Question about Generals and Family members

**finsternis** · December 13, 2007, 12:55 AM

I just started a new game with the stainless steel mod with the Briz empire. During my old game I got frustrated with all the family members and the change in last names. This time I want to keep the last name of the first emperor (just for fun). Sometimes I need more generals but the family doesn't want to "get busy." I also noticed that there are some generals called "Generals" (duh) and most called "family members." So I was wondering, how can you get more generals without them being family members, just generals. For example, can I get a "man of the hour" to be a General and not adopt him into the family?
Thanks,

Finsternis

**Bob The Fearless** · December 13, 2007, 02:07 AM

Hi Finsternis and welcome to the forum.

I'll try my best to answer your question, but it is a modded version that your using and I'm not aware of the differences.

Family names, I don't think these can be changed however someone fluent in modding may be able to advise you better.

As for extra Generals, thats always my gripe not enough of them. As I understand it there is a balancing mechanism within the game so as you go if you need more generals then they can become available through adoption.

"Man Of The Hour" can create more generals for you but I'm unsure wether this is also controlled by the above balancing system.

Sorry the answer is a bit patchy but hopefully it starts the ball rolling.

**pwijnands** · December 13, 2007, 02:56 AM

"Man of the Hour" is also controlled by the governing system (about 2/3 settlements per character is). You can easily get more characters per settlement (I have more a 1 : 1 ratio in my current campaign) as "Comes of Age" and marriage proposals will come up regardless (an unmarried princess will occasionally propose a husband).

I'm fairly sure you can't change family names. The game picks one from a list at random for "Man of the Hour" and marriage offers. If you want to keep your family name you shouldn't adopt anyone and don't accept to take generals into the family (Man of the hour).

Oh, and if you get the "Man of the Hour" with a captain, he bocomes a general not a family member. If you get it with a general who's not a family member, you get offered to make him join the family (gives you a chance to acquire bad traits for other family members that reduce loyalty and make them angry).

**Samir** · December 13, 2007, 03:52 AM

In Stainless Steele you can recruit General Bodyguards in castles. While they have no "Name" in the castles recruitment tab, the recruited one will be a Named General with traits and ancillaries and not the unit "General Bodyguard".

these Generals have a good chance of getting an invitation to the family after a couple of turns. You can decide if you want them as military employees heading your armies only or if you would like them as part of your family.

It allows a better distinction between Military and Administrative characters, roleplaying possibilities and of course a more controlled family tree independent chance of armies led by someone (more or less) capable...

**vonKrysiak** · December 13, 2007, 04:10 AM

Originally Posted by Samir

In Stainless Steele you can recruit General Bodyguards in castles. While they have no "Name" in the castles recruitment tab, the recruited one will be a Named General with traits and ancillaries and not the unit "General Bodyguard".

these Generals have a good chance of getting an invitation to the family after a couple of turns. You can decide if you want them as military employees heading your armies only or if you would like them as part of your family.

It allows a better distinction between Military and Administrative characters, roleplaying possibilities and of course a more controlled family tree independent chance of armies led by someone (more or less) capable...

You can always marry them into the family

**Samir** · December 13, 2007, 04:33 AM

not always

as you need daughters for that. Adoption is not always available for generals either...

except you marry John the Righteous to General Peter St.Claire...

RIGHT INFRONT OF THE INQUISITOR!!! harharharhar

**Renco** · December 13, 2007, 05:12 AM

Are we sure captains become generals? Can anyone confirm, because I can remember getting annoyed by constant adoption pleas from a captain with an army, but I don't really remember.

**Samir** · December 13, 2007, 06:16 AM

"man of the hour" becomes a general not a family member. Man of the Hour is something different than Adoption. a general is not member of your family.

**Lost Crusader** · December 14, 2007, 07:05 AM

Originally Posted by Samir

"man of the hour" becomes a general not a family member.

The last "man of the hour" certainly became a family member, not a general. I'm not sure about the previous ones, but I think they also became family members.

**finsternis** · December 13, 2007, 10:25 PM

I don't understand. Family name does change. When you adopt someone, his name is not the same as the family name (last name is different). Should he become prince, and then king, and have children, then the original name of the royal family changes, no? And when a "man of the hour" comes, he does join the family (already did that). I want to make them generals, but keep them outside the family tree. I want everyone to be of name "Komnenos." And when a simple adoption comes by, same thing, they are added as the son of the benefactor (could be the King or the Prince). Is there anyway I can change that?

**Mithrantir** · December 14, 2007, 02:26 AM

No i don't think that you can change that.
After all this resembles the situation that existed pretty accurately.
The royal family did change (in matters of which family ruled), Komnenoi for example were not an initial royal family of the Byzantium.

In fact as you can read from the link above the founder of the dynasty was a general (stratopedarch it says) for the Emperor of Byzantium. And finally turned against him, and seized his rule.