Starting with VGN or FTG it is possible to change the mortality rate of leaders, both in battle or by sickness/old age (this concept will be mostly used for VGN, spanning 70 years).
In the Models.xls file, add 3 columns:
CombatDeathChance: The chance /10.000 to be a casualty if engaged into battle, for one round of battle. 100 = 1% chance. Default is 20, i.e this was the previous 'hard coded' value used in all games.
DeathChance: The chance to retire from wordly affair (old age, sickness, whatever) each turn, in 1/10.000. Default is 0. For the test to take place, you must set to 1 the variable ldrDeathBySickness in an option file.
DeathChanceInc is the increase, stored in each leader, to DeathChance, each turn. Default is 5. After 10 years in VGN, you have 1.2% of dying, each turn, but to reach that you passed 240 tests before, so overall you had a much bigger chance of dying, I let you calculate the probabilities . You can anyway put a safeguard by removing a leader by event after a given date.
Big DeathChance: the general is already old. Big DeathChanceInc: the general has a fragile health. Big CombatDeathChance: the leader died historically early (Lyon in AACW).
VGN, FTG: To be included
AACW, WIA: To be included after the release of FTG.