Settlers alone are 99% dead meat, suspicious ?

[DashieBaby87]

This is why I like Washington so much. I always have a horseman or warrior ahead of the settler, but in the horseman's line of sight. That way, there's a really low chance of barb ambush.

♥

 

[Mikkow]

I've played many civ5 games (tend to restart before getting past medieval era) and it never happens that my unescorted settlers run across any barbarians. Which is a bit of a disappointment. Same with the low level of barbarian activity. But maybe "raging barbarians" option will actually be more similar to the level of Civ4 BTS (that I thought was 'just right'). I should try it out.

 

[_Mk_py]

I know that escorting settlers is a good practice and of course there is a solid chance they could get captured but too many times, not to say always, even if they have to move few tiles only alone, they always get captured by barbarians.

That's suspicious because 8-9 times on 10 it happens just like that.

Is there perhaps an hidden routine to alter a lot the possibility that settlers get into barbarian ambushes if sent alone even just for few tiles with no known camps in the neighborhood ?

Of course Shafer would state there is no such a routine but what's your real opinion ?

I think is as you say. I believe there is a routine.

 

[Öjevind Lång]

I've seen the AI send out unescorted settlers - aye, and lose them too.

I like the barbarians: they are an excellent source of income (and good training for your first troops) in the early game.

 

[Tarkeel]

And here I thought this threat would be about how defenseless settlers can turn into killing-machines by just settling down.

 

[Badtz Maru]

I don't escort my settlers unless there is a specific threat I need to get them past, but I try to settle in directions I've explored or patrolled recently, and try to move in a way that I can't be ambushed (keeping a clear LOS, avoiding clear terrain in areas with poor visibility, etc.).

 

[Jharii]

And here I thought this threat would be about how defenseless settlers can turn into killing-machines by just settling down.

<--------------- Majesty is this way and Stronghold is that way --------------->

FYI, your turn takes time, typically that expands years. It's not an instantaneous moment in time.

 

[Mustakrakish]

If you have stockpiled settlers or workers you can use the barb camps to avoid paying maintenance for them.

Uh... So tedious... why bother... *yawn*... I just disband everything (including the army) and just buy it when I need it (usually when some poor fella decides that since I don't have any troops, I can be easily taken out).

 

[Polish]

Unescorted settlers were vulnerable in IV and I'm pretty sure in III, but it has been a while. I do not think it is a conspiracy or at least not a new one! I agree with most here, I scout in front or post a unit to keep watch over the location and new barbs won't spawn so settlers arrive safely.

 

[Öjevind Lång]

Unescorted settlers were vulnerable in IV and I'm pretty sure in III, but it has been a while. I do not think it is a conspiracy or at least not a new one! I agree with most here, I scout in front or post a unit to keep watch over the location and new barbs won't spawn so settlers arrive safely.

I mean to play my next game with "raging barbarians" on. We'll see how that goes. Anyone here tried it yet?

 

[d4everman]

if any scout, worker, settler comes within attack range of a camp/barb unit, it is 100% certain they will get attacked or captured. I have also found it suspicious that barb's seem to appear near settlers in particular. i usually have a unit scout ahead 1 to 3 tiles to escort, but I have had a couple run ins where inconceivably my settler was captured on a hill and no barbs around whatsoever within sight and on the end turn being captured.

i've also had suspicious movements from barbs where they seemingly call in reinforcements ahead of my units after another barb group has been "shadowing" my unit. smart play? i dunno

i often find that workers, settlers seem to attract barbarians and they even follow them which is annoying as you try to avoid the buggers. I often find barbarians a fun addition to the game, and leaving non combat units un-escorted is at your own peril.

Its not as bad as Civ IV. I remember seeing barbs just show up a square away from a settler many times. Hell, I saw a "barb uprising" destroy a rival civ so early in the game I had to build the GW.

 

[troytheface]

build a worker

at about near or shortly after barbarian invasion

barbarians hate workers

the evidence is clear

 

[Guardian_PL]

Wow I want my settlers captured as well!

If OP was playing on raging barbarians I could understand, but on normal settings I never escort settlers and have never had one captured.

Exactly the same case here.