Why does Julii always attack Carthage?

[unseen11]

I've noticed whenever i ply as another faction that the A.I Julii always load up their troops on a boat at the start and sail all the way to Carthage with Scipii

I always thought the Julii was supposed to go after barbarians so why is the A.I always going after charthage?

[sapi]

They don't

The julii mostly attack gaul or spain; or at least in my games

[Oaty]

Are you talking about Caralis (Sardinia) or the city of Carhtage itself. If it's Caralis then that's normal and it seems to be scripted that way. When I played as Julii that was my second nission I believe. When I played as Scippi that was Julii's second city for the taking. And when I played Brutii that was Julii's second city.

The Roman A.I. is scripted for certain missions in the beginning and the first few turns will always be the same after that it can take turns.

Now if Julii is going after the city of Carthage it is a bit odd but it can happen.

[econ21]

I've only played one non-Julii campaign (as Scipii), but they did seem incredibly passive. They did not take one Gaulish city. It's wierd, as the Romans clearly out-match the Gaulish units. I think it may be because they go off in the wrong direction. They reminded me of the Danes in MTW before the final patch - stalled, just looking at juicy rebel Sweden.

This contrasts with the Scipii and Brutii when I was Julii - both became the second most powerful factions, keeping pace with me quite well considering I was taking over every barbarian province.

[lars573]

I've always figured that the Julii won't attack the gauls because of how the AI works. That is if a faction is an ally or stronger militarily they won't attack. Now thanks to the fact that the Gauls being barbarians can spearspam means the Julii will never go after them when they are AI controlled. Owing to that fact that gaulish armies being full of spearmen are bigger numerically. Usually if I'm another Roman faction I nudge the Julii into gaul by conquering venita, cisalpine, and transalpine gaul myself then giving then to the Julii. If i'm the Scipii i do this to build an uber general, if I'm Brutii I have to because the gauls at Patavium can come bother me in Illyrium and Dalmatia constantly.

[Red Harvest]

The AI Julii always target Sardinia and the Senate assigns me that mission first or 2nd as well (that and taking the rebel stronghold to the north.) Sardinia was acquired by Rome shortly after the 1st Punic war due to the mercenary revolt. It was a rather unfriendly thing to do after the peace treaty, but they were more powerful so Carthage had no choice but to accept it. The 2nd Punic War began when Hannibal took Saguntum, a recent Roman ally--this despite the fact that an agreement said that Saguntum was within the confines of the Ebro river agreement also forced upon Carthage *after* the peace treaty 1st Punic War.

The AI does play differently versus the human than other AI. AI armies love to come in and camp on human territory while at peace, building forces. As soon as the AI considers it has sufficient local advantage it attacks. You don't see this happening much AI vs. AI. I'm always amazed at how the Gaul and Julii rarely fight. The Julii rarely engage Spain. On the other hand, if I'm Spain the Julii attack me without provocation very early. Egypt often does not attack Siwa in Numidia for quite awhile unless the human is playing as Numidia when they attack very early on even if you have trade agreement or get an alliance.