ETW newb question: Britain and the church in Oxford

**Slaists** · 03-26-2009, 14:38

Finally, got my new rig unpacked and set up. Played about 8 hrs yesterday: no CTD so far... I guess, I lucked out. Anyway, my question is different though. Britain starts with a college in Cambridge and a church school in Oxford. Do any of you dismantle the church in oxford and build a college instead ASAP? What would be the pros and cons of such action?

**pevergreen** · 03-26-2009, 14:42

Originally Posted by Slaists

Finally, got my new rig unpacked and set up. Played about 8 hrs yesterday: no CTD so far... I guess, I lucked out. Anyway, my question is different though. Britain starts with a college in Cambridge and a church school in Oxford. Do any of you dismantle the church in oxford and build a college instead ASAP? What would be the pros and cons of such action?

I do.

Pro: Much faster research.
Con: Uhhh...lower happiness? Though that hardly has any effect.

Just go with the college early on. Back to church later if you have to.

**Grumfoss** · 03-26-2009, 14:44

[QUOTE=Slaists;2188001]Finally, got my new rig unpacked and set up. Played about 8 hrs yesterday: no CTD so far... I guess, I lucked out. Anyway, my question is different though. Britain starts with a college in Cambridge and a church school in Oxford. Do any of you dismantle the church in oxford and build a college instead ASAP? What would be the pros and cons of such action?[/QUOT

I always demolish the church school and build a normal school. this allows me to research more things also make sure you put your gentleman in there as this will speed up your research

**Furunculus** · 03-26-2009, 16:19

i turned oxford into a school on the first turn.

never had a real problem with happiness in england, so never regretted the change.

**Beskar** · 03-26-2009, 16:41

Churchs are a complete waste. My tactic for Britain is really simple, destroy all towns and turn them into schools in England, turn all the towns in other places into factories. You get super fast research, you get a powerhouse economy and no problems at all.

**MikeV** · 03-27-2009, 02:32

Originally Posted by Slaists

Do any of you dismantle the church in oxford and build a college instead ASAP? What would be the pros and cons of such action?

I've tried it both ways, and haven't noticed all that much difference. Converting it to a college does add a 2nd research lane early. Since the region starts at 100% state religion, you don't lose there (at least, not right away ...).

But, you can also add colleges via conquests, and have so many colleges that some of them sit idle even at the "fattest" part of the tech tree.

One thing that I've noticed is that after conquering the Catholic factions France and Spain, Protestant Britain's home region and colonies started showing a non-zero Catholic population. Not sure what the population mechanics are,

but I had to (re-)build church schools in those regions to suppress the non-state religion (and associated unrest) buildup.

**Ordani** · 03-27-2009, 03:32

There's no reason to have a church in your home province, if anyplace it's the one best able to handle the unrest of colleges. Churches are largely temporary structures in game as implemented: They are exceptionally good for the period you use them in, reducing permanent unrest and providing a (possibly buggy) bonus to both population segment's happiness. However once you convert the majority of a population they are not as good as entertainment buildings, notably because they simply can not offset as much generic unrest.

It'd be cute if churches could convert rakes to priests :>

**antisocialmunky** · 03-27-2009, 04:44

It would be nice if they allowed you to research technology as well but slower. It would be more realistic than a depiction of education vs religion that they have now.

**Frankenbeasley** · 03-27-2009, 05:03

Absolutely the first thing I do is sort out a University in Oxford. I must also admit a certain degree of unseemly glee when, later in the game, I demolish Cambridge and replace it with a brothel.

The King observing with judicious eyes,
The state of both his Universities,
To Oxford sent a troop of horse; and why?
That learned body wanted loyalty:
To Cambridge books he sent, as well discerning
How much that loyal body wanted learning.
Anon, Oxford, 1715