A few questions about the Barbarian Trait

[Wyrmhero]

Just a few questions before I play as a barbarian leader.

1) If my score goes higher than all opponents by 50%, do I loose the whole trait, including the 10% reduction in research, or just the alliance with barbarians?
2) Does this immunity spread to a permenant ally?
3) How can I effectively keep my score down?

Thanks in advance.

Wyrmhero

 

[rusty217]

1) No you only lose the alliance, the research penalty still applies
2) I don't know....
3) Not building as much culture as you normally would, watching the scores of the highest and second highest players, not reducing the score of the highest players...

 

[xienwolf]

2) Good question, but I haven't a clue. I do not think so however since you can forge permanent alliances or vassalize without losing your peace with the Barbarians.

3) Also a good idea to give all the technologies that you can to the other AIs for either resources or free. And if any of them knows a Tech you do not, research that one first. First one to get a Tech is worth major points.

And aim to keep your land as undeveloped as possible, each improvement is worth a couple more points (So don't place cottages in the entire fat cross when your population is only 12 and you cannot actually work every tile just to save yourself time for later when your population grows).

Also you should avoid wonders if your score is up too high. So only get the wonders you really and truly want to have for a strategic reason, or you might drive your score up and have to decide between a valuable late-game wonder or your peace with teh barbarians.

 

[MagisterCultuum]

1. you lose the peace treaty, but keep the penalty.

2. Signing the alliance would make you declare war on the barbarians, unless you make the alliance with another barb trait civ. You combined score would be looked at, so you would probably lose the alliance anyway.

 

[Sarisin]

Yeah, this is the reason I don't like to play the civs with the Barbarian trait. You really end up micromanaging that 50% rule so you don't exceed the cap and have the barbs come crashing down on you.

I follow what xienwolf said (unless you have no tech trading which I use now).

The other thing you might do is stretch out your research times. For example, I have gone down to 10% or even 0% so I wouldn't research any techs to exceed the cap. Still, you never know when the next civ below you might lose a city to the barbs or another ai civ in a war. That would take his score down and, bingo, you are past 50%!

Finally, be careful when Blight hits. I got hammered once when the scores beneath mine really went down as the ai was slow to rebuild improvements and lost population.

 

[Monkeyfinger]

I've never played as a barb civ but whenever my score is 150% above that of the highest AI score, the untamed land has run out and there are no barbs

So I don't see how this penalty matters

 

[Sarisin]

I've never played as a barb civ but whenever my score is 150% above that of the highest AI score, the untamed land has run out and there are no barbs

So I don't see how this penalty matters

That's a good point!

It all depends on the game variables you select. If you select larger maps and slower speeds, you have a better chance of this rule going into effect. I've found that often in my games the raging barbs (this is also an option that makes a difference) will take out at least a couple of the ai civs. This opens up the map for them to spawn and as they don't raze cities with a population of 2 or greater, they get plenty of territory. Again, I use only large land maps.

Then, you really have to watch the score like a hawk and make sure the other civs stay close to you.

 

[Ekolite]

The peace with the normal barbs is pretty irrelevent, you have to remember that if you're still at peace with the barbs when the AC starts going up, the horsemen won't attack you. One good way to avoid a lot of micro is to just let another civ take the lead in score, you can always deal with them later when all the barbs are gone.

 

[xienwolf]

And another option for it is to increase the difficulty level you play at when you use a Barbarian Civ so that it is nearly impossible for you to keep up (that is if you do not already play at Diety)