CK3 DatabaseCrusader Kings III · 1.20.0.3 “Crozier” · unofficial

Activity

Capital Examination

All Under Heaven

Capital Examination is an activity in Crusader Kings III for up to 1 guest. Its options: type (Insightful Scholars, Military Strategists and Efficient Governance), examination breadth (Exclusive Summons, Restricted Summons and Open Summons) and examination passing grade (Low Grade, Mediocre Grade, High Grade and Extreme Grade). Host intents: Espouse Legitimacy and Scout Talent. Cooldown 5 years at base. Its cost script uses treasury. It needs All Under Heaven. Patch 1.20.0.3, from game/common/activities/activity_types/imperial_examination.txt.

Quick answers (3)
What do the capital examination examination breadth options do in CK3?
Exclusive Summons: The activity is open to a select few, excluding members of the general public; You will earn less Merit on completion. Restricted Summons: The entrants are limited to a modest crowd, allowing some members of the general public.. Open Summons: The activity is hosted at a large scale, introducing a lot of eager entrants; You will earn more Legitimacy on completion.
What do the capital examination examination passing grade options do in CK3?
Low Grade: The passing grade for the exams is very lax, eliminating a minute amount of entrants; You will earn a lot less Legitimacy on completion. Mediocre Grade: The passing grade for the exams is a tad relaxed, eliminating a smaller amount of entrants; You will earn less Legitimacy on completion. High Grade: The passing grade for the exams is regular, eliminating an expected amount of entrants; Legitimacy rewards on completion are unaffected. Extreme Grade: The passing grade for the exams is very high, eliminating a lot of entrants; You will earn a lot more Legitimacy on completion.
How long is the capital examination cooldown?
5 years: the base its cooldown value starts from (patch 1.20.0.3).

It is our honor and duty to uphold the structure and arrange these examinations. They allow us to evaluate, determine and award Merit to the most suited individuals — to ensure the future prosperity of the realm.

Type

  • Insightful Scholarsdefault

    The exams will be more meritorious to entrants who excel in Learning "It is our pleasure to learn and to put that learning to good use."

  • Military Strategists

    The exams will be more meritorious to entrants who excel in Martial "Military strategy is as much a virtue as any other learning."

    Adds to the cost: treasury

  • Efficient Governance

    The exams will be more meritorious to entrants who excel in Stewardship "There is a distinct difference between those who make a living by talking, and actual useful people."

    Adds to the cost: treasury

Examination Breadth

  • Exclusive Summons

    • The activity is open to a select few, excluding members of the general public
    • You will earn less Merit on completion

    I will let my subjects' most distinguished children serve in my realm.

    Adds to the cost: treasury

  • Restricted Summonsdefault

    • The entrants are limited to a modest crowd, allowing some members of the general public.

    Prospective governors may emerge from the most humble roots.

    Adds to the cost: treasury

  • Open Summons

    • The activity is hosted at a large scale, introducing a lot of eager entrants
    • You will earn more Legitimacy on completion

    Wisdom can come from all areas. Let us cast a wide net and see who will rise to the occasion.

    Adds to the cost: treasury

Examination Passing Grade

  • Low Grade

    • The passing grade for the exams is very lax, eliminating a minute amount of entrants
    • You will earn a lot less Legitimacy on completion

    We need these merited officials now. I make the rules and determine the standards; they follow. Such is my mandate.

  • Mediocre Grade

    • The passing grade for the exams is a tad relaxed, eliminating a smaller amount of entrants
    • You will earn less Legitimacy on completion

    What's to say these entrants with humble beginnings won't learn on the job. As long as they have solid foundations, I say let them pass.

  • High Grade

    • The passing grade for the exams is regular, eliminating an expected amount of entrants
    • Legitimacy rewards on completion are unaffected

    My standards are high; but not unreasonable. If we want government officials based on merit, they need to reach a certain degree of excellence.

  • Extreme Grade

    • The passing grade for the exams is very high, eliminating a lot of entrants
    • You will earn a lot more Legitimacy on completion

    Only the cream of the crop shall hold a passing grade and become my next government officials.

Host intents

  • Espouse LegitimacyYou intend to use this gathering as a means to promote your Legitimacy.
  • Scout TalentYou seek to discover talent among selected individuals from all across the realm.

Guest intents

  • Take ExaminationYou will attempt to pass the examination, increasing your Merit.
  • Support EntrantsYou seek opportunities to further the chances of your available Disciples and Close Family Members.
  • Assist ExaminationYou wish to rub elbows with prospective officials and cultivate your Confucian Education.

Phases

  1. AssemblySearching high and low, all eligible entrants are making their way to the examination halls.
  2. PreparationThe entrants, as well as the host, bides their time, scrambling to make what preparations are available for the examinations.
  3. Metropolitan ExaminationThe metropolitan examination starts. Let the chips fall where they may.
  4. Palace ExaminationThe palace examination starts. This is when the highest-achieving scholars prove themselves before the Emperor.

Where it plays out

The event backgrounds this activity uses; the game picks one by the place's culture and the moment.

Who can host it (is_shown) (11 lines of game script)
government_has_flag = government_is_celestial
has_tgp_dlc_trigger = yes
trigger_if = {
	limit = {
		is_ai = yes
		NOT = {
			has_character_flag = examinations_ai_override
		}
	}
	years_from_game_start >= 5
}

As written in game/common/activities/activity_types/imperial_examination.txt.

Cost (56 lines of game script)
treasury = {
	if = {
		limit = {
			is_ai = no
		}
		add = {
			add = {
				value = imperial_examination_actual_cost
				desc = imperial_examination_base_cost
			}
			if = {
				limit = {
					root.capital_province = {
						has_building_or_higher = kaifeng_palace_01
					}
				}
				multiply = {
					value = {
						value = 1
						subtract = kaifeng_examination_cost_value
					}
					desc = kaifeng_palace_name_desc
				}
			}
			if = {
				limit = {
					scope:province ?= {
						has_building_or_higher = examination_hall_01
					}
				}
				add = {
					value = 0
					add = {
						value = imperial_examination_base_cost
						add = {
							value = imperial_examination_base_cost
							multiply = activity_cost_scale_by_era
							subtract = imperial_examination_base_cost
						}
					}
					multiply = imperial_examination_cost_discount_max_value
					desc = imperial_examination_cost_discount_examination_hall
				}
			}
		}
	}
	else = {
		value = 0
	}
	if = {
		limit = {
			factor_zero_if_entitled_to_freebie_activity_trigger = yes
		}
		multiply = 0
	}
}

As written in game/common/activities/activity_types/imperial_examination.txt.

Source: game/common/activities/activity_types/imperial_examination.txt, common/activities/intents and the English localisation, Crusader Kings III 1.20.0.3. Option texts are the game's own; costs are shown as the script the game evaluates.