Well, finally got around to playing this, and 2 issues:

1. the install was troublesome. It finally did install, with patches, sortof, I guess...

2. playing Britannia campaign, as Irish. Every time I try and battle, I get the eternally-spinning hourglass, or just a black screen with the cursor, before it ever cuts to the battlefield mode.

FOR GOD'S SAKES!!!

I think CA was just trying to test everyone's patience with this game.