Relics are ridiculously good for tourism

[Yzman]

I was just playing a game as France and there was a lot of circumstances that went into it I believe, but wow did this strategy pay off quickly.

I decided to focus on religion and tourism for a cultural victory. Build wonders as I could due to being France but the real key to winning was the following

Kandy was my ally, so I was getting relics for discovering natural wonders.
I built the Mont Michel that gave all of my apostles the ability martyr.
I made sure I have temples available plus the Mont Michel wonder so lots of room for relics.
I am not sure about this last part...I think it was something from my religion but I was getting 24 tourism for each relic.

This all added up ridiculously quick and I won quite handily.

I have done quite a few cultural wins but never did a religious cultural win. Was very fun.

 

[Cerilis]

The problem with relic tourism is that it's all for naught when your rivals "tech" The enlightenment. ^^ (Unless you build..uh..was it Cristo Redentor(?) later)

 

[MaximusPlatypus]

You still get tourism, just 50%, as you stated, unless you built the Christ Mountain

 

[Victoria]

The relic game relies on speed to get more tourism than the enemies domestic tourism early.
It is a fun game ... You did not say what turn you won on but typically 100-150 seems the right area.

This strategy is harder on deity because domestic tourism ramps up so fast.

Even if you do not get an early vic or cristo redentor the extra tourism helps the emdgame.

 

[bladex]

they're even better if your kongo

 

[kaspergm]

The biggest problem with relics imo. is when you find one in a goody hut in Ancient Era. That's both really illogical (relics without any religions or even pantheons yet?) and bad for gameplay (super early source of large amounts of faith). Imo. relics should only come into game later - either after a certain era (say: from medieval and onwards) or after a certain condition (say: someone's founded a religion, or you've founded a pantheon). Thinking about it, I guess removing the palace ability to house a relic will effectively achieve that, so I think I'll look into that right away.

 

[Kyro]

The religion part you referred to is the Reliquaries founder belief it Triples Tourism output from Relics.

If you're going for a Religious Cultural Victory best bet is Poland. Cristo Ridentor is also compulsory.

Quick tip about Relics - You can buy them in the Ancient/Classical eras from the AI for about a 130 Gold or a Luxury Resource. They don't value it early on.

 

[kamex]

Quick tip about Relics - You can buy them in the Ancient/Classical eras from the AI for about a 130 Gold or a Luxury Resource. They don't value it early on.

How early? I thought they cost closer to 1000 gold?

 

[bladex]

no i trade ai lux for relics and books all the time

 

[Kyro]

How early? I thought they cost closer to 1000 gold?

During the Ancient Era you buy one guaranteed for a Luxury Resource or 130 Gold...I think I bought 1 for 100 Gold before. You can also do so in the Classical Era but only earlier on and not later, probably because AI starts to concentrate on spreading religion then and Relics become more valuable. Definitely not possible after Classical.