Lifestyle

The lifestyle represents a character's choice of which skill the character will devote his or her time honing. There are 5 lifestyles to choose from, each containing 3 focuses and 3 perk trees.

Once a lifestyle is chosen a character can receive random events related to its focuses. While most events are related to the currently selected focus, events from other focuses within the same lifestyle can take place as well.

Focuses

Each lifestyle contains 3 focuses, each one granting various bonuses to the character. All focuses grant +25 monthly experience towards the character's lifestyle, which can further be improved by the character's education and other factors. A character's focus can be changed once every 5 years. A chosen lifestyle can also rarely offer a character a selection of 3 nicknames if it doesn't have one already.

Characters must be landed or heirs to gain lifestyle experience and can buy perks even if unlanded.

Lifestyle	Focus	Effects	Description	Nicknames ( Ambitious /  Arrogant)	Nicknames ( Content /  Humble /  Shy)
Diplomacy	Family	+2 Diplomacy +20% Fertility	Even if we do not choose them, those closest to us are the most important.	the Magnanimous the Magnificent the Peacemaker	the Affable the Diplomat the Kind
	Foreign Affairs	+3 Diplomacy	One can never have too many friends, near or far.
	Majesty	+1 Diplomacy +1 Monthly Prestige	Regality flows from ritual, tradition and glory.
Martial	Authority	+1 Martial +20% Dread Gain +0.3 Monthly Control	To rule is to make all the aspects of a realm move in unison and work together.	the Conqueror the Hard Ruler the Noble	the Guardian the Tactician the Valiant
	Chivalry	+3 Prowess +10 Attraction Opinion +5 Advantage	Victory comes not through blood or gold, but honor.
	Strategy	+3 Martial	Luck can win a duel. A fool can win a battle. It takes more to win a war.
Stewardship	Domain	+3 Stewardship	My land and the people under my care are my strength.	the Architect the Just the Lawgiver	the Benevolent the Elegant the Generous
	Duty	+1 Stewardship +20 Courtier and Guest Opinion -5 Enemy Agent Acceptance	The bonds of loyalty that bind us do not constrict; they show the way.
	Wealth	+10% Monthly Income	War, honor, and loyalty are all means to an end: gold!
Intrigue	Intimidation	+2 Intrigue +30 Natural Dread	Threats, both overt and subtle, guide the path to true power.	the Crow the Impaler the Shadow	the Sly the Spider the Whisperer
	Skulduggery	+3 Intrigue +10 Agent Acceptance	Schemes, subversion, and secrets.
	Temptation	+20% Fertility +10 Attraction Opinion +20% Seduction Scheme Power	Seduction, desire, and the gentle art of twisting people around your little finger.
Learning	Medicine	+1 Learning Small Health Boost	An understanding of life, beyond the vagaries of the world upon the body.	the Chronicler the Enlightened the Truthseeker	the Historian the Sage the Scholar
	Scholarship	+3 Learning +15% Development Growth	The knowledge of those who have come before, the knowledge of those still living, and the knowledge of perpetual truths.
	Theology	+1 Learning +1 Monthly Piety	Faith and knowledge. Understanding the divine means understanding the world.

Education focuses

Education focuses are available to characters between the age of 6 and 9 and grant the character +1 in the matching skill. When the character becomes an adult they will gain an education trait. The level of the education trait depends on both how well the character's childhood trait matched with the education focus, and the quality of their guardian, if they were assigned one. The education focus can only be changed once.

Focus	Helpful traits	Struggling trait	Description
Diplomacy	Charming Curious	Bossy	The study of etiquette, communication and the practices of courtly life.
Martial	Bossy Rowdy	Curious	The study of warfare and combat and the commanding of armies.
Stewardship	Bossy Pensive	Charming	The study of administration, management and the flow of gold.
Intrigue	Charming Rowdy	Pensive	The study of secrecy, shadows and careful planning.
Learning	Pensive Curious	Rowdy	The study of scholarship, theology and the pursuit of knowledge.

