The game wont let me get past king to become emperor unless im a yellow turban?

[NevilleKai]

So I've had this problem ever since my first play-through as a custom officer and didn't think much of it. At the time, the game at least made me duke but never any higher rank by the time i won. My next campaign was a cao cao run where, yet again, i did not become emperor BUT this time i wasn't able to even be duke! i thought "maybe i'm just speeding through it all but when i decided to do a zhang jiao play-through, it was the single time i was able to become a emperor despite being just as conquest heavy! If anybody could tell me whats going on, i would be thankful.

[OceanPink]

you conquer a state and chose to end game?
I did my Liubei run and become emperor before i end game tho

[NevilleKai]

Originally posted by OceanPink:

you conquer a state and chose to end game?
I did my Liubei run and become emperor before i end game tho

no, i never conquered a state and chose to end game.( though i did do the event for the things it gives if i decline) I typically go for owning all bases, which is why i am confused why i never got higher ranks. though, maybe i am just speeding past the game, i will try wasting a few months on one of my old saves to see if it does anything.

[Narrowmind]

In most of the games, you get higher ranks based purely on the amount of land you own. The Turbans have been an exception, though.

I always considered that fair, because most of the game timeline is based on Xian being the emperor, even if in name only. Cao Cao didn't get it until after death, and Pi only got it because he dethroned the emperor. Bei named himself as successor to Xian. Quan was like, whatever, I guess I'll play along. So it makes sense that Zhang Jiao would be an exception. They didn't recognize the authority of the Han dynasty.

In several games, such as XIV, the ranks specifically come from the Han court. So with the primacy of the tales system, I can imagine how it might be impossible for Cao Cao to become emperor unless the system let's him through circumstance, but I don't know for sure one way or the other.

[NevilleKai]

Originally posted by Narrowmind:

In most of the games, you get higher ranks based purely on the amount of land you own. The Turbans have been an exception, though.

Makes sense, though no matter how many bases i have conquered, it still doesnt give me titles befitting of my land. I went back to my custom character campaign with all but one place left and decided to waste some months and parliaments and....still nothing, no further titles despite having met the requirements A LONG TIME ago. With the yellow turbans, it gives you the titles IMMEDIATELY as soon as you meet the requirements. either im not waiting long enough or my campaigns are bugged, lol. Thanks for the reply though!

[Narrowmind]

I hope you're able to figure it out soon. Enjoy your campaigns!

[{5LINE}Cows with Guns]

Originally posted by NevilleKai:

Makes sense, though no matter how many bases i have conquered, it still doesnt give me titles befitting of my land. I went back to my custom character campaign with all but one place left and decided to waste some months and parliaments and....still nothing, no further titles despite having met the requirements A LONG TIME ago. With the yellow turbans, it gives you the titles IMMEDIATELY as soon as you meet the requirements. either im not waiting long enough or my campaigns are bugged, lol. Thanks for the reply though!

There are either some issues with the English translations (I play this game in Chinese) or it is bugged... English translations has never been a strong suite for Koei.
My understanding is there are a few conditions - Liu Bei is -OR- Yellow Turban are the 2 easiest conditions to meet in a normal playthrough.

I'll see about uploading some screenshots of the conditions later.

Edit: Liu Bei -OR- Yellow Turban

[{5LINE}Cows with Guns]

The conditions summarized from the Chinese version and roughly translated:

Succeeding as the next Han Emperor
- Lord title is "King" (王)
- East Han emperor is alive & active.
- Own > 40 cities
- Notoriety/infamy < 500
- Player is NOT in the yellow turban faction
- Any ONE of the below conditions

• Player belongs to Liu Bei Faction
  
• Married to a specific lady (昭華姬), I don't know the English version and i'm too lazy to start a new game in English to unlock it.
  
• Martial fame >= 2000
  
• Culture fame >= 2000

Succeeding as a new dynasty's emperor.
- Lord title is "King" (王)
- East Han emperor is alive & active.
- Own > 40 cities
- NOT Married to a specific lady (昭華姬).
- Notoriety/infamy < 500
- Player is NOT in the yellow turban faction

Seizing the Throne
- East Han emperor is alive & active.
- Own > 35 cities
- Lord title is "King" (王) -OR-
- Player is in the yellow turban faction