Part 15

Navigate the Religious Founding Fathers in Civilization IV! Learn their costs, benefits, and how they impact your empire's growth, conversion rates, and Liberty Bell production.

Alright, let's dive into the Religious Founding Fathers in Civilization IV. These guys are all about churches and adding new buildings, and while some offer neat boosts, they generally require Religion Points and sometimes Political Points to recruit. Honestly, compared to Political or Military Founding Fathers, these can sometimes feel a bit less impactful, but they definitely have their uses, especially if you're focusing on religion and conversion.

Founding Fathers in this Section:

• Washington Irving
• Bartolome De Las Casas
• Gabriel Lallemant
• Gregorio De Mattos E Guerra
• John Harvard
• Juan De Sepulveda
• Nathaniel Hawthorne
• Roger Williams
• Sor Juana
• Thomas Hooker
• William Brewster

Let's break down who's who and what they bring to the table:

• Washington Irving requires 33,660 Political Points. He gives you '+1 Liberty Bell per Schoolhouse', '+2 Liberty Bells per College', and '+3 Liberty Bells per University'. While useful, especially if you're building up your education infrastructure, Ben Franklin often provides a more potent Liberty Bell boost from media buildings. It really depends on your strategy – are you leaning into education buildings or not?
• Bartolome De Las Casas needs 12,620 Religion Points and 11,220 Political Points. His main perk is '+50% Native Conversion Rate from Missions'. This is a solid choice if you're aiming to boost your native population for resource production or need extra bodies for your military. Missions can be effective, though keep in mind they can be expelled by natives.
• Gabriel Lallemant costs 5,329 Religion Points and 4,488 Political Points. He offers '50% Faster Production of Church, Cathedral'. If you're keen on building up your religious structures quickly, he's your guy. Otherwise, he might not be the best use of your points. However, the generation of immigrants he can provide is useful for workers, and you might even snag a much-needed Elder Statesman.
• Gregorio De Mattos E Guerra is a pricier option at 16,830 Religion Points and 14,025 Political Points. He grants '+2 Liberty Bells per Church' and '+3 Liberty Bells per Cathedral'. This is one of the stronger religious options, especially given his cost, as it directly boosts your political points and Liberty Bells. Still, for pure Liberty Bell generation, Ben Franklin is often the top pick.
• John Harvard requires 9,537 Religion Points and 7,854 Political Points. He gives you a 'Free Schoolhouse in Every Settlement'. This is fantastic if you're planning to heavily invest in your education system to train up your colonists. It's a bit odd to see him in the Religious section, but his bonus is definitely geared towards education.
• Juan De Sepulveda costs 1,683 Religion Points and 1,542 Political Points. He 'Provides 2 Converted Natives'. At the early stage where you can afford him, this is a pretty good deal. These converted natives can fill in on the front lines or take over resource spots until you can get experts in place. Give them guns later and they can hold a position well.
• Nathaniel Hawthorne demands a hefty 22,440 Religion Points and 19,074 Political Points. His bonus is 'Provides 3 Elder Statesmen'. This is a great ability if you're struggling to get Elder Statesmen. However, by the time you can afford Hawthorne, you likely have a decent economy that allows you to hire Elder Statesmen directly from Europe, so it's a judgment call.
• Roger Williams needs 3,927 Religion Points and 3,366 Political Points. He offers '+25% Native Conversion Rate from Missions' and 'Strengthens Relations with the Natives'. If you prefer diplomacy over conflict and want to improve your standing with native tribes, he's a good choice. Better relations can lead to more effective alliances and even extra firepower when the mother country calls.
• Sor Juana costs 12,622 Religion Points and 10,659 Political Points. She provides '+3 Crosses Per Church' and '+3 Crosses Per Cathedral'. While the cost is high, more crosses mean faster unit production from your religious buildings. The downside is that the unit type is random, so it relies on luck. If you need experts, though, any boost helps.
• Thomas Hooker requires 3,085 Religion Points and 2,524 Political Points. He 'Provides 3 Jesuit Missionaries'. These missionaries are significantly more effective at converting natives than regular colonists, which is a huge plus if you're planning to establish missions.
• William Brewster costs 2,244 Religion Points and 1,963 Political Points. He offers '-25% Cost of Native Land Purchasing'. This can be a nice little discount if you plan on expanding your territory by buying land from the natives.