But I would ask why CHOAM is a religion as opposed to a corporation (which it was in the novels)
We use the Religion mechanic in Dune not just to model religions (in terms of beliefs about god and such) but to model motivating ideas, and beliefs about who should be in charge.
The Imperial religion isn't worship, its political support favoring the Emperor as a source of power, and the traditional norms of the universe that exist at the start of the book Dune.
CHOAM is about throwing political support behind that organization and the Landsraad. Its still an old-guard religion, but its more adaptable, as long as CHOAM keeps bringing profits. Its hostile to anything that threatens the spice though.
Corporations are a poorly designed BTS mechanic. They are very confusing in how they are implemented - particularly their upkeep. They also can't really be used as a gold booster; all corporations end up costing gold and producing food, hammers or culture instead (or whatever).
We used to use the corporation mechanic for House Spice corporations, but then we managed to merge that functionality directly into the palaces. (You used to have to build a spice corporation hq building, unique for each faction, which founded the corporation, and was then un-spreadable.
Whereas religions are a transparent mechanic, and they affect diplomacy and happiness levels as well.
So: we've thought about this, and I think the current solution is probably simplest.
By the way I should point out I only just recently started playing with DW
No problem. I encourage you to keep posting feedback; the "initial impressions" of a new player are often the most valuable kind of feedback.
and am still playing at one level above noob until I can get myself all the way up to speed
There's a lot to learn, so this is wise. However, I think the game gets much more fun at the highest difficulty levels, where the AI can really start to put up a decent fight, and tends to beat you to wonders and .
I would say that the most important advice I'd give is:
a) Pay very careful attention to city placement. Optimal city placement is mostly about getting access to water (from mesa, groundwater or bonus plants) in the BFC, and bonus resources to a lesser extent. You'll want to build cities a lot further apart than in vanilla; its rare that you'll want to overlap.
b) Concentrate on techs and buildings that increase water yield. Water is more of a binding constraint than happiness is.
c) The mod favors rapid expansion. If you don't settle there, the AI will.
d) Pay close attention to civic synergies, including your choice of Paradise or Spice. Certain combinations work very well together in supporting ether specialist or cottage economies.
e) Adjust your playstyle to take advantage of your faction's advantages and those of your religion.
f) Tech bee-lining can be very powerful. The tech tree is much "wider" than in vanilla, you don't need everything.
.
