How do I get more leaders?

[vonduus]

The manual says:

"You will be provided additional leaders based on historical patterns and any current
shortage of leaders..."

What does "current shortage" mean?

Subjectively I feel I have a very strong current shortage of leaders . The supply of army generals is quite adequate for my needs, (I could use some more, but who couldn't?) but I would really like some more naval commanders.

If I build a shitload of ships, will I then get more naval commanders?

Is there anything else I can do to get more?

[Jim-NC]

You have a certain number of generals/admirals (based on the date and your nation). At various times, you will get an increase in the number of available generals. So for example, if you have 8 total generals, and the magic date hits, you are now allowed 9 generals. The manual statement means that if a general dies for some reason (battle, disease), or retires, and you are short of the limit, then a new general of that level will spawn. So for example, as the USA player, I have Sherman and Jessup as 3 star generals, and Sherman dies. If my limit was 2, and now I only have Jessup, the game will give me a new 3 star general (it may promote a 2 star general, or it may just give me a new one).
As another example, If I was allowed a minimum of 2 generals, but Grant had been promoted to 3 stars due to battlefield service (so now I have 3 generals with 3 stars), and Sherman dies, I will not get a replacement (as I still have 2 generals of the rank).
Your number of generals/admirals is not based on the size of your army/navy, but by programmer design.

You can mod the number of generals allowed in the game via a script. I am not sure of the exact command to give you a larger pool.

[vonduus]

Okay, thanks. I saw there is also a mod with lots of new leaders.

[Jonathan Pollard]

I have a single naval leader who sucks, he has a negative modifier to combat. If I disband him, will a different leader show up to replace him, one who hopefully doesn't suck so badly? Because disbanding costs victory points, I'm also thinking about having him attack some rebels by himself to hopefully kill himself off, but something like that is very gamey.

While I'm at it, I'd like to ask whether it's safe to have leaders travel by themselves for long distances. Do they risk getting killed if they encounter rebels along the way?

[loki100]

While I'm at it, I'd like to ask whether it's safe to have leaders travel by themselves for long distances. Do they risk getting killed if they encounter rebels along the way?

pretty safe, give them the green stance and evade on contact, they are almost impossible to detect. There is quite a tradition in the older versions of Rise of Prussia of sending Austrian generals across Prussia to Pommerania to lead the Swedes.

[Jim-NC]

If you kill him off, a new leader should emerge. You may or may not get the same leader. There is a limited pool of leaders, and sometimes for higher level leaders, if it is not their end date, they can return from the dead.

Your leaders are hard to find when alone, they usually can slip through enemy territory (not always however).