Ways to deal with AI controlled family branches:

[Siward]

Hello,

I'm considering turning one of my current CK games into an AAR, since I've done a couple of small ones for other games in the distant past.

However I'm having some difficulty with the AI lately and how it impacts the story through it's control of other branches of the family.

Essentially I'm wondering how(if at all) I could go about controlling or limiting the other branch of the dynasty in some manner (beyond getting another person to play it for me), as while I could just cut them loose and carry on, a lot of the interesting developments have involved interactions between the two halves of the dynasty so it seems a shame to have the AI just randomly throw it all out the window and end up with those characters being dumped off as courtiers in some county at the other end of the map doing nothing.

Thank you for any advice you can provide.

 

[Alfredian]

Sometimes you just have to let the AI go mad and then do a prodigal son act (after a tiny tweek to attach them to your court) and give the family troublemakers a new Earldom/Duchy.

In medieval times there were quite a lot of rebellions that seem mad with hindsight, and quite a lot of nobles who were forgiven afterwards (sometimes more than once).

How writers deal with AI madness is part of what makes AARland so interesting for me.

 

[Rensslaer]

There are ways to manipulate the system to give you more realistic results -- this requires some knowledge of modding, though it really shouldn't be too hard.

But at the same time, Alfredian is right -- sometimes it can be really, really fun (to write and to read) to just go ahead and figure out reasons for why the AI does stupid things, and write them in. I've done some of both, in my time.

Some examples:
French Sergeant Denis Chapelle Faces an Unexpected Turn of Events
The Crown Prince Receives Unwelcome News of a Peace With Austria
Explaining the Unwelcome Peace (by Event!)

Having never played CK, I'm not sure exactly what you mean, but I'm sure others can help you with suggestions.

Rensslaer

 

[Alfred Packer]

And the AI doing stupid (and self destructive) things isn't even that unrealistic. Real people do stupid and self-destructive things to themselves and others all the time!

 

[CatKnight]

Ditto.

For me, trying to make the AI's actions seem reasonable is one of the fun parts of AAR writing. It's an exercise in imagination. It's like having a writing partner - albeit one who's "not quite exactly."

That said, if something really wild that bothers you happen, then there's always modding. The CK save game file can be rather intense as I recall however, due to the number of characters involved.

 

[Siward]

Thanks for all the replies.

I definately agree that the ai can throw out some interesting twists and turns for a story. It's just unfortunate that this particular event is more counter-productive to a story than beneficial.

I suppose worst comes to the worst I could resort to modding my way past it this time as you suggest but I'll try and find a way around it anyway.

Thanks.