Experience gain modifiers

The rate of monthly lifestyle experience gain can be modified (as a percentage of the base rate) by the following:

Source	Attribute	Modifier
Naive Appeaser education	Diplomacy	+10%
Adequate Bargainer education	Diplomacy	+20%
Charismatic Negotiator education	Diplomacy	+30%
Grey Eminence education	Diplomacy	+40%
Misguided Warrior education	Martial	+10%
Tough Soldier education	Martial	+20%
Skilled Tactician education	Martial	+30%
Brilliant Strategist education	Martial	+40%
Indulgent Wastrel education	Stewardship	+10%
Thrifty Clerk education	Stewardship	+20%
Fortune Builder education	Stewardship	+30%
Midas Touched education	Stewardship	+40%
Amateurish Plotter education	Intrigue	+10%
Flamboyant Trickster education	Intrigue	+20%
Intricate Webweaver education	Intrigue	+30%
Elusive Shadow education	Intrigue	+40%
Conscientious Scribe education	Learning	+10%
Insightful Thinker education	Learning	+20%
Astute Intellectual education	Learning	+30%
Mastermind Philosopher education	Learning	+40%
Slow congenital trait	All	-10%
Stupid congenital trait	All	-20%
Imbecile congenital trait	All	-30%
Quick congenital trait	All	+10%
Intelligent congenital trait	All	+20%
Genius congenital trait	All	+30%
Alexandrian Catechism tenet (Christian faiths)	Learning	+20%
House of Wisdom special building	All	+15%
University special building	All	+5%
Al-Azhar University special building	All	+10%
Nalanda University special building	All	+10%
The University of Sankoré special building	All	+10%
The University of Siena special building	All	+10%
Stonehenge special building	Learning	+15%
Lumbini holy site bonus (Buddhist faiths)	All	+15%
"Devotee of Lakishmi" modifier (Determine Bhakti)	Stewardship	+20%
"Devotee of Dakshinamoorthy" modifier (Determine Bhakti)	All	+20%
"Anticipating Great Battle" modifier (Divine the Stars)	Martial	+25%
"Making New Friends" modifier (Divine the Stars)	Diplomacy	+25%
"Hard Work" modifier (Divine the Stars)	Stewardship	+25%
"Suspicious Of Others" modifier (Divine the Stars)	Intrigue	+25%
"Open Minded" modifier (Divine the Stars)	Learning	+25%
"All Work, No Play" modifier	All	+25%
"Aloof but Alluring" modifier	Diplomacy	-20%
"Aloof but Alluring" modifier	Intrigue	-20%
"Friends in High Places" modifier	Martial	+50%
Squire Traditions legacy	Martial	+10%
Power and Prosperity legacy	Stewardship	+10%
Natural Schemers legacy	Intrigue	+10%
Treasured Knowledge legacy	Learning	+10%
Earning Respect legacy	Diplomacy	+10%
Chancellor position (scaled by liege rank)	Diplomacy	+5% ~ +20%
Marshal position (scaled by liege rank)	Martial	+5% ~ +20%
Steward position (scaled by liege rank)	Stewardship	+5% ~ +20%
Spymaster position (scaled by liege rank)	Intrigue	+5% ~ +20%
Court Chaplain position (scaled by liege rank)	Learning	+5% ~ +20%
Under house arrest	All	-75%
Imprisoned in dungeon	All	-150%

Perk trees

Each lifestyle has 3 perk trees, each one containing 9 perks. Each perk costs 1000 experience to unlock and the final perk in each tree always gives a powerful trait. Both perks and 6 unique traits can be obtained through lifestyle events. A perk can only be unlocked if all perks above have been unlocked.

On average a new perk is unlocked every few years. A character can reset all lifestyle perks once per lifetime at the cost of one  stress level. Resetting the perks will also remove any final trait.

As a witch, it is also possible to gain a random perk during a Witch Coven's Grand Rite.

Diplomacy

Diplomat

Thoughtful +100% Opinion Gain from Send Gift
Ducal Conquest -20% Title Creation Cost Enables the Ducal Conquest Casus Belli	Adaptive Tradition +1 Max Learn Language Schemes +25% Foreign Affairs Effectiveness	Defensive Negotiations +15 Fellow Vassal Opinion +15 Independent Ruler Opinion Can propose one Alliance without a Marriage
Forced Vassalage Enables the Vassalize Casus Belli	Flexible Truces -25% Truce Time No Prestige penalty for breaking Truces	Embassies +75% Learn Language Scheme Power +1 Diplomacy per Alliance (up to 5)
Accomplished Forger +75% Fabricate Claim on County Speed Can use the Buy Artifact Claim interaction
Diplomat Gain the Diplomat trait

August

Benevolent Intent +30% Sway Scheme Power	Firm Hand +1% Monthly Prestige per Dread
Inspiring Rule +5% Monthly Prestige per Powerful Vassal on the Council	Praetorian Guard +2% Monthly Prestige per Knight
True Ruler +25 Offer Vassalization Acceptance
Writing History Can use the Commission Epic Decision
A Life of Glory +100% Level of Fame Impact	Dignitas +1 Diplomacy per Level of Fame
August Gain the August trait

