Syracuse: Endless Seige??

[Blathergut]

I thought I'd try Syracuse, on Difficult.

It's turn 24 and for the last 22 turns, Carthage has plunked an ever growing army outside the city. I can't attack it. But they never attack me. They've broken through the 3 layers of walls and still just sit. Is this normal? Is it the difficulty level that is keeping them from attacking the city? Or just luck/bad luck? Basically, there is nothing to do in the game.

[loki100]

aye, assuming you have supply coming in the AI is often unwilling to risk an assault on a well defended city.

you could gamble on moving your field army out by sea and see if there is a region you could conquer? or wait till the peace chance comes up?

[caranorn1]

aye, assuming you have supply coming in the AI is often unwilling to risk an assault on a well defended city.

you could gamble on moving your field army out by sea and see if there is a region you could conquer? or wait till the peace chance comes up?

I believe a garrison that's trying to ship out first leaves the city, theeby triggering a land battle. At least that's what I recall from one situation where I tried to evacuate a garrison from a doomed city. But that battle could have been the besieger assaulting before my garrison could ship out...

[loki100]

aye, assuming you have supply coming in the AI is often unwilling to risk an assault on a well defended city.

you could gamble on moving your field army out by sea and see if there is a region you could conquer? or wait till the peace chance comes up?

I believe a garrison that's trying to ship out first leaves the city, theeby triggering a land battle. At least that's what I recall from one situation where I tried to evacuate a garrison from a doomed city. But that battle could have been the besieger assaulting before my garrison could ship out...

could be wrong about this, but it may depend on the level of the port, once it hits a certain level the move starts to the sea rather than via land (but its a while since I looked at this in any detail so you may well be right)

[Pocus]

Can you bring the saved game? If the walls are breached and in vast superiority, and assault is in order.

[Blathergut]

All I have is the start turn. I'll try playing through again and see if it happens and keep the save for you.

[MARVIN_THE_ARVN]

Yeah, I do think sieges go on too long, in numerous games eternal sieges are conducted, a whole generation+ of soldiers will sit outside a walled city.

I'm having the same issue in a game where the enemy have sat a big stack outside my capital for 20+ years at a -6 chance, that's nearly as long as the longest siege in history but it regularly happens.

Maybe events such as plagues etc should occur more often in sieges to force a result?