Solved my lack of faith..

[Larsenex]

As an update and a separate thread I wanted to tell folks what I did. I had built Stonehenge and founded a religion. No biggie but I had NO set cities even though I had a Stonehenge AND a religious site with shrine and such. I had zero cities following Peter comes along and screws things up.

I had built the wonder which grants two apostles and I DID NOT SPREAD my religion, instead i had initially started the inquisition. I played 38 turns and was barely beating Russia on a full on war. His units were same tech as mine but I was just turtling and focus firing better.

I went back and reloaded where the apostles landed I spread heavily to one of my cities and bam the city and the region was mine and I had 800 faith so I bought another apostle or 3 and the inquisition is ON!

Oh and the war lasted this time just about 15 turns before I beat Russia off my continent and he offered me some cash and a relic which I accepted.

So in the end MAKE sure you have at least one city fully invested in your religion!

 

[Larsenex]

On that note, I wish we had a building/production boost for strategic resources you own or see. I see iron out a ways but its not worth my time t go settle near it. If strategic gave a cumulative 2% increase to production I would go grab them but as it is I do not need swordsmen or knights anymore. Seems like if they gave a boost (in addition to being needed for some uinits) it would make them far more valuable.

 

[MadDjinn]

yes, if you don't bother ensuring your religion is in your cities, you will lose it.

 

[Larsenex]

Oh and on that note. I am really enjoying the game. Ai is waging wars and moving its units in an intelligent fashion AND is doing over sea invasions (looking at you Peter!). I was in real fear of losing my capital as both Kongo and Russia had been attacking and i was BARELY able to push out my last legion to build a fort and stave off his units (for was in a pass leading into my capital city blocking Kongo... But Russia showed up in force with a DOZEN units (Musketmen, 2 catapults, 2 siege towers and two crossbows)!!

My personal reccomendation: The game is great, buy it and enjoy it. I have not had this much fun since CIV IV, and it is FAR better than Civ V at launch!

 

[Timally]

Get an apostle with the plus 20 (I think) strength to religious fights promotion and use him a policeman. I'm not sure if you are only allowed one, as I had about 20 apostles through one game and only had the promotion once. When you defeat a missionary or apostle from another religion you decrease their religion by about 250 and promote yours..again about 250 in a radius of what looks about 6 hex. Heal him up in the Holy site and then do it over again. I found that really helps with keeping your own religion.

I fell out with Gilgamesh because of this. I had converted his city he placed next to me. He warned me and I stopped. I put my battle apostle near his city and just batted away the missionaries he send. He managed to sneak an apostle past me and reconvert the city. I killed a couple missionaries and converted it back. He denounced me for breaking my promise

I think the XP counter for apostles is broken too. I won at least 50 fights and never got any more promotions

 

[MadDjinn]

I think the XP counter for apostles is broken too. I won at least 50 fights and never got any more promotions

Apostles only get the one promotion as their promotions are specialist type wrt spread mostly.