What's with the Barbarians?

[Beans]

Every game I start lately I'm being attack by 2-3 different barbarian tribes before I have enough time to even push out one Warrior unit. It doesn't matter what difficulty I play on, the game is just spawning them like ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ crazy and half the time I have to quit the game after the first 10 turns. I have a lot of time with this game... it didn't used to be like this... did it?

I feel like the last expansion or something just really broke the game and made it so much less fun... especially with how often weather kills your units and the game just doesn't tell you.

[ggman02]

If they are that big of a problem turn off barbarians, you'll miss out on some Eurekas for tech and civics (Bronze working, Archery and Military Tradition) but it will be more enjoyable.

[Evrach]

Are you playing with "barbarian clans" alternative mode ?

[grumble]

I know barbarians are a nuisance but they are supposed to be!

Barbarian camps are a good way to get Era points in the early game so on balance I think the way the barbarians are is about right.

I tried the "barbarian clans" alternative mode and there is a lot about it I liked but in the end I turned it off because some of the clans have really powerful units very early and for me that was one problem too many.

[plaguepenguin]

Hyperbole is a completely reasonable tool to express a point, but if you literally have 2-3 barb camps attack you before you have time to build one warrior, and if you literally have to quit half your games in the first ten turns, then you are dealing with some glitch or a berserk mod. You aren't playing the same game I am. The game I'm playing has not buffed the barbarians lately.

The barbs are variable from play through to play through in the extent to which they pester you, and they can create a serious crimp in your early game, especially if you don't take precautions against them, but I have never been unable to deal with them and then go on to win. Other civs at Deity are another story, but barbs at any difficulty can be dealt with successfully, every time.

If you want advice on how to handle them, every time, you should back off the hyperbole and describe exactly how they defeat you.

[RedRune]

Originally posted by grumble:

some of the clans have really powerful units very early and for me that was one problem too many.

Like Grey Shark showing up with a freaking destroyer around 1770 BC ...

[jmerry82]

With the clans, I'm pretty sure their tech progression is exactly the same as the base game's camps. Except that the clans can randomly upgrade some of their units to their unique counterparts ... which they will then be happy to sell to you, if you have the gold. If you can't beat them, join them.

[anynamewilldo]

Originally posted by jmerry82:

With the clans, I'm pretty sure their tech progression is exactly the same as the base game's camps. Except that the clans can randomly upgrade some of their units to their unique counterparts ... which they will then be happy to sell to you, if you have the gold. If you can't beat them, join them.

yes yes yes. It is almost as good as playing as Babylon and beelining military techs and having the barbs pound the heck out of everyone while only you can stand up to them.

[Goof]

Originally posted by DarkPenguin:

Every game I start lately I'm being attack by 2-3 different barbarian tribes before I have enough time to even push out one Warrior unit. It doesn't matter what difficulty I play on, the game is just spawning them like ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ crazy and half the time I have to quit the game after the first 10 turns. I have a lot of time with this game... it didn't used to be like this... did it?

I feel like the last expansion or something just really broke the game and made it so much less fun... especially with how often weather kills your units and the game just doesn't tell you.

i believe default barb spawn is 7 turns so if you cant get a warrior out in time, then your build order is the issue. sligers and archers are the best early game unit, especially for dealing with barbs.
my build order is always slinger slinger first and then b line archery asap. 2 archers and a warrior should be enough to stop early barbs and early wars

[dcain3456]

If Babylon is in the game and gets early techs, that can result in powered-up barbarians.

Any mod that gives a Civ bonus eurekas will be broken by Barbarian Clans. Had a Bohemia mod that gave Jan Zizka a gunpowder eureka, Barbs showed up with musketmen.