Quintus:

If I was playing Epirus as Massilia, I'd send my diplomat to Rome on the first turn, and set up a tribute to Rome of 200 mnai a turn for 200 turns. That's 50 years! Massilia was historically a very loyal Roman ally, and had good reasons for doing so. And such a tribute should keep Rome off my back while I set up my little empire.

Epirus as Kyrene would have to pay both Carthage and Alexandria! Ouch! Not good unless Kyrene can take Rhodes, which isn't very historical as even Macedon failed at that ambition.

Have you tried Epirus as Syracuse? That's a good one.