Senate mission bug (et al)

(I bought the game on ebay, and found out to my horror that the game was a Singapore import and the shipper saved money by sending ONLY the CDs; I don't have the money to replace the game, so I'm stuck with it... :( )

I've got a minor little bug. I conquered Rhodes (to get the Colossus, of course). A few turns later, I get a mission to blockade the port. A turn later, they said "never mind." Same turn, I got a mission to blockade the port of Rhodes. Next turn, they changed their mind, and in the same turn assigned the mission again. I really miss the missions, because they're offering me triarii (when my best unit is princepes).

I also can't seem to offer alliances to foreign countries. I can receive alliance offers (Armenia and Brittania, since they're on the far end of my current neighbors, Pontic and Gaul, respectively), but I can't offer them.

Where can I find a full-length faq? For instance, Senate offices, territorial incomes, and so on. Maybe even a map of towns, so I know where to find them. (I'm currently hunting for the last rebel citadel in the Balkans. Those regions are big, though, and I'm taking several turns to find it.)

Anyway, this is only from 24 hours of playing. :) I wish they had sent the manual. :(

i think they say "never mind" because you already own the city.

The fact that you own the city is the problem. Just gift Rhodes to an enemy faction and on that very turn, move your Rhodes to the port. This would automatically blockade the port and satisfy the mission so that you get your precious Triarii