I play EB with the add-on pack (excellent stuff).

1. I guess the general houserule is that you should not place FM's in positions of command/governance until they have been in military service for ten years (as a military tribune). How do you guys simulate the tribune period for your FM's? Do you stick them in a campaigning army, or allow them to be a right hand man to a governor in a settlement? What do you do with them when there is no active military campaign-just let them sit in Rome until age 30? I ask this because, once I start getting a flood of FM's I just don't know what to do with all of the tribunes I'm stuck with.

2. I hear that Alex.exe improves the AI a bit. What campaign difficulty should I use for Alex.exe? Thanks

3. I know its really no fun to just roll over your neighbors for no apparent reason (and early on), but Rome's goal is to conquer... well... all of its neighbors (which is what makes the campaign difficult-the ambitious goals of setting up such a big empire). Do you just wait to get attacked, or just wipe out the gauls at first chance?

4. Do you guys build type IV's in EVERY newly conquered area? Including Italy, Sicily, and Corsica/Sardinia?

5. When is it proper to allow allied generals to lead armies, and should they lead Italian troops at all?