What is Theocracy good for?

[fuddha]

As the title says...

Does it prevent non-state religion missionaries from spreading religion or does it prevent trade route religion spread? Or both?

Also, does it prevent foreign religion spread or domestic? (for instance you have hinduism as state and confucianism as a second religion)

Much obliged.

 

[BurnEmDown]

No religion other than state religion can spread, missionaries, "natural spread", domestic, foreign, whatever, none other than state religion.

 

[GooglyBoogly]

If you run no state religon at the same time, religion will still spread naturally however.

 

[JujuLautre]

No religion other than state religion can spread, missionaries, "natural spread", domestic, foreign, whatever, none other than state religion.

Incorrect; the effects are not clearly explained, I agree with that. But all what theocracy does about religion spreading is forbid the natural or foreign-missionaries spreading of non-state religions. But yourself can spread religions through missionaries.

However, let's not forget the +2XP effect, main point of theocracy

 

[fuddha]

But all what theocracy does about religion spreading is forbid the natural or foreign-missionaries spreading of non-state religions. But yourself can spread religions through missionaries.

Ahhh, so it is useful when hoarding religions and spreading only your state religion when going for Apostolic Palace. Marginal use on higher levels IMHO.

However, let's not forget the +2XP effect, main point of theocracy

Duh! I knew it was good for something. Now if only Christo Redentor was an early wonder...

 

[Pir Lan Tota]

Incorrect; the effects are not clearly explained, I agree with that. But all what theocracy does about religion spreading is forbid the natural or foreign-missionaries spreading of non-state religions. But yourself can spread religions through missionaries.

However, let's not forget the +2XP effect, main point of theocracy

Vassalige + Theo + CHM + Barracks + Stables == Kick Ass Knights

 

[Wolfshanze]

Theocracy is mostly something you want to be in to wage wars... it's hard to beat +2 EXP to all your units... Theocracy is mostly a war civic.

 

[Supr49er]

Theocracy is mostly something you want to be in to wage wars... it's hard to beat +2 EXP to all your units... Theocracy is mostly a war civic.

Yep, that's how I use it.

 

[AfterShafter]

It's great for getting Justinian to like you - along with a few other unsavory religious nuts. "You have wisely chosen your civics" bonus can be a lifesaver.

Oh, then you kill the bastard with it.

 

[Molon Labe]

I have never used Theocracy to prevent the spread of non-state religions. Just to make an invading army.

 

[TheMeInTeam]

You can still spread religions with your own missionaries, it just won't happen from other civ's missionaries or auto-spread.

Relevant info, since you can gift missionaries and civs in theocracy will spread it...pretty abusive (bhruics patched this out but since 3.17 it's back in).

Anyway, it can be used as an emergency measure to avoid an AP diplo loss, but mostly you will just be using it for war, and it's pretty good for that purpose.

 

[pvzh]

Relevant info, since you can gift missionaries and civs in theocracy will spread it...pretty abusive (bhruics patched this out but since 3.17 it's back in).

What so abusive in this? Avoiding penalty on success rate of spreading as foreign missionary? Prevention of foreign spread under standard rules is more of a flavour of Theocracy civic and does not serve any tangible practical purpose.

 

[JujuLautre]

This is abusive in the sense where if you're able to spread a religion to a civ by gifting it a missionary, then a part of the second effect of theocracy (no spread by foreign missionaries) just does not mean anything.

Perhaps indeed this is a flavour of the theocracy civic, but here, it's just totally useless.

 

[King Flevance]

Relevant info, since you can gift missionaries and civs in theocracy will spread it...pretty abusive (bhruics patched this out but since 3.17 it's back in).

What so abusive in this?

The AI will fall for it in the scenario below allowing you an AP win. A human won't.

Anyway, it can be used as an emergency measure to avoid an AP diplo loss.

 

[fuddha]

It's great for getting Justinian to like you - along with a few other unsavory religious nuts. "You have wisely chosen your civics" bonus can be a lifesaver.

Oh, then you kill the bastard with it.

LOL!

My hat's off to you sir!

 

[King Flevance]

I forgot to add Aftershafter's quote to my list. (There was suppose to be a joke about that comment and his user name in my post originally - being as they work so well together. )

 

[kristopherb]

It's great for getting Justinian to like you - along with a few other unsavory religious nuts. "You have wisely chosen your civics" bonus can be a lifesaver.

Oh, then you kill the bastard with it.

You can kill any bastard with it.
I like Thoeracy in CIV but i hate the idea of it real life.
City gar 3 drill longbows and redcoats are a sight to behold.

 

[Inky]

Relevant info, since you can gift missionaries and civs in theocracy will spread it...pretty abusive (bhruics patched this out but since 3.17 it's back in).

The AI can also be fooled into accepting a free city with the religion. So patching the missionary gifting out doesn't actually protect the AI from aquiring the AP religion via Theocracy. It just requires a bit more effort.

Both things are AI exploits, because the AI won't try to do them to you. But nobody is forcing you to exploit the AI.

 

[CoZe]

There is no exploit. AI can opt to not spread your gifted missionary (happened to me). I believe it has motives, if it is running theocracy for war, and already has the state religion, then it uses your missionary as a second religion wont do much harm. But if it is running theocracy for preventing unwanted religions, then your gifted missionary goes wasted.

 

[Inky]

Yes, sometimes the AI won't use the missionary, but I don't see any sign that it is intelligently deciding to do so to block a religious victory. If you gift it in a city which can use happiness or culture, the AI isn't likely to turn it down, even if they are the last hold-out.

As far as I know, the AI doesn't gift units. It can gift cities, but rarely, and then only if they'd have to opt to liberate them. Generally, vassals turn over cities to masters.

Again, though, a human knowing this doesn't have to do it to the AI. To play fair, don't do things which you know the AI can't do and which unfairly disadvantage them.