生活重心

A focus defines the general development objective of a character. If the Way of Life DLC is active, adults can choose a long-term effort among ten focuses (two for each attribute).

Choose focus screen (v.2.8)

By choosing a focus, a ruler:

Gets an immediate boost to the corresponding attribute;
Unlocks related events, diplomatic actions or decisions;
May eventually receive a lifestyle trait;
Gets additional random events to improve the corresponding attribute if it is below 8.

Focuses

All playable characters can have a focus, if adult (16+ years-old) and not . Imprisoned characters can only choose Seduction, Scholarship, or Theology. Other restrictions are noted below.

After five years, it is possible to switch to another focus. This can be useful once the player has exhausted the main benefits of a focus, or if they want to collect positive traits and character modifiers from multiple focuses.

AI characters choose their focus based on traits and government type, instead of needs. They rarely change focus after selecting one.

Focus	Requirements	Modifiers	Traits & effects
Rulership	-	+3 stewardship	Random events include: Opportunity to build a castle for only 400g (actual cost may vary... might even fail, have a Steward with more than 5 Stewardship to get a better chance of good result) or Some other not so important events (A peasant accused of murder, Noble feud between two vassals, A vassal's farm fire, A witch find in demesne, Drunkard vassal, City frigands) On success in events, chance to: Gain , , or Lose , , or Level up stewardship education trait Progress toward (+3 stewardship, +10% movement speed) lifestyle trait
Business	-	+2 stewardship +20 republic vassal opinion	Occasionally starts a Mint Coin event chain. Occasionally starts a Trading event chain. Establishing a trade route gives a chance to level up stewardship education trait (+2 Stewardship, +1 Martial, +20% Siege) or (+2 Stewardship, +1 Learning) lifestyle trait
Seduction	Not Not Not Not Indian ascetic	+2 intrigue +25% fertility +10 sex appeal	Enables Seduce action to improve opinion, tumble, and/or become lover Additional random events, including one for women to escape from prison On success in events, chance to: Level up intrigue education Gain or lose Gain Court Tomcat or Court Vixen (+1 intrigue, +10 sex appeal) Level up to Aspiring Seducer, then Seducer (further improving sex appeal) Choice to level up to or (+2 intrigue, +1 Diplomacy, +50 sex appeal) (+2 Diplomacy, +1 intrigue, +20% fertility)
Intrigue	-	+3 intrigue +5% plot power	Enables Spy On action, to discover plots or other imprisonment reasons Enables Free from Captivity action On success in events, chance to: Level up intrigue education Gain (or lose ) Level up to Amateur Schemer, then Schemer Choice between Level up to (+3 intrigue) lifestyle trait (+2 intrigue, +1 learning, +10% Morale Offense) lifestyle trait
Hunting	Not	+2 martial +1 health	Enables Go on a Grand Hunt . Moderate yearly chance to start an Epic Hunt (+2 Martial, +1 Diplomacy, +20% battlefield Pursuit) lifestyle trait Lose or gain Gain or lose /
War	-	+3 martial +10 personal combat skill	Lets you challenge characters to duel Valid targets are rivals, foes, excommunicated characters, and decadent characters Lose a duel may result in or even By random training events or winning a duel, chance to: Gain (or lose ) Gain (or lose ) Gain (or lose and ) Progress toward lifestyle trait Progress toward lifestyle trait by winning random war game event Random chances to level up martial education Random opportunities to gain leadership traits and/or teach them to your commanders Choice between (+3 Martial, +30 Personal combat skill) lifestyle trait (+2 Martial, +1 Stewardship, +20% Defense) lifestyle trait
Carousing	If Muslim, must be one of:	+3 diplomacy	Enables Invite to Carousing action, letting you host private parties. Form friendships, sleep with guests Lose or Various character modifiers that increase diplomacy or opinion Choice between (+2 Diplomacy, +1 Intrigue, +20% Fertility) lifestyle trait (+3 Diplomacy, +10 Sex appeal opinion) lifestyle trait (+2 Diplomacy, +1 Martial, +30% battlefield Narrow Flank) lifestyle trait
Family	-	+2 diplomacy +1 health +25% fertility	Improve relationship and possibly become lovers: With spouse Improve relationship and possibly create a friendship: With sibling Between two close dynasty members Between two minor children Improve relationship only: With parent With child On success in events, chance to: Level up diplomacy education trait Gain (or lose ) Level up to Family Man/Woman, then Family Patriarch/Matriarch Choice between: (+3 Diplomacy, +10 Sex appeal opinion) lifestyle trait (+2 Diplomacy, +1 Martial, +30% battlefield Narrow Flank) lifestyle trait
Scholarship	-	+3 learning	Tech point events are more frequent (e.g. spymaster study technology) Enables decision to Build an observatory , which can give: , , , +1 learning Choice between: Stars: military tech points, , , , and lifestyle trait (+3 Learning) Weird: cultural tech points, , , and lifestyle trait (+2 Learning, +1 Stewardship)
Theology	-	+2 learning +20 church opinion +1 Health	Lets Christians and Dharmans Go on a Pilgrimage : trait 2-3 random events that can give other traits, mostly positive From rare random events: Choice to become (including a hidden choice by visiting a controlled holy site) Choice to become Choice to gain Sympathy for the religion group of a random infidel in your realm Choice to gain lifestyle trait (+2 Learning, +1 Intrigue) Lose or Return from religious seclusion to be a better person. Choose between losing any of the following traits: , , , , (not for Christians or Dharmans), , (with risk of becoming ), and with supernatural events enabled, even or . Some choices also give piety or chances of becoming or .

