Civ 7 idea: Barbarians are a faction that expands

[DeckerdJames]

Barbarians are a faction that expands, but they are hostile to all civilizations. They can still be single tile dwellings, but they spawn a settler and escorts every once in a while and they try to create a new barbarian outpost. They are strategic about where they place a new outpost and smart, but hostile to everyone. They want to control regions of the map but will still attack cities that seem like a threat or a juicy target if they are close. They turn defeated cities into barbarian outposts.

Once they control their home region (fill up the region with appropriate number of outposts), they can expand to an adjacent region or they can spawn a seaborn expansion party if they choose to expand that way. An already empty region can spawn a new barbarian outpost once each era. They don't attack capital cities at the beginning of the game anymore and the camps don't spawn in the player's starting region. Instead, their presence in an uncontested region gets stronger each era because they upgrade and fortify their region until they are ready to expand. It might only take a small army in the ancient era to conquer their region(s), but as their growth in their region(s) increases, it will take more effort.

They can attack an adjacent region. The size of their attack makes sense, more or less, for what they would need to successfully assault the civilization. They don't spawn the whole force, but they have to produce it based on what barbarian infrastructure they have built.

The size of a region is debatable. Could be a large forest sized area or as large or more than 1/4 or 1/2 of a continent and the region should encompass an area of the map that seems like something the barbarians would desire as their own kingdom. For example, they might want a beautiful lake and an adjacent forest that is between a desert region and the ocean water. The borders of a region are not drawn on the map, but you can surmise what they are trying to control by the geography. For example, they could be desert dwelling barbarians.

This could also be a Civ 6 game mode.

 

[jsciv69]

Should a Civ VII be possible, some thoughts about rethinking Barbarians. And the creation of a Black Market

Playing as Barbarians
How many would like to play the part of marauding bands of invaders, scavengers, and ransackers. Best known as Barbarians. I would certainly like that option. We start the game with an outpost, battle units, and a Peddler unit. We send our units to attack/raid cargo ships and storehouses. The Peddler Unit then sells these goods to any Civ, City State, or even other Barbarians. Thus the creation of a Black Market

From Barbarians to Pirates
As we progress toward the Modern Ages. Our Barbarian Outposts begin to produce Pirates. ARG. Also we should have the ability, starting from the Ancient Eras, to recruit citizens from Civs, City States, and other Barbarians. Those we recruit can be sent abroad as Peddler units to expand our enterprises.

Black Market
Illicit trade has been around for a very long time. I would like to see how this can be worked into the Civilization series. The goods that are traded can include Narcotics when we get to the modern era. Opinions about the Drugs industry can vary. But it's a very real part of history. Each Civ, City State, Barbarian Outpost can produce Peddlers. these peddlers become Pirates, then become Mafia Gangs that sell "obtained" goods and services. Goods including Narcotics, Booze, Fabrics, Weapons etc. Services can be hired to perform certain functions.

Of course this is just a rough idea. But I think it's worth exploring.. I borrow from a most famous line and say. It's an offer we can't refuse.

 

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

From Barbarians to Pirates
As we progress toward the Modern Ages. Our Barbarian Outposts begin to produce Pirates. ARG. Also we should have the ability, starting from the Ancient Eras, to recruit citizens from Civs, City States, and other Barbarians. Those we recruit can be sent abroad as Peddler units to expand our enterprises.

Pirates have existed since ancient times. I think that any coastal outpost could produce unique naval raiders.

 

[jsciv69]

Pirates have existed since ancient times. I think that any coastal outpost could produce unique naval raiders.

Maybe a Civ or City-State can strike a bargain or alliance with that or any Barbarian outpost. Making an agreement on percentages from successful raids.