Justice1337
Sofa King
Replaying 2 games 7-8 times each may give you very similar results each time in terms of what the AI does. Each has a certain flavor for religion, and restarting doesn't change who's on the map. I'd opt to play 14 or so new games instead.
I also usually get the second or third Pantheon while playing Theo. But I'm usually still the second religion on Immortal, and even being third or fourth 2 buildings are often still available on founding. Good thing that the bonus gives you the extra belief upfront. Getting 3 buildings with Dora is a pretty crazy scenario, I'll admit. But the real question is whether opening Piety is the best route to a cultural VC as Byzantium, and I think it's a definite yes answer there, even with only 2 buildings. Absolute sickest is to get a Wine/Incense start w/ Monasteries and Pagodas.
On picking another Reformation than Sacred Sites as Byzantium, it's obviously bad to do this when going for a Cultural VC. The question is then, is Piety best for Byzantium for other VC's? You could make a good argument for it, but then you run into the problem raised over and over that Religion can't win you the game directly. There's no "Religion" victory. And so sure, if you're pointed at a Science win, then Jesuit Education is basically the only reason you ever go into Piety, which means that you're screwed if you're beaten to it. What mitigates against that though is that you're usually only competing against one AI who both opened Piety and is getting more culture than you are.
Another thing on that, I think it's a mistake to save up Faith for a second Prophet to enhance, rather than building a Pagoda. Pagodas give you culture, which shoots you down the tree faster so that you can get the Reformation you want. Then you complete the tree faster and get your second Prophet that way. That could be why multiple AI's are beating you to Reformation. You have to take advantage of any and all Culture that your Religion gives you in order to make good pace in the Piety track.
Also, in case you're doing this, don't play on maps larger than Standard if you want your pick of beliefs. Just FYI.
I also usually get the second or third Pantheon while playing Theo. But I'm usually still the second religion on Immortal, and even being third or fourth 2 buildings are often still available on founding. Good thing that the bonus gives you the extra belief upfront. Getting 3 buildings with Dora is a pretty crazy scenario, I'll admit. But the real question is whether opening Piety is the best route to a cultural VC as Byzantium, and I think it's a definite yes answer there, even with only 2 buildings. Absolute sickest is to get a Wine/Incense start w/ Monasteries and Pagodas.
On picking another Reformation than Sacred Sites as Byzantium, it's obviously bad to do this when going for a Cultural VC. The question is then, is Piety best for Byzantium for other VC's? You could make a good argument for it, but then you run into the problem raised over and over that Religion can't win you the game directly. There's no "Religion" victory. And so sure, if you're pointed at a Science win, then Jesuit Education is basically the only reason you ever go into Piety, which means that you're screwed if you're beaten to it. What mitigates against that though is that you're usually only competing against one AI who both opened Piety and is getting more culture than you are.
Another thing on that, I think it's a mistake to save up Faith for a second Prophet to enhance, rather than building a Pagoda. Pagodas give you culture, which shoots you down the tree faster so that you can get the Reformation you want. Then you complete the tree faster and get your second Prophet that way. That could be why multiple AI's are beating you to Reformation. You have to take advantage of any and all Culture that your Religion gives you in order to make good pace in the Piety track.
Also, in case you're doing this, don't play on maps larger than Standard if you want your pick of beliefs. Just FYI.
tradition + piety is awesome on some starts.
