AI playing cow throw?

I can't wait for a Stardock Dev to answer your question.  I want to know too!  I didn't put the events together, but that actually matches with my experience as well.  Just finished a game with two large land masses.  Had my Soverign raise a thin land bridge to get from one to the other.  Worked so well I wanted to make a highway on it.  Figured it would be cool to use one island as an 'army factory' and then hustle them quickly over the bridge to get to the front lines.

No monsters at all, but the second I sent a caravan across the bridge, they'd encounter monsters in the middle and get wiped out.  I'd kill the monsters, send another caravan... and have more monsters spawn right on the bridge... GRRR!

It also would explain why some games don't have wandering monsters at all.  If I play a game with few caravans and no vulnerable units exploring the countryside I don't see a lot of spawns.

I mean, IF true.. wouldn't that actually make sense?

You're a lonely wandering monster/outlaw... you have two options:

1. Spot a wandering hero loaded with weapons and magically spawned creatures and decide, yeah, fuck it, it's a good day to die.

or

2. Nice fat juicy, unarmed, un-escorted caravan/settler full of nice juicy crunchy civilians, dinner time!

Which would you choose?  Intentionally or not, it's something they got right!  

Wonder if they are trying to enforce "protecting your trade routes" and actually spawn creatures on or near roads.  I've noticed the same thing.  I end up making a group of 2 or 3 just to protect the trade routes.  Generally every forest is a death trap if you don't station some units there to keep it clear. Even then, some just appear next to the caravan.

Imho it's because monsters can only spawn in forests, and outside your zone of influence. Your trade caravans are simply the most likely to be at a position close to a forest outside your zone of influence.

But it's also, of course, that weak monsters don't attack strong groups. They even send you messages saying you're too strong for them, if you know what to look for.

"Had my Soverign raise a thin land bridge to get from one to the other. "

How? Isn't the raise land spell for "plains to hills, hills to mountain and not water into land"?

The Earth spells, raise land, lower land and Greater raise land can be used to turn water into land, so you can make land bridges, you can create mountains or make paths through mountains.  I use it all the time.  I created a land bridge to take an army to the north of an enemy and then used it to raise and lower mountains to create choke points.  You can only use the spells in neutral or your own territory, you cant cast it in another's territory.  I don't think you can use it to create a water tile, but I would like that ability in the future, Stardock! 

You can make water tile, it's called "flood" it's in the book of mastery, lv8 I think.

No shit?  Well God damn!  I need to actually start reading these spell discriptions.  I'm going to have soooo much fun with that.

Lower land doesn't work too well, I'm not always able to move into squares that have been lowered.

Works pretty well for me.  Haveto use a few of them usually.  Actually, don't think I have ever gotten any use out of cast any of these spells just once, its usually a big effort.  But, shit, making and destroying mountains or creating land bridges should be.  Have to make things level to make it work, takes some practice and multiple casting.

Enable the terrain type display in the upper right of the main screen. That something visually looks like passable terrain doesn't mean it is that in game terms.

Animals never send messages and these are the ones that spawn because of an opportunity to attack a weak unit. Barbarians usually send messages, but i haven't noticed them spawning because of a weak unit. Spiders seem to be the main culprit then wolves then bears.

Those land spells look good! Now i have a reason to start building arcane technology research buildings!!