Conform for peace?

[eluciv]

When employing a builder/isolationist strat, I'm wondering if anyone else has noticed the benefits of adopting the religion of the most militarily powerful/aggressive AI civ(s)?

I've only been playing up to Noble level so far, but the last game I had a pretty sizeable lead on everyone but Egypt. Consequently, the top 4 AI civs were all Confucian. I was Elizabeth and when I started to pull away by building about every available wonder, the threats started rolling in. I had no real military to speak of, so even though I founded Christianity, I decided to adopt Confucinism in an attempt to keep the others at bay.

Well, it certainly worked - though I wasn't a complete isolationist (I did a small amount of trading), and never gave into any demands, having the same religion often was the deciding factor in keeping me in "good graces" while I merrily built away. In fact, by game's end (Space victory), I think I had every wonder except Hollywood. The only way I could done this, I think, is because I dind't fight a single battle against the AI - and the stronger aggressive AIs most specifically.

No, not the most exciting game, but it played quick (under 4 hours...for me that's quick). Just curious if others have found conforming to a nonfounded religion equally "beneficial" for the sake of being a peacenik?

[Quillan]

It's always beneficial. The only thing you have to consider is the benefits against the drawbacks. You lose out on two things by adopting someone elses religion: you lose the money generated by the shrine of your own religion, and by spreading the new religion through your own cities to gain the benefits of the state religion you add more money to the owner of the holy city. The gain is the diplomatic status. Which is more important in that particular situation?

[eluciv]

I suppose it would have to be weighed, but if conforming keeps you from being attacked the majority (all???) of the time, you'll save far more money by not going to war than you would gain by having a religion you founded. It wouldn't even be close unless your empire had a huge number of cities...and that's not likely with the iso-builder strat.

It doesn't mean other civs won't have your founded religion...

[Diadem]

Your give your 'ally' line of sight into your cities as well. And of course, you loose line of sight into enemy cities.

Switching can sometimes be beneficial. But not always.

If your army is strong enough you don't need to switch. Just give 'em the finger and if they declare war on you, raze their capital.

[Huck the Dog]

Even better: take the holy city, then convert.

Im in a game right now where I've beaten back Spain and am somewhat exposed on two other sides, including one guy who dislikes me greatly and who could declare war any time. My people are already war weary, and I could use some nice peaceful build time.

On my last turn, I captured the Spanish holy city. Although I have worked very hard to spread my own religion, I believe I can ensure peace with all but one of my neighbors by simply converting to the Spanish religion, which is also the religion of my other most powerful neighbor, Russia. Since I have the shrine now, doing so will probably ensure peace with them at no cost (and probably a net gain) to me. At least until I'm ready to open up another can of whoopass.

So "conform for peace" can help you warmonger, too.

[Ezy]

i have a holy city of my neighbor teligion, i have my own( a different one)
they still hate me for it, iget -4 for it, its just now i get extra gold for the religion in their towns

i think it should matter who control the holy tonw,
i think some aggresive civs should try to take it and hate me alot for it and some peaceful civs should actualy give me some +1 or 2 for having their holy town even if i get -2 or -4 for being different religion

i know its a game but look at RL Jerusalim, like the guy in "the kingdom of heave" said
"What is Jerusalim? It is nothing ... it is everything!"
so far in the game is like a bank, it gives u money, thats it (i dont want to go into ditail)

[Kc7mxo]

As long as the enemy isn't a theocracy, its pretty easy to convert them to your religion. I typically do it to anyone I'm not going to conquer. Keeps them friendly, and gets your finances waaaaaaay up.

There seems to be a crtical percentage of an AI's population where he'll automatically convert to that religion. In my last game the distant romans were being rude, but we still had open borders, so I dropped a missionary in all their cities, and they were soon declaring war on my enemies for chump change.

[khearn]

I had a game where Alexander was close by (just accross a coastal channel), and he had picked up a religion that Saladin (on his other side) had founded. I spread my religion to every one of his cities, but the option to convert in the diplo trade window was still red "We just don't like you enough". I started gifting him resources and techs, but still "We just don't like you enough". I got fed up after a while and decided I didn't like him enough either, so I invaded him. He ended up exiled on a 1-tile island that I decided wasn't worth my effort to invade. Stupid little git.

So it's not always pretty easy to convert them, and they don't automatically convert at a certain percentage. All of Alex's cities had my religion, and not all had Saladin's.

This was a noble diffculty, if that makes any difference.