Will Religion have any role in ETW?

**Rhyfelwyr** · 03-08-2008, 22:20

The Thirty Years War may be half a century out of the timeframe, but I really hope religion is not left on the sideline in ETW. The talk about government systems has so far sounded very promising, but CA have made it cleare they do not see religion as an important factor in the ETW period.

However, if religion is not included then I do not see how event such as the Jacobite uprisings or the Ulster plantations will be represented in-game. We've already been told that a Jacobite faction can emerge, and religion has surely got to be a major factor in the likeliness of this happening and the levels of support it receives.

Religion would also surely have an impact on the way governments act. For example, as the absolutist monarch Louis XIV I should have options regarding how I treat the Hugeunots. The Hugeunots played an important role in the French economy, so perhaps for each 1% of the French population that is Protestant there should be economic growth? The drawback however is obviously the unrest caused by having different religions.

If you leave out religion you miss out on a whole dimension to politics within the ETW timeframe.

Any other opinions on this issue?

**Herkus** · 03-08-2008, 22:27

Religion certainly should be in - it still played important role in 18th century regarding possible dynastic marriages, alliances, and as Caledonian Rhyfelwyr mentioned - religion motivated uprisings and population movements.

**rajpoot** · 03-09-2008, 06:45

Religion will be there I'm sure, and I think something has been said about this somewhere.......maybe the summary thread;
But what I think that while it plays an important part, we won't have the Pope as an important figure, or a controlling power in ETW.........as far as conversion of the natives is concerned, I can't figure out how'll they work it out......

**pevergreen** · 03-09-2008, 11:26

CA said instead of religion its culture, doesnt mean religion isnt there.

I expect something along the lines of the OP's idea.

**Ozzman1O1** · 03-14-2008, 19:58

Can you change your religion?

**Rhyfelwyr** · 03-15-2008, 00:25

It would be nice to have civil wars, where a faction can have its ruling dynasty replaced, even by one with a different religion. So it the Jacobites win the civil war, the Stuarts would start a new Catholic dynasty with the British faction.

The problem is it will be hard to represent dynastic wars unless different factions family trees are linked together. If they are, you could also make claims on their land, even to their throne. That would be an amazing feature, should have been there in M2TW...

**Freedom Onanist** · 03-31-2008, 15:25

As the game is set in the "Enlightenment" religion should be a negative modifier on factions? A bit like heretics and witches in M2TW? It would put a damper on scientific and social development if not controlled closely. Whoever develops Darwin and manages to keep him alive and away from the obscurantist elements in society (religion) gains a major bonus.

**harifaz** · 04-15-2008, 08:36

not only should religion be a factor. it should be a vital factor . I am aware that this maybe a personal preference . so I think it should be within the customization options of the new game.

**Freedom Onanist** · 04-15-2008, 16:28

No doubt it will be in there as 200-300 years later we still haven't managed to shake it off... But anyway, I think it plays a much less important role in this game if at all, politics replace it