What are some general guidelines for choosing spouses for both males and females that have newly come of age? I've been kind of marrying them off willy-nilly and I'm sure there's probably more to that just picking someone randomly (I had been looking for people of roughly the same age, but maybe that's not important?) Thanks for any tips you can give me!
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I tend to make marriages that will strengthen my descendent's Martial skills, SD. It is not uncommon in the mid- and late-game to have a series of heirs that are 15+ Diplomacy and 0 Martial. Any trait that can be inherited to promote Martial skill (e.g., Misguided Warrior; Busho) is to be sought, as this frequently is the only Martial ranking one's heirs will have.
For female descendents, I look for politically opportune marriages. From time to time clans will lose all male sons and vassals in combat; sometimes you can marry into these before the last male dies and inherit a kuni or two. Also, marriages give a positive increase to the opinion of the other clan to yours, making it safer to avoid or postpone going to war with them.
Lastly, there are a few clans (like the Tozawa & Honma) which lack vassals and are few in mumber. Marriages can strengthen them as an ally, and potentially lead to your gaining their kuni if their lineage dies out.
For female descendents, I look for politically opportune marriages. From time to time clans will lose all male sons and vassals in combat; sometimes you can marry into these before the last male dies and inherit a kuni or two. Also, marriages give a positive increase to the opinion of the other clan to yours, making it safer to avoid or postpone going to war with them.
Lastly, there are a few clans (like the Tozawa & Honma) which lack vassals and are few in mumber. Marriages can strengthen them as an ally, and potentially lead to your gaining their kuni if their lineage dies out.
Thanks for the hints. Why does the Martial trait "decay" like that? Is it a bug, or some kind of imbalance in the game?
That's been a question, SD, since the game was released. For some reason, Martial skill in particular tends to zero over time, whereas Diplomacy goes into the stratosphere. Not quite sure why; no Dev's ever weighed in on what may be going on.
Just factor it into your plans. When you see a good Martial Clan Leader, DOW like there's no tomorrow. Convert to Buddhism to replenish your levies and march 'till he dies!
Just factor it into your plans. When you see a good Martial Clan Leader, DOW like there's no tomorrow. Convert to Buddhism to replenish your levies and march 'till he dies!
Just playing through my first game, and I've selected 4 wives for the son of my first ruler (who died almost as soon as the game started). I've noticed two things - first, am I right in thinking that only wife number 1 seems to contribute to my stats? Secondly, when marrying off my daughters there's an instant hit of good opinion with the chosen husband's clan, which rapidly fades (judging by the colour on the relationship map), whereas my own wives clans remain on good terms.
Yes.
The rate of decay in good relations depends on a great number of different factors, most importantly your military strength and how close you are to winning.
Whether you are the target of a plot makes a difference as well, since the husband's clan might decide to join in on one against you if they need territory and yours is closest and/or easiest to take.
Thanks Def Zep - I'm just following my usual approach for a first game - being fairly passive, just to see how things progress. So still much to learn, but so far so good - very enjoyable 
Just to follow up on my assumption that only my first wife's stats were added to my own - I'm now fairly certain that this is not the case.
My current ruler had 4 wives but the first died, so I chose a new 4th wife - I then noticed that my spouse stat bonuses no longer reflected any one particular wife's scores. It seems that I take my best diplomatic bonus from whichever wife has the highest score, military and intrigue do the same. This means that each wife can contribute to your stats if her abilities are high enough (which is a much better system). I had been picking wives 2,3 and 4 purely on the basis of creating alliances, regardless pretty much of their stats - so no more of that!
My current ruler had 4 wives but the first died, so I chose a new 4th wife - I then noticed that my spouse stat bonuses no longer reflected any one particular wife's scores. It seems that I take my best diplomatic bonus from whichever wife has the highest score, military and intrigue do the same. This means that each wife can contribute to your stats if her abilities are high enough (which is a much better system). I had been picking wives 2,3 and 4 purely on the basis of creating alliances, regardless pretty much of their stats - so no more of that!
Interesting, Leftguard. They may have changed that in a patch and I missed it. (It could also be my very first marriage is usually for stats; I generally leave political considerations for the junior marriages.)
I wonder what the advantage of being "First Wife" is, now? (Or if there ever was one?)
I wonder what the advantage of being "First Wife" is, now? (Or if there ever was one?)
It got changed in a patch while back and now your bonuses are determined by the wife with highest skill score in any category.
So if you got two wives with wife 1 having: martial 8, diplomacy 12, intrigue 6, and wife 2 with: martial 10, diplomacy 6, intrigue 10, then you would get diplo bonus from wife 1 (+6), and martial and intrigue (+5) bonuses from wife 2.
So if you got two wives with wife 1 having: martial 8, diplomacy 12, intrigue 6, and wife 2 with: martial 10, diplomacy 6, intrigue 10, then you would get diplo bonus from wife 1 (+6), and martial and intrigue (+5) bonuses from wife 2.