Help with modding

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Faction names are in the ".../Rome - Total War/EB/Data/text/expanded_bi.txt", but you have to change a couple dozen references.

Starting cities are in the ".../Rome - Total War/EB/Data/world/maps/campaign/imperial_campaign/descr_strat.txt". Be careful though, it is very easy to mess up when changing starting cities.

To allow units to another faction you have to change multiple files, namely the ".../Rome - Total War/EB/Data/descr_model_battle.txt" to make sure they have a skin assigned to the model, the ".../Rome - Total War/EB/Data/export_descr_unit.txt" to make sure that the new faction is included on the recruitment line for that faction, and the ".../Rome - Total War/EB/Data/export_descr_buildings.txt" to assign recruitment for the unit (easiest just to copy the recruitment lines for the old faction and edit them appropriately). You may also have to copy the UI files to a different folder, for the full effect.

[bovi]

Additionally, you may find loads of useful tips and tutorials in the Scriptorium, another forum on these boards.

[king hannibal]

I've sort of been looking at a website but there's better place on TWC in turners of modding tutorials but there help you out with other questions more to do with MTW2 though anyway good lock with the modding

http://www.twmodsquad.com/index.php?cat=1

[overweightninja]

Starting cities are in the ".../Rome - Total War/EB/Data/world/maps/campaign/imperial_campaign/descr_strat.txt". Be careful though, it is very easy to mess up when changing starting cities.

Just to expand on this, the CAMPAIGN_SCRIPT.txt (in same folder) is just as important when fiddling with settlement ownership as the descr_strat (pay particular attention to building/army spawns and the unit size traits section at the start, and work your changes around these if needed).
Hope that helps.