Long thread warning
After reviewing the limited information we have at this stage regarding religion, it appears that there are two potential pathways for an individual wishing to found a religion to do so.
Stonehenge
The first method is Stonehenge. Stonehenge yields two faith per turn and is unlocked early in the technology tree, at Astrology. Upon completion, it grants a free great prophet which enables an individual to found a religion. However, it must be built adjacent to stone and on flat land.
This creates an inconsistent dynamic to the Stonehenge and means, irrespective of our desire for the wonder, we may not be able to even attempt construction of it.
Great Prophet Points
The second method is through the accumulation of Great Prophet Points (GPP). The accumulation of GPP will be more consistent than Stonehenge, and it appears the majority of religions will be founded using this method.
While there may be changes in the way in which Religion works with regard to religious pressure, evidence appears to suggest pressure is very similar to the mechanic in Civilization V. An important component of any religion in Civilization V was speed; how fast could an individual found a religion to begin pressuring other cities and spread their religion.
In some cases, a liberty start with good land and strong faith generation could spread their religion to all of their 7 cities by turn 50, which would snowball their religion for the rest of the game. Obviously Civilization VI will be different to Civilization V, and this remains only an example of the importance of early religion.
The key difference between the two games is the generation of GPP and faith as separate metrics. Obviously Civilization V had no form of GPP, and relied upon the accumulation of Faith to spawn a prophet, which leads to my next question. What is the fastest way a religion can be founded without the use of Stonehenge?
First we must assess all forms of Great Prophet Point generation. From the limited information I have access to, I have become aware of the following:
From the outset some of these forms of generation appear curious, as an example Mahabodhi Temple requires a religion already founded to even be able to attempt construction of the wonder. At this stage, the only information available appears to suggest that a Great Prophet is responsible for only the founding of a religion and that is all, no enhancing, no spreading - just founding. All Great Prophets have only ever had the same ability, to found a religion, though obviously this may change.
When theory crafting about founding the fastest religion, we can already mark a few items off our list. The building of a Temple requires one to have researched Theology, which is considerably late in the tech tree (The tier after Drama and Poetry & Political Philosophy and would require subsequent build time). Mahabodhi Temple requires a religion already established and Hagia Sophia requires Education (tier after military tactics).
Our goal is to reach a total of 80 Great Prophet Points as soon as possible. Let's theorycraft away!
From the outset, my first thought was that our main focus should be getting to Classical Republic as soon as possible, and after that heading straight to Mysticism. We do this so that we may open a Wildcard slot and use the revelation card which gives +2 GPP. While doing that, we would aim to build a Holy Site and then a Shrine as soon as possible.
Our production build order will be: Monument -> Builder -> Holy Site -> Shrine -> Settler
For the purpose of this exercise we will use facts from Marbozir' Brazil game:
.
Unlike Civilization V, growth impacts culture. Culture is produced by the city at a rate of 1.0 per turn with an additional amount for every citizen in the city (+0.3).
The culture costs for the relevant techs are reduced on fast speed by 33%. The costs are:
On fast speed, to reach Political Philosophy we require 234 Culture, to reach Mysticism we require 266 culture.
Assuming that we obtain no inspirations, we will reach our target Culture amount in 55 turns. Some inspirations are map specific, like Foreign Trade (Discover a second continent) and others come too early for a culture focused early game; like Early Empire (At least 6 population).
Some inspirations are almost 100% attainable if we skew our build order toward them, including the inspirations for Craftsmanship (Improve three tiles), State Workforce (Build any district) and Mysticism (Found a pantheon). Assuming we reach all of these inspirations with optimal timing, we can reduce our entire culture cost by 53.5, bringing our total required culture down to 212.5 (turn 48).
With regard to technology, the opening is straightforward. Astrology into anything else. This gives enough time to produce both a monument and builder, and go straight into a Holy site. Upon improving 3 tiles from our builder we inspire Craftsmanship and upon completing a Holy site after our builder we inspire State workforce. After completing our holy site, building a Shrine will guarantee a pantheon 8 turns after its construction, inspiring Mysticism.
