Are Roman AI a bit strange at 0.8?

[MaximianusBR]

The most likely reason is that the faction is going after rebel lands first. If they take Rhegion often they stay balanced, but factions always want to go after rebel territory first, and they are no different. We might like to see them go for some other places first, but it's not easy pushing them in certain directions (as I've found from trying to get Baktria to head to India first, without making india a pushover).

can be it...but...They just kind of stopped after conquering ivavoeta(sp?) and acumulated troops there for 20 years...
...and, is it normal they just don't react agresively against invasion to their heart lands??(Rome,Capua, Arriminum etc.)
and, why did they changed their capital to Arretium?

[Imperator]

couldn't you put a spy in Taras or Rhegion to encourage the romans to expand there? That's what they did with Sardinia and it seems to work pretty well? Or put a spy in Sicily so they either attack by sea or go overland. Maybe even moving their standing army into Tarentine land would convince them to take an offensive (and by the way, don't you think the garrison at Taras needs to be toned down? It's pretty formidable right now, maybe more than it should be)

just a couple of suggestions...

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Three problems:
1- Capital Change - Oh, how I hate that. I want to punch the guy at CA who thought it would be a good idea to let the AI change their capital with the only consideration was that it was the centerist (not a real word?) city in their empire.
AI behavior:
2- The AI always goes after rebel territories first unless they are extrememly well garrisoned (and often then too).
3- The AI will only wage war on a single front. And once dedicated to that front they will not change fronts (unless then new front is with the human player).
Take a look at the AI expansion thread. I forget who, but somebody had a campaign with a great example of this with Pontus. Ever update they gained two terrritories to the north and lost two to the south. In the end they were a Baltic State.

[Moros]

perhaps the stance towards Epiros can be made more hostile, making them go south for taras faster, then the step to rhegium will be smaller. And perhaps making the northern celtic towns stronger and rhegium a lil smaller might helps as well.

[MaximianusBR]

perhaps the stance towards Epiros can be made more hostile, making them go south for taras faster, then the step to rhegium will be smaller. And perhaps making the northern celtic towns stronger and rhegium a lil smaller might helps as well.

agreed

[Teleklos Archelaou]

More hostile than towards Rebels? It won't happen. Rebels will stay at 600 on the Roman attitude ratings. We don't want to force things to happen certain ways if we can help it though - like the tricky situation of Epeiros, Rome, and Carthage at the start of our game. Rome and Carthage as allies against Epeiros? Epeiros and Carthage had dealings too though and it wouldn't have been to crazy to see them team up against the Romans, or the Romans and Epeirotes against the Carthaginians. Garrisons and recruitment were shaken up a bit for 0.81, so let's see what AI progression looks like and if we need to we might reduce the MIC level by one in Taras or take a unit or two away or something like that. Maybe add a Roman spy there. Let's see how it does with a lot of campaigns though first in 0.81. I don't buy at all the argument that Epeiros is "rolling" the Romans all the time in 0.80. They should occassionally, but I'm not seeing Rome fall anywhere near as often as I think is hinted at here. Just my personal opinion.

[Gask]

In all of the 11 or so campaigns that I have played in .8 rome has always completely ignored Epeiros for the most part while they eventually devour roman territories in italy. While amusing it is rather silly.