Religion Expansion doesn't seem to work

[jack95morgan]

I am trying to develop a world with lots of cultures and religions. I started with just the default folk religions and then I added a new organised religion within one area. I chose its starting location, set it as an "Organized" type, and increased the "Expansion". It doesn't seem to matter what I select for "Potential", it only expands into a small area, even if I set the "Expansion" to 99 (or something way above the upper limit). In fact, once I set the "Expansion" to 30, it doesn't seem to make any difference if I increase it from there.

Is there any way to make religions expand into large areas? I can paint it in myself, but I wanted to see what it came up with by default.

[Azgaar]

Hello. If 'potential' is set to 'global' it should grow depending on the 'expansion'. Especially if there are no competitors. Make sure the 'auto-apply' box is checked.

If it doesn't work for some reason, you can share your .map file (via any Cloud storage), so that I can take a look.

[jack95morgan]

That increases the expansion a little, but not to the extent I was hoping for.

Here's the file: https://file.io/7Ab2oaFIdThz

As I say, if it can't be fixed it's not a major issue, but I would appreciate it if you can solve this one, or tell me what I'm doing wrong. I love this software and I keep finding new incredible things I can do with it!

[Azgaar]

Do you mean this heresy? It's on island, so it's harder to spread from there. For me it take about 50% of map with expansion 99. Do you need more?

[jack95morgan]

That was one I was trying, but I also tried in other areas and had the same experience. For me, it covers a tiny part of the island while I was hoping for it to expand to at least most of the area of that island covered by the folk religion. I get similar amounts of expansion if I try starting a new religion anywhere else on my map.
This is what I get with the settings in the file I shared.

Either I'm doing something wrong or I'm experiencing some sort of bug if it's working as expected for you.

[Azgaar]

Does all this area have a culture assigned? Religions can only spread in areas with culture

[jack95morgan]

No the problem is that it doesn't fill the culture but I want it to.

The folk religion fills the culture, as it should. But any new religion I try to make just fills a tiny area without spreading very far even when I have the expansion at 99 and whatever I use for potential. I think I'll just have to use the paintbrush and do it all manually.

[Azgaar]

Do you have a specific example (and .map file)?

[jack95morgan]

The .map file I shared earlier: https://file.io/7Ab2oaFIdThz
And the screenshot I shared earlier:

This is with global potential and expansion of 99.
When I try other religions in other parts of the map (such as on the main continent) with the same settings, it also expands to a similarly small area.
You suggested that when you tried it it expanded to a much larger area of the map and I'm not seeing that with mine. Could it be another setting somewhere?

[Azgaar]

Yes, you can lower the growth rare in options. It affects the expansion. Also the link is no longer valid

[jack95morgan]

Ah! That explains it! I guess I'd accidentally turned the growth rate down.

Thanks!