In past Paradox games armies obtain loot from special raiding mechanics, capturing cities (as in CK II) or simply from moving through enemy territory (EU IV). We know that some form of this will be present in Imperator.
My suggestion: if it doesn't already, some fraction of the loot plundered by an army should increase the personal wealth its commander, sometimes quite spectacularly. This would mean that your choice of general could have a major impact on the internal politics of your nation- as it in fact did (Caesar famously paid off the debts incurred from bribing his way into office by military conquest).
Characters who lead successful campaigns would thus become more prominent by virtue of their wealth, and more likely to hold office (in a republic) more dangerous as pretenders or supporters of a pretender (in a monarchy) or as a rebels (in any government type). This would reinforce the existing troop loyalty mechanic and make you think very carefully about which general to assign to your armies.
My suggestion: if it doesn't already, some fraction of the loot plundered by an army should increase the personal wealth its commander, sometimes quite spectacularly. This would mean that your choice of general could have a major impact on the internal politics of your nation- as it in fact did (Caesar famously paid off the debts incurred from bribing his way into office by military conquest).
Characters who lead successful campaigns would thus become more prominent by virtue of their wealth, and more likely to hold office (in a republic) more dangerous as pretenders or supporters of a pretender (in a monarchy) or as a rebels (in any government type). This would reinforce the existing troop loyalty mechanic and make you think very carefully about which general to assign to your armies.