Raging barbarians

[walla]

Hi,

Being fairly new to this forum + the whole civ experience, I hope you don't mind me asking a stupid question.

I started playing a game (5 x 2 AI Civs teamed up) vs. little old me. Raging barbarians set to appear. Custom continents, random number...

Now these effin' barbarians appear from out of the blue, with no city from where they spawn. They drove me nuts the first time, and actually managed to wipe me out in 3000BC, before I had the chance to react, so I had to restart.

Now, I'm further on, in AD, but they still appear... in force!

generally 2-3 barbarians attacking my cities, with swordsmen, axemen, archers and the pushover warriors...

Granted, they do give my defenders a lot of bonuses, but it's a huge investment having units on guard duty, protecting every worker and mine/farm/road/etc.


So, my question would be... where the heck do they come from? do they just randomly spawn across my continent, since I haven't been able to find a single city. Additionally, do any of you guys have a good plan on handling this? It's actually a lot of fun, but sometimes it's bothering me a little bit, especially when my only three workers are building a road, and getting mashed to pieces (yeah yeah, never leave them unescorted in hostile (or own for that matter) territory ).


I realize now that this was more of a whine than a question... sorry for that, but I had to take my frustration out on someone

//walla with his 5 <insert currency here>

 

[Catcher]

If you do a search, you'll find more details, but here's the chant on Barbarians. They can spawn anywhere in the 'fog of war', that is the black squares or darkened 'explored' squares. each square has an X chance of spawning a barb; they need no cities nor specific resources. Barb cities DO exist and they can build some improvements even a few Wonders as well as military units if they "see" a human or AI Player. To deal with the spontaneous variety, post lookouts (Archers on wodded/jungle hills are the best bang-for-buck but anything will do) to pushe the 'fog of war' away from your crucial city tiles. They also usually act as barb magnets to keep the hordes from pilaging your improvements. You may also want to look at your map selections. Larger maps with less civilizations are a spawning ground for Barbarians. Larger land map types (like Pangea, Highlands, and Great Plains) also increase the chances for barbs. going for the metal techs early (Bronze Working or Iron Working) gets you access to better barb fighters and barb city crushers. They may also be pointing out that you are founding too many far-flung cities too fast. CivIV has several gameplay elements that discourage the classic tactic of rapid expansion. You may want to slow your expansion a bit for cohesion and quality.


And don't worry about the whine, the Barb Question still comes up at least once a week.

 

[Samson]

They can radmomly spawn in a tile that no civ can see. The rate is dependant on level, on immortal it is something liek 1 barb per 25 unseen tiles per turn.

 

[walla]

If you do a search, you'll find more details, but here's the chant on Barbarians. They can spawn anywhere in the 'fog of war', that is the black squares or darkened 'explored' squares. each square has an X chance of spawning a barb; they need no cities nor specific resources.

Thanks Catcher, however I know about barb cities, as I've played several games before, where they have been playing a part in my Civilization as well...

However, I don't have any 'fog of war' on my continent. The whole continent has already been explored, although there are some tiles that are a bit darker, so that might be what you're referring to, in that case - my bad...

If I expand my civilization to encompass the whole continent, will the barbarian onslaught cease, since I would assume that they don't spawn within your own cultural borders?

The rate is dependant on level, on immortal it is something liek 1 barb per 25 unseen tiles per turn.

Ehem, methinks this game was on settler difficulty, or the next at the most... (blush)


//walla

 

[walla]

And don't worry about the whine, the Barb Question still comes up at least once a week.

Sorry didn't notice one that would have answered my specific question. Maybe it would be time to 'sticky' one?

 

[Rub3do]

However, I don't have any 'fog of war' on my continent. The whole continent has already been explored, although there are some tiles that are a bit darker, so that might be what you're referring to, in that case - my bad...

He's refering to the greyed out fog of war after your unit has moved away from a previously blacked out square.

And alot of people use units as fog busters and fortify them outside your civ's cultural borders to prevent barbs from appearing in the greyed out areas. Typically on a hill (and hopefully with a forest or jungle for the DEF bonus) which gives you a larger range of sight.

 

[_alphaBeta_]

nevermind, was already said