Giving recruitable generals a predetermined surname - concept

**Razor** · February 27, 2023, 06:13 PM

Hi there,

So, traits have the ability to give characters epithets. My idea was to use this for recuitable named generals so that they get a predetermined surname (the epithet) depending on the settlement where they've been recruited.
Say, I recruit a named general in Honjo castle (in my Japanese Sengoku era mod) then that general gains a trait changing his surname to Honjo once he's recuited. At the same time if there's already another named character/general in the settlement I don't want him to gain that trait so that he keeps his original name.

How should I set up the trigger so that it gives the trait to newly created named generals in a certain settlement, while not affecting any potential existing characters in the same settlement as well?

This is my idea:

1) Add hidden trait "EstablishedName" (basically triggers for every existing named character/general on the map making sure they're excluded from the trigger mentioned at point 4)
2) Add trigger:

Code:

Trigger Established_Name
    WhenToTest CharacterTurnEnd

    Condition AgentType = named character

    Affects EstablishedName  1  Chance  100

3) Add hidden trait "NameHonjo" with epithet "Honjo" (triggers for new named characters/generals on the map at the start of a turn - once recruited)
4) Add trigger:

Code:

Trigger Name_Honjo
    WhenToTest CharacterTurnStart

    Condition AgentType = named character ;or IsGeneral?
;             and FactionType faction_27 ;might use it for specific factions
              and EndedInSettlement
              and SettlementName Honjo
              and not Trait EstablishedName = 1

    Affects NameHonjo  1  Chance  100

I still need to test it myself, but I'd like to have some feedback/input from others that are more competent with this beforehand. Am I perhaps missing something? Thanks in advance!

**bitterhowl** · February 27, 2023, 10:13 PM

Interesting idea! You should give all other named characters trait EstablishedName in case of ComingToAge and adoption.

**Razor** · February 28, 2023, 02:10 AM

Originally Posted by bitterhowl

Interesting idea! You should give all other named characters trait EstablishedName in case of ComingToAge and adoption.

Ah yes. I hadn't thought of those events. Need to add those for man of the hour as well. Thanks!

**bitterhowl** · February 28, 2023, 04:05 AM

And probably it's necessary to refresh this trait every turn for it's owner to avoid rewriting by another epithets from another traits, if you want to keep it constantly.

**Razor** · February 28, 2023, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by bitterhowl

And probably it's necessary to refresh this trait every turn for it's owner to avoid rewriting by another epithets from another traits, if you want to keep it constantly.

That is worth mentioning, but for my mod it's fine leaving it out, since I've deleted any other epithet other than the ones that are intended to change/overwrite the pre-existing epithets.

**Razor** · February 28, 2023, 07:01 PM

The concept worked, but I had to change a few things around.

The traits:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

The triggers (added trigger Name_Honjo_2):

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

The export_vnvs.txt file:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

I had to look into the sequence in which events were processed which is:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

The EstablishedName trait should be gained at CharacterTurnStart and the NameHonjo trait should be gained at CharacterTurnEnd.

Originally Posted by bitterhowl

Interesting idea! You should give all other named characters trait EstablishedName in case of ComingToAge and adoption.

Giving the EstablishedName trait in combination with additional events such as adoptions breaks it, presumably because when you recruit a general/general's bodyguard unit the game treats it as an adoption of some sorts? My tests showed that a named character gains the EstablishedName trait once he is adopted as well as when a general's bodyguard unit is recruited.
Coming of age is unnecessary, because it fires at the start of the turn during which the character has already gained the EstablishedName trait. I could add a trigger in combination with coming of age and allowing the trait to be inherited by his sons, so that they also inherit the Honjo surname.

Anyway, thanks for the feedback/input!

**Callistonian** · February 28, 2023, 09:44 PM

EBII does this for client rulers. I haven't looked at the triggers yet, but it may be worth check out.

**Razor** · March 01, 2023, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by Callistonian

EBII does this for client rulers. I haven't looked at the triggers yet, but it may be worth check out.

I've looked into it and EBII uses a totally revamped trait system. The triggers for client rulers all require a combination of those new revamped traits. It seems that the way they've set it up doesn't look too useful for me, but thanks for pointing it out anyway!

And the added trigger for children coming of age inheriting the epithet of the father:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: