Whose got religion?

[garhent]

One strategy I've been playing with the game that seems to work to deal with the financial plague the designers decided to lay on us is religion. Namely, taking as much of it as possible, to prevent the computer from getting a valuable financial resource.

I normally go this route:

1st) Research to Polythesism to get quick Hindusim, normally the PC goes for Buddism.
2nd) Direct all research to Monotheism to get Judaism
3rd) Research Priesthood to get ability to build oracle -> Free Technology gift
4th) Research Writing before Oracle completion, this opens up two religion techs: Civil Laws (confusionism) or Theology (Christianity). I normally pick Christianity.
5th) If you are feeling really risky, try researching Civil Laws and take confusionism.

I normally can get 3 religions for the game. By having 3 religions early on, you can easilly build 3 temples in your city to deal with unhappiness. Not to mention the financial benefits of having shrines. The other hidden benefit is your competitors have to pick a religion and if you are lucky, yours is the only game on the continent and they will end up giving you money by spreading it throughout their empire.

Its the only way I've found so far to deal with the games crippling economics early on.

 

[walkerjks]

An alternative that works at all difficulty levels (I think you will find founding religions to be more difficult as you go up the diffculty ladder) is early, frequent cottages. If you focus on growing commerce, you will find you money (and science) siutations will be far better.

 

[MSTK]

One strategy I've been playing with the game that seems to work to deal with the financial plague the designers decided to lay on us is religion. Namely, taking as much of it as possible, to prevent the computer from getting a valuable financial resource.

I normally go this route:

1st) Research to Polythesism to get quick Hindusim, normally the PC goes for Buddism.
2nd) Direct all research to Monotheism to get Judaism
3rd) Research Priesthood to get ability to build oracle -> Free Technology gift
4th) Research Writing before Oracle completion, this opens up two religion techs: Civil Laws (confusionism) or Theology (Christianity). I normally pick Christianity.
5th) If you are feeling really risky, try researching Civil Laws and take confusionism.

I normally can get 3 religions for the game. By having 3 religions early on, you can easilly build 3 temples in your city to deal with unhappiness. Not to mention the financial benefits of having shrines. The other hidden benefit is your competitors have to pick a religion and if you are lucky, yours is the only game on the continent and they will end up giving you money by spreading it throughout their empire.

Its the only way I've found so far to deal with the games crippling economics early on.

What difficulty is this on?

 

[siff]

walkerjks is on the money

Build cottages all around, everywhere you can and the money will come tumbling in. Tried this in my last game (prince level), converted to a foreign religion but still was able to expand like crasy!

Siff