AI's religion preference

[sufficiency]

I know for a fact that the AIs do prefer naming their religions in a way. For example, when possible, Haile Selassie will always found Christianity, Harun al-Rashid will always found Islam, and Attila will always found Tengrism.

This changes, however, when (e.g.) Haile Selassie is about to found a religion but Christianity is already taken by someone else. How does the AI choose in this situation? Does each AI have a list of religion names in descending order, i.e. "found Christianity, if Christianity is taken, found Buddhism; if Buddhism is also taken, found Confucianism."? If this is the case, is there a list of their priorities? Or, do AIs just randomly choose a religion if their primary choice is taken?

 

[kamex]

I think its just random. I also think the beliefs they take are completely random. I've never seen any strategy in AI built religions. X(

 

[sufficiency]

I think its just random. I also think the beliefs they take are completely random. I've never seen any strategy in AI built religions. X(

The beliefs they take are definitely NOT random. The AI will never take Desert Folklore if it is not next to deserts, and it will never take Goddess of the Sea if it is not coastal. The more cultural/diplomatic-inclined AIs are also more likely to pick World Church/Papal Primacy.

That's beside the point here though. I am only interested in the NAME of the religion, not the beliefs.

 

[turingmachine]

Random would have been the smart way to do it, instead the Ai will just choose the first non chosen religion from the list, which since it's in alphabetical order means they all choose Buddhism then Christianity then Confucius etc.

 

[joncnunn]

Each civ has a preferred first choice for religion name; otherwise they'll take anything (random).

As to beliefs:
Pantheons: The AI does appear to have a set of criteria involving some of these.
But the default when it falls thru is a really bad one (extra strength to archers); Fertility Rites would make a much better default.

Rest of it: It's looking like there is probably a religious flavor that ties into beliefs since AI tends to stack faith based buildings if available and I've seen it also stack faith bonuses together.

 

[turingmachine]

Each civ has a preferred first choice for religion name; otherwise they'll take anything (random)

It's not random, they just choose the first one from the list that no one has chosen yet.

 

[Sonereal]

Not true at all, given Christianity and Islam are usually the first out the gate.

 

[Kwami]

Not true at all, given Christianity and Islam are usually the first out the gate.

Christianity and Islam are the preferred choice of more civs than the others.

 

[Sonereal]

Christianity and Islam are the preferred choice of more civs than the others.

I know. I was responding to the idea that the choices are random, or just "first off a list".

 

[Kwami]

I know. I was responding to the idea that the choices are random, or just "first off a list".

The OP was asking what happens when the preferred religion is already taken. In that case, there seems to be some debate about whether the leader chooses a random religion or the first available religion. I don't know the answer, though.

For reference, since someone will probably ask for it:

Buddhism: Siam
Christianity: America, Austria, Aztec, Byzantium, Celts, Denmark, England, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Greece, Inca, Iroquois, Maya, Netherlands, Polynesia, Rome, Russia, Sweden, Spain
Confucianism: Korea
Hinduism: India
Islam: Arabia, Babylon, Carthage, Egypt, Ottoman, Songhai
Shinto: Japan
Taoism: China
Tengriism: Huns, Mongol
Zoroastrianism: Persia

There are no "second choice", etc. in the XML files. Any religion that I haven't listed is not preferred by any current leaders.

 

[RedFuneral]

If they're preferred religion is taken they just take the furthest one to the left available on the religion menu. I have a few custom religions installed and the same ones show up every single game, those same ones are placed to the left of the default religions in the in game menu.

 

[sufficiency]

If they're preferred religion is taken they just take the furthest one to the left available on the religion menu. I have a few custom religions installed and the same ones show up every single game, those same ones are placed to the left of the default religions in the in game menu.

That makes sense. I almost always see buddhism in a game.

One of the reasons I want to figure it out is that I used to try to pick a religion that is "historically accurate" with the civ I am playing, but on higher difficulties this has became way too difficult, so I am trying to instead always pick one particular religion - and so far I've been sticking with Taoism. I guess this is a good choice: Wu doesn't focus on religion a lot, so even in games which she is present I can still usually found it before she goes.

 

[Biologist]

Trying to pick a specific religion for aesthetic reasons can be a pain if you're not first to found a religion. I suppose you could always just pick a different icon and then rename the religion to something aesthetically pleasing, but then the icon is still wrong.

 

[sufficiency]

The OP was asking what happens when the preferred religion is already taken. In that case, there seems to be some debate about whether the leader chooses a random religion or the first available religion. I don't know the answer, though.

For reference, since someone will probably ask for it:

Buddhism: Siam
Christianity: America, Austria, Aztec, Byzantium, Celts, Denmark, England, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Greece, Inca, Iroquois, Maya, Netherlands, Polynesia, Rome, Russia, Sweden, Spain
Confucianism: Korea
Hinduism: India
Islam: Arabia, Babylon, Carthage, Egypt, Ottoman, Songhai
Shinto: Japan
Taoism: China
Tengriism: Huns, Mongol
Zoroastrianism: Persia

There are no "second choice", etc. in the XML files. Any religion that I haven't listed is not preferred by any current leaders.

I just noticed something.

Judaism is actually not on this list. So I guess if I found Judaism every game, it will most likely never get taken by the AIs.

 

[Biologist]

I just noticed something.

Judaism is actually not on this list. So I guess if I found Judaism every game, it will most likely never get taken by the AIs.

AIs generally only take Judaism in a Standard or larger game where a normally Christian or Islamic civ cannot found their favorite religion and the next religion in line is also taken. It seems to go about 4th in most games I play (unless I select it before then), but I've never really kept track.

 

[TheMarshmallowBear]

I believe the max is 7 religions on a 12 player map, which means the following religions would be founded :
Buddhism
Christianity
Confucianism
Hinduism
Islam
Judaism
Shinto

Which means Shikism is the only religion NOT to be picked ever, unless the max would increase to eight.

 

[sufficiency]

I believe the max is 7 religions on a 12 player map, which means the following religions would be founded :
Buddhism
Christianity
Confucianism
Hinduism
Islam
Judaism
Shinto

Which means Shikism is the only religion NOT to be picked ever, unless the max would increase to eight.

Oh I completely forgot about Shikism >_<