Understanding which characters are active

[constans337]

As I've posted elsewhere, I'm only a few turns into my first games, but I now have a lot of characters (not sure, about perhaps 30 or so). As far as I can tell, I can ignore most of them until I need to recruit for a role, and the only ones I need to worry about are:

- the ones in the main slots: consort, successor, spy, chancellor and ambassador;
- city governors;
- family heads;
- generals;
- the court
- head of state religion

(fyi, most of these roles are vacant right now because I don't have the tech)

I'm doing this from memory, but I think that's about it.

So, unless brought into play by an event, or eventually recruited to one of the above positions, can I just ignore the rest or do they somehow affect some of the game metrics?

 

[jguy100]

What you listed is pretty much all I care about, but I'm also a lower level player. If you want to get more complicated, I think the "expert" players start paying attention to more characters, as they're grooming successors, looking for potential new generals, etc.

One benefit I can think of. I believe you get a boost to family/religion opinion the more individual members like you. So if you're just on the tipping scale of making a family/religion like you, making a random member like you might make the entire group like you more. But it's rare I have the free resources to be bribing Joe Schmoe.

 

[PiR]

- the ones in the main slots: consort, successor, spy, chancellor and ambassador;
- city governors;
- family heads;
- generals;
- the court
- head of state religion

And if you can get all of them to like you, you're probably close to the end of your leader's life.

 

[OneWorld]

- the ones in the main slots: consort, successor, spy, chancellor and ambassador;
- city governors;
- family heads;
- generals;
- the court
- head of state religion

So, unless brought into play by an event, or eventually recruited to one of the above positions, can I just ignore the rest or do they somehow affect some of the game metrics?

Head of other religions are often important too, as you either have some of these religions in your empire (cities can be multi-religious in old world) or want to indirectly influence , and the head of other empires (and depending on their ages their heirs). And as anyone who has a job, not only the opinion but also that one of agents can matter. But other than that, you pointed out the important characters - not everyone is important, that is true.

 

[constans337]

I suppose my OP originated in my wondering how much attention, and how often do I have to give it, to the growing list of characters showing in the "all characters" filter. It was feeling a bit unmanageable and I was wondering do I have to be worrying about them all every turn or can I just ignore the ones that aren't holding posts.

 

[jguy100]

I’ve gone entire games with ignoring all characters, so it’s not a requirement to focus on them. It’s definitely beneficial to, but the added penalties aren’t game breaking. Especially at mid and lower levels.

 

[jguy100]

If you want a core few people to focus on. I would vote for heads of families and heads of religions. I think that would have the most impact for least effort.

 

[PiR]

Don't forget the court. It can double the yields they bring to your output per turn.