Witchcraft and Wall Street have seemingly little in common, yet their connection, albeit indirect, can be explored. Witchcraft, often associated with supernatural abilities and mystical practices, is rooted in ancient beliefs and rituals that aim to harness magical powers and connect with the spiritual realm. On the other hand, Wall Street represents the epitome of modern capitalism, where financial institutions and investors engage in the buying and selling of goods, services, and securities. Despite their divergent nature, both witchcraft and Wall Street possess certain underlying themes that connect them. One such theme is the desire for power and control. In witchcraft, practitioners seek to manipulate energies and exert influence over their surroundings, often with the intention of achieving personal gains or influencing the outcome of events.
Think of it this way.
Who are you in Ireland to reform the faith of Norse people? Why would people living in Scandinavia follow reforms to their faith made by someone who doesn't even live there?
Controlling the holy sites that are directly in your area is a show of power amongst your people. Controlling the major holy sites, these places in your homeland that hold significance make you out to be the epic holy man that can sway the peoples faith.
Only if you manage to create one big strong empire should you be able to proclaim the reformation of the pagan faith as a whole, but it shouldn t be the only path. Given the Pagan faith in CK3 is represented by the triquetra; a symbol that for years have been associated with Celtic pagans I find it a little weird none of the holy sites are even in historically Celtic regions.
In witchcraft, practitioners seek to manipulate energies and exert influence over their surroundings, often with the intention of achieving personal gains or influencing the outcome of events. Similarly, Wall Street revolves around the pursuit of wealth and the manipulation of financial markets to attain a position of power and control over money. Both witchcraft and Wall Street demonstrate that the quest for power and control is deeply ingrained in human nature.
Pagan Religious Victories
Hey all! I've been reading CivFanatics for like 15 years and I wanted to share something I haven't seen much of in DoC discussions - a thread on Pagan Religious Victories!
These are a challenge in that you have to accomplish them relatively quickly to prevent the spread of religion to your cities, and you also end up playing a really expansionist game because of the 15 Pagan Temples requirement. Plus whatever special twist the unique aspect of your civ's pagan religion requires.
I started off with the obvious ones - ancient civs like Egypt, Babylon, Greece, Rome, Carthage, Maya & even China. But then I started playing around with later starts, just to see if it was possible, and you can get some really fun and different games if you invest in the setup required to win a Pagan victory. So far I've won as Germany and England, and I'm working on France, Vikings, & Russia, and I'm most excited about Japan because of their unique condition, but I have to get the setup right (ie preventing the foundation of Buddhism by starting with India and not building Hindu Temples).
Interestingly, if you get the setup right, it is actually really easy to win as the US because you can switch to Theocracy right away to prevent the spread of religions and their unique condition just requires having 20 unimproved forest tiles.
As I achieve them, I'll share other uncommon religious victories I'm working on (like full-game Jewish Babylon, Ancient Jewish Greece, or 1700 AD start Zoroastrian Iran!)
So here are some screenshots of the victory screens, does anyone else have any luck or good strategies with Pagan Religious Victories?
CK3's approach to pagan reformation, along with the fact that the reformed faith will not spread if you don't force it, I think is partly down to a more general change in the philosophy between the two games. CK2 arguably provides the player with too little freedom in changing religion, whether that's converting to a preexisting faith or making a new one; CK3 goes completely in the opposite direction and acts as though nearly all of the history of religion comes from the arbitrary whims of autocrats. It's not bad having the extra freedom, but the implementation has been unhelpful for players understanding what's actually supposed to be happening in the in-game world.
Another common theme between witchcraft and Wall Street is the concept of secrecy and hidden knowledge. In witchcraft, the practice is often shrouded in secrecy, with practitioners possessing knowledge that is transmitted through generations or shared only with a select few. Likewise, Wall Street operates on a foundation of hidden knowledge, where insider information and financial strategies are closely guarded and shared among a privileged few. This veil of secrecy creates an aura of exclusivity and power. Furthermore, both witchcraft and Wall Street tap into the psychological aspects of human behavior. Witchcraft capitalizes on people's desires for love, success, and protection, offering the promise of fulfilling these desires through magical means. Similarly, Wall Street plays on the greed and fear that drive financial decision-making, offering the possibility of extraordinary returns or devastating losses. Both witchcraft and Wall Street exploit these emotions to influence human behavior and maintain control over their respective domains. However, it is worth noting that the connection between witchcraft and Wall Street is not a direct one, but rather an exploration of shared psychological and societal aspects. Witchcraft is deeply rooted in spirituality, while Wall Street is centered around financial transactions and economic principles. Nonetheless, by delving into their underlying themes, we can gain insight into the human condition and the forces that shape our behavior, whether in pursuit of supernatural or financial power..
Reviews for "The Witch's Grimoire of Wall Street: Unveiling the Mysteries of Financial Magic"
- Maria - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Witchcraft and Wall Street". I found the writing style to be very confusing and hard to follow. The plot was all over the place and it was difficult to keep track of what was happening. The characters were also underdeveloped and lacked depth. Overall, I did not enjoy reading this book and would not recommend it to others.
- John - 1/5 stars - "Witchcraft and Wall Street" was a complete waste of time for me. The story was incredibly predictable and lacked any originality. The dialogue was cheesy and unrealistic, making it hard for me to connect with the characters. Additionally, the pacing was off, with long stretches of boredom followed by rushed and unsatisfying resolutions. I was hoping for a unique and engaging read, but unfortunately, this book fell flat for me.
- Emily - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "Witchcraft and Wall Street", but I ended up being disappointed. The concept seemed interesting, but the execution was lacking. The writing was mediocre and the story lacked depth. The characters felt one-dimensional and their motivations were unclear. There were also several inconsistencies and plot holes that took away from the overall reading experience. I think this book had potential, but it didn't live up to my expectations.
- Tom - 2/5 stars - "Witchcraft and Wall Street" was a letdown for me. The plot was convoluted and hard to follow. It seemed like the author was trying too hard to incorporate different elements without giving them enough depth. The pacing was also uneven, with parts of the story dragging on unnecessarily and others feeling rushed. Overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and would not recommend it to others.