Having just returned to RTW from M2TW and Kingdoms, I cannot believe how easy it is to bribe enemy armies. I can do it with a rubbish Diplomat, and have never had a bribe rejected.

This is particularly useful in the Roman civil war since I get all the troops I bribe. One diplomat bribed two Scipii full-stacks in north Africa. Both armies were full of Early Legionary Cohorts and a few other troops, and they cost about 5,000 each! It seems to me this is cheaper than actually raising my own armies.

Plus neary all my Generals who fought the Gallic and Spanish wars were either bribed from those factions or from brigand armies.

I would say it is an exploit, but the AI uses this feature just as shamelessly. The Brutii bribed my capital at Arretium, wrecking my plans to raise an updated legion.

Anyone else find this feature makes things a little easy.