Yea it would be good to direct Romans to conquere Sycily first. But i dont think there is a way to do it.

by the way, isn't it fun to lose campaigns?
Yea it was my best game ever. I think i never had so much fun playing computer game.
But practically i wasnt defeated. When i knew i cant win i send 3 generals to Asia minor. One manage to get there and with mercenaries help he proclaimed himself tyrant of Halicarnassos. Then i captured Sidone. So when i lost my dacian holdings few years later (with all others faction members) i still had 2 cities in Asia Minor.
Those greek cities where very wealthy. I was making a bit more then half of what i used to in my best times. The future was full of danger but also full of opportunities. If i didnt encounter possibly fatal CTD and didnt have to move to other mod testings i still might pull it off.