Should I stay fetishist

[forfor]

I just got offered some decisions to convert my state religion. On the one hand, I recognize that fetishist is not great in terms of the bonuses given, but on the other hand, converting 550 dev worth of provinces is going to be an absolutely massive, very expensive undertaking. (also losing half my budget surplus according to my save-scum tests) I'm curious whether people think it's worth doing in terms of the bonuses I can get from other religions. (I currently have access to islam, buddhism, and indic faith decisions. I only have 1 missionary, no religious idea group, and I'm playing madagascar)

 

[LazySiege]

Without relighious ideas you should consider using rebels to convert for you, would go quite fast.
If you dont want to do that i would not switch.

 

[TheMeInTeam]

Keep fetish with interfaith or go Islam unless you have a particular goal which requires switching. Fetish with Waaq is pretty stable, even more so if you pick up humanist later.

 

[Terixis]

Fetishist is pretty good, just expect to struggle mightily with diplomacy.

 

[necro84]

I consider fetishist with Buddhadharma cult upgraded buddhism, especially when you expand a lot and from buddhism you would get only +2.5% discipline because of low karma. You get access to all buddhist monuments, +2 tollerance of heathens and 10% dev cost. As expansionist buddist nation you would get 2.5% discipline from low karma, some tollerance of heretics and one of three -10% advisor cost, -5% idea cost, +5% morale

 

[jonjowett]

I consider fetishist with Buddhadharma cult upgraded buddhism, especially when you expand a lot and from buddhism you would get only +2.5% discipline because of low karma. You get access to all buddhist monuments, +2 tollerance of heathens and 10% dev cost. As expansionist buddist nation you would get 2.5% discipline from low karma, some tollerance of heretics and one of three -10% advisor cost, -5% idea cost, +5% morale

This.

Fetishist with Buddhadharma cult gives you access to all of the Buddhist monuments, and there are a LOT of them, with some VERY nice bonuses.

Then, since you've already decided to be perma-Buddhadharma (for the monuments), it's very worthwhile to take the "Embrace Singular Cult" clergy estate privilege. (This doubles the benefit of the cult, from -10% dev cost to -20% dev cost, and removes stab loss on monarch death. Downside: You can't change the cult easily. But you don't want to change it, so it's not actually a problem.)

Remaining pagan means you can become Emperor of China if you want. It also means you retain access to the pagan-only monuments (notably the Great Pyramid, Walls of Benin & Stonehenge).

Overall, Fetishist with perma-Buddhadharma is IMO one of the strongest religions in the game. (Synergistic idea groups: Religious, Economic.) However, IMO, Fetishist with any other strategy is distinctly mediocre.