Pfft, just play EB (Europa Barbarorum) - much better in almost all respects to RTW. Perhaps the only complaint I've heard about it is that sometimes battles are too long (which is supposed to be a good thing), the loading/next turn times are too long. However, I do know that some people do not like all of that realism, preferring the more fun and "cooler" units like Arcani, Burning Pigs, Screeching Women, Egyptian Chariots, etc.

What I like the most about EB is that the cities stop the population growth pretty early, even with all of the farm upgrades. It is difficult to go beyond 30-35 thousand people unless you build all of the population growth buildings. There are also plenty of population reduction buildings as well. Also, in EB, there are tons of buildings you can build, much much more than in RTW, that can keep even a 40-50 thousand people city happy.

This way, it is possible to have a large, long-lasting and yet fun-to-play empire in EB, something I was not able to experience in RTW. Interesting that CA have never tried to patch this rampant population growth.