AP & Religion Strategies

[KingLoraxII]

Still struggling with some of the aspects on how to apply/change the religion landscape to my diplomacy.

For instance:
Saladin founded Islam - he has spammed it - and it is pretty widespread including my civ. I built the AP after lightbulbing Theology - which gave me a religion (Hinduism - religion choices on)......Should I attempt to spam Hinduism & build the shrine for the income - or just keep it obscure for awhile or for the whole game.

Question 2 - right now, I am religious leader eligible - if I spam Hinduism and change - will I still be in control....Because I own AP is it more reason to spam my religion?

 

[UWHabs]

AP is fixed in the religion it's build in. So if you were Islamic, and built the AP in that, it stays in that. AP votes are based on pop in cities of that state religion, and X2 if you're of that state religion. So, you could still be the leader in the AP (and even get a religious victory) if you aren't of that religion, but it's not easy.


As for spreading it and getting the shrine, I find it's usually worth it to spread it anyways, just since you can easily get +1 :happy: from the temple, and +10% science from a monastery. If you can get a priest, then it's usually worth it to grab the shrine, as long as you can spread it to at least probably 7-10 cities (otherwise you're better to just settle the priest usually).

 

[thadian]

you can espionage people out of theocracy as long as you aren't running it. if your minority religion is indeed the AP, expect the AI to spread it to its own cities.

as for converting them to your religoin, its best to convert to theirs! so here is the scenario.

you get your shrine, and AP of hindu but most of everyone is Islam. you can now convert to islam, espionage everyone but your friends into theocracy and into islam if they aren't already. this leaves you with the primary vote! you still can't "vote yourself a victory" but if the only voters are your close friends and nobody else has a real say in it, you can win.

most AI's focus religion on 3 things:

What was there first?
Of the score leaders, what is their religion?
What is the majority religion?
How many of their cities have access to it?

usually you will learn an AI would rather focus on spreading the first religion they get unless they get one from a country they are both stronger and friendlier with.

 

[Justy]

The AP is a very important wonder if you want to be the dominant political power early on. In my current game I am playing Japan and I founded Confucianism as my state religion. Unfortunately the world was predominantly Jewish. I had no Judaism in any of my cities. I knew that I would be the great heathen society if somebody else built the AP.

Luckily one of my cities was a good producer and had a good supply of forest around it. That city became my little Manhattan Project. I did manage to build the AP.

Well the world did not like that event. I soon had my own little Six Day War situation on my hands which is a little twist of fate with the Jewish nations declaring war on me (the Vikings, Germany, Spain and Rome with vassals Holy Rome and Monty in tow). That was fun, but my citizens defended Confucianism with great valor and repelled the invaders.

Grabbing the AP was key to my survival because without the AP to hold the countries together they failed to coalesce into a block. Rome broke away from Judaism and became Buddhist since he controlled that Holy City. I managed to vassalize Ragnar and converted him to the true faith. No my block is in a war for dominance against Rome. If I can manage to flip Spain then Izzy can become a powerful ally against Rome because she hates Rome with a passion but because we don't share a common religion she only tolerates me.

 

[KingLoraxII]

It seems to me I should have switched to Hinduism before the completion of the palace.

 

[PureE]

most AI's focus religion on 3 things:

What was there first?
Of the score leaders, what is their religion?
What is the majority religion?
How many of their cities have access to it?

that's 4

I always try to match my religion to the dominant player's. By switching to hinduism for the AP advantage, you're giving up a whole lot of diplomatic breathing space.

 

[KingLoraxII]

that's 4

I always try to match my religion to the dominant player's. By switching to hinduism for the AP advantage, you're giving up a whole lot of diplomatic breathing space.

ok fair enough - I did the right thing I think but as for the current dominant player - that would be me - things fell my way in the game so far....Joao was squeaky close and built the pyramids, stonehenge & great wall - too busy doing wonders while I was building axemen - took a bit of time but eliminated him and captured all those wondrous wonders. Managed the Oracle myself for a big slingshot technology-wise. Was able to rex quite easily from there and Barbs managed to put up three nice cities at edges of my eventual rexxing points - I sent some nicely promoted axemen to graciously escort them out of their cities.

I have the biggest empire - my economy is crashed and I am rebuilding it - so far its a good game but I am afraid I am spread a little thin and my neighbor Gilgamesh is likely to send some emissaries to visit......Hopefully my Islam brethren will help me out.

 

[TheMeInTeam]

that's 4

I always try to match my religion to the dominant player's. By switching to hinduism for the AP advantage, you're giving up a whole lot of diplomatic breathing space.

You do it anyway. For 5 turns. Just enough to finish the AP and switch back. Doing this is a game-winning move if you play your diplo correctly, and in just about every game, too!