I am in the process of purchasing from Steam right now. These are the mods under consideration.

* Europa Barbarorum
* RTR VII
* SPQR
* Roma Surrectum 2
* DarthMod (I know the above have bigger followings, but I am use DMS for Shogun 2 and am happy with it.)

Let me tell you what is important for me:

BAI and CAI game play. The single player campaign game should be challenging in a "human" sort of way. Meaning that the AI uses logical strategies, full range of features, doesn't cheat horrendously (more has pluses or maluses). That the mod improves the game's atmosphere and immersion by enhanced graphics and sound. Game balance is important too along with faction differentiation. Realism is NOT top motivator. I am mainly in search of a good game; if I wanted history I would be in search of books.

So, given what it is important to me, how do these mods compare? What would you recommend and why? (One other thing, I like mods that somewhere document what they have done to the base game.)

Thanks!