Cookie Cutter Skills & Household

[Summary]

Since there are so many skills for a character that DeI brings to the table, I was wondering others opinions of a sweet cookie-cutter combination of the effective skills. My usual combinations vary based on the type of general I employ:

Note: Night Commander I, is important only so that the general can separate a cluster of enemy armies while on the offensive, or help out as a reinforcement while on the defensive.

1.Military Commander (Type A)

· Skilled Tactician > Night Commander I
· Skilled Tactician > Relentless Attacker I > Relentless Attacker II > Relentless Attacker III
· Ferocious Warrior > Trained Swordsman I > Trained Swordsman II > Trained Swordsman III
· Ferocious Warrior > Skilled Cavalryman I > Skilled Cavalryman II > Skilled Cavalryman III
· Commander of Men > Dread Commander I
· Commander of Men > Booming Voice I > Booming Voice II > Booming Voice III
· Commander of Men > Proven Leader I > Proven Leader II > Proven Leader III

This general type commands mostly melee units and uses cavalry for shocking purposes. This general is like Alexander the Great, relying heavily on hammer and anvil tactics and able to execute them with utmost efficiency. This army type allows for quick territorial expansions, against factions in which the core army comprises low initiative melee infantry. Typically, Hellenic, Carthaginian, and Successor Kingdom rosters provide the best units required to pull this off, although this is not limited to the above-mentioned factions alone. Provided you pick your fights wisely, this setup guarantees minimal casualties sustained, maximum casualties inflicted. Most of the killing will be done by your shock cavalry or flanking melee/spear infantry.

2.Military Commander (Type B)

· Skilled Tactician > Night Commander I
· Skilled Tactician > Relentless Attacker I > Relentless Attacker II > Relentless Attacker
· Ferocious Warrior > Experienced Archer I > Experienced Archer II > Experienced Archer III
· Ferocious Warrior > Skilled Cavalryman I > Skilled Cavalryman II > Skilled Cavalryman III
· Commander of Men > Dread Commander I > Dread Commander II > Dread Commander III
· Commander of Men > Booming Voice I > Booming Voice II > Booming Voice III
· Commander of Men > Proven Leader I

This general type commands mostly skirmishers and uses cavalry for both skirmishing as well as shocking the enemy. This general is more like Genghis Khan (not relevant to time frame I am aware, spare me history geeks), relying heavily on high mobility and range to bring down their foes from afar. They are quick across the campaign map as well and are perfect for raiding, looting, enslaving, hit-and-run tactics. Typically, Eastern factions and Hordes from the Steppes provide the best units required to pull this off. These armies are very, very hard to counter.

3.Military Commander (Type C)

· Skilled Tactician > Night Commander I
· Skilled Tactician > Relentless Attacker I > Relentless Attacker II > Relentless Attacker
· Ferocious Warrior > Trained Swordsman I > Trained Swordsman II > Trained Swordsman III
· Ferocious Warrior > Skilled Cavalryman I > Skilled Cavalryman II > Skilled Cavalryman III
· Commander of Men > Dread Commander I > Dread Commander II > Dread Commander III
· Commander of Men > Booming Voice I > Booming Voice II > Booming Voice III
· Commander of Men > Proven Leader I

This general type is a mixture of type A and type B. He is like type A in that he focuses on melee infantry and shock cavalry. He is like type B in that he focuses on raiding, looting, and enslaving. They rely on their biggest strength which is their attack rating, and avoid presenting their weakness, which is defence rating. They do not intend on staying in a settlement, and would rather make good with their loot, leave or liberate rather than directly administer that province and defend it from their adversaries. Typically, Barbarian factions such as the Gallic, Celtic, Germanic, Illyrian, Thracian, Dacians have the best rosters to pull this off.

4.Recruitment & Garrison Officer

· Camp Administrator > Patron of the Military I > Patron of the Military II > Patron of the Military III
· Camp Administrator > Drillmaster I > Drillmaster II > Drillmaster III
· Military Logistician > Military Conscriptor I > Military Conscriptor II > Military Conscriptor III
· Rightful Sovereign > Unwavering Patriot I > Unwavering Patriot II > Unwavering Patriot III
· Skilled Tactician > Tenacious Defender I > Tenacious Defender II > Tenacious Defender III
· Skilled Tactician > Siegecraft Expert I

This general type is good for recruiting new troops, replenishing old troops, and defending a garrison while converting the culture. He should normally be in your faction roster as a statesman and called upon to take over the army once one of your Military Commanders has taken over a settlement. This way he gets his fair share of experience gain.

5.Trade and Industry Province Governor

· Capable Bureaucrat > City Governor I > City Governor II > City Governor III
· Capable Bureaucrat > Political Reformer I > Political Reformer II > Political Reformer III
· Capable Bureaucrat > Adept Tradesman I > Adept Tradesman II > Adept Tradesman III
· Rightful Sovereign > Master of Statecraft I > Master of Statecraft II > Master of Statecraft III
· Rightful Sovereign > Political Animal I > Political Animal II > Political Animal III
· Rightful Sovereign > Unwavering Patriot I > Unwavering Patriot II > Unwavering Patriot III

This general type is a city administrator and is best used to govern settlements focusing on trade and industry as its main source for wealth. When it comes to traits select the ones that best improve trade, industry and tax income.

