What are your favorite beliefs?

[stealth_nsk]

Just thinking about which ones people usually choose. Mine are:

Reliquary belief is Icons, which gives relics from city-states. I usually convert a lot of independents (and even if I don't, AI often does the same), so this belief gives the most relics (40 relics total is totally possible on standard map size). If it's not available, I usually fall back to some very basic belief like Brahmanism, which gives relics from converting capitals or Anitya, from holy cities, just to fill legacy path.

Founder's belief recently almost exclusively Tikkun Olam, which gives Influence. If it's not available, again, fall back to some basic like Tithe money or Holy Ecumene for culture and don't bother spreading religion other than for legacy paths. I never unlocked more than one Founder's belief.

For Enhancer I prefer Parampara which gives additional slots from science buildings, I think it allows maximum number of relic slots for the empire, which is crucial if I manage to get Brahmanism. If not and religion is early, I pick Conversion, which brings religion to newly founded towns in distant lands, to make military path easier, or Zeal for +1 Missionaries charge.

 

[tedhebert]

before 1.3.0 i used to choose the one that gives 2 relics for cities with 3 or more specialists, was so easy… but now it seems there’s been a change in AI decisions, they just don’t use specialists in antiquity at all ( like literally 0) so i switched ot the capital one

founders i go for the one that gives extra moves to treasure fleets i find them all lackluster

 

[UWHabs]

I find the one for converting a settlement with a temple or altar is pretty reliable. It seems a little less so in the last patch or two - I felt at least pre-1.2.5 and maybe even up until this last patch, a temple was like the first thing down for most settlements. It seems less now, but still I find the majority of settlements have one so you can pretty much rely on 1 per.

The independent one can be good too, since usually the AI doesn't convert them, so they can reliably give you lots without nearly as much effort as some. And you don't have to worry about losing them as much either.

The influence belief is good, otherwise I kind of throw a dart in the air. Sometimes I prefer something like the wonder one instead, because then you can just pick the handful of opponent settlements with multiple wonders and just park a missionary on each to keep them converted. For the ones where it's something per settlement, it can take a lot to convert, and then again a lot of effort to keep them converted to keep the bonus. It will depend as well on whether I'm playing a game where I am trying to convert everything or not. If I'm not feeling like I want to fight the world with missionaries then it matters a lot less, and I basically use the bonus more as a nice to have.

 

[reddishrecue]

I usually choose icons and tithing. I don't remember what other belief I choose but I choose whichever. I don't really have a preference for them later only at the start with icons and tithing.

 

[Evolena]

before 1.3.0 i used to choose the one that gives 2 relics for cities with 3 or more specialists, was so easy… but now it seems there’s been a change in AI decisions, they just don’t use specialists in antiquity at all ( like literally 0)

And if you intend to pick that one, remember to NOT make one of your own cities the Holy City, prefer a town.

 

[Hellenism Salesman]

For enhancer beliefs, I go for the one that gives Relic slots on Science buildings. Just super useful since I’m already building them everywhere anyway (and there are several unique ones, too!).

 

[tedhebert]

And if you intend to pick that one, remember to NOT make one of your own cities the Holy City, prefer a town.

yes otherwise you lose one target... but I almost always forgot... anyways it's not playable anymore, the AI civs seem to have forgotten all about specialists since 1.3.0

 

[marius_kaparius]

The one that converts when sending a trade route. The one that gives relics for 10 urban pop - so reliable.

 

[tedhebert]

The one that converts when sending a trade route. The one that gives relics for 10 urban pop - so reliable.

Yeah but it only gives one relic, so you have to do it 12 times... That's why the capitals one is better, it hands out 2 at a time so you only have to do it 6 times...less micro

 

[UWHabs]

For enhancer beliefs, I go for the one that gives Relic slots on Science buildings. Just super useful since I’m already building them everywhere anyway (and there are several unique ones, too!).

If you want to slot the relics, that one is by far the most un-balanced one out there. Even better if you selected the scientific golden age coming in or have a science UB, my last game I think I managed to fully slot like 35 relics, which paired well with Assyria. I really think they need to have a couple other places where you can slot relics - give me a choice of extra slots in one of the T2 buildings (universities/pavilions/menageries/hospitals/banks) maybe, or like a could other wildcard options like +1 slot in unique quarters, +1 slot on wonders, etc.. It's annoying now that the +1 slot in science buildings can give you 2-4 slots per city, but the +1 slot in temples is max 1 per city. And if you don't pick either, then you need a lot of settlements, or need to rush for the relic wonders to be able to get enough slots. I've definitely had games where i have 30+ relics but only barely got enough slots for them all.

 

[Siptah]

If you want to slot the relics, that one is by far the most un-balanced one out there. Even better if you selected the scientific golden age coming in or have a science UB, my last game I think I managed to fully slot like 35 relics, which paired well with Assyria. I really think they need to have a couple other places where you can slot relics - give me a choice of extra slots in one of the T2 buildings (universities/pavilions/menageries/hospitals/banks) maybe, or like a could other wildcard options like +1 slot in unique quarters, +1 slot on wonders, etc.. It's annoying now that the +1 slot in science buildings can give you 2-4 slots per city, but the +1 slot in temples is max 1 per city. And if you don't pick either, then you need a lot of settlements, or need to rush for the relic wonders to be able to get enough slots. I've definitely had games where i have 30+ relics but only barely got enough slots for them all.

+1 per temple also works in towns, not just cities. And you can also specialize these towns to get more slots. I honestly never have problems to find the slots necessary to complete the legacy path. So, unless you are going for as many relics as you describe, it‘s not necessary to „waste“ a belief on relic slots.

 

[stealth_nsk]

+1 per temple also works in towns, not just cities. And you can also specialize these towns to get more slots. I honestly never have problems to find the slots necessary to complete the legacy path. So, unless you are going for as many relics as you describe, it‘s not necessary to „waste“ a belief on relic slots.

Sanctum is worded "+1 Great Work slot in Temples in Cities". If it works in towns, that's really weird.

EDIT: Parampara uses exactly the same wording "+1 Great Work slot in Science Buildings in Cities"

 

[UWHabs]

Sanctum is worded "+1 Great Work slot in Temples in Cities". If it works in towns, that's really weird.

EDIT: Parampara uses exactly the same wording "+1 Great Work slot in Science Buildings in Cities"

The science slot in cities was broken before (it applied to everyone in the game, not just who picked it). But the bonus slot in temples did only apply in cities, not towns.

 

[Siptah]

Ah, I wasn‘t aware, thanks for clearing that up for me. Probably misread this for some months then. But as I said, I usually don‘t pick these, because the first 15 or so slots are usually relatively easy to come by.

 

[Krikkit1]

Sanctum is worded "+1 Great Work slot in Temples in Cities". If it works in towns, that's really weird.

EDIT: Parampara uses exactly the same wording "+1 Great Work slot in Science Buildings in Cities"

Well you can get +1 slot in Town Temples by choosing the Religious Specialization.

 

[stealth_nsk]

Well you can get +1 slot in Town Temples by choosing the Religious Specialization.

Yes, I do it. This means regular towns have up to 2 slots, while cities with Parampara have 3 without Catherine, Abbasids or other improvements.