Religion in Civilization VI (Vanilla)

[Wittfogel]

I would like to know if you found a religion if you are playing the base game without expansions, since you can not buy civilian units with faith under a (Monumentality) Golden Age?

Then I agree that it is worth it.

To me, it feels like religion is pretty useless in the base game, unless you go for a religious victory. Also, the AI has never won a religious victory against me, so there is no real need for defense.

It might be different at the harder difficulties.

If you would do it for the belief bonuses, which ones do you choose?

Religious Settlements for the Pantheon...?

Which ones for your religion? Jesuit Education?

[jmerry82]

A full faith build is weaker in the "standard rules", yes. Without the midgame faith sinks like Monumentality or the Grandmaster's Chapel, you can end up with nothing to spend faith on except religious units and great people.

But is that a reason to not found a religion at all? Of course not. You don't have to go for a full faith build to make good use of a religion. Religious Community only needs a few holy sites to work well, for example.
And you might be playing a civ with religious bonuses, like Spain or Arabia.

[Skumboni]

I always go for the religious victory, because apostles with extra charges from wonders can defeat cities that have the biggest of armies. And they do it long before nukes get in the game.

[grumble]

Gaul surprised me with a religious victory once so it can happen but it is extremely rare.

My favourite use of faith requires the Valletta city state to be in the game and your suzerain state. Suddenly around turn 300 you urgently need to build sea walls - sometimes you cannot build sea walls fast enough so you lose valuable hexes - but Valletta lets you buy sea walls with faith.

I never bother with a religion because I would rather save up faith for buying sea walls, rock bands and other things. But I do like to get a good pantheon ASAP - my favourite is River Goddess for the amenities and housing.

[grognardgary]

There is no victory path that is not made some what easier by having a religion, And I've never even attempted to score a religious victory. Feed the world with extra housing, Pagodas off set early aggression when aggression is easiest at least on levels king and below and there are others so that you can match your game religion to you ultimate goal.

[grumble]

Originally posted by grognardgary:

Feed the world with extra housing, Pagodas...

Even if you do not have your own religion you can build Pagodas etc once your cities have been converted to the appropriate religion.

If you found a religion it makes it even harder to hold on to the cities you conquer.

[Sstavix]

Originally posted by grumble:

Originally posted by grognardgary:

Feed the world with extra housing, Pagodas...

Even if you do not have your own religion you can build Pagodas etc once your cities have been converted to the appropriate religion.

If you found a religion it makes it even harder to hold on to the cities you conquer.

In Vanilla, the loyalty mechanic isn't a thing. So this would have no effect.

In R&F, it is a factor, but only if the conquered civilization is a different religion. If you convert the enemy's cities beforehand it makes it much easier. It's why I typically have some missionaries and apostles "scout" the territory beforehand, during peace time.

[Hamish]

Personally, I prefer to found a religion and make a custom one - one that usually has a silly name to reflect all religions are made up. From a game-play point of view, I tend to pick the best beliefs - such as the one that gives amenities, money etc. There are some civic boosts based on religions, and some city stats allow you to purchase walls and sometimes units with faith.

[Dissenswurst]

Originally posted by Hamish:

Personally, I prefer to found a religion and make a custom one - one that usually has a silly name to reflect all religions are made up. From a game-play point of view, I tend to pick the best beliefs - such as the one that gives amenities, money etc. There are some civic boosts based on religions, and some city stats allow you to purchase walls and sometimes units with faith.

Oh yeah, I like to have the 'Omnispielismus' (German, would translate to something like 'Omnigamism').