I never use the timer. I remember the first time I played RTW, I had a huge battle between me and the the Bruttii (omg i remember those names! ) and then the game just randomly ended in the heat of the battle, forcing me to lose, abandoning the invasion of italy!!!! I was well pissed, and have never used timer since. the only thing i can see it being used for is so you can possibly win against like one million persians when you have but a few thousand.