Genetics and Child Development in DV

[Gustavus]

I've had CK for a number of years and just started to play it again. I was giving some thought about purchasing DV, but I was confused by something I read in the DV description regarding the stats of children.

I understand that children are now born with zero stats, thus making it impossible to know at birth whether the potential heir will be a good ruler. I also understand that stats will be added as the child develops. My question is will the stats of the parents have any effect on how the child develops. In vanilla CK, I would often go around the map (or use a bride finder) to locate a prime genetic specimen of a woman to marry. In many ways, it was like an exercise in eugenics....trying to breed heirs with the best possible stats. Does this no longer exist? Do the stats of the parents no longer have an effect on the child's stats? If this is the case, then in what other ways can a player influence development? Is education treated similarly? It used to be that the level of education a child obtained (grey eminence vs. amateur pettifoger) was in part determined by the education level of the parents. Does that link still exist?

Thanks! I'm looking forward to starting a new Denmark game, but I don't want to begin until I decide to get DV.

 

[Veldmaarschalk]

No, the stats of the parents have no influence on the stats of the children in DV. The only stat that is inherited is health I believe (or fertility, not sure which one exactly)

But traits of the parents, can still effect the traits of the children

 

[jordarkelf]

Parents with good stats and traits have a higher chance of getting events that will lead to good traits for their kids. There is no longer a one-on-one link (so breeding for supermen has become impossible), but you will still see some great dynasties.

Fertility and health are still genetic though.

Also note that it pays to send your kids as fosterlings to the court of a great ruler -- the better the foster-father's traits, the better the chance the child will profit from it (as s/he would at home if the real parent had good traits). I've managed to turn the fate of my dynasty around by sending a son of an imbecile to a good court -- by the time he returned home he had by far surpassed his father.

Specifically, fosterlings have a higher chance of becoming a prodigy, and can get special events that 'normal' kids can't, that set some good (and some not-so-good!) traits.

 

[Veldmaarschalk]

Ah yes, it is both fertility and health

http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/showthread.php?t=321140

Q: Do things like fertility, health stats, and genetic diseases (like harlip/lisp) still get passed on or is that all random now as well? (vertinox)
A: they can pass on

 

[Gustavus]

I see. So aside from trying to avoid wives with poor traits (genetic diseases and such), the only important things about choosing a bride are who to improve relations with and the possibility of maneuvering a claim on some provinces. Are there any other things the bride can affect that I'm missing?

Also, what is this fosterling stuff about? Why do I send my child to someone else's court? Will he still be part of my dynasty or have I lost the child to another family? What benefits/risks are there in doing this?

Thanks again! Honestly, I'm shocked that I got such quick responses considering how old the game is. It's good to see the game still has a decent following.

 

[jordarkelf]

Pick wives for claims/inheritances, for relations (you get a chance of friendship with their father's court), pick wives from big families to get a good chance of high fertility, you can pick them for culture (children have a chance (15% iirc) of getting their mother's culture), etc..

Fosterlings are one of the other new features of DV -- you can send any child in your court to another court, and if they accept they are raised there. This means they can form friendships (and rivalries) with other members of that court, and also that the foster-court now influences their development.

The AI will also send fosterlings to you if it feels it is worthwhile (good relations, vassal/liege relationship, etc.).

 

[TempestDK]

I see. So aside from trying to avoid wives with poor traits (genetic diseases and such), the only important things about choosing a bride are who to improve relations with and the possibility of maneuvering a claim on some provinces. Are there any other things the bride can affect that I'm missing?

Also, what is this fosterling stuff about? Why do I send my child to someone else's court? Will he still be part of my dynasty or have I lost the child to another family? What benefits/risks are there in doing this?

Thanks again! Honestly, I'm shocked that I got such quick responses considering how old the game is. It's good to see the game still has a decent following.

If you have a small court, marry women with high stats and use them as advisors

Keeping children of your dynasty at home will often mean alot of internal friendships and rivalries. Especially if you have many kids of your family. So I prefer to send some out ... if for nothing else to keep them from becoming rivals to other family members.

Also it will thin out your court if it is very big and should reduce chances of illness spreading ... at least for some years.

I never send out a child for foster care until after I have picked an education for them ... I don't entrust that to the AI