So what´s the most important statistic now and why?

[Beagá]

Well I´ve played CK 2 until the 1.05 patch, and trying it again. Noticed MUCH stuff changed, including regarding balance, and I´m really at a loss now about which is the most important statistic (specially if the new faction system etc etc).

Diplomacy? Probably the safest stat, since it means less rebellions, larger levies from vassals, improved choices in some events... However, which is the most important stat for plots, diplo or intrigue? After all if they don´t like you, they won´t join.

Martial? Leading armies and winning battles give lots of prestige, however if there isn´t a war looming or opportunities for expansion...

Stewardship? Totally depends on current (and possible future) demesne size, but any other reason to give priority to this?

Intrigue? So much stuff revolves around this, but if no plot has a chance of suceeding because you are too weak (for example challenging the HRE), then it´s not very useful is it?

Learning? Probably the most limited of them all - any special reason to focus on this?

 

[Pinstar]

Stewardship > Diplomacy > Intrigue > Marshal > Learning is the priority I normally go for in terms of grooming my primary heirs.

 

[Te. Kenzo]

If you are a Grey Eminence, or however you have more than 15 Diplomacy, you can live without problem with the factions from start to the end of your game

 

[dauncosony]

If I control a large realm my priority is Diplomacy. It keeps the vassal happy. After that is stewardship for a larger demesne. I never really though about the other stats other than maybe martial only because it's manly.

 

[Comradebot]

Depends on who and where you are. Intrigue is amazing if you're a vassal, but as a liege it tends to be far less so. Martial can be nice as it'll help prevent early deaths, net you some nice chunks of prestige and piety, and insure you have at least one seriously awesome general.

Stewardship... well, demesne size. Again, I feel like its use starts to wane after a while, and I'd rather just use diplomacy to make all my vassals love me rather than have another county or two.

But Diplomacy really is king. Almost anything the others can do, it can do better. Intrigue? Hopeless often without the diplomacy to get people to like you. Martial? If you're loveable, you don't need to fight as often (and can probably call in more allies!). Stewardship? Again, why squeeze out another county or two when you can make a few dozen counties give you even more troops and cash? Learning? Well, it sucks. And, of course, diplomacy will make it easier to avoid rebellions, call in allies, and anything else that requires diplomatic skill.

 

[Beagá]

Fair enough, so my intuition wasn´t that off.

However, isn´t it good to be a spymaster for the liege if the plan is screwing him later? Also, assassinations with low intrigue certainly aren´t very viable.

 

[Fredmonroe]

Stewardship is by far the most important in most situations. The increased Demense size is very important (especially if you have primogeniture), not to mention that it also increases your income from taxes. More money per province + more provinces allows you to be flushed with money, which is really the only resource in this game. Having more provinces will also substantially increase your military size, more than say having a high military skill typically will.

From there I'd say it's between Diplomacy and Intrigue. Basically both make vassals less threatening, or allow you to scheme better, yourself.

After that, learning/martial are both pretty worthless in vanilla, unless you have a huge amount of them.

 

[NecroRenegade]

Have to agree that Stewardship is the most important. Usually when my heir takes over an enormous civil war breaks out. But for the past 3 rulers they've had 18 stewardship (exactly 18 each, with midas touch) and 9-12 diplomacy. The transitions were among the most beautiful I've ever experienced. No one ever challenged me and for the entirety of their reigns no faction was above 10%. Plus with 18 stewardship my char's demesne limit is 13-14. By keeping the most powerful provinces (but not having them spread out too far) I'm virtually unchallenged.
A bit boring, perhaps, but I've yet to really experience that. The constant civil wars aren't worth it though.

 

[Accrsd]

Diplomacy Trumps God In my experience. Quite seriously i've been an inglorious bastard known throughout the land as The Priest hater but in the end my vassal bishops still liked me more then the pope.. it could of been all the money i was funneling into their coffers and the fact that i put a pope with 0 diplomacy as an inbred incapable bastard on the seat in rome.. but who's really counting anything more then the gold rolling into my hands

 

[ZechsMerquise73]

Stewardship when you're small-ish

Diplomacy when you're too big

Intrigue when you can't win a head on wars you expect to be facing or for fast inheritance

Martial when you plan for conquest

Learning when you want to tech? I'm not sure if learning increases the proc of learning things through ambition or not. That would be quite useful if so. I figure learning also gives a chance to impart stats onto students under your tutelage, but I'm not sure. If so, would be useful for converting vassal children.

 

[Rewjeo]

I personally find Diplomacy to be more important than Stewardship. Money tends to be easy enough to get in this game, so dealing with a low stewardship character isn't too bad. I generally have plenty stockpiled before too long, anyways. Diplomacy, though, can make or break a characters' reign. Much like in real life, if people like you, you can get away with a lot, and, if they don't, they'll fight against you constantly. I suppose the same could be said about money, though.

 

[Fishy101]

I have to join the bandwagon and say that diplomacy is most important. It gives you more options if an event comes up. It makes your vassals happier so they are less likely to join a faction and revolt against you. It also increases your income because your vassals like you better. It increases the size of your levies, again because your vassals like you better. It increases your fertility if you are a gray eminence.

The other stats you can get from your council. Martial skill is important, but you don't need to be the one to have it, you can get other people to lead your troops. Getting a good spymaster is really important, but again, you don't necessarily have to be the one with a high intrigue. The only skill that seems rather unimportant is learning. Developers might want to look into increasing its utility. Right now when I pick a spouse, I avoid mastermind theologians because they have reduced fertility.

 

[Galle]

I consider Learning to be highly underrated in certain cases - you can build up quite a tech lead if you start in the right place, and Stewardship is obviously useful (although it's usefulness fades later on), but Diplomacy is easily the most important stat by a mile. I once successfully converted half of Europe to Norse paganism as a high-Diplomacy dynasty, so I have plenty of confidence in its incredible power.

Martial and Intrigue are situationally useful. It pays to have a good Marshal and Spymaster, but I'd never prioritize them for my dynasty.