Dealing with Barbarians

[Molybdeus]

In my latest game, I started on a continent with Isabella and Gandhi. Gandhi founded Buddhism and Isabella founded Hinduism and Judaism. Although I knew it would be a gamble, I decided to capture all three holy cities with an axe rush. My axeman rush worked and I lost surprisingly few axes, so I had six of them left after my two wars. I also managed to build Stonehenge and the Oracle so I should be able to get a couple of Great Prophets and eventually salvage my economy.

The problem is that I am now being literally overrun by barbarians. Even with Istanbul churning out axemen full time and my surplus axes, I am fighting a losing battle against one or two archers spawning per turn. This seems like way more than I've ever had to fight before, but they are not slowing down. Even building the Great Wall won't help me much because I have three separate areas of control, and only one would be walled in.

My economy can't afford to post axeman in the wilderness to prevent barbarians from spawning, and unfortunately scouts also require military upkeep and certainly can't fight off archers.

Does anyone know of any other tricks for fighting off barbs? I think there is a barbarian city nearby. Would eliminating it reduce the amount of maurading barbarians spawned?

 

[Orion071]

In my latest game, I started on a continent with Isabella and Gandhi. Gandhi founded Buddhism and Isabella founded Hinduism and Judaism. Although I knew it would be a gamble, I decided to capture all three holy cities with an axe rush. My axeman rush worked and I lost surprisingly few axes, so I had six of them left after my two wars. I also managed to build Stonehenge and the Oracle so I should be able to get a couple of Great Prophets and eventually salvage my economy.

The problem is that I am now being literally overrun by barbarians. Even with Istanbul churning out axemen full time and my surplus axes, I am fighting a losing battle against one or two archers spawning per turn. This seems like way more than I've ever had to fight before, but they are not slowing down. Even building the Great Wall won't help me much because I have three separate areas of control, and only one would be walled in.

My economy can't afford to post axeman in the wilderness to prevent barbarians from spawning, and unfortunately scouts also require military upkeep and certainly can't fight off archers.

Does anyone know of any other tricks for fighting off barbs? I think there is a barbarian city nearby. Would eliminating it reduce the amount of maurading barbarians spawned?

The Great Wall will help. The graphic is just that - a graphic. It will actually keep the barbs out of ALL of your territory.

Do you have Horses? I find that Chariots are great for killing barb Warriors, Archers and Axemen (in Warlords and BtS). Plus their 2 movement means they can cover more ground so you need less of them. Handy when your economy is on the ropes from too many units.

 

[madscientist]

First I assume you are playing either warlords or BTS with raging Barbs:

1) The Great Wall will keep all abrbarians out of your cultural borders within the continent. The graphic of the Great Wall in the screen is for show. Unless Madris and Delhi are on another land mass, the GW will solve the problem.
2) Areas that have Fog will spawn barbarians. Send some out of your cultural borders, especially on hilltops. Try to see as much as you can. You just have to do it, I know it costs $$$ (the price for that key axe-rush).
3) Usually, once a barb city forms they slow up. Razing it will likely tick them off and cause more barbs.
4) Get a barracks and keep popping out axes, upgrade them to cover promotion when you can.
5) Get horses hooked up. CHariots are cheaper and move faster.
6) Delete any warriors or scouts to reduce unit costs. Also delete excess archers, keep 1 in each city.

Good luck

 

[Molybdeus]

Great Wall it is then. I knew I could count on these forums to help me find an answer. Thanks!

And no, BTW, I don't have raging barbarians on. I don't really understand why I'm facing so many barbarians in this game, but I am. I'm playing on marathon too, so it is taking me 10-15 turns to build an axeman, and in that time I am being attacked by three or four archers per city!

 

[Refar]

You have a big stretched out land, long borders and perhaps even some fog of war between different parts of your land. Planty of space for barbs to spawn. And while normaly they would be somewhat divided between you, Ghandi and Izzy, now you get them all. Just build the GW fast

 

[Pantastic]

Barbarians only spawn in areas that no player can see. By mauling or wiping out 2 players and maintaining your empire spread out, there's a log of fogged-over areas to generate barbs. The other empires aren't covering much ground, and it sounds like you aren't either.

I don't understand why you think you can't afford to bust fog, unless you build the wall (which ends barb problems) the minor maint costs for a few fog-busters is going to be way less than the cost of having things pillaged, cities taken, and units destroyed. You might have to drop your science rate for a while, but that's what the slider is there for.

 

[viinno]

Minor Note about The Great Wall:

I have seen barbs attack my workers on the edge of my borders even with the great wall. Yes the Great Wall Prevents barbs from entering but they can still attack units for some odd reason.

This is on Warlords dont know about BtS.

 

[Mattimeo]

You might have to drop your science rate for a while, but that's what the slider is there for.

Please tell me that this slider is the + and - buttons in the top-left corner of the screen and not something I'm missing out on.

 

[KMadCandy]

this slider is the + and - buttons in the top-left corner of the screen and not something you're missing out on.

ps i'm not just saying it because you asked us to. it does happen to be true.

 

[Cleverbeans]

Minor Note about The Great Wall:

I have seen barbs attack my workers on the edge of my borders even with the great wall. Yes the Great Wall Prevents barbs from entering but they can still attack units for some odd reason.

This is on Warlords dont know about BtS.

Interesting - in Warlords I've kept workers right on the edge of my border diligently working away with barbs right next to them and they were not able to attack, since by attacking they would enter the territory. I have lost several workers who ventured outside of my territory while building roads though.

 

[Diamondeye]

this slider is the + and - buttons in the top-left corner of the screen and not something you're missing out on.

ps i'm not just saying it because you asked us to. it does happen to be true.

 

[madscientist]

I have never had a barbarian "breech" the GW to steal workers in Warlords or BTS. If you ar ebuilding a road from one city to another and the worker goes out of culture border protection then I think they are fair game.