-4 grades, generally around the time they all start earning titles for themselves. It is however, over one turn I believe, so maybe a script takes away more than it should or something? I just always thought it was part of the game perhaps, getting more and more powerful means less content generals.

**Otterbear** · November 15, 2018, 08:54 AM

cheesegrader:
Are you sure about this?
cause mine actually decrease overtime. over 500 turns in and mine just decrease till its about 1-2 loyalty left.

MilesNDavis:

I face something similarly, at random times the loyalty to most of my generals will drop about 3-4 grades, generally around the time they all start earning titles for themselves. It is however, over one turn I believe, so maybe a script takes away more than it should or something? I just always thought it was part of the game perhaps, getting more and more powerful means less content generals.

I'm seeing the same thing.

Apparently, there is/are "situations" that cause a change in Loyalty, but I have no idea what that/those are, aside from Time, and titles.
As most ancillaries are not transferable, I'm not sure what can be done to fix this.
I'm assuming, from the stats and such of some generals that they would prefer not to fight in battles, but maybe I'm projecting a bit, as wining battles does improve their authority, maybe getting these "white-collar" generals a bit of experience in combat would help(?). Although that does go contrary to realism(?) I think?

Maybe its a hidden or other trait, like the "just sitting around" traits in the original M2TW that is reducing "Loyalty"?

**Seether** · November 15, 2018, 09:37 AM

The loyalty “pip” will decrease, as that is because of the imported biography traits giving less loyalty bonus as the rank increases (that has already been addressed for next version). But the actual “loyalty” of the character isn’t necessarily decreasing, and can’t be gauged accurately in the late game by just looking at the loyalty pip, because of the Fealty trait and it’s bribe resistance (and slight loyalty) benefits.

**Otterbear** · November 15, 2018, 10:56 AM

Cool! Good to know. Thanks again, Seether.

Man is this mod, Deep!
There are so many things to look at when deciding who is best used in a particular situation. (Seems very historic).
I think I need a few "advisers" of my own, when playing this mod. Perhaps I'll see if someone in Cao Cao's entourage, or the Sun faction can help me.