Family Hierarch

Befriend Enables the Befriend Scheme	Groomed to Rule Children receive +1 to +3 skill points based on their childhood trait
Confidants -5% Stress Gain per Friend	Heart of the Family +15 Close Family Opinion
Flatterer +30% Befriend Scheme Power	Thicker than Water +25% Personal Scheme Success Chance against family members
Friendly Counsel Each Friend and Best Friend gives +2 random skill points (up to 5)
Sound Foundations Each living Child gives +1 random skill points (up to 5)
Patriarch / Matriarch Gain the Patriarch / Matriarch trait

Martial

Strategist

Bellum Justum -50% Casus Belli Cost
Parthian Tactics +30% Cavalry Toughness +20% Cavalry Pursuit	Organized March +15% Movement Speed +5 Screen for Archer, Heavy Infantry, Pikeman and Skirmisher	Engineered for Destruction +25% Naval Speed +40% Siege Weapon Effectiveness
Envelopment +25% Men-at-Arms Counter Efficiency	Hit and Run -25% Retreat Losses +15% Heavy Infantry Damage and Toughness +30% Archer Damage +30% Spearmen Toughness +20% Skirmisher Damage +10% Skirmisher Toughness	Living Off the Land +25% Raid Speed +200% Supply Capacity
Sappers +0.1 Siege Progress for Archer, Heavy Infantry, Pikeman and Skirmisher
Strategist Gain the Strategist trait

Overseer

Serve the Crown +15 Natural Dread +0.3 Monthly Control Growth
A Man's Home +5 Controlled Territory Defender Advantage	Strict Organization +20% Increase Control in Country Progress Gain
Enduring Hardships +1 Fort Level Enemy Occupations do not lower Control	Hard Rule +20% Dread Gain +50% Siege Progress against Revolts +20 Faction Military Power Threshold for Vassals
Prepared Conscription -15% Army Maintenance +100% Friendly Territory Levy Reinforcement Rate	Soldiers of Lesser Fortune -30% Mercenary Hire Cost
Absolute Control 100 Control grants additional Taxes and Levies
Overseer Gain the Overseer trait

Gallant

Stalwart Leader +4 Prowess -50% Death and Injury Risk when Commanding Armies -25% Death and Injury Risk as a Knight Can challenge Rivals to Single Combat
Courtship +30% Romance and Elope Scheme Power and Scheme Success Chance	Chivalric Dominance +75% Knight Effectiveness
Promising Prospects +50 Marriage Acceptance +25 Marriage Acceptance for Close Family and Extended Family	Never Back Down -20% Friendly Fatal Casualties +5 Advantage
Loyalty and Respect +50 Spouse Opinion +25% Skills from Spouse Councilor Tasks	Kingsguard +4 Number of Knights
Peacemaker +10 Peace Acceptance
Gallant Gain the Gallant trait

Stewardship

Avaricious

Golden Obligations Can Demand Payment for Hooks Increased Ransom Costs
Heregeld +10% Vassal Tax Contribution	War Profiteer +10% Monthly Income while at War	This is MY Domain Can use the Extort Subjects Decision
Detailed Ledgers +20 Republican Ruler Opinion +15% Republican Tax Contribution	Fearful Troops -0.5% Men-at-Arms Maintenance per dread	Golden Aplomb +10% Monthly Income per stress level
At Any Cost Can use the Sell Titles Decision
Avaricious Gain the Avaricious trait

Architect

Tax Man +25% Collect Taxes Effectiveness	Cutting Cornerstones -5% Gold, Piety, and Prestige Construction Cost for Buildings and Holdings
Defensive Measures +1 Fort Level +20% Garrison Size Can use the Purchase Truce interaction	Professional Workforce -30% Building and Holding Construction Time
Organized Muster Rolls +100% Levy Reinforcement Rate	Centralization +0.3 Monthly Development Growth in Realm Capital
Popular Figurehead +50 Popular Opinion
Divided Attention +2 Domain Limit
Architect Gain the Architect trait

Administrator

Meritocracy Enables the Claim Throne Scheme
Chains of Loyalty +25% Domestic Affairs Efficiency +50% Learn Language Scheme Power	Large Levies +20% Vassal Levy Contribution
Likable +10 Direct Vassal Opinion +20 Liege Opinion	Soon Forgiven -0.15 Monthly Tyranny
Positions of Power +20 Councillor Opinion	Toe the Line Vassals are less likely to join Independence Factions
Honored to Serve +20% Powerful Vassal Councillor Tax and Levy Contribution
Administrator Gain the Administrator trait