At turn 9 our monument is completed. At turn 14 our builder completes. At turn 19 our Holy Site completes, earning our first GPP of 80 total GPP's required. At turn 23 our Shrine is completed, earning +2GPP. On turn 31 we earn enough faith for a pantheon, Divine spark, earning us +3GPP.
Assuming we gain no further GPP per turn, we can claim our great prophet on turn 50 (this is not taking into account early purchasing with faith / gold). Assuming we hit all our inspirations, turn 48 is when we may introduce our GPP wildcard, increasing our GPP to +5 (not including government bonuses).
Through this theory crafting, we can confirm that if an individual is rushing for a religion, that if they gain great spark as their pantheon, there is almost no point to that individual rushing for wildcard GPP's. In the event we are unable to gain great spark, or wish not to, our religion would be founded on turn 60. With the addition of the GPP wildcard on turn 48, our religion would be founded on turn 54.
While I may have missed some relevant facts, the majority of this is calculated as best as one can do without access to the game. My conclusion is the following:
If I have missed anything please let me know, if there is any way to get it faster let me know, if there is any way to calculate it better, let me know! Thanks, and hi! (first post)
After reviewing the limited information we have at this stage regarding religion, it appears that there are two potential pathways for an individual wishing to found a religion to do so.
Stonehenge
The first method is Stonehenge. Stonehenge yields two faith per turn and is unlocked early in the technology tree, at Astrology. Upon completion, it grants a free great prophet which enables an individual to found a religion. However, it must be built adjacent to stone and on flat land.
This creates an inconsistent dynamic to the Stonehenge and means, irrespective of our desire for the wonder, we may not be able to even attempt construction of it.
Great Prophet Points
The second method is through the accumulation of Great Prophet Points (GPP). The accumulation of GPP will be more consistent than Stonehenge, and it appears the majority of religions will be founded using this method.
While there may be changes in the way in which Religion works with regard to religious pressure, evidence appears to suggest pressure is very similar to the mechanic in Civilization V. An important component of any religion in Civilization V was speed; how fast could an individual found a religion to begin pressuring other cities and spread their religion.
In some cases, a liberty start with good land and strong faith generation could spread their religion to all of their 7 cities by turn 50, which would snowball their religion for the rest of the game. Obviously Civilization VI will be different to Civilization V, and this remains only an example of the importance of early religion.
The key difference between the two games is the generation of GPP and faith as separate metrics. Obviously Civilization V had no form of GPP, and relied upon the accumulation of Faith to spawn a prophet, which leads to my next question. What is the fastest way a religion can be founded without the use of Stonehenge?
First we must assess all forms of Great Prophet Point generation. From the limited information I have access to, I have become aware of the following:
- Pantheon -> Divine Spark: +1 Great Person Point from Holy Site (Prophet), Campus (Scientist), and Theater Square (Writer) districts
Civics -> Policies -> Wildcard -> Revelation (Mysticism): +2 Great Prophet points per turn.
Governments -> Classical Republic: +X% Bonus Great People point generation.
Districts -> Holy Site -> 1 Great Prophet Point per turn.
Buildings -> Shrine -> 1 Great Prophet Point per turn.
Temple -> 1 Great Prophet Point per turn.
Wonders -> Mahabodhi Temple -> +1 Great Prophet Point per turn
Hagia Sophia -> +2 Great Prophet Points per turn
Projects -> Holy Site Prayers -> Earn Great Prophet point upon completion.
From the outset some of these forms of generation appear curious, as an example Mahabodhi Temple requires a religion already founded to even be able to attempt construction of the wonder. At this stage, the only information available appears to suggest that a Great Prophet is responsible for only the founding of a religion and that is all, no enhancing, no spreading - just founding. All Great Prophets have only ever had the same ability, to found a religion, though obviously this may change.
When theory crafting about founding the fastest religion, we can already mark a few items off our list. The building of a Temple requires one to have researched Theology, which is considerably late in the tech tree (The tier after Drama and Poetry & Political Philosophy and would require subsequent build time). Mahabodhi Temple requires a religion already established and Hagia Sophia requires Education (tier after military tactics).
