A reason not to Adopt

[Beiss]

Well? Is there one?

Why does the game even ask you about this - is there any benefit of not adopting? Declining suitors is one thing, because you can only marry your princess to one guy, but why turn down the option to adopt someone? It gives you another faction member - something I always find myself short of despite never losing them in combat.

[Serious Spamurai]

If they have low loyalty then you don't want them. Also there is a limit to how many family members you can have, you don't want useless ones taking up space, although I always acept them as my royal family rarely have children, 3 of my generals have married early and lived until 60ish until dying childless.

[AliAS]

I don´t know. I adopt them all

[visualchaosfx]

If they have low loyalty then you don't want them. Also there is a limit to how many family members you can have, you don't want useless ones taking up space, although I always acept them as my royal family rarely have children, 3 of my generals have married early and lived until 60ish until dying childless.

I was just adopting all of them but now that I read your post I'm just gonna adopt the ones that have higher loyalty.

[brooka]

I don't know as I'm still just 70-odd turns into my first campaign, but I wondered whether adoption can 'dilute' the royal bloodline, and eventually weaken your overall family. I adopted a son in the first few turns thinking 'cool, free general', and he has since had three kids and a grandchild. All of his sons have really low loyalty. They also have different surnames obviously (begins as eg Thomas of Lewesham', then his son becomes 'Christopher Lewesham). I don't think this has any real gameplay drawbacks (May affect his authority if he becomes King?) but it's just nice to see the royal blood line being traced as the campaign goes on!

Dunno, in conclusion! I didn't realise there was a maximum amount of family members you could have? Is that right?

[brooka]

...oh yeah...forgot...

There's also the 'Legacy of Chivalry/Dread' trait. I haven't checked if this carries on to adopted sons: I think it's only given when a character comes of age...I'll get back to you...

[Artos]

I always check their stats before taking them. If I remember correctly, in RTW father's attributes affected to what his son will be. A lousy father -> lousy son.
So I don't want to whole family turn into lazy idlers.

Correct me if I'm wrong, it makes sence though. I'm not sure if it this way in this game too.

[scriptor incertus]

I almost never adopt. The ages of some of these candidates are ridiculous and it does dilute your bloodline. I may start adopting if there is a reasonable enough difference in age in order to simulate bastard sons. I like to try to roleplay the characters. If your only objective is to have a lot of generals then there is no reason not to adopt.

[Beiss]

Interesting points, these. However, I don't really see how it dilutes your bloodline... the adoptees (if there's such a word) don't marry any of your own children, and so, you still have an untouched bloodline, since the adoptees will have their own. Sort of. And if you don't like them, you could just send them to a battle and sacrifice them or something.

[Artos]

Usually when you wait for next adopt opportunity you'll get better candidates.

[Leatherpenguin]

Well, they need a pretty hefty wage.

[big_feef]

I never adopt... in one of my earlier campaigns where I went like 300+ turns; those adopted members and their offspring can cause some real trouble. Like in RTW, I only adopted people with really good traits... even so, my family tree got screwed up.

One of the things I hate with M2TW family system is that you can't choose your heir. When the current heir adopts, and the king dies, the oldest or most capable of his offspring becomes the next heir. Usually, that is the person that got adopted (especially if none of his children have come of age yet).

[Hellenes]

I never adopt... in one of my earlier campaigns where I went like 300+ turns; those adopted members and their offspring can cause some real trouble. Like in RTW, I only adopted people with really good traits... even so, my family tree got screwed up.

One of the things I hate with M2TW family system is that you can't choose your heir. When the current heir adopts, and the king dies, the oldest or most capable of his offspring becomes the next heir. Usually, that is the person that got adopted (especially if none of his children have come of age yet).

But in Medieval times you couldnt choose your heir....otherwise our history would be alot different!!!!

[Multiplicity]

I sometimes adopt depending on how good the candidate is. My current campaign had one adopted member become the 4th king and he was very useful heading my war against the Venetians. Though I never had him marry until he was in hid mid-40's, so he never had kinds. So if you adopt, you might want to consider whether or not to get him married. I also heard a suggestion elsewhere to wait for the eldest biological son to a prince to become of age before you accept adoptions.

I usually don't adopt the old folks, those with low loyalty, or those with bad traits.

[Che]

I usually accept or decline the offer depending on their traits. If he is not loyal or too old then no way I'm adopting him.

[illyrius]

I usually accept or decline the offer depending on their traits. If he is not loyal or too old then no way I'm adopting him.

Same here

[johnhughthom]

I never adopt, I wish there was a way to disable all those offers. I also think it would be nice if you had a "man of the hour" and an unmarried princess you had the option to marry him into the family rather than have to adopt him, or have him become a general but not part of the royal family. If CA wanted to make sure we had plenty of generals why didn't they just include something like the titles from the original Medieval. I just think the adoption thing is stupid, it may have been historically accurate in RTW but I'm pretty sure it didn't happen much during medieval times.

[Ippius]

Men of the hour are soo cool though (generally very young with good command )
But I I would really want to know what's bad about diluting ur bloodline. Does it actually affect ur general's stats?

[kaleus Khron]

Well, seeing as the point of them existing, is to do what i want them to do, any one with low loyalty won't get in the royalty.

[brooka]

...Just to clarify, when I say 'diluting the bloodline', maybe a better way would be to say 'ending the bloodline'. Basically imagine that your original king has no kids but adopts five million benefactors. When he dies, the original bloodline of your family ends there, with one of the adopted sons (with different blood) taking over. Now imagine your original king has five million kids who all have five million kids and you never adopt. The original blood line will obviously survive. To be honest this probably has absolutely no effect on gameplay whatsoever, dependant on each individual's stats, but personally I like to watch the saga of my ruling family unfold as they conquer the whole of the Old World, and grandchildren take up the sword in their grandfather's name as they cut down the dirty muslims. That's just the way I am, but this game's all about preference, so do what you will, basically...!

Apologies, sometimes I forget I'm talking to Americans and have to spell everything out! USA!