jguy100
Prince
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2003
- Messages
- 471
I've been playing a lot of The Barbarian Horde scenario. The simplest way to win seems to be pretending it's a OCC. No need to waste time building settlers or developing and defending random cities. Just create an army and bunker down.
From turn one, keep your city building nothing but slingers (and eventually archers). You can take a break to build a wall or repair damage if your city center gets attacked, but otherwise keep spamming ranged units.
If the Tribe aggression is set high, you're going to need to spend the entire game inside your borders. No moving out to fight tribes or explore for ruins. Your scout can attempt to harvest resources, but don't send a rescue party if it gets in trouble.
For the first 40 turns or so, your worker should concentrate primarily on building quarries, so you can afford the slingers. Build other improvements as necessary. As it starts getting closer to the horde arriving, you'll need to switch things up. Clear all forests around the outside perimeter of your city so your ranged units do maximum damage. This will also help you afford archers. Build as many forts inside your borders as you have ranged units, removing economic improvements as necessary.
Technology wise, there's only a few you need.
Trapping, for slingers
Composite Bow, for archers
Stonecutting, for quarries and forts
Polis, for walls
Drama, for the epic music (ok, this one is optional)
As this is a short game, you're not going to have very many generations. During the peaceful part of the game, I focus my heirs on commerce, since lots of money gets burned through. As it starts getting closer to the horde arriving, I focus my heirs on military. For obvious reasons!
Nationwise, I think Assyria works best for this scenario. With the large amount of fighting, the free Focus promotion (10% chance at critical strike) will kick in almost every turn during the horde battle. They also have access to both the Hunters and Champion families - either works well. And starting with Trapping definitely helps.
My most recent game was on The Great/Raging Tribes/Very Short Time to uprising. In single player games (outside of this scenario), I play on a much lower level of difficulty. But it's definitely doable in this scenario. The epic last stand as dozens of barbarians poured in was exhilarating.
Early into the horde:
Last horde unit about to be sniped:
From turn one, keep your city building nothing but slingers (and eventually archers). You can take a break to build a wall or repair damage if your city center gets attacked, but otherwise keep spamming ranged units.
If the Tribe aggression is set high, you're going to need to spend the entire game inside your borders. No moving out to fight tribes or explore for ruins. Your scout can attempt to harvest resources, but don't send a rescue party if it gets in trouble.
For the first 40 turns or so, your worker should concentrate primarily on building quarries, so you can afford the slingers. Build other improvements as necessary. As it starts getting closer to the horde arriving, you'll need to switch things up. Clear all forests around the outside perimeter of your city so your ranged units do maximum damage. This will also help you afford archers. Build as many forts inside your borders as you have ranged units, removing economic improvements as necessary.
Technology wise, there's only a few you need.
Trapping, for slingers
Composite Bow, for archers
Stonecutting, for quarries and forts
Polis, for walls
Drama, for the epic music (ok, this one is optional)
As this is a short game, you're not going to have very many generations. During the peaceful part of the game, I focus my heirs on commerce, since lots of money gets burned through. As it starts getting closer to the horde arriving, I focus my heirs on military. For obvious reasons!
Nationwise, I think Assyria works best for this scenario. With the large amount of fighting, the free Focus promotion (10% chance at critical strike) will kick in almost every turn during the horde battle. They also have access to both the Hunters and Champion families - either works well. And starting with Trapping definitely helps.
My most recent game was on The Great/Raging Tribes/Very Short Time to uprising. In single player games (outside of this scenario), I play on a much lower level of difficulty. But it's definitely doable in this scenario. The epic last stand as dozens of barbarians poured in was exhilarating.
Early into the horde:
Last horde unit about to be sniped:
