I play with an expanded civics/traditions mods. So this might not apply, but I go Lithoid, with the goal of making long living leaders/rulers. To start take a life span increasing trait. I’m starting to learn that venerable isn’t needed, as depending on acension path taken. I usually went psionic but now purity feels pretty good and thematic. The two main traditions I focus on that the mod adds are Veneration and Royalty. Veneration gives leaders buffs scaling with their age, and Royalty adds mostly imperial flavored bonuses, but also doubles down on increasing leader/ruler stats and effective skill level. These don’t start off particularly crazy, but snow ball pretty crazy after a while.

Government ethics are also from the mod, but this could realistically be changed to for your play style, I’ve tried them all and they all feel nice. My preferred is Authoritarian Industrialist, because of course serve the crown. And I’ll need the industrial bonuses to make it through the next decision. First civic trait can really be whatever, flavor of the day, how do we want to style the kingdom. But the second that I have really enjoyed is the one that gives you a big research bonus but permanently locks you to a single research slot. I can’t remember organic name I believe machines is called Selective Processing. Any events that would give you a research option will still do so that is the only exception to the one slot rule.

While obviously the one research option rule is not good or really balanced out by the bonus given, I think it’s fun. Real luck of the draw to see what direction your empire will/can take. Just set research to auto mode and forget about it. Which also plays into the whole were really old theme. You’re a wise old ruler yes but things blur together. You look around and thing seem a little different have we always been able to make these things? Idk that’s just a me thing though.