Questions on Embassies & Open Borders in G&K/BNW

[Marshall Thomas]

I'm confused about how embassies work. In my current game, the AI civs have embassies in my capital -but I don't in theirs (they researched the appropriate tech sooner). So I already have the small diplo modifier. What advantage would I get from having an embassy in their capitals other than being able to see them and the opportunity for open borders?

also: How do open borders work in Gods & Kings/Brave New World? Do they effect the spread of religion? Do they have any effect on trade routes? or diplomacy?

Thanks in advance

 

[Scirocco16V]

The big effect of open borders in BNW is it increases the spread of Tourism. I believe open borders also provide a diplomacy bonus.

 

[EK834]

I'm confused about how embassies work. In my current game, the AI civs have embassies in my capital -but I don't in theirs (they researched the appropriate tech sooner). So I already have the small diplo modifier. What advantage would I get from having an embassy in their capitals other than being able to see them and the opportunity for open borders?

None that I know of. I just spent a whole game without an embassy in Warsaw while Casimir had one in Venice. That didn't seem to affect our relations at all. One sided embassy trade seems to have the same effects as shared ones (I suspect it might be part of a bug, though, since in my case our status appeared as sharing embassies on the diplo screen).

How do open borders work in Gods & Kings/Brave New World? Do they effect the spread of religion?

Yes, in the sense that this allows Missionaries and GP to travel in each other's territory without suffering from attrition. Otherwise the units can enter foreign territory but they can't go very far before they're all spent (they lose strength each turn).

Do they have any effect on trade routes?

None. You can have TR with anyone unless there's an embargo in place or you're at war with one another.

or diplomacy?

In a small way. Having any trade deal in place with the AI is good for relations. You can, as many players prefer, buy OB form the AI for 1 gpt. You get the same diplo bonus, without giving them the tourism multiplier.

 

[Scirocco16V]

Yes, in the sense that this allows Missionaries and GP to travel in each other's territory without suffering from attrition. Otherwise the units can enter foreign territory but they can't go very far before they're all spent (they lose strength each turn).

Great Prophets don't suffer attrition, only Missionaries seem to.

 

[Marshall Thomas]

None. I just spent a whole game without an embassy in Warsaw while Casimir had one in Venice. That didn't seem to affect our relations at all.



Yes, in the sense that this allows Missionaries and GP to travel in each other's territory without suffering from attrition. Otherwise the units can enter foreign territory but they can't go very far before they're all spent (they lose strength each turn).



None. You can have TR with anyone unless there's an embargo in place or you're at war with one another.




In a small way. Having any trade deal in place with the AI is good for relations. You can, as many players prefer, buy OB form the AI for 1 gpt. You get the same diplo bonus, without giving them the tourism multiplier.

It doesn't seem as though there's any benfit to giving other civs Open Borders; especially when, as you mentioned, you can just pay a relatively small fee to get it to theirs.

Am I missing something? Thanks in advance

 

[EK834]

It doesn't seem as though there's any benfit to giving other civs Open Borders; especially when, as you mentioned, you can just pay a relatively small fee to get it to theirs.

Am I missing something? Thanks in advance

A peripheral advantage is that letting an AI cross your territory might let them attack the civ on the other side or go settle near that other AI and share the border tensions you have with that AI.

You might also want to give it to an AI when you don't have a religion and want to incite the AI to send his missionaries (this works especially when you're the only civ nearby that agrees to OB with him). Only some AI will send them despite the attrition they'd suffer, many won't.

But it's not massively useful, and whether you want to increase your tourism toward them or want to slow theirs, buying OB for 1 or 2 gpt is most often the best deal.

 

[EK834]

Great Prophets don't suffer attrition, only Missionaries seem to.

Ah, good to know. I had one of Askia's GP wander forever at my border without entering until I finally agreed to OB and he swarmed me with that GP and enough missionaries to make me adopt his religion in two turns, so I thought they suffered from attrition like missionaries. I guess he was using it to spy, as the AI often do with scouts.

 

[jlafleur]

Once you enhance your religion, you can buy inquisitors. If I see a civ coming into my territory, I move him into my city. Depending on how many cities you have, you might be able to have one inquisitor cover more than one city. Just move into your city, and the civ will turn their prophets and missionaries around. If you have closed borders can use attrition to kill their missionaries by moving your inquisitor in and out of your city. Just doesn't work against the prophet.

 

[EK834]

Once you enhance your religion, you can buy inquisitors. If I see a civ coming into my territory, I move him into my city. Depending on how many cities you have, you might be able to have one inquisitor cover more than one city. Just move into your city, and the civ will turn their prophets and missionaries around. If you have closed borders can use attrition to kill their missionaries by moving your inquisitor in and out of your city. Just doesn't work against the prophet.

I knew, but thanks. I actually wanted him to come and spread his religion, he was the one refusing me OB.