Syracuse too powerfull?

**spartanbits** · November 27, 2014, 08:50 PM

Now before you laugh hear me out. Its currently 261 BC im playing as Sparta. Syracuse asks for a military alliance with me saying our armies would be invicible together. I laugh a little bit since historically syracuse is garbage but I accept. I decide to explore the African coast for the first time and im taken aback by what I see. Syracuse has almost completely taken over all of Africa except the western part where the remnants of Carthage are. O_o wtf? is the first thing that runs through my head. Is this normal for Syracuse to be so aggressive? BTW im playing on normal.

**FlashHeart07** · November 27, 2014, 11:18 PM

Originally Posted by spartanbits

Now before you laugh hear me out. Its currently 261 BC im playing as Sparta. Syracuse asks for a military alliance with me saying our armies would be invicible together. I laugh a little bit since historically syracuse is garbage but I accept. I decide to explore the African coast for the first time and im taken aback by what I see. Syracuse has almost completely taken over all of Africa except the western part where the remnants of Carthage are. O_o wtf? is the first thing that runs through my head. Is this normal for Syracuse to be so aggressive? BTW im playing on normal.

The reason why Syracuse is beating Carthage is because of the AI being stupid as .... And not being able to attack from the sea, or something like that. So it is really because of a faulty AI that Syracuse becomes so powerfull. I do believe that this has been slightly changed for version 1.0 where Carthage have alot more fighting power. Also remember that not all campaigns are the same and in some campaigns you will see Carthage dominate.

**Legionary Titus Pullo** · November 28, 2014, 01:12 AM

In my campaign Syracuse had all of Sicily Sardinia , Corsica and several settlements in Africa as well, took ages to take them all

**Ritterlichvon86** · November 28, 2014, 10:09 AM

For the AI, it would be great if Carthago had some sort of wonder/building that could garrison a large amount of Sacred Bands.

But I doubt that it is possible to attach troops to a wonder, or tie them to a building (which would then be built by the AI in other capitals too).

**Oakwind** · November 28, 2014, 11:21 AM

The Syracusan AI pretty consistently spams a stack of troops and simply crosses over into Africa. Carthage has nearly nothing in the way of armies at the start, so they can't really keep anything, particularly when the autoresolve is what it is.

**ThatWhichThinks** · November 28, 2014, 11:26 AM

In my experience Syracuse almost always crushes Carthage. I think it is a combination of the AI not being able to handle playing Carthage and the fact that Syracuse gets access to a lot of hardy Greek troops early on, while Carthage is typically stuck with lighter levies, especially in Sicily.

**Oakwind** · November 28, 2014, 11:32 AM

On that note, I think it'd be worth a consideration to either give Carthage very generous starting navies or alternatively, a special building with a considerable naval garrison to stem off early rushes. Opinions?

**Dresden** · November 28, 2014, 12:51 PM

As has been stated before on many threads like this one:

1. Syracuse has one direction to go and larger starting armies than it should (after CA made it playable). The AI has no options and so it makes it easier for them.
2. Carthage is "optioned into inaction." That is the best way I can put it. So many ways to go, multiple theaters, water, etc.

We will look into adding some scripts that may help out this situation. I have seen campaigns posted where Syracuse gets killed or where they never attack Carthage. However, I am aware that in many campaigns they end up steam rolling down Africa.

**Archesel** · November 30, 2014, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by Dresden

Syracuse has one direction to go and larger starting armies than it should (after CA made it playable).

So, the easiest way would be to decrease their starting army numbers, and/or improve Carthage ones?

**Zonac** · November 29, 2014, 04:25 AM

Yes syracus tends to get strong in the beginning. however with the luck-punic. submod chartage always beats them back after 40-50 years or so. so please guys just play the canpaign a little longet. rome didn't got its size over night aswell

cheers!

**luck_ponte** · November 29, 2014, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by Zonac

Yes syracus tends to get strong in the beginning. however with the luck-punic. submod chartage always beats them back after 40-50 years or so. so please guys just play the canpaign a little longet. rome didn't got its size over night aswell

cheers!

Nice to see the mod actually affects the AI. Didn't get to see Carthage AI with the mod on as of yet (either I'm playing as Carthage for testing or I'm using some faction that is too far away from them to see the results, plus my campaigns are all in the early stage pretty much), and in fact, @Maetharin actually asked me how the mod impacted Carthage's AI. Anyway, nice to know that =)

**Zonac** · November 30, 2014, 02:31 AM

yeah! the only problem is that at some point in the game mercenaries costs 0 denari for chartage... xD good for the survival of chartage, bad for the immersion. xD sometimes chartage gets even wiped out, however masasily (numidian) resuract them every time

unless you beat both they grow back to stenght like nasty bacteria xD

**Souka** · December 01, 2014, 07:51 AM

I would have to disagree with this one op. Playing as Rome, Syracusae attacked and took Lilybaum. They took two whole armies, and went to attack Karalia. Carthage raised an army there and moved their fleets to intercept. Carthage crushed Syracusae at the sea and their whole army was obliterated.

To me that was masteryfully played, was suprised to see the ai handle it so efficient. I believe some are to transport fleets being nerfed, this gave the ai time to react.