I guess maybe to reflect the fact that they are under-developed/-populated at the time of the start of the game.

Quote Originally Posted by Punicus
The Germans on my game with Huge unit size are dominating Northern Europe, which is odd, because when I used to play on Large size they didn't have a chance against the might of the Britons. Perhaps the Britons are more affected by the hefty demands on population that Huge unit size has?
Really? That's odd, considering that the Britons should have the least problems among the barbarians, other than maybe the Spanish. The Britons have chariots-- elite units with small numbers. But I'm not sure. I never played as the Britons. In almost all the games I've played, the Britons usually dally a lot even with their numerous armies, and even then they tend to attack Gaul instead of Germania.

Quirinus, I feel the same regarding Barbarian towns. Sometimes the towns I already have are just too large and full of unrest for me to enslave just 1/2 of the population, so I'm forced to exterminate (they'd probably rebel otherwise, especially with my capture-and-move mentality). Not fun at all. But then again you could just send Peasants from your populated cities nearby and send them to that town for easing unrest, or disband them for extra population.
That's what I do too, but a strategy like that requires time, and really is more befitting of a slow, deliberate player like me. For example, it took me more than twenty years for Iuvavum to grow to pop:6000.