Though we have a number of gameplay mechanisms to affect our councilors' attributes and mission capability, I found myself trying to weigh professions' starting potential for optimal pairing during recruitment and retention decisions.

Each councilor profession has a range of potential starting values for each attribute along with starting mission capabilities. These are listed on the official wiki[hoodedhorse.com].

I took the data from the wiki and placed it in spreadsheet charts to more quickly reference how a candidate weighs up to their potential for their profession, how each profession fits with my current councilors for optimal coverage, and help with deciding which councilors to invest in for the campaign.

Link to the tables in spreadsheet format[docs.google.com]
Spreadsheet is in googlesheets so that anyone can make a copy and sort/edit for their own purposes.

Thumbnails below are too small to see some data. There seems to be an 'invalid link' error with Steam on opening these thumbnails in a new window via Steam interface. Either click the thumbnail, then click the URL in the new Steam window to be able to zoom in or click the hyperlink in text above each image to open in your browser. Both options should allow you to zoom in and see a larger, full image.

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Data is for usage as you see fit; however, if you're newer to the game, here's some suggestions:

• Councilors have a range of starting attributes that differ by their profession. The max and average tables list these values for each profession.
  
• Attributes affect probability of success of certain mission types that are related to an attribute. The missions chart lists the relevant attribute at the top.
  
• You can increase attribute values by augmenting from xp (leveling up) or by equipping organizations (more effective). Thus, while starting attributes are important for early game, it is not a sole factor in determining recruitment of candidates. It can determine how easy it is to reach a cap value for an attribute, though.
  
• Starting mission capability is important for early game as this determines your councilors' capabilities for missions. Orgs add mission capabilities, so this may become less important. This does require an org slot, however, to get this added artificial capability. If you're smart about your councilors' mission coverage based on their starting mission capability, you'll likely never lack the missions you need.
  
• The Administrative attribute adds organization slots to your councilor and is arguably the most important attribute as orgs more effectively add attributes/bonuses than augmentation.

• At the start of a game, I check the starting councilors and compare their stats to the max potential chart. If they don't measure up well to their potential, I consider them for dismissal at first opportunity I can reliably replace them.
  
• If I'm retaining any of the starting councilors long-term, then I consider the professions mission coverage and look at the mission chart to determine what other professions would pair well with my existing councilors. I aim to build a core team (at least the first 3-4 councilors) with every essential mission type I need.
  
• The average attribute chart is useful for when I'm planning on acquiring professions that currently are not a possible recruits. It gives me an idea of some probability of what to expect in their attributes when they hopefully do become candidates. I've summarized in shorthand, though, the likely strengths and possible strengths of each profession that I may quickly reference instead.

I don't really pretend to be good at this game, but as of now, I feel my optimal strategy for councilors is:

• Ensure I have 1-2 persuasion heavy councilors with relevant control nation/public support missions for starting land grabs.
  
• Ensure I get access to purge/crackdown missions before long for contested territory.
  
• When I've met those criteria and I am moving slightly forward in the game, I then seek a councilor (1 of the 4 professions capable) with Hostile Takeover and a good administrative value. Ideally, I can pair this with another councilor that is capable of investigate/detain councilors with a good investigate value.
  
• This becomes my adversary hunter team that seeks to find adversary councilors, detain them as needed, and use hostile takeover to take orgs -- ideally +admin orgs that allows me to more quickly buff my councilors with orgs by increasing their org cap. Ultimately I try to maintain a heavy org dominance over adversaries to unlock those higher mission successes with relevant attributes in the 20s.
  
• After this basic starting team makeup is established, form and adapt the rest as you see fit as the game goes on. User aoscot pointed out in the comments that the heavy admin councilor still grants great benefit from advise missions if he's not actively stealing orgs.

Then again, I haven't really tried this yet -- just a theory....

That is all.