If you don't found any religion...

[Kyuss]

Can you switch to another and make it your own? (through conquest I think)
Can you choose traits and develop it as you wish or you can never have a state religion?
THX

 

[liv]

No to both questions.
If a city gets converted you get the benefits of that religion but you cannot add to it.

 

[rschissler]

I still have a tough time trying to figure out religion in this game, like should I go for a religion if I only care about domination victory? If I choose a pantheon, isn't that enough?

 

[Leyrann]

You can't get founder beliefs, you can't add beliefs, you can't win with it, but you do get everything else.

Wheter or not to go for religion, opinion differs, but I feel like it is best to either focus on religion or just not go for any faith or holy sites at all. To get a religion (most certainly on higher difficulty levels) you need to build early Holy Sites in several cities and maybe run a project or two, which means that everything else - typically Campuses, Encampments, Commercial Hubs if you rush them - are delayed, which means your whole economy is delayed. If you'd go for just a Holy Site every now and then, however, without really focusing them, you'll probably not earn enough GPP in time. Of course, if you're playing Spain or some other Civ that gets bonuses from coupling religion with warfare, then you most certainly should go for one. Take the Crusade belief, send your missionaries first and send your army after.

And on the pantheon: It's typically nice to have one, but I generally get it by the time I get enough total faith from goody huts, though I sometimes run that Code of Laws policy card that gives 1 faith per turn until I have the pantheon. Also remember that, even if you get a pantheon later, you have it in every city, no matter the religion that city has, so it just stays useful for the entire game. It's just awesome, for example, if you start with a lot of flood plains and stuff, to take Lady of the Reeds and Marches and get +1 production from all those flood plains. A game changer considering the scarcity of production in those areas.

 

[liv]

The pantheon that gives extra production towards early units seemed quite good when I tried it in an Astec game where I wanted tons of Eagle Warriors. So if no other things fit for pantheon, I do it or maybe divine spark to be competitive for great scientists.

I aslo often do not go for religion but I like to collect faith to use for other things.

 

[Victoria]

Theocracy is good far war... although many have built most units they will use by then. Still very handy.
You do not have to be religious for war and it slows you a bit initially...

 

[danoh]

My concern about going no religion is that the AI will beat me on a religious victory. Does this ever happen?

Unless my goal is a religious victory, most games I am playing a 'Just Enough' religious strategy. Still, some of the bonuses like +1 production from sea resources, or +1 culture from pastures seem pretty good. I also like the meeting house that gives +2 production.

 

[Victoria]

Simple answer is do not play pangea. I always play continents and never has the AI won with religion.

 

[liv]

Often the AIs cancel eachother out trying to go for a religios victory and there is not reason to worry.
But once in awhile an AI will get religion early and really push it and if there are not religion eager nations in the game they may win a religios victory. I have had to counter that by attacking them. Overall I think not getting a religion is not much of a danger

 

[ShinigamiKenji]

I leave the following proverb:

"As your army increases and upgrades, the likelihood of it not solving a given problem approaches zero."

 

[MaximusPlatypus]

It's virtually not possible to lose to the AI in religious victory unless you ignore religion completely.

 

[Forbiddentwo]

If an enemy starts approaching a religious victory all you need to do is either wipe them out or start killing their apostles wherever you can.

 

[Jarms48]

Religious victories are basically non-exist in MP. Stopping the AI in SP is pretty easy too. Whenever a religious unit approaches, just declare war and kill it. You prevent it from converting you and you'll weaken that AI's religion in nearby cities.

 

[Joch]

I always found a religion and use missionaries to convert cities.

Still not entirely sure it is required, but it only requires a small investment since one holy site+buildings is usually enough, so better to be on the safe side.

You also get permanent bonuses with Pantheon+Religion.

 

[liv]

It is harder to found a religion on higher levels because you have to focus on keeping up with the other players in the other areas which seem more vital. And getting religion is harder as the AI can get it faster so one really has to focus
It is not that hard to get a Pantheon usually

 

[Victoria]

I always found a religion and use missionaries to convert cities.
.

Try taking the city, use a inquisitor to cleanse it with a single charge which also puts in a couple of citizens of your religion. Top up with a couple of missionary charges then give back.

 

[Jonathan]

I still have a tough time trying to figure out religion in this game, like should I go for a religion if I only care about domination victory? If I choose a pantheon, isn't that enough?

I think you can safely ignore religion completely (as I do) unless you want to try for a religious victory. The religious aspect of this game is poorly conceived and almost disconnected from the rest of the game. I play for score, and religion contributes little to the score, so I don't bother with it.

 

[Jonathan]

My concern about going no religion is that the AI will beat me on a religious victory. Does this ever happen?

I don't think it's likely; but, if it worries you, you can turn off religious victory in the advanced setup when starting a game.

 

[ShinigamiKenji]

Religion may be a nice boost if you manage to capture a few cities with Holy Sites and wipe out a few religious civs. But I don't stray off my path to get a religion unless specifically going for a Religious Victory.

 

[UWHabs]

It is nice to generate faith, as it can help you out. My last game as India I was generating a solid amount of faith, which helped in buying great people. But otherwise, you can usually safely ignore religion, and if you happen to get one spread to you that benefits you, great. If not, no big deal.