“Best” Options for Bon Pagan Reformation in 867?

[Wakizashi]

It still has that 'bug'. (I don't think it is really a bug, but rather intended feature to prevent player from naming every single character Ancestors.)

My preferable reformation is Cosmopolitan/Ancestors/Astronomy/Hierocratic.

Cosmopolitan is mainly for fun, because I want to marry bloodlines around the world. I'd say Warmongering is the strongest nature (it also has very nice requirements for eldership), but it is bit boring.
Astronomy pairs well with Ancestors (everyone in your realm gets increased ancestor bonus since they have a horoscopical sign) + Hermetic Society is fine addition for the years when you can't create new legend. Stability, Monasticism and some of the unique reforms are also fine choices.
Hierocratic is probably better than Autocephalous. The rest aren't options because I want to create bloodlines.

Well it seems to be a bug since it makes any sort of venerated ancestor impossible under Temporal, except when you pass on the religious head title to your heir before your character dies. Better would be if they just made sure the requirements or costs for Temporal rulers to venerated ancestors are higher than otherwise, it they want to prevent that all ancestors will be venerated by players.

In what way does Warmongering have good requirements for the Eldership? I can't seem to find anything about a connection between the two.

 

[AnssiA]

The Ancestor chances depend on the other tenents. With Warmongering the changes increase with pretty much every single trait that helps warfare, while with the other natures they traits required are much more disorganized and random.

 

[TheDarkMaster]

In addition to what N1ghteyes said above, Mericracy also has very annoying requirement of only working if you have chosen one of few specific Succession Laws, mainly Primo or Ultra, both of which are not available to many nations early on.

That's not true, it also works with plain gavelkind, letting you choose which of your children/grandchildren is the primary heir and giving a lot more control over inheritance splits. However, it is worth noting right away that in the Tibet 876 start, they already have the technology needed to switch to primo. So this is a non-issue for reformed Bon.

 

[Wakizashi]

That's not true, it also works with plain gavelkind, letting you choose which of your children/grandchildren is the primary heir and giving a lot more control over inheritance splits. However, it is worth noting right away that in the Tibet 876 start, they already have the technology needed to switch to primo. So this is a non-issue for reformed Bon.

I suspected that to be the case. I can see how Meritocracy is limited in usefulness for, say, Germanic or Romuva tribal societies, but for developed settled civilisations like the Tibetans that wouldn't be a problem.

I suppose it's mostly a matter of personal preference then, whether you like the be the sole appointer of your heir, or prefer an electoral system of Eldership. With the bonus of possible venerated ancestor bloodlines coming with the second option.