Spain - Best Strategic AI in the game?

I am playing the Jullii and having beaten the Gauls into submission, I began marching south invading Iberia. Expecting a moderate struggle, I ran into 3 full stacks of units ~:eek: full of good quality units (thrashed my army). A few turns later it negotiated a cease-fire with Carthage and began fighting for naval superiority around the Balaeric Islands, dropping an invading army and assualting Palma taking it from me. A few turns later two stacks of units attacked Narbo Martis, assaulted stone walls and took the settlement. The spanish navy blockaded my ports in Italy preventing me from reinforcing Gaulish France and forcing a land march. A few more turns and the Spanish land troops at Caralis taking it, and yet another invasion (defeated) near Segesta.

That is pretty good play for an AI.

GAH!

This is typical when the AI faction leader is led by no other than "Vanya Sincabeza", a reknown warlord of the time...

GAH!

In my war with the Spanish, they became the richest faction. They had attacked me after I conquered Narbo Martis, so before I invaded I destroyed most of their fleet and blockaded their ports. Now they can't seem to support the large amount of troops they once had.

maybe its scripted, didn't the spanish but up one hell of a fight IRL?

yeah so did Carthage. heh. but they seem to be the worst AI in the game... :(

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Originally Posted by aw89

maybe its scripted, didn't the spanish but up one hell of a fight IRL?

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The ancient Iberian tribes wiped the floor with Rome countless times. I'm talking about 20,000 strong hosts being completely wiped out by armies half their size (happened on more than one occasion). The only way Rome was able to win was through backstabbing and assassinating their greatest leader.

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Originally Posted by Sethik

The only way Rome was able to win was through backstabbing and assassinating their greatest leader.

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I can think of one assasination in the Iberian peninsula that seems like that... but that was Sertorius, who was an adherent of Marius, one of his centurions that had been promoted after winning the grass crown. Anyway - he set himself up in Spain, and caused quite a bit of trouble - requiring the efforts of Caecilius Metellus Pius and the young Pompey. In the end, they defeated him by offering a 10,000 denarii (or something) bribe to whomever brought them the head of Sertorius. Oh, and his pet fawn died too.

I'm guessing if you gave yourself enough time to build stonewalls wich in turn allowed them to build masses of troops. I've noticed Spain seems to scripted for the Iberian peninsula. You can hold all the Gaulic lands to the north of them and Spain ignores you, but take Numantia or Corduba and Spain kicks into high gear.

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Originally Posted by Sethik

The ancient Iberian tribes wiped the floor with Rome countless times. I'm talking about 20,000 strong hosts being completely wiped out by armies half their size (happened on more than one occasion). The only way Rome was able to win was through backstabbing and assassinating their greatest leader.

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Actually Rome was able to win because it had a far greater amount of resources. Especially that of men. It had approx 700,000 men on the rolls as eligible for military service. Rome could take a loss of 50,000 and still recruit another huge army. The Spanish and Carthaginians could not.

Yeah, the Spanish seem to be one of only two or three factions that actually do something during the long campaign. I'm at 250BC with +45 territories under my belt and the only other factions to have expanded their holdings beyond the first two turns are the Spanish and Carthaginians. Everyone else seems to be sitting around, jerking off. I actually started to feed the Scipii and Julii ~20k each of the ~50k I pull in a turn...in the hopes that they can at least put up a token resistance when I march on Rome in ten turns.

Some say the AI is weak; 'weak' doesn't really begin to describe it.

--
Kyoujin

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Originally Posted by Turbo

I am playing the Jullii and having beaten the Gauls into submission, I began marching south invading Iberia. Expecting a moderate struggle, I ran into 3 full stacks of units ~:eek: full of good quality units (thrashed my army). A few turns later it negotiated a cease-fire with Carthage and began fighting for naval superiority around the Balaeric Islands, dropping an invading army and assualting Palma taking it from me. A few turns later two stacks of units attacked Narbo Martis, assaulted stone walls and took the settlement. The spanish navy blockaded my ports in Italy preventing me from reinforcing Gaulish France and forcing a land march. A few more turns and the Spanish land troops at Caralis taking it, and yet another invasion (defeated) near Segesta.

That is pretty good play for an AI.

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Lucky you. In my campaign (Jullii, Hard/Hard), it took me 4 turns and three moderate armies to annihilate the Iberian tribe. Their strategy was limited to sending a few armies (lead by capitans) that I had no problem to beat (although I admit they were a bit toughier than the Gauls). Their enormous navy was send to Alexandria or close (didn't bother to check) and thus my greatest concern before I decided to attack was solved.

As brainless as others :rtwno:

Yeah, one thing I noticed about Spain is that they are crazy and unexpectable. I was playing as Carthage and they attacked my 2 Iberian peninsula cities without warning with 3 full stack best units (I play RTR VH/VH and really hate those spanish jennites). To my luck forts slowed them down, but the Spanish AI is not stupid! They've taken forts! I see this for the first time! (Most usually AI besieges fort for one turn then goes away). My cities fell one after another, there was nothing I could do: I was driven-off from Spain. Damn it! I thought about quiting campaign, but decided to avenge those spanish bastards ~;) Now after some 20 years with my elite troops (I love sacred band, balearic slingers, sacred cavalry, poeni citizen infantry and most of all armoured elephants, yeahaaa that's probably the best unit in the game!) land on the coasts of Spain to show the power of the mighty Cartage. Now the real fight starts!

Make sure u annihilate rome after that. :D

Well 3 roman factions are already annihilated ... economically: all their ships are destroyed by my fleet (feel the power of Carthaginian fleet baby ~;) ) all their docks are blocked, they don't have ships, if they are stupid enough to produce a ship and then put their full army in it, I immidiately sink it. I'll soon land my best armoured elephants on their Italian soil ~D :duel:

I got into a war with Sapin because the first thing the Senate asked me to do was take Narbo. I am playing Julii VH VH Large units with the Fix for admirals gaining command stars and the Fix for Navigators and Admirals. These two fixes have made a huge impact for the nations that are fleet builders. 237 BC and I still haven't destroyed the Spannish navy. It is huge and experienced.

Too bad in my games Spain were much more incompetent. I also observe their preference for navy more than land army. They also have few troops to defend their towns... perhaps playing as different factions will affect the competency of others? So far I have only tried the following factions against Spain: Julii, Armenia, Carthage.

When I march an army close to Carthage Nova, the Spanish army ducked inside the settlement, only to give up the idea one turn before I marched close to siege - they send all but one units for my Corduba.... ~D The Ai probably think I would be panic and give up the idea? But Carthage Nova is right between my army and Corduba, so I can easily take Carthage Nova first, then intercept that army half-way... :dizzy2: Talking about artificial incompetency...
~D

Spain is Fortified Mao. Remember to use that a lot when modding.