How to play as Carthage?

Hello.I'm in a dire situation because of my Etruscan allies as Carthage.First they asked me for military allegiance and I accepted and then after a few turns they invaded Roman Terriyory of Neapolis and suddenly they became a client state of Rome!I didn't understand it they are my military allies but also the client state of my enemy.I had the Sicily Island then they came with 3 armies 2 of them being Etruscan and 1 Roman and they captured Syracusae and proceeded west to my holding of Lilybaeum.I'm a little bit confused now because shouldn't Etruscan's be at war with Rome all the time?Like I was playing with Rome and even they had 1 territory left and I crushed every army they sent at me with ease they refused peace at that campaign.What should be my next move?Can anyone give me any tips because I want to play Carthage and enjoy it.Thanks.

LOL, never seen Etruscans become a client state of Rome, but that would be more or less historically accurate though. I guess, in your situation, time to cancel that alliance. Wipe them both out.

I played Carthage to victory a few patches ago. Etruscans remained faithful allies of mine and never became clients of Rome.

Pretty sure it used to be that Client States automatically made peace with everyone their Master state is at peace with & likewise war.

I had a similar thing where I was offered Client State but they remained a Military Ally of someone else.
Also had 2* Client States declare war on each other, then the one I sided with got all upset that I killed off the other & I wound up having to take them both out :shrug:

Client states don't make automatic peace with their enemies; they are allowed to carry out their own diplomacy; wage their own wars, etc. Eastern satrapies, however, are different. As they become satraps, they do make automatic peace with everyone they're at war with. From that point on, the only diplomatic option they have is to open or close trade (or break the relationship with the master). The rest of the diplo options get channeled through the master.

I'd say consolidate some kind of army in Sicily and take out Rome early on, then Spain and then you are halfway there already =p