Builder strategies: neutrality vs a state religion?

[Grotius]

Hi all,

I'm getting back into Civ 4 (as I just bought BtS), and I'm pretty rusty. I'm a builder, and as I'm rusty, I'm playing on Noble for now, holding my own but hardly dominating. One question I have: I just founded Confucianism, but I haven't converted to it yet, on the theory that this keeps me from making enemies and keeps me out of war. My guess, though, is that the financial and cultural benefits of a state religion outweigh the diplomatic benefits of staying neutral? Anyone have some general advice to offer?

 

[DaveMcW]

Spread your religion to a couple neighbors and convert when they do. That way you will have allies even if a few religious nuts hate you.

 

[MrCynical]

At noble staying neutral isn't that important, but at higher difficulties you can hit serious problems if you have different religions to your neighbours. You may be better off switching to a religion that you didn't found if a lot of other civs are following it. You still get gold from the shrine if you're running a different state religion, you just don't get line of sight benefits.

Staying neutral is generally a good way to end up with all the civs mildly annoyed with you; and hence have no allies. You also can't use any religious civics until Free religion shows up, which is a significant disadvantage.

 

[Grotius]

Thanks for your replies. OK, time to get religion.