Request: Religion Guide

[drsparnum]

I would love to see a guide to religions in Civ 4. Something like the game guides that you found all over the MOO3 forums (http://www.ina-community.com/forums/...play.php?f=278) that really cleared up some of the more confusing aspects of the game.

For me, religion is the most confusing aspect of this game, probably because it wasn't in previous games. For example, should I found 1 religion and do my darndest to spread it the far corners of the world? I see alot of posts where people want to found as many religions as possible - to gain what? And if you are doing that do you still use missionaries to manipulate your own populace into a sort of unitheism? Does a missionary do anything if he just sits on another city? I've heard mention here that you can only have 3 missionaries at a time, which implies to me you would have some use for a standing missionary I don't know about. All I know that they do is go to a city, and you hit the convert button.

A guide from someone more knowledgable than me (so anyone) would be most appreciated. Who will heed the call?

[Urban Ranger]

You should try to found as many religions as you can. This way you can build a bunch of shrines later, which gives you $$$ and information of cities and surrounding areas where that religion is practised. By doing so you also deny other players from doing the same thing to you.

Religion spreads by itself, particularly when cities are connected by roads or waterways. You can speed up the process by sending out missionaries. Also, you can target certain cities by sending out missionaries, esp the capital cities of anybody who doesn't have a state religion yet.

A missionary doesn't do anything sitting around. So just use him up when he gets to the destination.

[drsparnum]

You the man, Urban Ranger.

And do the benefits of religous buildings stack? For example, does the number of happy people increase in a city that builds a temple of religion X when it already has a temple of religion Y?

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by drsparnum
And do the benefits of religous buildings stack? For example, does the number of happy people increase in a city that builds a temple of religion X when it already has a temple of religion Y?

Yup. I think the most important part is the cultural aspect. Founding multiple religions is a good way to a cultural or domination victory.

[Enigma_Nova]

The best way to get a Domination victory is to slash and burn everything in your army's path and you know it, UR.

[SorvinoBackhand]

But want about founding religions ?

It seems to give you:

1. Culture in the city where founded, even when you have nothing else producing culture there. (I can't find out where the culture is coming from in the city screen, but it has happened in several games I have played.)

2. You get to build a shrine at some point in the game.

Anything else ?

[Cort Haus]

Multi-religions approaches are a valid option, OTOH time spent founding and spreading religions is time not spent doing other things, and trying to found as many as possible is not mandatory. In many cases one is enough, as it gets harder to convert cities with religions already present.

Also, converting to your religion can give a diplo hit if rivals are fond of their own - be careful of Spain, particularly.

[Fried-Psitalon]

http://www.apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=142017

Enjoy.

[SorvinoBackhand]

Thanks Fred. Very helpful.

So how do you know where all these useful threads are ? I feel like I ask a lot of questions that have been discussed in other, richer threads. But I can't find them. Using the search on the Apolyton fora doesn't seem to work so well for me. Would love to know how to troll better if you can tell me !

[Arrian]

As far as I'm concerned, founding one religion is pretty key, but more than one is just gravy. I often found 2, and have occasionally founded more, although I wasn't really going all-out for them, it was a quirky game.

You're only going to get a big benifit out of one - your state religion - until Free Religion (Liberalism). I would argue that spending time & hammers on missionaries of religions that are NOT your state religion much before you get to Free Religion is a waste of resources better allocated elsewhere (like defending your empire or building stuff in your cities).

-Arrian

[Fried-Psitalon]

Originally posted by SorvinoBackhand
Thanks Fred. Very helpful.

So how do you know where all these useful threads are ? I feel like I ask a lot of questions that have been discussed in other, richer threads. But I can't find them. Using the search on the Apolyton fora doesn't seem to work so well for me. Would love to know how to troll better if you can tell me !

I find most of the threads of quality are the high-comment threads in the Strategy area. High-comment threads in General usually consist of philosophical rubbish or flamewars.

As for knowing about that particular article, well... I did sort of write it.

[Arrian]

[Enigma_Nova]

Seconded that
Religion, why more than one?
More gold from spreading more religions with the shrine has been pointed out, but I prefer to keep my rivals with only one religion if I can.
Founding a religion lets you spy into cities that also have the religion.
Biggest, Imo, is the ability to build a temple for +1 Happy or a Monastery for +10% Science, and later on you can build a Cathedral for +50% Culture.
More than one religion is worth it, if you have a city with a lot of health but which is already at its happycap.

[Konquest02]

Lots of religions = Lots of cities with that religion = Lots of shirnes = Lots of cash = Lots of tech = More advanced troops for war...

That's one nice equation... Maybe oversimplified, but nice!

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Enigma_Nova
The best way to get a Domination victory is to slash and burn everything in your army's path and you know it, UR.

Pah, such an uncivilized way.