I understand such historically misplaced chariots have a lot to answer for when
it comes to determining those factions with superpower status, but with regard
to Pontus and Egypt; in all but one of the campaigns Pontus completely
eradicated Egypt. This I considered unusual given how much I had read about
people having severe problems with Egypt.

With regard to Iberia, must say it came as a shock to me - Spain attacked in
what I considered was a move completely out of the blue, and also one which
for them was strategically risky. Had just been beating back a sizeable Roman
force when they wiped out the remaining Gallic presence and directly attacked
my major armies, causing heavy losses in the first Pyrrhic victories I had
experienced in the game. It also struck me as strange that they never came into
conflict with the Romans, despite the absence of any alliance between them.

Would like to see Carthage succeed too, but haven't seen them expand at all in
Spain, only Numidia - and this without any visible pressure applied by the
Romans excepting sporadic blockades.