Our goal is to reach a total of 80 Great Prophet Points as soon as possible. Let's theorycraft away!
From the outset, my first thought was that our main focus should be getting to Classical Republic as soon as possible, and after that heading straight to Mysticism. We do this so that we may open a Wildcard slot and use the revelation card which gives +2 GPP. While doing that, we would aim to build a Holy Site and then a Shrine as soon as possible.
Our production build order will be: Monument -> Builder -> Holy Site -> Shrine -> Settler
For the purpose of this exercise we will use facts from Marbozir' Brazil game:
Unlike Civilization V, growth impacts culture. Culture is produced by the city at a rate of 1.0 per turn with an additional amount for every citizen in the city (+0.3).
The culture costs for the relevant techs are reduced on fast speed by 33%. The costs are:
- Code of laws: 20 Culture (14 Culture on fast speed)
- Craftsmanship: 40 Culture (25 Culture on fast speed)
- Foreign Trade: 40 Culture (25 Culture on fast speed)
- State Workforce: 70 Culture (50 Culture on fast speed)
- Early Empire: 70 Culture (50 Culture on fast speed)
- Political Philosophy: 110 Culture (70 Culture on Fast speed)
- Mysticism: 50 Culture (32 Culture on fast speed)
On fast speed, to reach Political Philosophy we require 234 Culture, to reach Mysticism we require 266 culture.
Assuming that we obtain no inspirations, we will reach our target Culture amount in 55 turns. Some inspirations are map specific, like Foreign Trade (Discover a second continent) and others come too early for a culture focused early game; like Early Empire (At least 6 population).
Some inspirations are almost 100% attainable if we skew our build order toward them, including the inspirations for Craftsmanship (Improve three tiles), State Workforce (Build any district) and Mysticism (Found a pantheon). Assuming we reach all of these inspirations with optimal timing, we can reduce our entire culture cost by 53.5, bringing our total required culture down to 212.5 (turn 48).
With regard to technology, the opening is straightforward. Astrology into anything else. This gives enough time to produce both a monument and builder, and go straight into a Holy site. Upon improving 3 tiles from our builder we inspire Craftsmanship and upon completing a Holy site after our builder we inspire State workforce. After completing our holy site, building a Shrine will guarantee a pantheon 8 turns after its construction, inspiring Mysticism.
At turn 9 our monument is completed. At turn 14 our builder completes. At turn 19 our Holy Site completes, earning our first GPP of 80 total GPP's required. At turn 23 our Shrine is completed, earning +2GPP. On turn 31 we earn enough faith for a pantheon, Divine spark, earning us +3GPP.
Assuming we gain no further GPP per turn, we can claim our great prophet on turn 50 (this is not taking into account early purchasing with faith / gold). Assuming we hit all our inspirations, turn 48 is when we may introduce our GPP wildcard, increasing our GPP to +5 (not including government bonuses).
Through this theory crafting, we can confirm that if an individual is rushing for a religion, that if they gain great spark as their pantheon, there is almost no point to that individual rushing for wildcard GPP's. In the event we are unable to gain great spark, or wish not to, our religion would be founded on turn 60. With the addition of the GPP wildcard on turn 48, our religion would be founded on turn 54.
While I may have missed some relevant facts, the majority of this is calculated as best as one can do without access to the game. My conclusion is the following:
- Stonehenge is incredibly strong, with calculations suggesting it may be completed in under 25 turns. This allows the builder a potential 25 turn, headstart on spreading religion, which is... insane.
- Wildcard GPP's are pointless if you are planning on picking up great spark and rushing a religion.
- Fastest religions without Stonehenge are all going to be around turn 50 (not including religious civs, or Brazil with +6 faith per turn holy site purchasing a great prohet early)
If I have missed anything please let me know, if there is any way to get it faster let me know, if there is any way to calculate it better, let me know! Thanks, and hi! (first post)
