The Cabinet
The primary way you'll utilize characters is through the Cabinet. Your cabinet in EU5 is a team of advisors, nobles, diplomats, generals, or scholars, appointed to manage key tasks.

Your cabinet is crucial in how you build your nation and you can assign an advisor to promote societal values, develop provinces, increase control, integrate newly conquered lands or influence other crucial gameplay aspects. Each cabinet member possesses a unique set of abilities and attributes that impact the efficiency of the task at hand, and each cabinet action relies on one specific ability.

For example, developing a province requires administrative ability, and obstructing rebels uses military abilities. The abilities of your current ruler also influence the overall efficiency of your cabinet, allowing you to tailor your cabinet to capitalize on your nation's strengths or compensate for its weaknesses.

Among your cabinet members, you can appoint one to serve as the Cabinet’s representative as the head of the Cabinet, granting them additional efficiency bonuses.

The overall efficiency of your cabinet will also play a role in how well your cabinet does its tasks, impacted by cultures, laws, advances and more.

Ashikaga cabinet efficiency in 1337...

... And in 1784

Choosing your cabinet wisely is crucial, as its effectiveness directly impacts your economic, military, and diplomatic success.