Thoughts on Investigating Legitimacy Plot

[TheDarkMaster]

This is the plot that gives the suspected bastard modifier to it's targets.

I've noticed that this seems to come up far too often, and many times in cases where the kids genuinely can't be bastards, so I'm unsure as to what makes it valid, and what doesn't. I once had a child born from the bedding ceremony of a royal marriage get investigated (I was playing as the wife, and she'd just come of age). Perhaps it should be possible for the plot to fail outright, with a chance of a flag being applied to the targeted character that makes it no longer possible for them to be investigated?

It might make sense for suspected bastards to be valid targets for claim wars and claimant factions for those with weak claims.

The investigation makes little sense at all in the event the mother is the landed noble and the father is not or the child is suppose to be a child of a matrelineal marriage. The important thing is that she's the mother of the child, and she should have the option of officially legitimizing them if the child actually is a bastard.

 

[zonkie]

Yeah, that plot could use some overhaul. I never use it..

 

[WingedLion14]

Yea I agree. I've had Robb Stark declared a bastard in The Greyjoy Rebellion scenario, and then in The Crowned Stag Joffrey Baratheon was (correctly) declared a bastard. Maybe the investigate legitimacy plot could "prove" that a person is actually legitimate if they are in fact legitimate? Like they look into it and find their suspicions are unfounded.

 

[TheDarkMaster]

Alternatively, there could maybe be someway to prove a suspected bastard isn't actually one.

 

[Galle]

This is probably something that will have to be addressed. It is intended that the plot can be used to "prove" the illegitimacy of perfectly legitimate children, since that's a classic feudal politics move, but there are definitely some corner cases where it winds up making not a whole lot of sense.

(that said, the argument that it shouldn't matter in cases where inheritance traces through the mother is incorrect - the child may be hers, but it is still illegitimate, and therefore barred from inheritance)

 

[TheDarkMaster]

This is probably something that will have to be addressed. It is intended that the plot can be used to "prove" the illegitimacy of perfectly legitimate children, since that's a classic feudal politics move, but there are definitely some corner cases where it winds up making not a whole lot of sense.

I do think the ambition still comes up far too often. Something like 25-33% of the rulers and heirs in my games have been investigated at some point that I've seen. This doesn't account for the ones I never discover and don't succeed, of course. I'm usually either invited to at least two investigations, or I'm presented with evidence about my children at least twice in each ruler's lifespan. That's just way too often for this plot.

(that said, the argument that it shouldn't matter in cases where inheritance traces through the mother is incorrect - the child may be hers, but it is still illegitimate, and therefore barred from inheritance)

She does still have the right to legitimize them, however. It is her titles that the child would inherit.