6.Agriculture Province Governor

· Capable Bureaucrat > City Governor I > City Governor II > City Governor III
· Capable Bureaucrat > Political Reformer I > Political Reformer II > Political Reformer III
· Capable Bureaucrat > Agriculturist I > Agriculturist II > Agriculturist III
· Rightful Sovereign > Master of Statecraft I > Master of Statecraft II > Master of Statecraft III
· Rightful Sovereign > Political Animal I > Political Animal II > Political Animal III
· Rightful Sovereign > Unwavering Patriot I > Unwavering Patriot II > Unwavering Patriot III

This general type is a city administrator and is best used to govern settlements focusing on agriculture as its main source for wealth. When it comes to traits select the ones that best improve agriculture and tax income as well as public order.

7.Military Commander (Type D)

· Skilled Tactician > Night Commander I
· Ferocious Warrior > Veteran Marine I > Veteran Marine II > Veteran Marine III
· Ferocious Warrior > Trained Swordsman I > Trained Swordsman II > Trained Swordsman III
· Ferocious Warrior > Experienced Archer I > Experienced Archer II > Experienced Archer III
· Commander of Men > Dread Commander I > Dread Commander II > Dread Commander III
· Commander of Men > Booming Voice I > Booming Voice II > Booming Voice III
· Commander of Men > Proven Leader I

Navy commander or admiral if you will, this general obtains the best skills for commanding a navy. I did not put him as number 4 immediately behind the other Military Commanders, because he isn’t used as often as the remaining commanders. Just in case a navy is required, he will come in handy.

So what are your general skills and traits?
Cheers!

[Butan]

I think you covered almost everything


What I could add (but too lazy), is build for low-mid tier generals: all your combinations are very neat and logic, but they require the generals to live through to level 6-7

I would, for example, divide the Recruitment & Garrison Officer in two parts, for 2 generals of lvl 3-4 to take charge of rank bonus/replenishment/reduced costs + additional skills.
The same could be said for all your skill guides. But ultimately, to centralize OP skills on one person, I would follow your ideas.


I myself dont use any guideline, but try to follow a semi-RP logic where skills and ancillaries goes hands in hands with traits and campaign actions, so I cant tell much of a guide since I improvise all the time

[luck_ponte]

Perhaps a Carthaginian commander could use this:
Skilled Tactician > Night Commander I
Skilled Tactician > Relentless Attacker I > Relentless Attacker II > Relentless Attacker III
Camp Administrator > Mercenary Connections I > Mercenary Connections II > Mercenary Connections III
Commander of men > Dread Commander I
Commander of men > Proven Leader I > Proven Leader II
Ferocious Warrior > Trained Swordsman I > Trained Swordsman II
Ferocious Warrior > Skilled Cavalryman I > Skilled Cavalryman II
Ferocious Warrior > Experienced Archer I > Experienced Archer II

This gives Carthage the ability to use its widespread roster to have an efficient 'Jack-of-all-sorts' army, with good skirmishing, cavalry and infantry, plus cheap mercenaries to complement their armies wherever they go. With enough perks, Carthage can get VERY cheap mercenaries, meaning that it doesn't need special buildings to get local troops (which in turn make them very flexible, since they can adapt themselves to the local tactics). With AoR around the corner, it is a useful skill imo.

[Summary]

Perhaps a Carthaginian commander could use this:
Skilled Tactician > Night Commander I
Skilled Tactician > Relentless Attacker I > Relentless Attacker II > Relentless Attacker III
Camp Administrator > Mercenary Connections I > Mercenary Connections II > Mercenary Connections III
Commander of men > Dread Commander I
Commander of men > Proven Leader I > Proven Leader II
Ferocious Warrior > Trained Swordsman I > Trained Swordsman II
Ferocious Warrior > Skilled Cavalryman I > Skilled Cavalryman II
Ferocious Warrior > Experienced Archer I > Experienced Archer II

This gives Carthage the ability to use its widespread roster to have an efficient 'Jack-of-all-sorts' army, with good skirmishing, cavalry and infantry, plus cheap mercenaries to complement their armies wherever they go. With enough perks, Carthage can get VERY cheap mercenaries, meaning that it doesn't need special buildings to get local troops (which in turn make them very flexible, since they can adapt themselves to the local tactics). With AoR around the corner, it is a useful skill imo.

Wow very cool! A mercenary type commander. Yes indeed very effective to stack the bonus with Carthage faction traits.

[ThatWhichThinks]

I prefer
Military Logistician > (The upgrade that gives armor and ammunition) upgraded as far as possible
Military Logistician > Military Conscriptor 2
Commander of Men > Dread Commander level 2 or Ferocious Warrior > Trained Swordsman II

In general, I find the bonuses to unit stats and replenishment from Military Logsitician to be very useful, and bonuses to authority and zeal (from Commander of Men or Ferocious Warrior respectively) are good for getting Inspire and War Cry abilities. I find the cunning-based general abilities to be pretty useless.