Collectible character modifiers

You can only have 1 lifestyle trait, and personality traits often disappear once you have more than 6. Character modifiers, in contrast, can be collected in large numbers.

Many focuses feature a level up mechanic, in which you first gain character modifiers, and then have the opportunity to gain a lifestyle trait.

Focus	Long-duration modifiers	Opportunities
Rulership	Levels: Amateur Steward (+1 stewardship) Steward (+2 stewardship) (+3 stewardship) By becoming , can also get: Respected Ruler (+10 vassal opinion), with 8 stewardship Legendary Wisdom (+1 monthly prestige), with 12 stewardship Great Raja Dharma (+2 stewardship), if Province modifier Quarry decreases construction cost for 80 years	Random It helps to have many direct vassals, because some events have vassal requirements: A drunkard vassal Two vassals who hate each other A burgher and a non-burgher Respected Ruler and Legendary Wisdom do not require continued Rulership focus.
Business	Levels: Aspiring Trader (+1 stewardship) Trader (+2 stewardship) (+2 stewardship, +1 learning) or (+2 stewardship, +1 martial) Tower: Great Tower (+1 monthly prestige and +5 general opinion) Province modifier leaning_tower (city_tax_modifier = 0.15) Maze: Fountain, Extravagant Fountain (+.5 or +1 monthly prestige) Pavilion (+3 general opinion) Magnificent maze (+1 diplomacy) Aspiring Gardener (+1 stewardship) - can upgrade to , separate from Level progression Trading: Business Contacts (+10 town opinion) Province modifier Trade Route (increased tax for tribes, cities, and castles)	Random With MTTH 2 years, an event chain is picked from among the ones you are eligible for Tower or Maze chains will not be picked if you already have a lifestyle trait Tower and Maze chains are mutually exclusive, completing one disables the other Tower is not available to tribal or nomadic rulers Must not be leading troops
Seduction	Levels: Aspiring Seducer (+15 sex appeal) Seducer (+30 sex appeal) or (+2 intrigue, +1 diplomacy, +50 sex appeal) Random Bodyguard lover (+1 martial and +10% plot discovery chance) Maidservant Lover (+1 intrigue and +10% plot discovery chance) On success, e.g. in targeted seduction: Court Vixen or Court Tomcat (+1 intrigue, +10 sex appeal)	For opinion boosts: seduce characters who are lustful and have unattractive genetic traits For tumble attempts: seduce characters with a clear kitchen-meeting strategy To be safe if you leave a note: don't seduce unlanded spouses of rulers
Intrigue	Levels: Amateur Schemer (+1 intrigue) Schemer (+2 intrigue) (+3 intrigue)	Mostly from success in Spy On action See Intrigue focus#Strategies
Hunting	From Going on a Grand Hunt : ... From epic hunt: The white <animal> eludes me... (+1 martial) Master hunter (+1 martial, +0.1 monthly prestige) (+2 martial, +1 diplomacy) From pet dog: Pet hunting dog (+1 health, +1 diplomacy) Training your dog removes , adds , or adds 1 health If on death of dog, allows constructing Pyramid in capital (-5% revolt risk)	Grand hunt: Must be male Must be Christian or Pagan You can do 2-3 hunts per season. Epic hunt: Random opportunities White [stag, bear, tiger, or lion] depending on location Pet dog: Random Training your dog does not require continued Hunting focus You only train the dog once, so if you want the extra health, become diligent first
War	Duelist levels: Warrior (+1 martial, +10 personal combat skill) Great Warrior (+2 martial, +20 personal combat skill) (+3 martial, +30 personal combat skill) Strategist levels: (can get character modifiers after gain the lifestyle trait) Student of Strategy (+1 martial) Adept of Strategy (+1 martial, +1 stewardship) (+2 martial, +1 stewardship)	Chance when you win duels and in random events Must be at peace to duel Can progress toward through war game random event chain
Carousing	Carousing levels: Carouser (+1 diplomacy) Dedicated Carouser (+2 diplomacy) (+2 diplomacy, +1 intrigue) or (+3 diplomacy) Gaming levels: Apprentice Boardgamer (+1 diplomacy) (+2 diplomacy, +1 martial).	You level up in carousing each time you host a party To make gaming more likely, invite a as a guest Must be at peace to carouse
Family	Levels: (can get character modifiers after gain the lifestyle trait) Family Man/Woman (+10% fertility) Family Patriarch/Matriarch (+1 diplomacy, +20% fertility, +5 church opinion) (+3 Diplomacy, +10 Sex appeal opinion) or (+2 Diplomacy, +1 Martial, +30% battlefield Narrow Flank)	Chance on success in focus events: It helps to have a family large enough that you have a valid target (or pair) for each event: Sibling; parent; child; spouse; 2 minor children; 2 adult relatives helps in many events Seduction level helps in spouse event
Scholarship	Studying the Stars (+1 learning) if you cancel the focus Heliocentrist Scholar (+2 learning) or (+3 learning) Weird Scholar (+1 learning, +1 stewardship) or (+2 learning, +1 stewardship)	From building an observatory
Theology	Levels: Religious Studies (+1 learning) Religious Philosopher (+2 learning) (+2 learning, +1 intrigue) Christians can also collect the special trait	Random