Intrigue

Schemer

Truth is Relative Enables the Fabricate Hook Scheme Find Secrets may also fabricate Hooks and will always do so if there are no secrets to be found
Digging for Dirt +25% Find Secrets Progress Speed	Court of Shadows +50% Disrupt Schemes Effectiveness	Swift Execution +30% Murder Scheme Power
Kidnapper Enables the Abduction Scheme	Prepared for Anything -25 Enemy Hostile Scheme Success Chance -10 Enemy Hostile Scheme Success Chance against own Courtiers	A Job Done Right +25 Hostile Scheme Success Chance
Twice Schemed +1 Max Hostile Schemes
Schemer Gain the Schemer trait

Seducer

Like Weeds in a Garden +30% Fertility	Enticing Opportunity +30% Seduction Scheme Power
Unshackled Lust Removes the Attraction penalty from Seduction Schemes	Home Advantage +50% Seduction Scheme Success Chance against own Courtiers and Guests
Subtle Desire Removes the Tier difference penalty from Seduction Schemes Removes the Incestuous penalty from Seduction Schemes targeting characters over 19 years old	Graceful Recovery Can no longer Critically Fail Seduction Schemes
Mortal Adoration -25 Acceptance for Lovers against Murder Schemes targeting this character If a Murder Scheme is successfully executed against this character a Lover may die in its place	Smooth Operator +25% Seduction Scheme Success Chance +1 Foreign Language Limit
Seducer Gain the Seducer / Seductress trait

Torturer

Dark Insights 50% chance to gain 1 Intrigue or 1 Prowess when torturing someone (Max 5 each)	Dreadful +30% Dread Gain
Divine Retribution No longer lose Piety or Clergy Opinion from Torturing or Executing	Thriving in Chaos +4 Martial and Intrigue per stress level +6 Prowess per stress level
Malice Implicit +0.5 Dread Gain per tyranny
Fear Tax +15% Intimidated Vassal Tax and Levy Contribution +30% Terrified Vassal Tax and Levy Contribution
Forever Infamous -1000% Dread Decay	Prison-Feudal Complex +50% Imprison Chance
Torturer Gain the Torturer trait

Learning

Whole of Body

Anatomical Studies -50% Court Physician Hire Cost +50% Treatment Success Chance
Carefree -20% Stress Gain	Restraint Can take the Embrace Celibacy and Abandon Celibacy Decisions	Wash Your Hands -50% Chance for the character to contract illnesses -25% Chance for Courtiers to contract illnesses
Mental Resilience +3 Years Time between Mental Breaks	Know Thyself Receive a warning 1 year before Death of natural causes	Iron Constitution +30% Disease Resistance Fertility Massive Boost to Disease Resistance Health
Healthy Medium Health Boost
Whole of Body Gain the Whole of Body trait

Scholar

Pedagogy 20% chance the character's Ward gains additional Skills 20% chance the character's Ward becomes a Friend +25% Learn Language Success Chance	Scientific +35% Cultural Fascination Progress
Open-Minded +15 Different Culture Opinion +20% Cultural Acceptance Gain +2 Foreign Language Limit	Planned Cultivation +20% Increase Development in County Efficiency
Apostate +15 Different Faith Opinion -75% Faith Conversion Cost	Scholarly Circles +2 Learning per level of devotion
Learn on the Job Gain 20% of the Councilors' primary Skills
Sanctioned Loopholes Can use the Buy Claim Interaction
Scholar Gain the Scholar trait

Theologian

Faithful +10 Clergy Opinion (Faith has Theocratic Clergy) +5 Same Faith Opinion (Faith has Lay Clergy)
Zealous Proselytizer +25% Convert Faith in Country Progress	Clerical Justifications +20% Religious Relations Efficiency
Religious Icon Fervor no longer slows Convert Faith in Country	Church and State +50 Realm Priest Opinion (Faith has Theocratic Clergy) +100% Monthly piety from buildings if faith has Lay Clergy
Prophet +1% Monthly piety per knight -50% Faith Creation and Reformation Cost	Radiant +100% Level of Devotion Impact
Defender of Faith -25% Tyranny Gain (Faith is Righteous) +5 Same Faith Opinion (Faith is Righteous) +1 Diplomacy per level of devotion (Faith is Pluralistic) +20% Monthly Piety Gain (Faith is Pluralist) +10 Faith Hostility Advantage (Faith is Fundamentalist) +2 Prowess per level of devotion (Faith is Fundamentalist) +20 Clergy Opinion (Faith is Fundamentalist)
Theologian Gain the Theologian trait

Mechanics