Your offensive route selected, you must now decide upon the defense of Spain and Carthage. Do you?

• The best defense is a good offense. Leave Spain and Carthage completely unsecured and set for Rome with a full force of 130,000 men.
• Light defense. Betting that Rome will weight defense of their home versus foreign assault, risk the prospect of an invasion by sending 6,000 to Carthage and leaving 5,000 in Spain,  
• Medium defense. Set up a good defense of about 16,000 in Carthage and 13,000 in Spain while you retain control of about 100,000 infantry and cavalry. You also set up a naval defense of the Spanish coast.
• Heavy defense. Taking no chances to lose what you've already gained, send 30,000 to Carthage and leave 25,000 in Spain. A naval defense is prepared for the Spanish coast.