Barbarians

[kring]

The polls were set up with the highest vote getter being the winner. To change strategies in the middle would invalidate the polls; requiring a revote with the new rules clearly spelled out. This wouldn't be represented of a democracy which is what we are trying to be.

Why is it a mistake to go with the highest? The middle doesn't always win. How does picking the center result in the best situation for everyone overall? Sure sounds like averaging to me, or close enough that it really doesn't matter (Mean, Median, Mode theory). It also results in the middle must winning, since you are choosing the center of the range(s). The purpose of a poll is a vote. In voting, the most votes win, whether we are in the winning/losing position.

Averaging doesn't matter what there is a fairly even grouping for each choice. You can either add up all the scores and divide by the number of votes. or you can weight average, ot use some other form of averaging.

Next time, let's define exactly how we are going to figure out the winner before offering a poll. If you don't, then people will believe the highest vote getter wins.

[Tarquinius]

If two or more options are tied, do we start another poll then, with only these options? Or will this poll just stay open until one of the options has won?

[Moral Hazard]

I think we will start another poll. You can't leave it open till people decide because if it has an arbitrary closing date then anyone could close when their position is ahead.

[star mouse]

My ideas for barbarians, from my mod:

Basic barbarian - Archer
Advanced barbarian - Horseman (other options are Swordsmen and Knights)
Barbarian sea unit - Privateer

Replacing the Warrior with an Archer makes early barbarians more of a challenge, and makes Bronze Working an early-game priority. Walls in all cities will also help with the defence.

Making the Barbarian sea unit a Privateer will let the Barbarians destroy more AI galleys. It also makes Archipelago maps quite dangerous early.

A good civ to play with strong Barbarians are the Germans. Militaristic gives them Walls for 10 shields, and Scientific allows them to train Spearmen from the start.