More Resilient AI Dynasties

[Ruwaard]

From a purely historical point of view i would certainly agree with you (hence i clicked on "agree"). The problem remains though that the AI and the player pursue different goals. Unless the player goal changes (i.e. you can switch dynasties as long as you play as a relative) or AI behaviour changes (being more mindful to keep their dynasty in power), the game has a fundamental weak spot.

Switch dynasties, if a previous one ends might be considered, but IMHO should be bound to certain rules. A switch should diminish your score, maybe by half or a new score maybe up from half of the score of the previous dynasty and half the score of the dynasty, which takes over.

Besides, marrying an infertile spouse for prestige does not fit to the " an heir no matter what" approach you described.

How would one know beforehand? Unless one marries an older heiress, which has reached an age were giving birth to an heir is highly unlikely. Even then historically it could make sense, when one could occasionally inherit by testament or as spouse (neither is really in the game). The last member of a house would be focused on getting an heir, otherwise marrying for prestige reasons is completely valid. If due to events, the one stuck in a marriage to an old heiress becomes sole heir of his own house, you just need to bide your time.
Moreover marriages, even when both spouses are not too old, can remain childless too.

 

[gdj]

Switch dynasties, if a previous one ends might be considered, but IMHO should be bound to certain rules. A switch should diminish your score, maybe by half or a new score maybe up from half of the score of the previous dynasty and half the score of the dynasty, which takes over.

Sure, i didn´t say that things should just go on like "business as usual", a hefty hit to score sure is a reasonable basis for a concept.

How would one know beforehand? Unless one marries an older heiress, which has reached an age were giving birth to an heir is highly unlikely. Even then historically it could make sense, when one could occasionally inherit by testament or as spouse (neither is really in the game). The last member of a house would be focused on getting an heir, otherwise marrying for prestige reasons is completely valid. If due to events, the one stuck in a marriage to an old heiress becomes sole heir of his own house, you just need to bide your time.
Moreover marriages, even when both spouses are not too old, can remain childless too.

That´s not quite like the game works, too. It´s an abstraction, you can easily guess when a marriage will very likely not give you an heir. The AI takes none of the considerations you posted into account, just "prestige is good" and "NAP is good".

 

[DreadLindwyrm]

Sure, i didn´t say that things should just go on like "business as usual", a hefty hit to score sure is a reasonable basis for a concept.



That´s not quite like the game works, too. It´s an abstraction, you can easily guess when a marriage will very likely not give you an heir. The AI takes none of the considerations you posted into account, just "prestige is good" and "NAP is good".

Except... the AI *does* consider "Is too old" in its concerns. I don't know if the AI weighs up fertility reducing traits though, but it certainly looks for "past childbearing age".

 

[Arsonik]

All I will add to this post is to echo the sentiment that the AI should have some form of lowered-standards when their dynasty has less then, say, two males and two birthing age females. I will leave it up to p-dox and all of the more intellectual types here to figure out the gritty details.

Except... the AI *does* consider "Is too old" in its concerns. I don't know if the AI weighs up fertility reducing traits though, but it certainly looks for "past childbearing age".

They absolutely take some other factors into account as well. Off the top of my head there is a "Skills of xxx" type of value as well.

 

[gdj]

Yes, "past childgearing age" (45+ years) and "political concerns" are 2 blocking modifiers that prevent marriages outright. However, if the spouse is 40 and has negaive fertility modifiers, the blocking modifier does not apply although producing children is extremely unlikely.

Traits and skills are weighted too, as well as opinions between the two lieges who arrange the marriage.

The problems are that
1) "desires a better non-aggression pact" is a blocking modifier, precluding the arrangement of marriages of your vassals children in most cases.
2) "too lowly in rank" is another blocker, making it (usually) impossible to marry close realatives of a king or emperor if you are just a count.

These are the 2 main culprits that prevent counts who are close relatiives of a king or emperor to find a spouse for their heir without getting a prestige hit. Any human player would probably just swallow the prestige loss, but the AI does not, so bizarre marriages as described on page 1 will be arranged. That´s what i meant with "prestige is good" and "NAP is good", the constellation of blockers and the priorities set lead to results that are apparently not intended.

 

[SaphireSeas]

@SaphireSeas: why do you hate the Carolingians so much? (I'm from the Frankish part of the Netherlands. )

1. I don't play them
2. They turn Western Europe into a mess of cultures/ monocultural blob(s)
3. They are powerful, and there are lots of them
4. They almost never do what they did historically
5. Even if you try, They'll still exist in a lagre duchy somewhere in their old domains
Plus, I had a game as Alfred once where my liege married them and then they helped him defend against me in a war against tyranny. three times running.

I have nothing against the area, I just REALLY, REALLY hate the Karlings at any start before 1066.

It's irrational, okay?