Barbarians and human player

[Rosty K]

Do barbarians really make no difference between the AI and human player units?

Yesterday I was trying to lure an Aztec settler into a nearby barb outpost (we had an active friendship declaration, so I couldn't just strait take the settler). The spearman left the outpost, but only to chase my unit exclusively. That's even when I was hiding my unit behind the settler, and the spearman was on the next tile to the settler. The barb would still move towards my unit ignoring the AI on the next tile So in the end (after 10 or so turns of such dancing) the settler departed in the opposite direction from the camp (and my cities, so at least something) and founded a city there, and of course I unleashed my rage onto the camp, sparing no one

And I've had numerous other cases when barbarians prefer my units or cities to the AI even when AI is nearer and visible (if that applies to barbs).

 

[Jaybe]

Beyond Prince difficulty the AI get a combat bonus vs player (increases with difficulty), making your units more attractive targets. Has been this way for several civ iterations.

Greater challenge, greater rewards. I don't have any problem with this because I enjoy playing Prince.

OTOH, if you are playing Prince, IDK.

 

[Rosty K]

Beyond Prince difficulty the AI get a combat bonus vs player (increases with difficulty), making your units more attractive targets. Has been this way for several civ iterations.

Greater challenge, greater rewards. I don't have any problem with this because I enjoy playing Prince.

OTOH, if you are playing Prince, IDK.

It was King. But hey, what can possibly be more attractive target than an unguarded settler? They're barbarians, they're supposed to harrass civilians

Yet they went for my units even when standing next to that settler and unable to attack my unit on the same turn

 

[Karpius]

The settler is no military threat and the barbarian can do nothing with it beyond change its color. Your military units pose the greater threat to the barbarians.

 

[Rosty K]

The settler is no military threat and the barbarian can do nothing with it beyond change its color. Your military units pose the greater threat to the barbarians.

Well, I can agree with that. Maybe I'll run an experiment and put my settler in range of the barbarians along some AI units. I'm almost sure they'll go for the settler then

 

[SammyKhalifa]

The settler is no military threat and the barbarian can do nothing with it beyond change its color. Your military units pose the greater threat to the barbarians.

They sure seem to like going after my settlers and workers if that's the case.

 

[Slip de Garcon]

I don't notice it too much with barbarians - my current game is some kind of mad barb fest where the game has created too much space for us all, and barbs appear to have either wiped out or severely curtailed the development of all the other players, and given me a fairly hard time too.

But what I do notice is that ones that generate in your lands when your people are unhappy (technical term)... if I see them generate in an AI opponent's land that borders mine they will invariably head in my direction rather than make trouble where they spawned.

 

[Rosty K]

The settler is no military threat and the barbarian can do nothing with it beyond change its color. Your military units pose the greater threat to the barbarians.

Oh, by the way... In the process I described there was at some point a situation when a settler was right between my unit and the barbarian unit (I've tried to describe that in the OP, but probably didn't word it too well). The barbarian and the settler were on the flat land, I was on the hills, so the barb couldn't attack me that turn. Guess what the barbarian did? It moved around the settler to position itself next to my unit. Absolutely the same result would be achieved if it captured the settler, so I'm not so sure about the cunning military strategy here

Same for the barb horseman moving 3 tiles to attack me instead of going at the AI unit next to it (and there's a city which they are supposedly raiding in that direction too).

Well, yes, I'm unhappy about not getting a free settler, but nonetheless

 

[Archon_Wing]

On king and even higher, I have seen the AI heavily stymied by the barbs, so it seems to be dumb luck above all else.

 

[stinkubus]

The last two games I've played I've been met by a barb horde while invading my nearest neighbor. Between myself and the barbs the AI was completely boxed in with no room for anything but the cities founded by its starting settlers (Emperor difficulty). Most of the AI's improvements were pillaged and I captured a settler and several builders which they lost to barbs.

 

[gettingfat]

On king and even higher, I have seen the AI heavily stymied by the barbs, so it seems to be dumb luck above all else.

Yes, the barbs do attack the AI, but only when the barbs don't see any human player unit in sight. Once your units show up, they will change target.

So re. the OP, move your unit away, and get back a few turns later. You may have better luck seeing the settler already captured.

 

[Victoria]

Once your units show up, they will change target.

I am not convinced this is true.
The barbs will always beeline a unit rather than a city which may be why you feel the pain.
It does seem to be random. I have had a horde of barbs attacking my capitol and then turn on Alexander who is coming to raid me despite me having slingers near death, in sight and vulnerable

The decision tree would probably have the right answer.

As I understand it barbs will target scouts above all else, then units seemingly randomly, then cities.
I have never seem them fight each other which would be gratifying and sensible.

 

[Canadian Bluebeer]

Well, they will beeline for me and ignore other juicier targets it seems.
(and they are persistent little buggers)

 

[UWHabs]

I've seen them leave me alone and attack the AI sometimes too, so it's not just a "human is bad" reaction. But it does definitely feel like they'll go after my units more than someone else's, all other things being equal.

 

[Victoria]

I literally have just finished a turn with 2 combats.
1 side of the map Perseus had 2,warriors low against 2 barb archers and my scout ended up behind the warriors and still died to both... as per my first point about them targeting scouts.

Other side of the map closer to home, was fighting off a hoar and a few started fighting into the fog including archers when the could have shot me. I had a nose and all that was left was a badly damaged Scythian horse archer.

 

[Archon_Wing]

They also like to fight with city states. It is why I get annoyed if my landmass has too little.

 

[Archon_Wing]

This happened on Prince. The 2 civs I killed were apparently rather hampered by these things and Amsterdam has been fighting these barbs forever, and will be fighting them for the next 1200 years or so. Never went for me except the occasional trickle. Incidentally Cleopatra also tried to attack Amsterdam, but failed. I really have no idea how they survived.

I sent 3 crossbowmen to clear the camp up north (there were only two) and they were overwhelmed by waves of swords and warriors! Then I sent 2 infantry and a bombard even later on, and they got to the camp but got pushed back. Eventually I cleared the camp by using battleships to kill everything and taking it from sea. Apparently battleships are really good against spearmen.

if I had spawned in Hojo's place, I would have easily just quit the game.

edit: Fun fact, I lost more units to barbs than actual AI.

 

[Victoria]

Yeah, this happens from time to time, I have used a pic from one encounter in a few posts, all in all about 30 horsemen. Even my knights struggled.
It is a random element I quite like though although if you think about it the AI is getting it more than you.

 

[agonistes]

Other side of the map closer to home, was fighting off a hoar and a few started fighting into the fog including archers when the could have shot me. I had a nose and all that was left was a badly damaged Scythian horse archer.

Eh?

 

[Victoria]

Hoar should have been horde, son

Barbs coming to attack my troops changed target