The Pious Reformer Build
Embarking on a path of religious reform can reshape the spiritual landscape of your realm and beyond, granting unique casus bellis, powerful doctrines, and a devoted populace. This build centers around achieving high piety, influencing your faith, and ultimately reforming it to suit your dynasty's needs. Your ruler's education and lifestyle are key. Prioritize the Learning lifestyle, focusing on the "Theologian" and "Scholar" trees. Perks like "Theologian", which grants a significant piety gain, and "Divine Guidance", which increases your faith's fervor, are essential. Seek out a spouse with high Learning and a good education trait, and consider marrying courtiers with high Learning to your children.
Piety is your primary resource. Engage in devout activities: go on pilgrimages, donate to temples, and use the "Sway" scheme on religious figures. The "Become a Saint" decision, while challenging, offers immense piety and prestige. Your councilor, the Court Chaplain, is vital. Ensure they have high Learning and are loyal. Use them to convert counties to your faith and to fabricate claims on religious sites. When you have accumulated enough piety (typically 750), you can initiate the "Reform Faith" decision. This allows you to choose new doctrines and tenets. Consider tenets that grant powerful bonuses, such as "Warmonger" for easier conquest, "Astute Intellectuals" for increased Learning, or "Communal Identity" for better vassal opinion. The choice of doctrines can drastically alter your faith's playstyle and your interactions with other rulers.
Congenital traits that aid this build include "Intelligent", "Theologian" (if available), and any trait that boosts Learning. A high Learning skill will make your Court Chaplain more effective and increase your piety gain from events. Remember that a strong, reformed faith can be a powerful tool for both internal stability and external expansion, allowing you to wage holy wars and spread your influence across the map.