Dynasties were like the most complete feature of E:WOM. They just needed to make a few tweaks and bam you have something cool.

Dynasty was a game in the game, and as that it was fairly hard to really let it interconnect with the rest of the game. The only interest was for new heroes.

So, for an interesting dynasty system it needs to use a lot of the actual system : create connection with the stat system, with the magic, with the research, with cities, with armies, etc.

For instance : when a child is born you can choose a "path" for him (I mean what will you teach him/her):

Path of the hero : when it will reach adulthood, your kid will become a level 1 hero. If he/she don't die before due to poor conditions and training (for instance ona 50% the kid dies, 30% it starts with a wound, 10% it starts good, 10% it starts at level 2)

Path of the governor : you don't get one more hero, but you "attach" your kid to a city providing some bonuses. One governor per city, and you can level up the governor.

Path of the magi : You "attach" your kid to magical research : every 10 turns you have a 10% chance to get a new spell, or mana, or etc.

Path of the merchant : you "attach" your kid to a city : it generates more gold and you can have 1 more road

Path of the diplomat : you "attach" your kid to an oppponent and you can gain some intel on them, you get a better view of treaties, etc.

Path of the healer : you "attach it to an army, that army gets +X health per turn, and the army can revive land if they stay (so you can create good places for new cities)

etc.

I agree.  I think that if partial code is in already for dynasties, and we have even been given a way to see dynasties by changing an option, I think it could work without too much trouble, with an idea like Vieuxchat's.

I'm putting a vote in for dynasties - but toned down as many have suggested.  I liked the idea - it made me care more about my kingdom.  

I really liked how leaders worked in ROME - many of them had really strong weaknesses too that made it interesting - to the point where you were happy some died in battle.  I had submitted a quest that involved/affected children of your sovereign - there are some interesting things you can do with them.  Maybe in the next expansion.

I would love to see dynasties returned as well so want to give my full throat-ed, unequivocal endorsement.  I remember the team saying early on that the Game of Thrones was one of their inspirations for the game and it was that feel and flavor of having a royal dynasty that you could see grow and evolve and come to care about they were trying to capture I think with the dynasty system.  If implemented properly, I think it could really add some intrigue and soul to the game.

There are some features of this franchise that I think are real standouts in the turn based strategy arena and I think the concept of dynasties was one (along with the ability to easily make a variety of user mods to maps, spells, building and units) that really had a lot of potential to turn a good game into a stupendous game.  

This.

I really liked the Dynasty Feature and would love to see it back.

I see the lack of uniqueness as the major problem with the dynasty system. In Elemental you looked from anyone with decent abilities for you clone children and the AIs all started with blank spouses. I think the dynasty system should be redone as follows:

A number of "Dynasty Quests" should be added to the game, ether as random events or as random spawned locations on the world map.

Each quest should offer a preset spouse of the correct gender upon completion or a suitable reward if marriage is not chosen. If marriage is not chosen the quest should remain available to other leaders; if already married you can do the quest for the reward.

Marriage may offer special buildings, units, or items/equipment (build able or given one time) Example: marrying a tribal princess/prince and getting access to tribe units or a tribal barter hut.

AI players must do quest to get married. It should be possible to marry off children to unmarried leaders.

The Game needs more RPG/CRPG elements not less. FE is the only expansion that has less features than the original WOM! If the game engine can't handle new stuff, what's the point to continue to develop it?

- Dynasties with remarriage if spouse dies, expanded family tree.

- Hidden traits that allow hero/family members do unexpected things (revolt/ change sides, kill other characters,  spy, steal, run off, revolt, etc.)

- Kidnap, capture, ransom, sell, trade hero/family members.

- Ranks and special training for hero/family members.

- Each town/city needs a leader!

- Better recruiting of heroes, this find a hero in a lock box is total crap!

I find it odd that Distant Worlds with the last expansion now has more RPG elements!

Dynasties were a cool idea, but ultimately didn't really fit in well with the rest of the game. I'd rather see them cut and tuning/polishing/added content work put into other areas of the game.

I don't see how people can say that dynasties doesn't 'fit'? We are playing a high fantasy game and anyone who has read a high fantasy novel knows that there are a few important things: Heros, Villians, Dragons, Royal Families.

Dynasties are still in the game, just disabled for now. (Some of the dynasty windows are blank at the moment) They will come back later on. Right now the dynasty feature is like icing on the cake and the cake hasn't even been baked yet. 

My guess is that dynasties will either be enabled in a content patch just before 1.0 goes live or in a content patch after the game has been released. it is also possible that they might wait until the first expansion for FE before bring it back.

When they do bring it back I hope they will implement alot of the ideas suggested in this thread. I especially like the idea of being able to kinap a neighboring kingdoms noble and holding him for ransom