Site searching spells - AI select likely province?

[Profanicus]

Hi all, I have a question for the more knowledgeable amongst us:
When using spells to search remote provinces for magic sites, the AI pre-selects a province after you have chosen the ritual to cast.
Is there any rhyme or reason behind this selection? Does the program target the more likely provinces for that path, or is it just a random unsearched province?
cheers!

[VedalkenBear]

Pro: The computer seems to select the lowest-numbered province you control, subject to the following criteria.

1) The province has not been manually searched.
2) The province has not been automatically searched for the path in question (i.e., it won't Augury a province that has already been Auguried).
3) The province currently has fewer than two sites located within it.

AFAIK, these are the only criteria it uses. It will not, e.g., preferentially search forest provinces with Haruspex. Also, it will cheerfully search your capital province if you are a nation with only one site located there.

Generally speaking, if there are no provinces that fit those criteria, it seems to default to searching your capital. That's a good indication that you may want to check for why it's 'not working'.

[thejeff]

Actually if there are no provinces with those criteria it defaults to selecting the province the casting mage is in.

But that's only when you're ordering the mage to cast. If you've got him set to cast monthly and he casts this month's spell and can't find another province to target, he'll revert to defend.

[Profanicus]

Wow thanks guys, speedy AND comprehensive!
My curiosity is now officially satisfied. For the moment at least..

Oh ok I'm still curious:
If I build a fort, are any/all sites discovered automatically in that province? I am sure I have had sites pop up in newly built forts without searching...

Sorry if this has been answered before, I did try a search.

[thejeff]

No, building forts has no effect on finding sites.

You may have had an event that added a site?

[VedalkenBear]

Pro: It's more likely the other way around. There are certain sites that give you a Fortress in the province when you find them. The Firbolg Fortress, the Jervellan Wall, and the Kelp Fortresses (underwater for the Kelp) are all examples.