ot all barbarians are equally hostile to us. Some tribes can even be civilized.

Sometimes, you will be sent to a province where one such tribe already lives. No one can predict how a particular group of barbarians will react to finding a new Roman settlement in their vicinity, but Rome's long experience with native peoples has established some general principles that will help you.

hese natives usually get protective about the land around them. If you build on it, they might attack you. Your legions are best not bothered with such minor actions, and their commanders will not obey instructions to slaughter the innocent. Should you be attacked, though, your soldiers can be persuaded to fight these people.

To avoid provoking hostilities, sometimes all you need do is respect the boundaries of what the natives consider to be “their” land. One approach taken by some governors is to try to persuade them of our good intentions, and show them that working with us is better than fighting against us. These governors establish mission posts near the native villages. Such posts need labor and road access, as with other buildings, but once staffed, they send out missionaries to teach these barbarians of our ways.

Reports suggest that this can work wonders. Some even say that a thriving and profitable trade can be had with these people. But their trust is gained slowly, and is placed heavily in the missionaries they come to know. Should they leave their posts, and not be replaced, trouble could flare up.