Does spreading religion help your opponent more then you?

[padlock]

I've been wondering if spreading your religion to an AI who otherise doesn't have a religion might actually be benefiting them more then it does you.

Sure you get the line of sight and gold income (with the shrine), but in exchange you're giving them culture and hapiness (if they decide to make it their state religion) plus allowing them to construct temples which will give them even more happiness and allows them to create priests.

I've played a game where I didn't found any early religion, and I found it very difficult to manage happiness or grow culture. I kept hoping that someone would a missionary my way.

 

[jar2574]

You're right, there is a trade off.

I think the tie-breaking factor might be diplomatic benefits. A civ with your religion will ally with you and like you and trade you techs.

If you don't care about that though, and are making plenty of money without a shrine, then maybe you don't want your neighbor to get a religion quickly.

Usually I think that diplomatic benefits and shrine money and line of sight far outweigh the cost of giving your opponent happiness.

 

[PoweredBySoy]

Usually I think that diplomatic benefits and shrine money and line of sight far outweigh the cost of giving your opponent happiness.

I agree, especially if you're trying to maintain a peaceful status with that neighbor civ. But, if you plan on droppin' a nuke on them next turn, you might not want to give them those benefits of your religion.

If you're worried about your religion making them stronger, just take comfort in knowing that there are a lot of steps that needs to take place before that would happen. In the first place, that civ would have to not have an already established religion. Then, your religion would need to spread to most of their cities, they would have to make it their state religion, and they'd have to build temples in all those cities.

 

[walkerjks]

The diplomatic benefits make it worthwhile, in my opinion, assuming you can get them to adopt your religion as the state religion.

First, they are less likely to attack you. Second, if they do attack you, I believe that they are more inclined to end the war quickly. Finally, the more friendly they are with you, the easier it is to get them to join a war on your side. It's often easy to turn an initial disadvantage into a complete rout for your side if you can get another civ to jump into a war on your side.

 

[Willows_Puppy]

Well if you start on a continent with just one other civ, then I could see reasons to avoid giving them your religion. But if your land mass contains several civs and any of them have a religion, they will spread it to your neighbors if you don't get there first.

 

[Dr. Broom]

Religion does still need some work I think because right now more religions are better which does mean you help your opponent by spreading your religion.

I personally think it would be more realistic and have better game balance if your temples only worked for your state religion, you could convert people from one religion to another without having both religions in a city and you recieve a happiness and income penalty for each person who has a different religion. Penalties would become less drastic with the pacifism civic and go away completely with the free religion civic.

Does anyone else think it is kind of wierd that technologies unlock religion? It seems to me that every so often a civ with a lot of culture should maybe pick a religion to found because it seems like religion is much more of a cultural than a technological thing.

 

[JavalTigar]

While I agree Dr. Broom that it is weird that tech unlocks religion most players would not like the randomness of your alternative (myself included)

I think thats why they revamped the Great People concept. Unlike C3C you can see your progress/potential to create a GP. Never did like how it was before.

 

[Vizzini]

When in doubt - spread the religion. If you're not in doubt, spread it anyway.

LoS and cash are immediate benefits obviously - but the long term benefits are legion and far outweight the "help" you provide your opponent with increased happiness.

Aside from the obvious diplomatic and trade benefits (if the opponent adopts your religion) a city with your religion is more likely to culture flip your way and if captured will not stay in Resistance as long (and is less likely to flip back to your opponents control).

Too many benefits, not enough negatives, send in the monks!

 

[Tawkys]

It's like.... free money.

Anyone else think that it's amazingly cynical?

 

[Paradoxus]

There seems to be too many religions.
You can never get the AI to convert because nearly each of them has founded a different religion.

 

[Dairuka]

If you founded Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

You'll find yourself in a great position for culture. If you do not spread any of your religiosn to anybody however; you'll find yourself being everybodies enemy.

The reason for this is; the other AI's will spread the remaining religions among themselves; which will eventually result in them forming a bloc against you. You being the only person who does not have their religion.

Diplomacy and Religion are very well entwined with one another. Use them well; or lose often.

 

[Gufnork]

In the beginning I wanted to play through an entire game without war, so I decided to make friends with everyone. It didn't go too well. They didn't like me trading with the enemy so instead of having all friends I wound up with none. So I found it's best to pick a friend (I prefer the third most powerful civ) and never trade with that civs enemies. The spy benefits from spreading religion aren't that big a deal, so I try to spread the religion to my allies only. That way they like me more and I don't mind them getting the benefits from it, since they're my allies.

So in short, spread your religion to atleast those who you want as friends. Most people might find spreading it to your enemies is beneficial as well.

 

[baboon]

You're right, there is a trade off.

I think the tie-breaking factor might be diplomatic benefits. A civ with your religion will ally with you and like you and trade you techs.

True. Also, the AI probably gets a religion at some time anyway, so it better be yours.