Yeah, for example how are we supposed to be able to handle the miles falcatus? 9-5-2 HN, so they will be raiding the Dacian border, but velites and preasidiums are no match at all, so we need to keep 2-3 supported troops in this area. And with a cost of 8gpt now, along with increased corruption, but 45 free units, it's too much of a burden. If the auxilaries could handle them, well ok, but they can't.
The 8-5-0 barb garrisons are a big step up as well. The armies will still probobly win, but will be recovering for a few turns afterward for sure. The 7A ballista still can't take out defenses quickly. They are pretty effective vs everthing else, just not fortifications!
Money is a major problem too. With the increased corruption, and increase research costs, I've been seeing 70% regularly vs 40-50% in previous versions. Rome needs money in order to:
1. maintain the timeline. I'm certainly behind the 12 turns each, but that can be recovered from by researching Poetry while Dictator is being built.
2. rush key buildings, eg 2 navalis so that Portus Ostae can be built soon, it is such a boom to the economy!
In 201BC I decided that Tolosa had to be captured immediately in order to get it's gold. This will help offset Praetor (20gpt), which has to be built earlier than before in order to reduce corruption. Even in my small empire there is >50% corruption in Agrigentum.
The supported army has been 45-47 units, so up to 16pgt. Drama Theory required 90% research, which is -47gpt, so I had to settle for 80% @ -20gpt for 13 turns.
No sign of Hannibal yet, but the 2nd Punic was hasn't begun.
In general loses have been high so far. Really so long as the 4D units aren't in the open they are enough for the legions, so all these 5D units are causing more loses than earlier versions. Even Epirus killed something like 3 velites, 3 miles socius, and 2 legions.
I was going to give up and switch to easy, but then Bovanium culture flipped ~250BC
I took as a sign from the various gods that the game should continue!
It's 190BC. The 2 closest Gallic cites have been taken for economic reasons. I'm pondering disbanding 1/2 of the navy in order to grown the army and push a land campaign through Hispania. Thier 2 northmost cities would be taken, and then Sagantum.. and finally get the 2nd Punic war going ~175BC.. ughh.
I do like the new graphics, sounds, and map changes. I just don't see how Rome can be successful with all the increased burdens. The 25% production bonus from the catasta isn't enough!