Satisfaction indicates a character's loyalty and happiness towards his/her faction. The feature is introduced in Total War: Three Kingdoms as a gameplay mechanic.
Overview[]
Satisfaction represents a character's loyalty and happiness towards his/her faction. Satisfaction is important, because it represents the a character's attitude toward the faction leader (i.e. the player), similar to how general populace having opinions toward player's empire. Manage the satisfaction in court wisely because only a harmonious administration can help player achieve victory.
Many factors play a role in the management of satisfaction, such as character's relationship within player's faction, job satisfaction, jealousy, or dynastic family matters.
Character with low satisfaction and unpleasant guanxi within player's court will automatically leave the faction to seek employment elsewhere and bring their own retinues and with them. If the unsatisfied character is an administrator, he will leave with the administrated region. If the character is people in power, the leaving automatically triggers a civil war within the faction.
Gameplay[]
Monitoring satisfaction[]
The satisfaction levels of characters is important to monitor through the course of a campaign. Player can view a character’s satisfaction in their character panel, or via the characters list function on the main campaign screen.
Improve satisfaction[]
Many factors can influence a character’s satisfaction. Giving out better Title Rank is one of the simpliest solutions. Characters may desire higher positions in the court, such as administrator of a commandery. Certain characters may have background, traits, or skills which improve all court character's satisfaction, such bonus maybe activated when they are assigned to the posts of faction heir , prime minister or as the faction leader. Characters can also gain satisfaction from their own traits, from their character relations, or the general admiration they have toward the faction they like. There are many more examples, and they will differ from individual to individual according to their personality and traits.
To get a complete breakdown of the positive and negative factors contributing to a character’s satisfaction level, hovering cursor over a character's icon in the characters list accessible from the main campaign screen, next to the minimap.
There is no single method to keep all characters satisfied. A strong pacifist, for example, may become dissatisfied at the wars player wage, while a fiery militarist will be having the time of his life on the frontlines. Finding a balance – between working to satisfy the characters player like the most or who bring the most value to the faction – is one of Total War: THREE KINGDOMS’ key challenges.[1]
Deployment[]
- Main article: Court (Total War: Three Kingdoms)
Undeployed characters who are idle in court will become increasingly unhappy over time. To improve this, deploy them as generals, send them on assignment in controlled settlements, or give them administrative positions in court.
Gifting[]
- Main article: Ancillary (Total War: Three Kingdoms)
The satisfaction of the characters can be improved by giving them fancy things – like precious items, rank titles (which come with better salaries) and positions of power within player's faction (such as an administrator, prime minister, or even faction heir).[2]
Guanxi[]
- Main article: Guanxi
Characters love to hang out with their friends, so if there are people they like in the same faction, or the same close-proximity working environments, their satisfaction will rise. Conversely, they will be less satisfied if rivals exist in the same faction as them.
Player can manipulate the Satisfaction of a character (or all characters) within a faction, but player can't manipulate the Guanxi (relationship) between characters directly, becasue guanxi changes can only happen organically.
Promotion[]
- Main article: Title Rank
Aside from the Faction Rank owned by faction leader. Each character in player's faction has their own Title Rank assigned by the player. Higher rank grants better salary (upkeep cost) which increases satisfaction for the character that received it. Other than being a reward to unsatisfied heroes and their lust for fame, Title Rank doesn't modify any battle/campaign related stats.