Strategies

Consider your attributes and traits

Improve low stats first, because ambition events improve your base stats
Hone your strengths to get a council position
Level up your education (Diplomacy -> Family, Intrigue -> Seduction or Intrigue, Stewardship -> Rulership or Business)

Managing traits

Focuses are a fairly easy way to gain positive traits and lose negative or less desirable ones:

Lose and gain , and from Rulership
Gain from Business
Lose and gain from Seduction
Lose and gain from Intrigue
Gain or +1 health and lose and from Hunting
Gain and from War
Lose and from Carousing
Gain , , , or from Scholarship
Gain from Theology

However, some focuses can also cause characters to gain negative traits; remember that gaining a trait which is "opposite" of one which you currently have will remove the current trait as well.

Choose your lifestyle trait carefully

or , if you want a very large family. Compared to the level-2 character modifier, it gives +20 sex appeal and a special bedding option.
, if spying is crucial to your strategy. Compared to the level-2 character modifier, it makes spying significantly faster.
, if your stewardship is 8 or higher, and you want the +10 vassal opinion

Consider Business before getting a lifestyle trait

The Business focus tower and maze events give great character modifiers, but can only fire if you do not have a lifestyle trait. Note that these event chains can get very expensive if your income is high.

Choose complementary leadership & lifestyle traits

stacks with .
stacks with .
stacks with .
Most combat specializations go well with (+20% defense) or (+20% pursuit).

Change focus depending on your needs

Troops: War gets you demesne levies. Seduction helps form NAPs and Carousing helps turn NAPs into alliances. Intrigue gets you faction members.
Cash: Business lets you invest in potentially lucrative opportunities. War gets you loot. Intrigue gets you ransoms.
Vassal opinion: Carousing (+100 from friendships), Rulership (+20 from , , respected ruler), Business (+8 from tower and pavilion), War (+10 from , ), Scholarship (+10 from , , and possibly more), Theology (+5 from for Christians). Even Intrigue helps, by giving +3 realm opinion per rank of prisoner released for 30 months, or by letting you replace your vassals.

Use a sequence of focuses to improve your health

Seduction to improve health in many ways
- Establish affairs with kind/diligent characters: if you are not getting along with your wife, lovers can invite you to a getaway. This gives you +1 health for 1 year, and perhaps more importantly, can remove stressed/depressed. The event will trigger more often if you have many lovers, if your lovers are , and if your lovers are .
- Establish affairs with old/dying characters: can find a Lover's Memento (+0.5 health), if you have The Reaper's Due
- Establish rivalries with jealous husbands, if you plan to duel while using the War focus
- Establish a large family, so your Court Physician can more easily gain the trait and the "received professional praise" opinion modifier
War or Hunting for chance of trait; Hunting can help lose /
- More chances if you duel, at the risk of or
- Best in or near the Byzantine empire, where there are many blind characters: they are unlikely to win duels.
Scholarship and/or Rulership risks (additional risk for for Rulership), but can allow you to pick up and other great traits.
Carousing if you still need to de-stress yourself (or your relatives)
Hunting at old age (+1 health while focus is active, +1 health for dog's lifespan, +1 health permanently for training dog while diligent)

Avoid peacetime focuses when war is likely

The following focuses are more useful when at peace:

Carousing focus: "Invite to Carousing" requires peace.
Theology focus: "Go on a Pilgrimage" (Christian/Dharmic) requires peace.
Hunting focus: "Hold a Grand Hunt" requires peace. The demesne levy boost is useful before war, but less so during war.
War focus: "Challenge to Duel" requires peace.

Furthermore, some focuses are less useful if you plan to lead troops:

Business focus: most events won't fire while leading troops
Seduction focus: targeted seduction tombola is skipped if leading troops
War focus: training events (MTTH) won't fire while leading troops
Family focus: events to improve relations won't fire while leading troops

Consider not only whether you plan to initiate a war, but also whether you are likely to be pulled into one:

Your factions are likely to rebel
Your provinces are likely to revolt, especially with dangerous religious or liberation revolts
Your allies are subject to faction rebellion
Your allies are likely to go to war and request help. They will request help until combined strength is 1.5 times the enemy's.