Not only do they require more techs than a Frigate, they cost more to build, and are weaker. In my games by the time they appear their are frigates that have levelled up enough to sink they with ease.

Permanently sticking an adept on a frigate is far more useful and flexible, and I think that Arcane Barges should be made by using a "Wizards Cabin" promotion to a ship (which also reduces cargo space) and then adding a spell casting unit. This would allow for a range of specialised spells.

I tend not to build them much, but they have their place. That place is not sailing by themselves, however! Say the bulk of your fleet is frigates, and so is your enemy's. To attack his frigates puts you in very high risk of losing one of your own. If you can lob a fireball or two first from an arcane barge and weaken him enough for your frigates to hit, you can save yourself from attrition

It also gives the Arcane Barge the ability to hit ground units it wanders past. I've never done this, but can imagine that if you had naval supremacy it would be useful way to keep an enemy in check

I tend not to build them much, but they have their place. That place is not sailing by themselves, however! Say the bulk of your fleet is frigates, and so is your enemy's. To attack his frigates puts you in very high risk of losing one of your own. If you can lob a fireball or two first from an arcane barge and weaken him enough for your frigates to hit, you can save yourself from attrition

It also gives the Arcane Barge the ability to hit ground units it wanders past. I've never done this, but can imagine that if you had naval supremacy it would be useful way to keep an enemy in check

I second this. Though you can use a frigate with a fireball hurling mage, not adept, arcane barges do the same thing AND have the option of attacking weak vessels to build up their own strength. Every combat promotion increases their spell damage by +5. I tend to always have one or two of these in my navy to accompany the real fighting ships.

I also enjoy sticking these in those single tile lakes next to my cities. They can harass approaching enemy stacks with zero risk of counter attack unless they can throw fireballs back.

Also, keep in mind you have to have 2 sources of fire mana to even have a mage with fireball. Arcane barges start with fire 2, no mana necessary.

These are far from useless.

I second this. Though you can use a frigate with a fireball hurling mage, not adept, arcane barges do the same thing AND have the option of attacking weak vessels to build up their own strength. Every combat promotion increases their spell damage by +5. I tend to always have one or two of these in my navy to accompany the real fighting ships.

I also enjoy sticking these in those single tile lakes next to my cities. They can harass approaching enemy stacks with zero risk of counter attack unless they can throw fireballs back.

Also, keep in mind you have to have 2 sources of fire mana to even have a mage with fireball. Arcane barges start with fire 2, no mana necessary.

These are far from useless.

This isn't true. With two sources for fire mana, your adepts start with Fire I. You can upgrade an adept to a mage at level 4 and use the free promotion to give your mage Fire II no mater if you have one source of fire mana or 10 sources of fire mana. All you need if one source of mana.

I mainly use the fireballs to scout small islands when exploring the ocean. Once the map is revealed, they sit in my harbor and lob fire defensively. I'd use then more if they had better move rating

SwordofStriker, you only need 1 fire node to get fireballs, you can buy fire 2 with a promotion.

Its true arcane barge are slow, but they are a kind of med fan carrier. Having three or four in a group trying to take a hold on ennemy continent is a real bonus : you first weaken the city bonus with fregates, then send in the fireballs. I think for non arcane civs it is simplier than having a mage for this purpose.

I stand corrected.

The fact remains that you still need the one source of fire mana, which does not apply to arcane barges, meaning those civs that don't start with it or haven't been able to get it can still have fireball wielding units.

Here's how I've used them: Stacked navy with escorts (Two to three Frigates/Men O' War), Transports (Queens of the Line or Galleons, of course), and a single Arcane Barge for the fireballiness. Now, put some adepts with Air I in the stack to speed the whole thing. Better yet, put some Magi in the stack with Air I and Fire II to get even more fireballiness. Enemy ships won't even get close, and this little branch of your navy quickly grows powerful by sinking fireball-weakened enemy vessels. Throw in some mudstompers to occupy any enemy coastal city you want, and go from there. Worked pretty well for me, and the extra fireball(s) from Arcane Barges mean fewer magi risked at sea. Very versatile naval force that needn't consist of many units compared to the enemy.

arcane barges are brilliant land assault units, especially against small islands. You don't need to level them up before they get fireballs so they are more cost efficient than adepts.

I don't know how fireball-tossing naval ships can be underestimated. It's the only naval unit, in FFH or vanilla, that has the capability to bombard units from the sea.

It's the only way to access fireballs without resorting to the arcane tech path, which for many situations you probably won't want to get into. Arcane barges are awesome, even if naval cities aren't worth as much in FFH as in BTS. I don't see why you can leave home without them.

Not only do they require more techs than a Frigate, they cost more to build, and are weaker. In my games by the time they appear their are frigates that have levelled up enough to sink they with ease.

Arcane Barge requires more tech because it has the ability to cast fireball. It is not a unit designed to stay alone in the middle of the sea but a support unit. When it is inside a stack of other naval units its ability allow to soften the enemy's resistence allowing my units to win easily with little damage... So i think Arcane Barge is right, you have to use it in a better way (it is not a tank unit but a recon/support unit)