Early Religions

[JeebusGreen]

Curious about whether or not many people try for the early religions - mainly Buddhism and Hinduism.

Is it possible on the Noble and upwards difficulties to actually get them at all?

Even with a beeline, the AI tends to jump for them too, and once the difficulty ramps up a little they have the tech advantage.

So, any point in trying?

[Seedle]

You can get them everytime with advanced start. But if you're not a cheating whuss like me, yeah, it is hard to get them through research. That's why I build an army to take the holy cities. And getting code of laws isn't that hard, if you can't take the other religions by force, and confucianism is usually earlier enough to be viable to spread to the AIs.

[Modo44]

Judaism is pretty easy to get up to monarch (haven't tried higher) with a beeline. If you start with mysticism, you can often get Hinduism as well.

[Willem]

If I start with Mysticism on Noble, I'm pretty much sure I'll get Buddhism. Provided I have some tiles that produce commerce. Occasionaly I do get beat out though.

[Crossfire]

Even on Prince you can get Hinduism if your capitol has a floodplain to work. If you have an Oasis you are golden even on Monarch.

[Swiss Pauli]

Most AI prefer Buddhism, so at Emperor Poly is possible if you have Mysticism and some commerce from turn 1.

[wodan11]

If I'm going for Great Wall or Pyramids, I'll often go for the one past Masonry... what is it, Polytheism? Anyway, I almost always get it when I'm doing that.

If not, then I agree about the early ones.

Some good options:
* capture holy cities
* if you're doing a great scientist lightbulb strat, Taoism is a pretty sure thing
* even if you don't get Buddism or Hinduism, going up through Priesthood for Oracle is a very good idea. Research writing while building Oracle, and lightbulb theocracy or CoL. (CoL is more expensive and gets you confucianism plus courthouses. Theocracy gets you christianity plus the apostolic palace... a very strong play for the hammers plus voting capabilities.)

Wodan

[Ming]

If I start with a civ that has myst to begin with, I will probably try for an early religion with my first tech.

But if not, I pray I can win the race to COL... which I can usually do with no problem except at the hightest levels.

In MP, I may not go for an early religion even if I get Myst as a starting science because military techs are far more important.

[Supr49er]

Unless I play a civ with Mysticism, I don't even try to get an early religion. I find it possible to get Taoism or Islam later.

[couerdelion]

Starting with Myst, I'll take a shot at Hinduism, particularly if I start with 10-12 commerce.

Even if odds are no better than evens, the happiness (and civic) bonuses should pay off.

At deity level I think the odds are poor and may not be worth it.

[Ming]

I always love in MP when a neighbor goes for an early religion, while I go for Bronze. I get early axmen (assuming I get copper), and I also get an early religion by kicking his ass

[mkorin]

I find that regardless of what I do I will lose without Hinduism. It doesn't matter if I get Buddiasm or Christianity or Judism, I will lose without Hinduism. I find it fairly easy to get on Prince and just got it in my first Monarch game. I also try to get as many of the later religions for the cash of spreading missionaries and the the holy building for that faith.

Mike

[Supr49er]

Originally posted by mkorin
I find that regardless of what I do I will lose without Hinduism. It doesn't matter if I get Buddiasm or Christianity or Judism, I will lose without Hinduism. I find it fairly easy to get on Prince and just got it in my first Monarch game. I also try to get as many of the later religions for the cash of spreading missionaries and the the holy building for that faith.

Mike

Is that a superstition, or does Hinduism give you something extra?

[DirtyMartini]

Originally posted by Supr49er


Is that a superstition, or does Hinduism give you something extra?

Six arms or elephant head -- you choose.

[mkorin]

There is no superstition on my part, nor do I think there is a great advantage. I've just noticed if I have Hinduism, I win 80-90% of the time. If I don't I lose 80-90% of the time. Probably just a weird coincidence or maybe that development path favors my playing style. I really don't know, just that I must be a Hindu.

Mike