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eastcoastceojam

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Mar 21, 2018
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Many months ago, one of my first posts on this forum was about the nuances of Conclave Education: https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...th-conclave-education-best-practices.1110731/ There were lots of helpful replies, and I tried to practice the advice as best I could. But even so, I couldn't consistently get the level 3/4 educations we all desire for our heirs.

In an effort to nab the Prodigious Five achievement, I played as a young ruler who only made and raised babies. After lots of do-overs, I finally got the achievement. And, I think, I learned something about maximizing chances of a level 4 education for your kids.

Much of the advice in the above thread (and the CK2 wiki) is around focuses:
  • Infant/Toddler - age 0 - 5. Can select a childhood focus anytime, but nothing happens until age 6.
  • Childhood Focus - age 6 - 11. Child acquires traits from selected focus. Childhood focus makes some traits more likely, but any childhood trait is possible.
  • Education Focus - age 12 - 16. Child selects a Education focus. Chances of Level 2+ Education are increased if Education focus is compatible (or at least not hindered by) Childhood traits.
The rest of the discussion was about Guardians that intervene in the child's education to override bad traits, or encourage adoption of good traits.

Prior to my recent experiment, I had only used educators who liked my ruler, had traits that could override a bad outcome (Brave educator makes Dull less likely, etc.), and had a 12+ skill for the chance to teach an extra trait to my kid. I had believed that the child's education level was solely based on their childhood traits, and whether they were diligent or smart.

I haven't combed through the code, but my recent experience is that a Diligent/Patient Guardian with a level 4 Education matching the child's Education Focus is more impactful than the traits of the Guardian. Sure, I would love for the Guardian to teach my child to be Brave or Ambitious. But a Brave/Ambitious Misguided Warrior is a lot less useful than a non-Brave/Ambitious Brilliant Strategist.

As long as the child has at least one complementary childhood trait, I found that the majority of the time a Diligent/Patient Level 4 Guardian can give them the same Level 4 education. This seems to be the case even if the child has 1 or more opposing childhood traits. In my experiments, none of the children or educators were genius or quick. In my final run, I was able to get 8 out of my 11 kids to have level 4 educations.

Not sure if I am just the last guy to realize this, or if this is news to most people. Either way, just wanted to share what I have seen. Thanks for reading!