First Punic War questions

[dans221]

I have some questions about this scenario.

First question: after Hiero switches to the Romans, the Carthaginians have three leaders. Hanno the Elder, Hanno Messina, and Mago. Mago has severe penalties in Sicily. Is there some way to get new leaders?

Second question: what exactly is the condition for Hiero switching to the Romans? The scenario says Hiero will switch when Roman legions march on Syracuse. But Hiero stayed with me besieged inside the city. When sufficiently reinforced I marched out on an offensive stance and lost at which point he switched sides.

Third question: Hiero and Artemidorus are then locked for the Romans. What exactly unlocks them?

[Vincentius]

Hiero and Artemidorus are unlocked when a Carthaginian army move to Syracuse

[bob.]

Or to the other Syracusaen city, forgot its name right now. But if they move to that city, I think it also unlocks everything from Syracuse including the navy.

Can't help you with the other questions although it seems to me that Hiero switches sides when he loses 2 battles.

[Vincentius]

The second city is Catania

[dans221]

The Romans have an option to build a port in Neapolis or Ostia. Is there any difference between these two locations? Is there any reason why one would pick one over the other?

[PJJ]

Ostia gives you a bunch of quinqueremes when it's ready while Neapolis gives triremes. You'll easily have the money to build both bases as the scenario goes on. There's no reason why you shouldn't build them both as soon as you can afford it.

Quinqueremes can be equipped with the corvus (through a special option), making them much deadlier in close combat, so I picked them first.