How to reduce barbarian activity??

[Danielos]

I started a new game yesterday. Mongolia (Genghis) on huge map, marathon speed, prince level, 6 civilizations and continents.

So, I got a large continent all to myself. But the peaceful continent has turned into a barbarian hell! They attack my (two) cities with several units every god damn turn. They have destroyed all improvements I had around my cities, and I can´t send out settlers because they are so many. I can´t even send out workers to repair my improvements!! I´m totally under siege, and is losing the game because of barbarians! They have axemen, so I don´t even have an advantage there, since that´s my best unit too.

I hate this, since I´m a builder. I can´t concentrate on managing my empire because of those barbarian hordes. It´s ruining the game... Does anyone have any good advice how to reduce the barbarian activity to sane levels? I want them in my game, but not like this! And I know that increasing number of civs will give less space for them, but I really like to build and expand, so I would prefer to have it like this. I would also like to keep Marathon speed if possible.

I also would like to know how the barbarian cities are able to produce units in that rate. It seems like they produce one unit per turn or something!! Are they cheating?

I think Firaxis need to address this issue in the next patch.

 

[_alphaBeta_]

Barbarians can spawn anywhere where the fog of war exists for all players. This only needs to be a single tile, and as long as none of the players removed the fog of war, a barbarian can spawn there.

Your problem is the huge map. All of that space on your island is a barbarian nightmare. Other civs actually help out with barbs since they remove the fog of war making less barbs for everyone. If you're alone, and still want all that space, I would make units, a lot of units, before the problem gets bad. Send them out to uncover as many tiles as possible. Put them on hilltops to maximize visibility. If you have enough units out there, all tiles will be uncovered and the barbs won't get rolling.

They advance in science along with you (since they make cities), so don't think you'll get the upper hand either once you have rifleman, because they will have them also.

 

[Willem]

They have axemen, so I don´t even have an advantage there, since that´s my best unit too.

An Archer under the right conditions is more than a match for a Barb Axeman. Use them to defend your cities and put them on Hills around your borders. Any Axemen that try to go after them usually don't stand a chance, though sometimes they do get lucky. And they cost less than Axemen and don't require any resource, so thay can be built anywhere.

Are they cheating?

Barbs don't operate under the same rules as the other civs, so it's impossible for them to be cheating.

 

[al_thor]

Let me get this straight - you're a BUILDER and yet you choose Mongolia as your civ? Something doesn't add up.

Also, LARGE map with only 6 civs is an open invitation to HORDES of barbarians. Actually, sounds kinda fun. Maybe I'll give it a try.

 

[Danielos]

Let me get this straight - you're a BUILDER and yet you choose Mongolia as your civ? Something doesn't add up.

Also, LARGE map with only 6 civs is an open invitation to HORDES of barbarians. Actually, sounds kinda fun. Maybe I'll give it a try.

Well, I like to try all the different civs, even the ones less suited to my style. I like to build and expand, but not wars.

Good luck! Maybe I can send you my saved game-file!

 

[White Elk]

I have the same trouble Danielos. I like to play large and Huge maps, and I drop some of the players so that there is more open land. The result is Raging Barbarians that force the player into a particular style of play. And what should be an interesting scenario with a broader range of gameplay options, has been reduced to nothing more than endless, mindless war. I am of the strong opinion that there needs to be a least one more option for Barbarian activity. In general I think Civ4 Barbs are great. But in some circumstances they overpower the game and force the player to play the game in a certain way. And I find it simply silly that the best builder maps, are the worst Barbarian maps! Another Barb level option.. or two; would solve this.

And for those who say just post a bunch of units in the fog.. You should know that these units get expensive quick. And this forces the player to drop science to increase tax. In the first turn of an Emperor game, one city and one unit drops the science rate to around 80% (depending on available resources). On the first turn! Thats with just One city and One unit!! Imagine how bad it gets if you try and deploy a half dozen units Outside your borders. That would completely stifle your economy.

 

[Gumbolt]

Opportunity to train a few units with all the barbarians? Plus if they build cities saves on a settler if its in a good location. I dont see a problem here. Would be funny on a large map if the barbarians had more cities than the largest AI?

Anyone had that happen?

 

[bobsteve]

This move is a little cheap but if you really hate the barbs that much just go to a custom game and turn them off. I have done that a few times before when I just really didnt want to be bothered by the swarms of barbs. I dont recomend this for a normal game, but in ones like you are playing, this is far prefferable to being swarmed under by barbs.

 

[MrPaladin]

Opportunity to train a few units with all the barbarians? Plus if they build cities saves on a settler if its in a good location. I dont see a problem here. Would be funny on a large map if the barbarians had more cities than the largest AI?

Anyone had that happen?

I played one game where everyone started on one continet and there was a new world continent yet to be discovered... by the time I got there I saw barbarian hordes decimating the poor setter citys that the AI civs sent out...

 

[Eternalsteelfan]

I played one game where everyone started on one continet and there was a new world continent yet to be discovered... by the time I got there I saw barbarian hordes decimating the poor setter citys that the AI civs sent out...

Sounds like a Terra map. Unfortunately it's very unlikely for AI civs to hold land on the new world without being destroyed by barbs.

 

[Gumbolt]

Anyone got a decent save of that? Just be funny to see.

 

[Blazer6]

I really like that map, because all the raging barbarians and AI battle in a never ending fury with dozens of units fighting by my borders with me watching.