[G&K] buying Great Scientists does not work

[Ludwitch]

I am playing Gods & Kings, have no religion and no faith, and opened Rationalism. Now I cannot buy Great Scientists. What exactly do I need for that?

 

[Browd]

A religion and faith.

Any religion in any of your cities will do -- doesn't have to be a religion you founded.

You will need 1000 faith (Standard speed) to buy your first GS, 1500 for your second and 2500 for your third.

 

[Lokos451]

I want to say you can purchase them for 1000 faith at standard speed....but basically, you have to generate faith to purchase them with.

 

[Ludwitch]

Thanks for the quick answer. So what I am lacking is a religion. I hope that some AI sends a missionary by the end of the game...

 

[Browd]

You can accelerate that if you are willing to DOW a religious civ and steal one of their missionaries. Sometimes you will see a CS with a captured missionary: DOW, steal misisonary and make peace in the same turn -- can be worth doing even if the CS is under another civ's protection, although that can can lead to a DOW, so be thoughtful.

Note that when you transport a captured missionary home, you need to make sure you don't lose him to attrition when passing through AI territory -- no attrition in AI territory with open borders, or in your own territory, CS territory, or no-man's land.