What about a situation in late game, where players in the biggest tribes create huge clusters, and also have less time/inclination to farm? That can only be achieved by incorporating barbs. Or is most of W1N on W1 (to mention but one example) comprised of "untalented, nooby" players?
Seems to me it is an acceptable strategy, at the correct stage in the game. Sure, early on, it is pretty flimsy practice, but it can have its place.
Apologies for going off-topic - maybe a thread to debate the different philosophies on progressing one's game would be in order?
Adellion replied:
You are incorrect, the largest players farm the most. Its only in very very late-game that people stop farming. We are at mid-game at most. I haven't stopped farming at all, and I'm sure Reverend farms too, though nowhere near as much as me. I never noble barbs, hence why I hold significant OD ranks in addition to my points. Which is what it is all about. Balance. If you can get high points and OD and keep it up there, that's the mark of a good player. You don't get that nobling barbarians. You get that from crushing your enemy like a truely talented player. Barb-nobling is for the weak, and any player who actively does so will never be able to challenge the might of their more talented counterparts that do not noble barbs.
Och, it's just silly trying to have a discussion with you, Ade. I know you have a policy of being deliberately provocative on forums, and I personally am fine with that. But this is shallow. You spend the first part of your response focussing on a sub-clause in my post, and ignore the main point. Then you pad it out by talking about yourself. Again. And we've just heard sooooooo much about your opinion of yourself.
I guess it's successful in one sense, in that I am now talking about your response rather than continuing an attempt at a serious discussion. But is that the sort of victory you can take any real pleasure in? Personally, I'd feel a bit fraudulent if I'd deflected the real and useful purpose of the thread (to try and add depth to the TW forums/ bring some perspective to the TW world) just to score an empty and meaningless point.
I said before: you have a small heart and a small mind. I hated writing that sentence, yet here I am repeating it. All style, no substance. What a shame we have you around here ruining perfectly good attempts at debate.
Mods: if you want to infract me for going off-topic, then look at the cause, not the symptom.
Back on topic: look at K17 in W1, and tell me barb-nobling has no strategic purpose. Yes, we are in mid-game(ish), and it would be downright wrong if anyone was trying that now, here, in this world. Oops, I forgot: O.O are trying it - and we are nobling them out for their pains in this sector.
Let me try it in list form, to avoid misunderstanding.
Barb-nobling, IMHO:
Very early game: good. Gets initial clusters established, sets you up for better takeovers. Should, however, take second place to wiping out nearby opponents, if that is an option.
Early game (2-3 vills established): Bonus vills good, barbs bad. Should always take out competition as first choice. Caveat: can be good as a safety move if noble vill is at imminent risk, to make best use of resources that might otherwise be lost.
Consolidation phase: OK-ish, if it serves a real purpose in getting tight cluster in place/minimising church builds. (This is a very debatable phase)
Expansion phase: Very poor choice, totally agree this is the mark of a poor player. Expansion phase lasts for a long time, which is the area I totally agree with you , Ade
Mature phase: Better to convert offensive vills to defensive, and move offensive front forward. Barbs are irrelevant, use cats to terraform them for best farming returns.
Late game: No useful big targets left. Get barbs nobled to create bombproof clusters, prevent refugees trying to move in to your territory, and -yes - take farms away from other players.
Very late game: Lots of coins/nobles sitting twiddling thumbs. Just get big clusters going, take anything going.
Now, this is a simplified list, that can't be applied to all scenarios. But I am trying to make the point that barb-nobling is not something that can simply be classed as good or bad. Like all aspects of the game, it has its place as a strategic move. Right now, I'd be ashamed to employ it. Later, I'll be going for it like Gordon Brown trying to save the banking system. As in all aspects of life, timing is everything.