Did the AI cheat getting a Great Prophet?

[gilbertlew]

I am trying to figure out why the AI beat me to a Great Prophet. Maybe someone here in the forum can help me figure this out.

My game is Russia, Emperor, online speed, small size, and continents. I am on turn 31. There are a total of four possible Great Prophets. One unmet Civ has build the Stonehenge thus earning one of the four GP. I am inline for the next GP, according to the Great People screen with having 27.8/30 and 6.9 GP points per turn. Thats three Lavras and the 15% bonus having the Classical Republic government.

The next closest is an unmet AI with 13/30 and making 2GP points per turn. On turn 32, this AI got the Great Prophet and beat me to it. How is this possible? Saved game file is attached.

Note: Arabia is in the game but there are still three possible GPs left.

 

[jbavon]

Maybe they bought the GP with gold or faith?

 

[gilbertlew]

Maybe they bought the GP with gold or faith?

Thank you for the quick reply. That explains it. All this time I have yet to use that feature to purchase any Great People with gold or faith.

 

[kaspergm]

Maybe they bought the GP with gold or faith?

Sounds like a plausible explanation. Technically, they could also have used the prayer project, although I'm not sure if the AI actually is capable of using projects.

 

[isau]

They definitely do faith buy Great Prophets. I've many times lost GPs because the AI jumped ahead of me.