I run a campaign with the AI uses pop mod as Seleucids. I am turn 56.
I am quite sure the mod is actively working because no Punic war script kicked in so far.
Now my issue: I had no coalition at all so far. Not against me, not against anyone else. I own 26 regions.
Can that be? A bug maybe?
I try to catch salmon. Went to Owajila lake and tried it with lake and river bait. Nothing. I only get those muskies. Any advice please?
For context: I need succulent fish meat for the herbalist 10 challenge. Am in chapter 2.
Maybe someone has tried that submod and can help me. I would like to try out this submod:
https://www.twcenter.net/threads/submod-trade-regions-acquire-them-with-dignitary.806327/
Can someone explain me how to install that in my steam Rome 2? Besides that i have mods only installed via workshop. I tried to copy the .pack file into the data folder, but that seems not to work.
If i understand it right, that mod adds a yellow button in the buildings menu where you can sell a region. That never showed up for me in a new campaign, so i am quite sure that mod didnt install correctly.
Solved: I got it to work. High up in load order. And it conflicts with AI uses pop submod.
Started a new campaign with the submod AI Uses Population from u/Destroyer1357912 and want to give a review to that:
I started a new campaign as Carthage. Have a few other submods intalled. Played it slow. First of all: the submod causes no issues, no bugs or crashes.
First 10 turns i used to build up provinces and armies. Then started the conquest for Iberia with Arse. When i took it over, the next turn the first coalition against me formed (Iberian tribes and Syrakuse). I could wipe out the iberian Tribe and it was over.
I kept good relations with the vasals and other african factions, so could focus on Iberia. Some time later the next coalition started against me (2 iberian tribes and Syrakuse again). That was actually handy because they were potential targets anyways. Syrakuse was a bit tricky because i had no army in Sikelia. Took me a few turns to field one in Africa and move it over. Syrakuse did Syrakuse-things and put its full stack on transports... my navy took care of it and the capture of Syrakuse was an easy auto resolve.
Later i joined the Medewi in their war against Egypt. I took Alexandria and made peace. Then suddenly Medewi and Egypt formed an coalition against me. Perfect, because Medewi held the 3 other regions in Aigypos.
Now i am about 100 turns in and control all of northern africa, Aigytos, whole Iberia and have a foot in Narbo. I make 30k with lowest taxes and have 6 armies and 2 navies.
Coalitons: thats a nice feature. It forces you to play a bit more careful and dont trust the direct neighbors. The factions that joined the coalitons made sense. All were factions with direct borders to me. On the other side they all were potential targets, so in fact the coalitions made it easier for me to continue my conquests while keeping my reputation.
The absence of the punic war script let Carthage become the dominating super power in the western mediterrenean. Rome is still friendly.
Some fun observations:
Liguria had full control of Cisalpina for a while. Never saw that before.
Rome is struggling hard! Epirus took over Cosentia before they were wiped out at some point. The Ardiai held the 2 eastern port Settlements in Latium for a while. Only about 80-90 turns in, Rome was finally able to secure Italy. Apolonia is handed back and forth between various factions: Epirus - Rome - Macedon - Rome - Macedon - Rome - Athens - Rome - Athens - Rome .... Rome is waisting a lot of resources there.
The updated trade AI seems to work fine. I was able to establish trade agreements with distant factions although they did not like me. for example, when captureing the port in the arabian see, i made trade with Mascat and Maurya although they had a red face, but they needed some trade income.
Conclusion:
Coalitions are fun. A Challenge but also a tactical advantage sometimes.
No Punic war means no Rome Juggernaut. Maybe without Rome the game lacks the mid to endgame Challenge. Turn 100 as Carthage and there is no real threat anymore.
AI uses Pop seems to work. Especially Rome is struggling.
Trade system works nicely.
Thanks for that submod.
Will probably stop that campaign and try another faction... maybe Seleucids... Or maybe i give the struggling rome another try.