How do I get good characters?

[unmerged(97051)]

I'm wondering whether it's random, or I can do something to get better characters, statwise.

Every single other biggish country (Carthage, Selucids, Macedonia, Egypt) has characters with 8+ for stats (Selucids even have a character with 11 finesse), while I (Rome) have 1 character with 8 Charisma, all others have 7 or lower as their highest stat.

My country isn't that big yet, so that might be it. I haven't toyed a lot with putting certain characters in "powerful" positions, as suggested by the strategy guide, so that might be it. Otherwise, I don't know what could affect it.

 

[Lyzra]

As one trying with the Egypt, it seems that its random. I might be wrong, but more lands you gain, more people you have in your pool.

Regardless of that, some of the traits can rise during gameplay. Letsay some of my governors have for fact risen in they finesse over the years, some even up to two or three. Its probably because of the traits they gain during the time.

Even as Egypt I have in my pool a good number of candidates for particular field only as high as four and some are much lower. There is perhaps a good four to five with totally worthless one and two scrores.

Yet, statistics as nice they are somehow seem to be 'badly' distributed in comparison to traits they posess. For example, I had a skilled displomat with nine in diplomacy, unfortunately he had traits that weakened his diplomatic resolve up to thirtypercent. Guess what, he was not my main diplomat...

I agree with your views, ive captures Secludid generals with martial traits from ten to eleven, where my ancient and best general perhaps had nine, where others have around seven at best. Thus, military confrontions with the Secludid Empire, curse those oafs seem to be rather.... harsh.

 

[SonofWinter]

You will get a fill up each month, so that you have at least 5 people in your pool. Try sending the really low stat guys on dagnerous missions, where they might get their heads chopped off. Assassination or incite rebellion would be my two best choices. Good Luck.

 

[unmerged(2456)]

You can also assassinate your own members and get a wee bit a gold too.

 

[goobermaster]

You can also assassinate your own members and get a wee bit a gold too.

Remember kids: Assassination is ALWAYS the answer

 

[MightyM]

Every single other biggish country (Carthage, Selucids, Macedonia, Egypt) has characters with 8+ for stats (Selucids even have a character with 11 finesse), while I (Rome) have 1 character with 8 Charisma, all others have 7 or lower as their highest stat.

I've been noticing this as well. Starting with the demo where Carthage would have 3 or 4 people with a 9 or 10 in one of their stats while I, as Rome, would muddle along with my lowly 7's and the very rare 8. The same thing is happening in my first game with the retail version where I as Rome am stuck with 7's while my opponents (Illyria, Magna Graeca, Epirus, etc.) all have at least one person with a 9 in something.

I'm almost willing to chalk it up to the AI giving itself a slight advantage over the human player, but it's hard to know for sure what's happening.

 

[delra]

The game will give you a couple of good ones after you use all the ones you have. So try assassination.

 

[hildoceras]

it will not be necessarily "good" ones, but new ones.

and the assassinations have a natural tendency to make people feel unsecure and unloyal, one may wonder why...

 

[delra]

After I run out of guys with more than 1 finesse and wait till next month, I always find a couple of 6-7-8 ones... Always.

 

[Wdll]

Hmm, playing as Macedonia I didn't have more than 1 or 2 people with very high ratings. In fact, most of my characters sucked. Things changed after few years when I had a civil war and suddently I had several 9ers.

 

[unmerged(97051)]

Yeah, I got some better characters once I emptied the pool. I wish it would fill up a bit quicker, had no people for empty positions every now and then.

It seems you get BadBoy for killing your own. While not really "wrong" and or unrealistic, it's still a bit annoying if you need your BadBoy to go down while having a lot of shitty characters