Templar Traits

[Captain Irish]

In my Templar campaign I've noticed that some traits seem to be impossible to get that are very easy to earn with every other faction I've played. I've used my generals extensively in battle so far (40 turns in) as my early troops are inferior to the 2nd tier troops the Egyptians throw at me. The traits in question are Brave/Courageous/Dauntless, Fine With Blood/Sanguine and Marks of War/Scarred, etc. Basically any trait that gives additional Hit points and morale.

In about 20 battles, none autoresolved, I haven't had a single general get one of these traits. In past campaigns a single battle with 100+ killed/captured by the general unit more often than not gets him one or more of those traits mentioned. My two campaigning generals with 5+ bloody battles under their belts haven't sniffed any of them. In my last battle the general killed/captured over a thousand men, mostly routers. Given my wide range of past experience it seems ridiculous that these traits are so noticably absent.

Have Templar campaigns been the same for you guys, or am I just unlucky here? It seems odd that I have generals who have seen enough battle to have 3 gold chevrons but none of these traits

[Blue Knight]

My very long vh/vh Templar Campaign is winding down. Turn 282, 337 Battles, 68 Territories. This is my first SS campaign and the Templar generals were relatively weak. Perhaps one of the reasons was their lack of getting the traits you mentioned above. I do not think I ever saw those on any of my generals. In fact quite often you get the following: Troops Mutinous; Troops Despondent and Troops Weary. You have to watch out for those. I also had a couple of generals go nuts where they would only move a very short distance each turn and they made a city worse when they managed the city. Forgot what trait that was.

Basically I did not use my Generals as Heavy Cavalry. They were kept in reserve and only used when needed or for their rally abilities. Whenever my Generals went to battle other Generals, I had to get them help very fast. Perhaps a bug in the traits system enhanced their weakness. The Late Period General Bodyguards however are very strong due to their Full Plate Armor.

[DrunkNIrishMan]

The 'Troops etc' traits are part of the supplies system, along with the movement effects you described. That happens when your generals are out of supplies. Supplies are listed in each general's traits, so be sure to keep an eye on them.

[the42up]

I thought crappy generals was one of the unfortunate trade marks of SS

[Dish.]

the ss faq shows how to remove those supply traits. they arent much fun are they haha. i dont think poor traits are limited to generals or templar generals. traits seem to be screwed up period. although assassins and spies are pretty consistent, they are just a waste unless you save before action (which i do, but its a pain). lithuanian generals always lose piety since there really isnt a tradeoff with being pagan... im not too sure about the other factions since im addicted to the lithuanian style

merchants usually stay within 1-3 finance, cost too much, and die too easily. while ai are at 6+ from turn 11 and on, collecting 700+ gold each. priests dont really have any way of collecting traits other than land conversion and the occasional witch/heretic... my biggest grip about that are the dozens of heretics that priests are unable to kill, while waiting for an equal level assassin takes ages

rant rant

[delra]

They weren't any better in vanilla. Blame CA for their terrible traits system. Pray Quark finished his traits mod one day.

I remember old good days of RTW when one could play his game like it was the Sims, babysitting family members into great generals and governors. It doesn't work at all in M2TW... No matter what you do, they will get something stupid in their traits and all your work is screwed up.

The only things to do to prevent this are either consequent crusades with your prince getting the target or multiple assassinations to make your king and prince become full dread guys. The second option is everything you can do to have decent rulers as pagan or orthodox faction... It also gives lots of fun.

[delra]

Supply traits are fun. They make the game less arcade and more about thinking ahead. They have very good historical argumentation too, if Napoleon didn't have to worry about supplies, I would be writing this post in french now.

[Captain Irish]

Yes but you would have some delicious croissants to eat while doing it

And I'm somewhat relieved that i'm not the only one with this Templar trait issue

As for traits in general, I know they're screwed up big time.

For example, what's the highest number of command stars you've had for a coming of age general? Mine is two.

Meanwhile I can't swing a dead cat without hitting an 22 year old AI general with 5 command, 4 chivalry and 7 piety.

And what's with most of the AI generals having Battle Hardened (+3 command, 7 surgery) which I've never had? Is that scripted for them to always have it?

Makes me glad I'm smarter than the AI!

[strife1013]

Crusades will give you command stars.

[delra]

The funny thing in crusades is that they help your economy instead of ruining it. Richard the Lionheart sold everything he had, even wanted to sell London just to get what he needed to crusade. In M2TW you just press the button and your most precious troops start costing nothing, your financial sheet skyrockets, you suddenly have no queues stalled. And when you get there and rob Cairo, you suddenly are 50 grand in the black.

It pays off to crusade, while it shouldn't at all...

[Echad]

Well, after the first crusade they robbed enough money to establish a KINGDOM, and the Crusades were made only for money anyway, so I think they should pay off... Lionheart was just obsessed.

[delra]

But why zero upkeep on a crusade?

[Echad]

But why zero upkeep on a crusade?

I haven't noticed it, since my both crusades were going on France, first from Normandy to excommunicated Paris and then Marseille from Paris...