God paths-random event relationship.

[Agema]

It might be a false association, but I often feel like I more commonly get free gems for national magic paths than others, although I might just notice them more because I think they're more useful.

[Tolkien]

Originally Posted by Agema

although I might just notice them more because I think they're more useful.

Yeah, I think it's that. I know I've gotten plenty of free water gems before, but as I don't usually play with a nation with any innate water access, I never really notice it until I've got a giant pile accumulated.

It's kind of like the luck-misfortune effect. You never really notice many of good gold giving events, but when suddenly you lose a provinces or two, or a lab or temple, it suddenly seems like that luck you picked wasn't worth it.