Family tree management

[Wolfcree]

I read recently that by refusing to accept generals into the family the true heirs should flourish and produce more males than normal.
Was wondering what you guys know about this, like wouldn't it leave you short on governors for most of the game? I like the idea of having my original family flourish as it's quite annoying seeing them dwindle while the adopted members produce boys every other year it seems. But i also like to have governors in my settlements too.

I might try only allowing a few choice people into my family on my next game instead of the usual hundred!

How do you all manage your family trees?

[Jive]

To be honest, I rarely pay much attention to it, unless playing as Romans and you need the sharp/charismatic/vigorous guy with battle experience and influence to get elected as consul to start the Marian Reforms. Somebody said it helps if he's the faction leader; another said simply have a bunch of those guys to increase the chances of election. (Incidentally, do they all have to be in Roma to qualify?)

Otherwise what seems to matter most is whether the character is good for city management or fighting. The simplest way to find that out is by putting him in an ungoverned city; if public order goes down he's a general, if it goes up he's a governor. And I always accept new family members, adopted "captain[s] of the hour" included. Why pass up the chance to have a maintenance-free unit?

[Stath's]

I adopt only smart guys to make them governors and usually young ones.

[Samariten]

I adopt generals so i have as many diffrent Gens as possible. It depends how fast one expands, sometimes one have loads of FM to dispose of and sometimes you lack them its a balance.

[Perdiccas]

hi,

I used to always take adoptions if they were sharp, vigorous and optimistic...

but I wanted, for odd reasons, for my Makedonian Argeades to rule. so, in my present Makedonian game, I haven't accepted any adoptions or son-in-laws... it's 210 b.c. and I've managed to have just enough capable FM's that are pure Argeades...

It does mean leaving cities ungoverned mostly.
I do raise client rulers in Govt type IV newly conquered regions.

Also, even in 210 b.c. I have about 10-12 FM's that are active... in my past Makedonian game, when I took in every son-in-law and adoptee, I had about 50... this is much easier to manage.

[Stath's]

At first, i liked very much the type IV generals. But now i see them as pariahs..

They are extremely useful though and a very interesting feature, that's for sure.