Quick question...

In MP, simultaneous turns, what happens if 2 civs finish a wonder or discover a religion on the same turn? For example, it seems quite possible that 2 spiritual civs both start researching polytheism. Unless one has a bonus commerce from a river or something, they will both likely have the same research time. So how does the computer decide who founds Hinduism? If it is random that seems fair, but if it goes by player number that is unfair.

When you set the game up, one player is Player1 and one player is Player2.

IIRC, the one with the most overflow gets it. So if you over-research a tech by 21 beakers, you'll beat the one who overresearched it by 4.

Not tested. It's just what I heard.

I have heard that as well, but I wouldn't bet against pure end-of-turn order...

Ok, the overflow concept is nice and would greatly reduce the probability of a tie. But it still seems quite likely that 2 civs that research polytheism as their first tech will likely tie even with overflow. The cities will still usually be at size one before the tech is learned; and unless one of them is using a costal/river square, their research per turn will be identical. Tell me that doesn't mean player 1 will always found Hinduism.

*I* think that it does mean that Player 1 is "better" than Player 2, Lou. Sorry to inform you.

In Civ 3 any tied situation would go in favour of the first player on the list of civs. Hence it was a slight advantage to be the host. I haven't looked yet, but I expect this will be the same in Civ 4.