Can see opponent's cities

[Pembleton]

I don't have any units near some of my opponent's cities yet I can see what's going on around some of them, but not others. What is allowing me to see this?

 

[Walliard]

Your state religion, which you founded, has spread into those cities.

 

[Orion071]

IN BtS, once you have enough espionage points, you can see into their cities. I've found that if you're right around the cutoff for city visibility, you can see some cities, but not all of them until you get more points.

Also, in BtS, the holy city line of sight was removed.

 

[Spiceweasel]

I believe, though, that religion is a factor in the number of points needed to have visibility on any particular city.

 

[Walliard]

Ah, I only have Vanilla. *notes*

 

[imperfect.la]

I think if you founded a religion you get to see that. Imo this makes religion all too powerful, what do you think?

 

[markiz2001]

how come you can't see the cities when you convert to that religion?

 

[Gooblah]

You don't control the Holy City.
If you control the Holy City of any religion, and that religion is your state religion, you gain Line of Sight into their cities. Which is strategically useful, as long as you control the Holy City. If an opponent does, you'll want to switch to Theocracy ASAP to prevent their missionaries spreading their religion for the advantage.

 

[gdgrimm]

I think if you founded a religion you get to see that. Imo this makes religion all too powerful, what do you think?

Well, you also have to have the religion as your State religion, which can cause some real diplomatic head aches.

In general, I don't think LoS for religion makes founding a religion too powerful. That 'perk' pales in comparison to the founding religion benefit of harvesting the cash flow of a Shrine, and (for early religions) the gauranteed benefit of an early religion to help lift happy cap, increase research rate, and perhaps (if you can afford making it a State religion) increased production.