On the Senate and Diplomacy

[Ivar the Terrible]

I think the Senate has more smarts then you give them credit for. I'm playing Julii 258BC very hard / very hard.

The Senate ordered me to take Carolis even though no one is at war with Carthage. I sent a small force over there because it was lightly defended. My spy got killed trying to infiltrate the city. I laid seige and started building a ram. Next turn a huge Carthaginian fleet got past my naval screen and laid an army on the dorstep of Carolis.

I think the Senate just wanted to goad the Scipiis because they haven't done anything yet to dislodge the Carthaginians from Sicily. Having Carthage distracted at Carolis should help them out. I don't think the Senate even cares if I take it or not. Maybe the eruption of Mt Etna slowed the Scipii down.

[Doug-Thompson]

You're being deliberately set up to fail by your enemies in the Senate. It will cut you down to size. It's not a bug at all.